Climate change: Aboriginal leaders tell Trudeau they want seat at the table
VANCOUVER — Indigenous leaders told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the premiers Wednesday that they want a role in developing climate change policy.
“It’s like we’re standing at the doorway,” said Clement Chartier of the Metis National Council. “What happens next, we’ll get to see. It’s always good words, this government right now is offering us an opportunity to sit at the table. We’ll see in the action what happens next.
Chartier was among three national aboriginal leaders invited to meet with Trudeau and the premiers in advance of their scheduled meeting Thursday on climate change.
Perry Bellegarde of the Assembly of First Nations and Natan Obed of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami agreed that indigenous people need to have a hand in designing Canada’s response to the issue.