NationTalk: In less than 10 months, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) will be hosting its 3rd National Climate Gathering, Catalyzing First Nations Climate and Conservation Leadership for Transformative Change.
The event will take place at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, October 7-10, 2024, in Calgary, Alberta. The Venue is located on the Moh’kinsstis, the traditional territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy (Siksika, Kainai, Piikani), the Tsuut’ina, the Stoney Nakoda Nations (Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley First Nations), and the Metis Nation of Alberta.
You are invited to submit a proposal to host a session at the Gathering, no later than April 15, 2024.
BACKGROUND
In July 2019, First Nations-in-Assembly passed Resolution 05/2019, Declaring a First Nations Climate Emergency, which mandated the AFN to host biennial National Climate Gatherings and develop an AFN National Climate Strategy. AFN has hosted previous gatherings. A first in March 2020 in Whitehorse, Yukon, on the territory of the Ta’an Kwächän and the Kwanlin Dün and a second, in 2022 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, on the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik, Mi’kmaq, and Peskotomuhkati peoples.
In July 2023, First Nations-in-Assembly passed Resolution 36/2023, Urgent and Transformative Climate Action through the AFN National Climate Strategy, endorsing the AFN National Climate Strategy and reaffirming the declaration of a First Nations Climate Emergency from Resolution 05/2019. After four years of engagement with First Nations rights and title holders, the AFN National Climate Strategy was formally released on October 18, 2023. The Strategy contains seven priority areas, alongside 108 different strategies and actions. Underpinning the Climate Strategy is the First Nations Climate Lens which contains four concentric circles – Natural Law, Worldviews, Lived Reality, and Context. Together, they bring into focus First Nations climate solutions. For more information on the AFN National Climate Strategy and the First Nations Climate Lens, please visit our website:https://afn.ca/environment/national-climate-strategy/
SUMMARY
Building on the success of the previous gatherings, our 2024 program will bring together First Nations experts, leadership, Elders, youth, women, 2SLGBTQQIA+, men and other professionals to share knowledge, and to discuss and emphasize solutions First Nations are advancing in the face of rapid change at the local, regional, national, and international stage. These multi-dimensional, interconnected, and interrelated solutions enable the connection between a healthy
environment and everything else – our health, well-being, culture, language, water, food security, housing, among other things.
The evolution and completion of the AFN National Climate Strategy and First Nations Climate Lens was instrumental in positioning First Nations as climate leaders and active drivers of positive change, challenging conventional conceptualizations of First Nations as ‘vulnerable’ populations and the passive recipients of climate impacts.
Shifting to the implementation of the AFN National Climate Strategy and Climate Lens, the 2024 Gathering will showcase First Nations stewardship approach to climate action and conservation through a diversity of panel presentations, workshops, video screenings, and other activities.
SELECTION PROCESS
A steering committee of First Nations from all regions will review all applications received.
- Applications: The deadline for submissions will be April 15, 2024. Please submit your completed application on this Microsoft form.
- Review and notification: Submissions will be evaluated and communicated by the steering committee and the AFN secretariat by May 6, 2024.
- Register for the Gathering: If your proposal is accepted, you must register for the conference no later than July 22, 2024, to ensure that your time slot is confirmed. Speakers will be responsible for their own costs, but support may be available in some cases.
For assistance in preparing your application, please contact Graeme Reed (greed@afn.ca).
Link to Microsoft Form for submissions: https://forms.office.com/r/Ept2jzJxud