Uashat mak Mani-utenam Chief Mike Mckenzie represented the Innu Nation alongside the Grand Chief of the Cree Nation Mandy Gull-Masty on a mission to the United Nations. Together with people from an indigenous nation in Scandinavia, they participated in the event “Indigenous solutions to conservation and climate change: the case of reindeer/caribou”.
Innu and Cree leaders discussed environmental issues with representatives of the Sami Nation from Finland and Norway on this international panel. Although thousands of kilometers separate their territories, the Innu, Cree and Sami leaders shared similar observations and fears about the state of the reindeer and caribou herds.
Innu-Cri-Sami solidarity
Chief Mckenzie reminds us that protecting Nitassinan goes hand in hand with protecting his people’s age-old relationship with atiku (the caribou).
“Discussing with the Crees and the Sami about our concerns and our common aspirations was a rewarding exercise. Establishing Nation-to-Nation relationships with Indigenous governments in other parts of the world is a demonstration of Innu sovereignty and self-reliance,” says Mike McKenzie.
Chief Gull-Masty and Chief Mckenzie presented to their European counterparts the collaboration that exists between the Crees and the Innu for the preservation and hunting of caribou.
Gill and Indigenous Rights
The event in New York took place within the framework of the session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. MNA for Côte-Nord and Bloc Québécois spokesperson for Aboriginal affairs Marilène Gill was part of the Canadian delegation alongside Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal.
“Respect for human rights, the right to housing and water, to physical and psychological security, sometimes seems to be obvious. However, there is nothing. We must not forget that countries like Brazil or Canada flout these rights,” concludes Marilène Gill.
