The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations is calling for a seat at the table when it comes to developing Canada’s energy policy.
Shawn Atleo spoke this morning at an Aboriginal business symposium in Saskatoon.
The national leader says it wasn’t that long ago he discovered a tribal council in the U.S. was buying electricity through a hydro project in B.C.
Atleo says the irony is that development runs through First Nations land, yet many bands are cash-strapped.
He notes some bands are forced to buy diesel fuel to power their communities and it doesn’t make sense.
Atleo worries the federal government has devolved too much responsibility over energy policy to the provinces.
Today’s symposium is being attended by hundreds of First Nations leaders across Canada.
The theme of the event is governance, and how it relates to financial management and accountability.
Chief Felix Thomas of the Saskatoon Tribal Council is one of the hosts of the event.
Thomas says leaders must adopt a holistic approach when it comes to combining finances and governance.
He adds having a firm handle on the band’s finances lets leaders know the decisions they can make.