The Honour the Treaties tour may be in the books but the chief of the FSIN hopes the effects will be long-lasting.
Chief Perry Bellegarde says Neil Young has done First Nations a great service by calling attention to their concerns over the oilsands.
The chief says oilsands development, and its impact on First Nations land and people, is something they’ve been been talking about for a long time.
However he says it’s Young’s notoriety that has caused more people to start listening:
“I would just acknowledge and thank him for helping and assisting Chief Allan Adam and raising the issue. You know it’s a powerful tool. His name is well known throughout the world and he’s become a strong advocate.”
Bellegarde acknowledges it is a complicated issue as First Nations want to be included in the development projects occurring on their land, but they also don’t want the land to be spoiled:
“First Nations people know that there is an economy and we want to be part of the economy but we want to make sure we’re involved so that the environmental impact, the carbon foot-print is not huge.”
Bellegarde says government and industry also need to know that any development of an energy strategy for the country will have to include First Nations input.