Shared challenges, common solutions and future opportunities
From August 27th to 29th, 2024, in Wendake, the Waste Management and Environment teams collaborated for the first time to co-host a combined Waste and Contamination Management Symposium. This event marked the 8th edition of the Waste Management Symposium and the 3rd edition of the Environment symposium.
The symposium was a success, bringing together 46 participants from First Nation communities, 6 representatives from Indigenous Services Canada, and 7 exhibitors. The series of presentations consisted of First Nation communities sharing their experiences on:
- environmental site assessments
- funding programs for contaminated sites
- funding programs in Waste Management initiatives
- assistance programs for waste management and contaminated sites were highlighted.
Participants were able to exchange views with exhibitors representing various Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. These exchanges, which were much appreciated by both participants and exhibitors, not only enabled a better understanding of existing opportunities, but also paved the way for future collaborations between communities and EPR programs.
A key feature of the symposium was the First Nations Contamination Panel, featuring the speakers Kristy Franks, Nancy Dea, Philippe Leblanc-Rochette, Reggie Scipio, and Sue Vollant. The panel covered the topics including the dismantling of Mid-Canada Line sites in Eeyou Istchee (Cree territory), the removal of abandoned outfitting operations in Nunavik, and a project aimed at cleaning up orphaned sites on Nitassinan in six Innu communities.
”To give current and future generations access to the land and its flora and fauna. We want to ensure that they can go hunting and fishing on the territory in complete safety, and that the resources remain of high quality
Makivik Coorporation
The symposium concluded with two specialized training sessions: a Spill Response Training session facilitated by the FNQLSDI Environment team, and a Waste Collection Prevention session led by Jean-François Spense.
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all the people and organisations who contributed to the success of this event. We would also like to thank Indigenous Services Canada for their funding. Thanks you to Saganash Photography for the wonderful photos!
We would also like to thank our presenters and panellists: Bruno Vallée – Regional Coordinator for Federal Contaminated Sites, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Claudia Gros-Louis – Environment Management Technician , Huron-Wendat Nation Council, Howard MacDonald – Director of Environment, Wemindji Cree Nation, Mélanie Talbot – Regional Environmental Manager, Indigenous Services Canada, Kristy Frank – Environmental Advisor, Cree Nation Government, Nancy Dea – Environmental Analyst, Makivvik. Philippe Leblanc-Rochette – Environmental Coordinator, Makivvik, Reggie Scipio – Tallyman – Cree Nation of Chisasibi, Sue Vollant -Waste Management Coordinator, ITUM, Damien Lavigne – Emergency Management Specialist, W8banaki , Béatrice Côté – Waste Management Project Manager , FNQLSDI, Environnement Team – FNQLSDI, Jean-François Spence- Via Prevention.
Finally, we would also like to thank the exhibiting organizations: GoRecycle, Commercial Appliance Recovery Society (CARS), Call2Recycle, Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA), Éco Entreprises Québec and RECYC-QUÉBEC.
