Noront Resources

The Thunder Bay-based Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) is hosting an inaugural NAN First Nations Economic Summit. The event runs February 22-24 at the Valhalla Inn in Thunder Bay.

NAN Chiefs and Council, Economic Development Officers, Northern First Nation business owners, NAN membership, industry, government and other interested parties will come together for the three-day event. The goal is to develop a regional economic strategy to ensure NAN First Nations benefit from future economic activity in the North.

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is a political territorial organization representing 49 First Nation communities in James Bay Treaty 9 and Ontario portions of Treaty 5 – an area covering two thirds of the province of Ontario.

"With looming resource development in NAN territory, it is essential that we gather to determine our future path to best benefit from any resource revenue, employment, economic and business opportunities, and any other spin-offs that may derive from activity on our homelands," said NAN Deputy Grand Chief Les Louttit. "This summit gives our communities the opportunity to collectively identify where we are today, what our challenges are moving forward, and where we want the NAN economy to be in the future."

The summit includes panel discussions, presentations and breakout sessions covering a wide-variety of topics including: negotiating fair and equitable economic/resource development business deals, the environmental assessment process, resource benefit sharing, and the impacts of the global economy in NAN territory.

There will also be keynote addresses by former Assembly of First Nations National Chief and President – Ishkonigan Inc., Phil Fontaine and, Christine Kaszycki, Ph.D. Assistant Deputy Minister/Provincial Ring of Fire Coordinator.

For details go to www.naneconomicsummit.ca.