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Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat
photo montage of participants in the 2022 atlantic policy congress plus logos of host organizations
Betty Biesenthal

Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat

The Atlantic Policy Congress (APC) of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat is an advocate for speaking with one voice on behalf of First Nations communities in Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the state of Maine in the United States. With the support of First Nation communities in Atlantic Canada, APC follows a relationship vision that concentrates on partnership and cooperation, government to government relationships, dialogue and education, quality of life and self-determination in First Nations Communities. APC works closely with community members and leadership to get direction by providing all information in order that communities can make informed decisions. 

In April 2021, APC was awarded funding from the Indigenous Centre for Cumulative Effects (ICCE) through the Community Funding Program to undertake a project with the goal of building and enhancing the capacity of Atlantic First Nations communities to address cumulative effects issues. Their project will achieve this goal by:

  1. conducting a study on cumulative effects in Atlantic First Nations communities
  2. identifying tools, resources and practical solutions that can be implemented by communities to address cumulative effects issues
  3. holding a conference on cumulative effects along with relevant tools and resources
  4. developing a cumulative effects web portal

To date, APC has completed their research study, identified multiple tools, resources and practical solutions and successfully held their first Cumulative Effects Conference on June 2, 2022. The cumulative effects web portal is in the final stages of development and will be accessible to all 33 of APC’s member communities by the end of July 2022.

The 2022 Cumulative Effects Conference was an opportunity for communities to learn about the cumulative effects project at APC, as well as different tools and resources that are available to help Atlantic First Nations communities address cumulative effects issues. The conference also provided a safe space for sharing stories, knowledge, concerns and ideas related to cumulative effects and provided guests the opportunity to provide feedback on what they wanted to see come out of the project. APC invited a number of excellent speakers to showcase and discuss different tools, resources, studies and projects that can be used to inform future cumulative effects initiatives in Atlantic First Nations communities.

photo montage of participants in the 2022 atlantic policy congress

The keynote address was given by Barry J. Wilson, a cumulative effects specialist at CE Analytic Ltd., who set the tone of the conference and engaged the audience by telling stories, talking about his own cumulative effects work and emphasizing the importance of recognizing that everything is connected.

Chief Andrea Paul of Pictou Landing First Nation presented on the Pictou Landing Well-Being Baseline Study conducted by the community in 2019 in response to the pollution of Boat Harbour by a local pulp and paper mill since 1967 and its subsequent impacts on the well-being of community members.

Michelle Francis-Denny, the Director of the Atlantic Indigenous Economic Development Integrated Research Program at APC, presented about how cumulative effects are impacting economic development in communities across the Atlantic region, particularly when it comes to accessible funding and financial support. 

Barry Stevens, the President of Stevens Solutions & Design Inc. and 3D Wave Design, presented on his 3D interactive mapping tool that can be used to visualize climate change impacts in First Nation communities. Its purpose is to assist communities in observing, planning and adapting to climate change impacts, which are integral to cumulative effects issues.

Stephanie Arnold, a Climate Services Specialist at CLIMAtlantic, presented on a climate change monitoring tool used by First Nations communities in PEI. This tool is called the UPEI Climate Diary, which started out as hard copy booklets and now exists as an online database of environmental-related observations that anyone can upload to.

Ashley Childs, the Senior Director of Environment and Natural Resources at The Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq (CMM), presented on her team’s cumulative effects work with communities in Nova Scotia, which was also financially supported by ICCE through their Community Funding Program.

Shelley Price, a researcher, consultant and university instructor, presented on her research of hydroelectric dams and the cumulative effects they have on marine ecosystems.

Gregory Jeddore, a Forestry Manager with the Miawpukek First Nation Government, shared a video on a spiritual canoe journey that is to take place in the Fall of 2022. From Miawpukek (Conne River, NL) all the way to Terra Nova National Park, the community will travel in handmade birch bark canoes along the rivers their ancestors used to travel.

Lastly, Julia Purcell, the Cumulative Effects Project Researcher at APC, presented on research findings from engaging and speaking with Atlantic First Nations communities about cumulative effects. These findings informed and directed the search for external tools and resources that might benefit communities the most based on their concerns.