Desmond Tutu special guest at ACFN conference

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the keynote speaker at the As Long as the Rivers Flow: Coming Back to the Treaty Relationship in Our Time conference held in Fort McMurray, May 31-June 1. The event was sponsored by the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation and the law firm of Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP. “We are proud to host a moral leader like Archbishop Tutu, who has done such important work for his people in his own country. We hope he can guide us to open a conversation with Canadians about the current state of Treaty relationships, and how we can move forward together, understanding our respective obligations,” said Adam. “Our ancestors signed the treaties to make sure our rights and our lands would always be protected. We have tried to get the government to listen and to honour the treaty obligations, but instead our rights are slowly being stripped away. We must do whatever it takes to ensure our rights are protected now and into the future.” The conference included topics such as re-envisioning the treaties and the power they can hold for First Nations, using strategic litigation to advance rights and best practices for fostering sustainable economic development. Participants had the opportunity to hear from leaders in various fields, network and learn new skills in the advancement of Treaty rights and approach the promise of reconciliation in Canada.