Sustainability is different things to different people, and to different groups of people. To us, sustainability means healthy ecosystems, thriving economies, vibrant communities, and the connections between them. People and economies depend upon on a healthy natural environment to maintain or achieve sustainability.
Imagine a forestry industry without forests or a fishery without fish. The economic sustainability of these industries depends on the sustainability of the forest and fish ecosystems. In the same sense, every living being needs clean water, clean air and a sustainable food source. The environment provides us with all of these needs.
The core of our Building Sustainable Communities program is to assist First Nations to define and create sustainability in their communities. Our priorities are to:
- Assist First Nations in building sustainable communities through integrated community sustainability planning and wide-area planning.
- Promote decision-making that integrates social, economic, cultural and environmental concerns and issues.
- Promote the development and use of environmentally-sustainable community buildings and infrastructure. We assist First Nations in ways to prevent pollution and waste, conserve energy, and minimise water use, while maintaining financially sound operations.