Kota Kinabalu: Native title issues are closely connected to environmental concerns due to the valuable natural resources on indigenous lands which are crucial for preserving biodiversity and ecological equilibrium.

Rod Northey former head of a legal firm’s climate Change and Environmental Law Group said in Canada Native Title lands are an acknowledgement of indigenous land rights rooted in historical land use and occupancy. 

“Recognising this is vital for indigenous communities because it confirms their rights to safeguard and oversee their ancestral territories,” he said. 

 He talked about the difficulties in Canada when interacting with indigenous communities living on lands they have occupied for generations.