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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Ecology North is concerned environmental issues will be overlooked in the wake of current economic troubles. The environmental agency held a 24-hour Vigil for Action on Climate Change from Wednesday to Thursday at the legislative assembly.

Ecology North volunteer Martin Zibeau and his son Emile camped out in front of the legislature on Wednesday night. They took part in the 24-hour Vigil for Action on Climate Change, which took place Wednesday and Thursday. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo

Events included a candle light vigil, breakfast, a prayer from Bishop Murray Chatlain and overnight camping. The event began with a prayer and a song from Besha Blondin, a North Slavey medicine woman. Blondin also conducted a feed-the-fire ceremony.

Blondin said people must work together to find solutions to climate change, and that a common vision is needed to promote the well-being of the natural world.

"There is a spirit in all of nature," said Blondin. "It's not an object that we can use for our benefit."

Ecology North program director Doug Ritchie said this is the first time they have held the event.

"We want to have two issues," said Ritchie. "We want to reflect on climate change. We want to raise the profile of this issue with the territorial government and the federal government."

Climate change is occurring faster than we think, Ritchie said, and it is time to find alternatives to high cost of oil. He doesn't want to see environmental issues forgotten while there are current problems with the economy.

"We import 445,000,000 litres of diesel every year," said Ritchie. "In the future it could be more expensive than it is today. We really need to work on ways to reduce our dependency on oil. We need to look at our own sources like biomass and hydroelectricity."

"We want to raise awareness," said Shannon Ripley, also of Ecology North. "We want people to keep talking about this issue. We need to make better decisions about it. It can't be one thing or another," she said, referring to the economy or the environment.

It is time to try new sources of energy, Ritchie said:

"There are many. Some of them are bound to work."