September, 2003 is the beginning of the 16th year of continued operations of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak - Natural Resources Secretariat (NRS). Highlights of NRS activities during 2002/03 are:

• various proposals for MKO and the MKO First Nations were completed, including the successful 2003/04 corporate funding submission to Indian and Northern Affairs Headquarters for the MKO organization;
• NRS continued to develop and implement the MKO Technical Strategy for the Management of Lands, Waters and Natural Resources;
• NRS maintained efforts to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between MKO and the Minister of Manitoba Industry, Trade and Mines and has initiated the development of a draft framework for Impact and Benefit Agreements for use by the MKO First Nations in negotiations with mining companies;
• the pre-negotiation planning phase of the "Use of Local Lumber in MKO First Nations' Housing Construction" has been completed and NRS has assisted the MKO First Nations in accessing forest resources and developing Forest Management Plans;
• NRS continued to support the MKO First Nations in the implementation of the Treaty Land Entitlement Framework Agreement;
• several MKO First Nations have received support from NRS in the conduct of traditional land use studies, including a Global Positioning System mapping initiative and the transfer of original files maintained by NRS since 1991 to assist the capacity development of several First Nations;
• NRS achieved intervener status in the Manitoba Hydro Application to Increase Diesel Service Rates in MKO communities and has retained an expert witness, submitted evidence and is currently preparing for the upcoming hearings of the Manitoba Public Utilities Board;
• presentations on behalf of MKO were prepared and submitted to Standing Committees of the House of Commons and Senate of Canada on Bill C-6 (the Specific Claims Resolution Act), Bill C-7 (the First Nations Governance Act) and Bill C-19 (the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act);
• several presentations to First Nation leadership, MKO membership and government officials were delivered on a broad range of natural resources, agreement implementation and Treaty-related issues;
• NRS was invited to conduct workshops at the MKO Economic Development Forum and the MKO Housing Corporation Conference;
• three MKO Radio Shows were conducted on a variety of regional issues;
• NRS staff actively participated in meetings of the Protected Areas Working Group, the Local Lumber Working Group and the East Side Plan Advisory Committee;
• NRS has been invited to participate in the Aboriginal Working Group on Species at Risk and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC); and
• the NRS Research Director continues to serve as the technical representative on behalf of the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami and the Metis National Council at meetings of the Joint Management Committee on the International Humane Trapping Standards Agreement.