Leaders representing the indigenous people of the United States are calling for greater inclusion in the Federal government's approach to tackling climate change.
The leaders, including representatives from the US territories of American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands met to discuss the issue at the inaugural First Stewards Symposium in July.
The President of the newly formed non-profit indigenous peoples group, First Stewards, Micah McCarty says indigenous people are affected by some of the policies designed to tackle climate change.
"First Stewards was a vision to help get indigenous voices at the table to help shape what needs to be done in response to climate change and that is including providing information that is helping inform policy makers so that we can have a better standing in the future of policy development."
Micah McCarty says it is a responsibility of the federal government to honour the indigenous people.
