Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin speaks with Inuit qulliq lighter Auja Peter

"Without question, the summit is historically significant. In many respects, the First Nations meeting represents a symbolic beginning to a 10-year process toward irradiating the deplorable and disgraceful social and economic conditions for First Nations communities in Canada," said Chief Stewart Phillip of the Penticton Indian band and president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs just before the summit opened with tribal ceremonies and traditional prayers.