Fort St. John

Study investigated links between cultural identity and well-being for women in danger of sexual exploitation in Fort St. John, Prince George, and Vancouver, British Columbia.

File contains an Opening Prayer and Opening Remarks by Madeline Davis, Elder, and Commissioner Georges Erasmus for the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Fort St. John, British Columbia, November 19, 1991. File also includes introductory remarks by Commissioner of the Day Michelle Good, and Chief Stewart Cameron, Tribal Chief of the Saulteau First Nation.

File contains the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Fort St. John, B.C. November 19, 1992. File contains presentations from individuals, First Nations groups, and the town mayor. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.

File contains the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Fort St. John, B.C. November 20, 1992. File contains presentations from individuals, First Nations, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.

File contains a presentation by Cliff Calliou. Calliou, a Cree man from Kelly Lake, British Columbia, outlines a detailed programme for Aboriginal self-governance which pertains to a wide variety of areas. Amongst the areas Caillou addresses are governance structures (including a council of Elders), government funding issues, the need for a land and resource base, education, history, culture, health care, ethics, social services, and justice concerns. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with Calliou.

File contains an individual presentation by Leo Rutledge, one of twelve advisors to the heritage conservation branch of British Columbia. Rutledge invites the days participants to comment to him on potential heritage sites to be designated for provincial protection. Following Rutldege's remarks the Commission adjourns the day's session.

File contains a presentation by Buddy Napoleon. Napoleon presents a history of Aboriginal peoples from a legal perspective from early colonization up until the present day in the Treaty Eight area. Napoleon then makes a series of policy recommendations to the Commission to rectify his concerns with government actions in the area. Following Napoleon's presentation, Napoleon and previous presenter Chief Berni Metecheah field questions from Commissioner Georges Erasmus related to issues facing the Halfway River First Nation.

File contains a presentation by Carol Thompson focusing on the lack of recognition of Métis issues in British Columbia, in the areas of culture, drug and alcohol rehabilitation and the lack of resources for Elders to receive proper health care.

File contains a presentation by Chief Berni Metecheah, Halfway First Nation. Chief Metecheah outlines some of his concerns over resource development (specifically logging activities) disrupting trap lines, and associated pollution. Metecheah also highlights his concerns with sport hunters wasting moose carcasses and over-hunting in the area, as well as the detrimental impact of herbicides on his community.

File contains a presentation by Clarence Apsassin, Blueberry River Reserve. He relates a brief history of Aboriginal people in North America from before 1492 down to the present day. Following this he discusses some of the history of Treaty 8 people, and his own work with various Aboriginal organizations. Apsassin makes a series of recommendations that Aboriginal governments be given more jurisdiction over their own affairs, and control over their own land and resources.

File contains a presentation by Diane Dokkie. Dokkie discusses Aboriginal education concerns in Fort St. John. She emphasizes the need for curriculum changes, greater understanding and awareness on the part of non-Aboriginal educators, and related concerns. Dokkie also discusses band schools. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners engage Dokkie in a discussion on some of these issues.

File contains a presentation by Grand Chief George Behn, Fort Nelson First Nation. Behn relays the history of his people from the time they signed Treaty 8 until the present. Behn discusses problems with the government and resource companies, and the settlement which his First Nation made for oil royalty revenue. Following the presentation Commissioner Erasmus discusses resource use and pollution issues with Behn.

File contains an a presentation by Chief George Desjarlais of the West Moberly First Nation. He discusses the history of his people and their entrance into Treaty Eight. Desjarlais states that the government has not lived up to its end of the Treaty, which was intended to provide for peaceful co-existence and shared land management by the two peoples. Following the presentation Commissioner Erasmus discusses some of the points raised with Desjarlais.

File contains an a presentation by Gilbert Capot Blanc of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association. Blanc's presentation gives an account of the history of First Nations in Northeastern British Columbia, and how they came into Treaty Eight with the Crown, and the aftermath of entering into Treaty. Blanc discusses the Dunneza (Beaver), Cree, and Saulteaux inhabitants of the area from the 1790s onward. Commissioner Erasmus questions Blanc on how the Saulteaux (originally from the Lake Winnipeg area of what is now Manitoba) came to the area and Blanc describes what he knows of this history.

File contains a presentation by Cree Elder Madeline Davis. Davis delivers a personal address (translated into English from Cree) on colonization and its impact on her people. Davis discusses a wide variety of concerns including hunting rights, trapping, reserve life, education, Treaty Eight, and other issues.

File contains a presentation by Mayor Pat McMahon. McMahon discusses a variety of concerns including urban Aboriginal issues generally, municipal governance issues, education, economic development, justice issues, family violence, self-governance, and the Constitution. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with McMahon.

File contains a presentation by Peter Haavlik, Director, Treaty Eight Tribal Association. Haavlik discusses his organizations views of Treaty Eight and the ongoing land claims and self-government process its members are engaged in with the Federal government. He makes a series of recommendations to fix problems he sees with the process as it is currently ongoing in British Columbia, one of which is to copy positive aspects of the Saskatchewan government's Treaty Land Entitlement process. Following the presentation Commissioner Erasmus discusses some of the issues raised with Havlik.

File contains a presentation by President Jim Evoy, Northwest Territories Federation of Labour. Evoy discusses Aboriginal employment and labour unions as a vehicle for social change. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss the issues raised with Evoy.

File contains a presentation by Rick Krehbiel, Regional Director of the Ministry of Environment in Fort St. John. Krehbiel discusses a variety of issues from his perspective as an official of the British Columbia government, who previously worked for the Saskatchewan government in the north of that province.

File contains an a presentation by Sharon Venne of the Saulteau First Nation. She provides her perspective on Aboriginal governance, the Treaty and the failure of non-Aboriginal society to live up to it, conflicts with the province over wildlife management rights, and educational matters. Following Venne's presentation Erasmus discusses some of these issues with her. Venne also discusses the origins of her First Nation in Manitoba, and a trip there to meet with distant Saulteaux relations of her Nation. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains a presentation by Mayor Stephen Thorlakson of Fort St. John, British Columbia. Thorkalson extends a welcome on behalf of the City of Fort St. John to the Commission, and makes some comments on the City's history as well as his hopes for the Commission. Following his presentation the assembled Commissioners question Thorlakson on a number of municipal issues including affirmative action programs, and Aboriginal representation on City Council.

File contains a presentation by Treaty Eight Tribal Council representatives Reg Whiten, and Chief Stewart Cameron. The Tribal Council's presentation includes video excerpts (not included in the transcript) and an oral presentation dealing with issues of concern to it. Foremost amongst these are concerns with resource development interfering with traditional lifestyles and spiritual areas, and pollution. The presenters also discuss the difficulties they have experienced in working with various levels of government.

File contains a presentation by Treena Miller of the North East Native Advancing Society. Miller discusses her organization's Board of Directors who form the governing body responsible for "the program development, program delivery and the funding allocation to meet the training needs of the Aboriginal people in North East B.C." Miller then discusses the educational training issues which her organization has identified through their experiences with programs in the North East. These include funding, staffing, and cultural concerns.