Port Alberni

Deals with compensable harms done to former students of the Alberni Indian Residential School and vicarious liability of the part of the United Church of Canada.

Comments on the treaty which involves signatories from five First Nations, the Province of British Columbia and Canada.

Presents a letter, protesting the nonrenewal of Morris Swadesh's contract by the City College of New York in 1949, signed by the chief of the Mowachat band. Morris Swadesh, who taught people how to write their language (Nuu-chah-nulth or Nootka), was much appreciated by the Aht people, thus his nonrenewal caused great concern.

Presents the background to the Blackwater v. Plint case, which was about the harm done to children at the Alberni Indian Residential School and the implications of this decision for the United Church of Canada.

Planning Thesis, (M.A.)--University of Waterloo, 2004.

RCAP 14 contains the proceedings of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples meeting at Port Alberni, British Columbia on Wednesday, May 20, 1992. The presentations therein discuss a variety of topics ranging from education, housing, self-government, and other First Nations issues. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.

File contains opening remarks for the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Port Alberni, British Columbia on Wednesday, May 20, 1992. Commissioner for the day, Chief Nelson Keitlah, and Co-Chairman Georges Erasmus welcome the participants and discuss the mandate and goals of the Commission.

The file contains a presentation by Bev Julian, Native Women's Association of Canada. Julian discusses the personal impact of suicide on herself, her training both as a social worker and a traditional healer, and some of the work she has done which has healed people who were considering suicide. Following her presentation Chairperson Hodgson thanks her for sharing her views.

File contains a presentation by Bunt Cranmer, United Native Nations, Local 144. Cranmer discusses his organization which he describes as "part of the B.C. body of the United Native Nations and Ernie Gray is our acting president. And the United Native Nations B.C. body is part of the Native Council of Canada. And these two organizations are the lobbying force for the off-reserve, status, non-status, Inuit and Metis people."

File contains a presentation by Chief Bert Mack, Toquaht Nation Economic Development. Chief Mack discusses his ideas on the importance of self-reliance with respect to government funding agencies and self-governance. Mack also highlights a complaint about the conduct of consulting firms towards his people.

File contains a presentation by Chief Charlie Cootes, Uchucklesaht Residential Schools. Cootes relates the often painful history of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth's experience with residential schools, and its legacy on their communities.

File contains a presentation by Chief Councillor Danny Watts. Watts discusses housing and infrastrcture, as well as his orgnaization's need for increased revenue to meet its obligations. Watts also discusses the Federal government and his views on affordable housing provision.

File contains a presentation by Chief Councillor Earl Smith. Smith addresses his concern over justice, and how it relates to self-government and the lands claims process. Smith sees an indigenous system of justice based on his people's values as fundamental to self-governance. Following the presentation is a brief conversation between Mr. Smith and Commissioner Erasmus on the topics discussed.

File contains a presentation by Chief Councillor, Francis Frank, Tla-O-Qui-Aht First Nations Financial Relations between Governments. Chief Frank's presentation discusses relations between Federal and Provincial governments and First Nations, and what he thinks the is need for governments to adjust their attitude in dealing with each other. Frank discusses housing issues, and the need for governments to demonstrate trust and faith in their relationship with First Nations.

File contains a presentation by Chief Councillor, Kelly Dennis, Ohiaht Child Protection. Kelly discusses the traditional cultural approach of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth people to childcare, the breakdown of the traditional process during colonization, the impact of the residential school system, the need for self-governance, social programs in place and who administers them, and what can be improved in Mr. Dennis' view.

File contains a presentation by Chief George Watts. Watts discusses the land claims, or Treaty, process in British Columbia, the Canadian Constitution, and self-governance issues. Watts lays out how he sees the three issues as intertwined, and the resolution of them to be related. Following the presentation the presenter discusses some of these issues with Commissioners Erasmus, and Robinson.

File contains a presentation by Chief Gerry Jack, Muchaht (phonetic) Culture. Jack discusses his people's traditional cultural views on governance and territory. Following the presentation is a conversation between Chief Jack and Commissioner Georges Erasmus on some of the ideas in Jack's presentation.

File contains a presentation by Chief Councillor Jack Thompson regarding the distribution and structure of Social Services on the reserves of the Nuu-chah-nulth (Nootka) First Nation. Thompson makes some suggestions about how resources could be better utilized, and discusses the amtter with Commissioners Erasmus, Robinson, and Keitlah.

File contains a presentation by Chief Sidney Sam Senior of the Ahousaht Education Authority. Sidney Sam discusses his views on the on-reserve education system and makes a series of reccomendations (including funding and cultural concerns) regarding what he thinks should be done to enhance it. Following the presentation is a discussion between Sam and Commissioners Erasmus, Robinson, and Keitlah regarding the issues raised in the presentation.

File contains a presentation by Chief Simon Lucas, Hesquiat Tribe Access to Sea Resources. Lucas discusses the relationship of his people with the ocean and the resources therein, as well as how it forms part of their worldview. He critiques contemporary Western views of resource usage, and discusses the importance of sea resources. Following the presentation is a discussion between Lucas and Commissioners Erasmus, Robinson, and Keitlah regarding sea issues.

File contains a presentation by Dave Barron of the Pacific Metis Federation. Barron discusses the story of his people, their neglect by government, his views on Bill C-31 and how the government has divided Aboriginal peoples starting at the family level. Barron concludes by recommending that "some form of legislation be enacted within the near future to release our people from the bonds of Bill C-31, if they should desire." Following the presentation is a discussion between Barron and Commissioner Erasmus on the ideas raised in the presentation.

File contains a presentation by Debbie Foxcraft, Manager, USMA Nuu-chah-nulth Housing and Related Infrastructure. Commissioner Georges Erasmus asks Foxcraft a variety of questions related to her organization and its activities in the sphere of child and family services to which Foxcraft replies. Following this are some comments by Commissioner for the day Nelson Keitlah on children's issues.

File contains a presentation by Denny Grisdale, District No. 70 School Board. Grisdale discusses the trust and relationship between his School District and the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council. He relates several anecdotes about the importance of First Nations language instruction, First Nations teaching approachs, and respect for First Nations culture in a more general sense. Grisdale then introduces the next presenter who is also from his school board, Donna Brett.

File contains a presentation by Donna Brett, Former Chairperson of British Columbia School District No. 70. Brett is introduced by the preceding presenter, Denny Grisdale. Brett presents an artistic picture to the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council "in Recognition of the Growing Co-operation Between the School District and Its People." Following Brett's brief remarks on the symbol of the two organization's relationship, Danny Grisdale briefly discusses some of the contracts between his School District and the Tribal Council.

File contains a presentation by Elder Moses Smith of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth people. Smith discusses his people historical and traditional society from a standpoint of governance and the family. Commissioner Erasmus asks Smith if there are any special concerns he has and Smith replies by discussing the importance of having an economic land base to his people.

File contains a presentation by Jack McDonald, Port Alberni Native Council. McDonald discusses what it means to be a Metis in British Columbia, and the challenges that confront his people as well as what he characterizes as an ignorant government and populace when it comes to Metis issues. Following the presentation Commissioner Georges Erasmus discusses some issues of Metis identity in British Columbia with McDonald.

File contains a presentation by Jackie Adams on behalf of herself and a group of Aboriginal woman. Adams discusses some of the issues facing Aboriginal women in her community and explains why she thinks it is neccessary to have a community centre and treatment programs geared specifically towards Aboriginal women's issues. There is also a discussion between Adams and Commissioners Georges Erasmus and Viola Robinson regarding her presentation and the issues raised therein.

File contains a presentation by Laverne Cook. Cook explains how she has been hired by the Port Alberni Friendship Centre to do a survey of "the disabled natives in the Port Alberni area" and how she feels that their needs in areas such as transportation, housing, and medicine need to be addressed.

File contains a presentation by Lisa Galak, Tseshaht Nation environment representative. Galak describes how pollution and other resource exploitation has adversly effected her people's traditional lands, and her hope that action can be taken to correct the damage. Following the presentation is a discussion between Galak, one Chief Charlie (unidentified) and Commissioners Erasmus and Robinson on measures taken to control pollution, and governments.

File contains a presentation by Louie Frank. Frank relates a message from a Nuu-Chah-Nulth elder to the Commission discussing his hopes and his people's hopes for it. Following this Commissioner Erasmus thanks Frank and sums up his ideas on the day's proceedings. Chief Nelson Keitlah then closes the days proceedings with a prayer in the Nuh-Chah-Nulth language.

File contains a presentation by Maureen Sager, Environmental Coalition. Sager states that she did not realize she would be on the agenda at the hearing, then goes on to outline the views of her group on First Nations issues in a brief presentation. She discusses their interpretation of Canadian history, the need for new negotiations between Canada and First Nations on a nation-to-nation basis, environmental issues regarding the local pulp mill, and why her organization feels the ongoing Constitutional talks (at the time of the presentation) were inadequate.

File contains a presentation by Charlie Thompson, President of hte Port Alberni Friendship Centre. Thompson tells the history of his people, the problems caused by colonialism and the government's approach, his personal experience with residential schools, some issues of self-governance, and the story of his particular Friendship Centre. Following the presentation is a discussion between Thompson and Commissioners Erasmus and Robinson on the challenges facing urban Aboriginals.

File contains a presentation by Tat Tatoosh, Linguistic Graduate, University of Victoria. Tatoosh discusses Nuu-Chah-Nulth language programs for children within the British Columbia School District No. 70/Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council area. Tatoosh discusses the Nuu-Chah-Nulth language, its importance to the culture, Euro-Canadians difficulty in learning it, and curriculum development. Following the presentation is a discussion on language and culture issues in education between Commissioner Georges Erasmus, Commissioner Viola Robinson, Tatoosh, and previous presenter Denny Grisdale.

File contains a presentation by Tim Paul, Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council, Curriculum Co-ordinator. Paul discusses the partnership and relations between the Tribal Council and British Columbia School District No. 11. Also included are some remarks by School District reprentative and preceding presenter Denny Grisdale on similar issues. Following the presentation is a short discussion between Commissioner Georges Erasmus and the two presenters.

File contains a presentation by Trustee Heather Maloney, School District Liaison Committee. Maloney discusses how the liaison committee between the District No. 70 School Board (British Columbia) and the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council operates. Following her presentation are a series of remarks by the two preceding presenters, Denny Grisdale, and Donna Brett, also from the School District, on programs and policies they have implemented with relation to Nuu-Chah-Nulth students.

File contains a presentation by Violet Monday, Wife of the Chief Councillor of the Ucluelet First Nation for Health Affairs. Monday reads a presentation compiled by the First Nations' family care worker and health worker for the Commission.