Ontario

Argues that scholars have oversimplified Haudenosaunee creation stories and that John Napoleon Brinton Hewitt's versions, which have not received much attention, should be re-examined.

RCAP 110 contains files for a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Island, Ontario. This sitting of the Commission includes presentations incorporating the Great Law Reading and a Wampum Belt Reading.

RCAP 111 contains Volume 2 of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Island, Ontario. This sitting of the Commission includes presentations groups concerned with education, law & justice as well as groups presenting regarding health issues. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.

RCAP 116 contains files from a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Nipissing First Nation Band Complex, North Bay, Ontario on Monday, May 10, 1993. This sitting of the Commission contains official and individual presentations from members of the Nipissing First Nations.

File contains an opening prayer and welcoming remarks from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Nipissing First Nation Band Complex, North Bay, Ontario on Monday, May 10, 1993. Following an opening prayer by Alfred Fisher, and welcoming remarks by Nipissing's Chief Gerald Beaucage, Commissioners Bertha Wilson and Mary Sillett discuss the mandate, goals, and composition of the Commission.

RCAP 120 contains a transcript of the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Chippewa Community Centre, Sarnia, Ontario, Monday, May 10, 1993. This sitting of the Commission includes presentations by various individuals, Aboriginal and community groups.

RCAP 125 contains a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at The Fern Resort, Orillia, Ontario. This portion includes presentations of individuals made at a round table concerned with self-government; presentations dealing with Youth; presentations discussing the topic of Aboriginal women in the Aboriginal community; as well as presentations dealing with the Orillia Fish Weirs and a separate presentation concerning the "Extinguishment of Treaty Rights."

File contains the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Sioux Lookout, Ontario, on Tuesday, December 1, 1992. File contains presentations by First Nations and community groups. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.

File contains an opening prayer and opening remarks from the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Sioux Lookout, Ontario, on Tuesday, December 1, 1992. Facilitator Charles Fox introduces the opening speakers: Mayor of Sioux Lookout Lawrence Martin, Chairman of the Windigo Tribal Council Frank McKay, Member of Parliament for Kenora-Rainy River Bob Nault, and Commissioner Paul Chartrand. All these speakers make welcoming remarks to the Commission in the order given.

This file contains closing remarks by Chief Mike Mitchell.

Historical note:

File contains an evening session round table discussion on Secondary School issues held at the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Canadore College, Weaver Auditorium, North Bay, Ontario, Tuesday, May 11, 1993. Participants John Nakogee, John Long, Christina Duffy, Theresa Phillips, and Glen Sutherland discuss cultural, jurisdictional, financial, boarding, curriculum, and community concerns with each other and with Commissioners Sillett and Wilson.

File contains an evening session round table discussion on Post-Secondary Education issues held at the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, Canadore College, Weaver Auditorium, North Bay, Ontario, Tuesday, May 11, 1993. Participants Virgina Wabano, Shawn Gladwish, Allen Sailors, Larry McLeod, Joe Skouras, and Wendy Young discuss post-secondary education concerns with each other and with Commissioners Sillett and Wilson.

File contains a presentation by Assistant Chief Francois Vincent giving an overview of the history of the Huron-Wendat people, and specifically the people who settled at Lorette, near Quebec City.

File contains a presentation by Alex Skead that describes his personal experiences with learning from daily life: "So much things to learn in life." He recounts several legends relating to educating Aboriginal youth on his First Nations about living with nature, utilizing sweat lodges for healing and preserving Aboriginal languages.

File contains an individual presentation by Brian Tuesday stating that repealing the Indian Act "will not solve anything simply by reason of indoctrination; psychological conditioning." He believes self-determination "can't be legislated, it can't be negotiated, and it can't be enshrined in the Constitution, because it comes from within."

File contains a presentation by Chief Norm Wesley stating that Aboriginal peoples are bound together by a sense of togetherness, family, equality and sharing, which was given to Aboriginals by the Creator. Elders must work with youth to give them a sense of the past and parents must instill in their children respect for others and themselves.

File contains an individual presentation by Emile Nakogee stating that Aboriginal peoples should "conserve our lifestyles, our culture, our languages and follow what our Creator created for us within the lands." He is concerned for the problems facing Aboriginal youth and states that parents need to involve elders and the community in raising children.

This file contains an individual presentation by Ernie Benedict focusing on broken treaties promises or treaties ignored altogether by the Canadian government. Benedict provides some history on early European contact in the Akwesasne. He questions where in his First Nations treaty was it stated that the St. Lawrence Seaway could be built without input from Aboriginals living in that area: "Where is the law in which an engineering drawing can supersede a treaty?"

File contains a presentation by John Cheechou relating his experiences as an Aboriginal student from the Moose Factory, Ontario area in the non-Aboriginal educational world. He states that "there is no plausible reason why our First Nations cannot help develop a customized school year calendar which could be quite different from the current calendar, and to develop an appropriate learning environment." Cheechou calls on the Commission to help in the establishment of Aboriginal elementary, high school and post-secondary education facilities in northern Ontario.

File contains an individual presentation by Stan Wesley, a 19-year-old man from Moose Factory, focusing on the loss of Aboriginal culture as detrimental to Aboriginal youth in Canada. He feels that youth who leave reserves for the city have no resources to succeed, and reserve youth are lost in the shuffle of bureaucracy as well. Wesley says his generation are the next leaders and they must have complete understanding of their culture. Following the presentation is a lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners and Eli Chilton and Stan Wesley, previous speakers.

This file contains an individual presentation by Tom Porter that first provides some history on Wampum Belts. He states that peaceful, spiritual solutions must be found to solve the problems of Aboriginals in Canada. Porter believes that "the Creator never abandoned us...and that is why we are survivors and we will have a better life tomorrow."

Historical note:

This file contains a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at The Fern Resort, Orillia, Ontario. This portion includes the opening remarks made by Mark Douglas, moderator of a round table discussion of self-government.

This file contains a portion of Volume 2 of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Island, Ontario. This portion of the Volume includes the opening prayer given by Ernie Benedict and Taylor Montour as well as opening remarks made by Facilitator Alma Ransom, Grand Chief Mike Mitchell, Co-Chair Georges Erasmus and Co-president Rene Dussault. Also included is a brief presentation by 3 to 6 grade students concerning problems facing the Mohawk reservation of Akwesasne.

This file contains a portion of Volume 2 of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Island, Ontario. This portion of the Volume includes a presentation given by grade 6 students at Tsi Snaihne School and elders of Iakhihshotha on the subject of the "Adopt-a-Tota" program.

File contains a presentation by Albert Fisher, followed by a Closing Prayer for the day's sitting of the Commission at the Nipissing First Nations Band Complex, North Bay, Ontario, May 19, 1993. Albert Fisher offers some personal reflections on Aboriginal Non-Aboriginal relations in Ontario as they pertain to politics, the legal system, community and individual relations.

File contains a presentation by Alex Cywink. He discusses his views on Aboriginal issues in Ontario, including his discussions with Howard Hampton and the provincial government, the importance of honouring existing treaties before negotiating new agreements, and his views on the work of the Royal Commission. Following the presentation is a discussion between Cywink and Commissioners Dussault and Erasmus on the issues raised.

File contains a presentation by Allan Hunter. Hunter is a student from Mushkegowuk Student Services. Hunter discusses the composition of his organization and then introduces the next presenter, Gaby Bird.

File contains a presentation by Andrew Wesley focusing on issues relating to the placement of Aboriginal children in foster homes, the role of elders in Aboriginal children and youths' lives and the Euro-centric view of Canadian Aboriginal history taught in schools. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains a presentation by Bill Rogoza and Alanna Downey-Baxter relating to tourism in northern Ontario. The corporation is a non-profit organization formed in 1987 to represent First Nations in the tourism industry. He states that tourism can be a part of an economic development base in northern Ontario, and it is a land-based activity which is culturally appropriate for Aboriginal peoples. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

This file contains a portion of Volume 2 of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Island, Ontario. This portion of the Volume includes a presentation given by Vincenette Cook for Akwesasne Adult Education Program on the subject of the educational system in Akwesasne. Questions from assembled Commissioners follow.

This file contains a portion of Volume 2 of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Island, Ontario. This portion of the Volume includes a presentation given by Rob Cree for the Akwesasne Mohawk Board of Education of on the subject of the educational system in Akwesasne.

File contains a presentation by Carol Croxon. Croxon, who works for the Ojibway Family Resource Centre, Nipissing First Nation, discusses family violence and associated issues. Following the presentation Croxon discusses some of the issues raised with Commissioners Wilson and Sillett.

File contains a presentation by Chief Edmond Metatawabin describing the arrival of missionaries in the James Bay and the missions and residential schools that were constructed. He describes the St. Anne's Residential School Reunion and Conference in August 1992 as the beginning of healing for those former students in attendance. He urges the Commission to look at the findings of the Conference and to help address the healing of the survivors in his community and throughout Canada. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains a presentation by Chief Gerald Beaucage of the Nipissing First Nation. Chief Beaucage discusses the demographic composition of his First Nation, Bill C-31, on and off-reserve populations, housing issues, the Nation's land base and related land issues, a proposed "First Nation Chartered Land Act" with 17 components, land claims, education concerns, and language concerns.

File contains a presentation by Chief Gerald Beaucage, Nipissing First Nation. Chief Beaucage discusses the de'Medici North Bay Inc. collaborative fur venture, world fur markets, and related issues. Chief Beaucage also discusses other economic activity within the First Nation's industrial park.

File contains a presentation by Chief Norm Wesley of the Moose Cree First Nation provides a brief history of the Moose Factory area, mentioning in particular the fur trade and the Hudson's Bay Company. Wesley states that Aboriginal peoples can't go back to their original way of life and calls upon the Elders in the community to keep the traditional ways alive by sharing their knowledge with the youth.

File contains a presentation by Chief Randy Kapashesit. Kapashesit discusses the importance of sorting out issues of power, citizenship, and jurisdiction when considering Constitutional questions and the mandate of the Royal Commission itself. Kapashesit also states that any self-governance should be based on traditional models, rather than the Indian Act model of government.

File contains a presentation by Claire Campbell, Community Health Nurse, Lawrence Commanda Community Health Clinic, Nipissing First Nation. Campbell discusses health concerns on the Nipissing, Dokis, and Tomagami First Nations. Following the presentation Commissioners Sillett and Wilson discuss some of the issues raised with Campbell.

File contains an individual presentation by Clifford Trapper. Trapper is a Metis man presenting on behalf of his grandfather, a Metis elder of the James Bay area. Trapper's presentation discusses uniqueness of Aboriginal culture and the need for government help with the decline of the traditional economy. It also touches on issues like pollution and self-governance.

File contains a presentation by Dave Mowat, a University of Manitoba student, regarding education funding, band governance, self-government, and issues he's encountered as a Bill C-31 person.

File contains a presentation by Chief Tim Restoule of the Dokis First Nation. Chief Restoule discusses land rights, hunting and fishing, economic development, education and health concerns. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with Chief Restoule.

The file contains a presentation by Dominic Eshkakogan. Eshkakogan, an Elder from the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, discusses the legacy of residential schools, the need for spiritual healing, the impact of diabetes on Aboriginal people, language issues, problems getting funding to community level programs. Eshkakogan references the personal impact these issues have had on him as a First Nations politician, residential school survivor, and someone dying of diabetes-related illnesses.

File contains a presentation by Ernest Beck. Beck discusses social and child services arrangements in James and Hudson Bay communities. Specifically he discusses his organization Paykotayno, which was designated a Children's Aid Society in April, 1987. Following the presentation Commissioner Erasmus discusses the composition of Beck's organization with him.

This file contains a portion of Volume 2 of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Island, Ontario. This portion of the Volume includes a presentation given by Ontario Provincial Police Inspector Ernie Houghton and Chief of Police Brian David, on the subject of the Akwesasne court system. As well as questions from the assembled Commissioners to this presentation and those made previously.

File contains a presentation by John Beck, an education consultant working with the Moose Cree Education Authority. Beck gives his address however on behalf of the regional educational body. Beck discusses the composition of the regional board, and programming they have undertaken including Native Studies and student centres for youth.

File contains a presentation by Karen Commanda. Commanda, a First Nations librarian from the Nipissing First Nation, discusses funding concerns, discrimination concerns, and allege misappropriation of funds meant for First Nations libraries. Without naming names Commanda asks that the Commission recommend an independent investigation into these concerns. Following the presentation Commissioner Wilson poses questions on some of the issues raised which are answered by community member Reg McCormick.

File contains a presentation made by the Kasabonika First Nations. Theresa Brown and Jimmy Anderson spoke to the topic of social inequities on the reserve and process of the Kasabonika First Nations self-governance. Also contained are questions and comments from the assembled Commissioners as well as their closing remarks. Robert Nault was also asked to speak. Abel McKay gave the closing prayer.

File contains a presentation by Lawrence Martin. Martin, the mayor of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, and the Executive Director of Wawatay. Martin is a Cree man originally from Moose Factory, who now lives in a predominately Ojibway community. Martin discusses three primary concerns that he hopes to see the Royal Commission make recommendations on: education, communications (media), and language.

File contains a presentation by London District Chiefs, Chief Al Day. Day, Chief of Onayataka, an Oneida First Nation, discusses the need to dismantle Indian Affairs, self-governance and nation to nation affairs, land claims, jurisdictional issues, education, justice concerns, and self-determination. Following the presentation Chief Day discusses some of the issues raised with Commissioners Chartrand and Erasmus.

File contains a presentation by Marie Pitawanakwat and Carol Martin relating to "the relationship within and among ourselves, the Native people," because of their experiences as Aboriginal women and businesswomen. They have experienced oppression and paternalism from Aboriginal men relating to starting their own businesses. They believe self-government cannot be achieved when Aboriginal men do not consider Aboriginal women as their equal. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.