Waswanipi

RCAP 32 contains files from the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in Waswanipi, Quebec. This sitting of the Commission contains presentations on a variety of subjects such as education, health care, unemployment, child and family welfare, and the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.

File contains an individual presentation by Alain Vachon relating to Aboriginal people in the construction industry and the problems they encounter. He states that in his experience, Aboriginals may be passed over for a project in their own community and non-Aboriginal workers may only be hired. He also expresses frustration with earning a lower wage than a non-Aboriginal worker may earn, and says that female construction workers also face discrimination. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an indivdual presentation by Irene Neeposh, a trapper, expressing personal dissatisfaction with government restrictions on Income Security and the use of wood for shelters and campfires. She calls on the Commission to ensure that her way of life on the trapline will not be phased out of existence with more government restrictions.

File contains opening remarks by Matthew Happyjack who reviews the speakers. He introduces Rene Dussault, Co-Chair.

File contains opening remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair, and Bertha Wilson and Mary Sillett, Commissioners, who explains the purpose and objectives of the Commission.

File contains a presentation by Bertha Dixon, secondary post-graduate student, expressing concern over the lack of Aboriginal teachers in post-secondary educational institutions. She believes that a lack of respect between Aboriginal students and non-Aboriginal teachers creates a poor learning environment. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Elder Catherine Cooper believing the Elder Council and the Youth Council should work together to ensure the youth learn about their culture and history. She briefly discusses health care problems and hunting and fishing rights.

File contains a presentation by Chief Allan Happyjack and Jack Blacksmith that first provides a brief history of Waswanipi. Their presentation covers a wide range of issues, including the justice system and policing, hunting and trapping, the environment and health care. The speakers believe that the Canadian and Quebec governments have either ignored, set aside or in breach of major sections of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Edith Gull expressing deep frustration with the drop-out rate of students and the apathy of parents. A new school was built in 1989 but attendance is poor and Gull feels that drug and alcohol abuse, among other social issues, are common roadblocks for getting an education. Gull introduces the next speaker, John Kitchen, chairman of the Elementary School Committee.

File contains a presentation by John Kitchen, chairman of the Elementary School Committee, who reiterates the sentiments of the previous speaker, Edith Gull. Kitchen calls on the Commission to increase funding for more teachers and more supplies for the children. Following the presentation is a lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Leonard Matthew regarding a number of issues relating to the James Bay area. He discusses his group's wish to help in the preservation of "our land, our culture and traditional way of life, and also with our language." Matthew states that more Aboriginals are completing post-secondary education but there are no jobs for them in their home communities. He calls on the Commission to help with funding and employment in the James Bay area. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Lily Sutherland focusing on child and family welfare issues. Sutherland discusses the need for more training of public health officers on First Nations and for workshops on parenting and substance abuse prevention. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Elder Noah Eagle relating his experiences growing up in bush country in the 1920s. He compares his childhood to the childhood of some residents on his First Nation and he expresses sorrow that the culture of his ancestors is disappearing.

File contains a presentation by Paul Dixon stating that the Canadian government has destroyed "most of the hunting societies that have existed since time immemorial." Traplines are being destroyed as forestry operations are wiping out animals' shelter and vegetation for safety of their lives. The cyclical movements of animals and the mating pathways are greatly damaged and Dixon states that innumerable animal and plant species are endangered. He calls on the Commission to help stop the destruction of animals and plants used by trappers for survival.

File contains a presentation by Paul Gull expressing frustration with the lack of funding for Waswanipi School and its programs. Gull calls upon the Commmission to ensure that programs such as the elder-student mentor program, Cree immersion and residential school survivor support groups continue. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners and a previous speaker, Peter Gull.

File contains a presentation by Peter Gull whose corporation's objective is to create local employment in the forestry industry and to bring economic opportunities to the community. He believes that non-fulfilment of the government's obligations with the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement "creates more damage and greater hardship to the individual." Gull calls upon the Commission to pressure the government to respect their obligations according to the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Robert Kanateuat focusing on the adverse effects of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement on his and other First Nations in the James Bay area.

File contains a brief presentation by Romeo Saganash echoing the opinion of the previous presenter, Robert Kanateuat, regarding the fulfillment of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

Concerns about undiagnosed diabetes, a screening project brought about by Cree Elders.