Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples: Presentation by Rev. Dr. R. Burn Purdon, Rev. Faye Wakeling and Rev. Pierre Goldberger, Members, Montoring Committee on Native Concerns of the Montreal-Ottawa Conference, United Church of Canada

This file contains a presentation by Rev. Dr. R. Burn Purdon, Rev. Faye Wakeling and Rev. Pierre Goldberger. The United Church has congregations at Kahnawake and Kanesatake and during the Oka Crisis the ministers "were shocked at the violations of human rights and international conventions: the negation of freedom of access of spiritual leaders; food and medicine; and the free circulation of persons." The group makes a number of recommendations, including accelerated settlement of land claims; the just compensation for the loss of Aboriginal peoples' historical right to exercise sovereignty over their land and society; and recognition of self-government and sovereignty which will be defined by Aboriginal peoples and will vary from nation to nation as an inherent right." A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.