RCAP 62 contains files from a round table sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Mic Mac Native Friendship Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia. This sitting of the Commission contains presentations by various Aboriginal organizations in the fields of health, housing, justice, urban development, and education.
File contains a presentation by Cheryl Lynn Hagan-Deschamps of the Tawaak Housing Association. Hagan-Deschamps discusses her organizations work in providing urban Aboriginal housing, and recommends that Aboriginal organizations be exempted from government cutbacks to housing funds going on at the time. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss Aboriginal housing and funding concerns with Hagan-Deschamps.
File contains a presentation by Christine Gibson, Co-ordinator fo the Mi'kmaq Child Development Project. Gibson discusses the general child care situation in Canada, in Nova Scotia, and amongst Aboriginal Canadians. Gibson then discusses the specific operation of her project and makes a variety of recommendations for its enhancement. Following the presentation Commissioners Erasmus and Robinson discuss the project and related child care issues with Gibson.
File contains a presentation by Della Maguire, Drug and Alcohol Counsellor at the MicMac Native Friendship Centre. Maguire makes a series of recommendations to the Commission for increased funding, staffing, and assistance. Following Maguire's presentation Commissioners Erasmus and Robinson discuss some of the issues raised with her.
File contains a presentation by Gloria Christmas, Native Justice Court Worker. Christmas, after a brief description of her job, makes a series of recommendations to the Commission on hiring Aboriginal interpreters, Aboriginal court workers, and Aboriginal corrections personnel, in the justice system.
File contains a presentation by Betty Thomas and Jean Clayton of the Metro United Way (Halifax). Thomas and Clayton discuss their organizational history and their Multicultralism/Anti-Racism Program. Following the presentation Commissioners Erasmus discusses the program with them.
File contains a presentation by Director Gordon King of the Micmac Native Friendship Centre (Halifax, NS). King discusses the role Friendship Centres play in communities, their non-political nature, and the success they have had working with urban Aboriginal populations. King introduces the days presenters from the Friendship Centre and states to the Commissioners that they "have the powers to start the process for change to ensure a better life for Aboriginal peoples residing in urban areas.
File contains a presentation by Crisis Intervention Officer Marie Francis of the Micmac Native Friendship Centre (Halifax, NS). Francis discusses the financial difficulties faced by the Status Indian population in Canada who lives off reserve, and states that Bands often do not live up to their fiduciary obligations to off-reserve people.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Patsy Paul-Martin
Description
File contains a presentation by Patsy Paul-Martin of the Millbrook Native Learning Centre. Paul-Martin discusses "the major barriers the Native participants face when they enrol in the Millbrook Native Learning Centre that impedes their upgrading to success." She highlights a variety of concerns and makes some recommendations for addressing them. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with Paul-Martin, after which are closing remarks and the conclusion of the day's sitting of the Royal Commision.
File contains a presentation by T'mas Young of the Micmac AIDS Task Force. Young makes a wide array of recommendations to the Commission related to Aboriginal AIDS awareness and treatment. Following the presentation Commissioners Erasmus, Robinson, and Morris, thank Young and discuss some of the issues raised with him.