RCAP 138 contains a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Westbury Hotel, Toronto, Ontario. Subjects discussed include the arts, education, legal issues, economic development and employment.
RCAP 148 contains a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Westbury Hotel, Toronto, Ontario. Subjects discussed include community policing, substance abuse, Metis and Non-Status rights, the arts, the environment. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.
This file consists of a presentation by Floyd Favel, Artistic Director of the only professional Aboriginal theatre company in Toronto. Favel states that culture is the cornerstone of all civilizations, and having people understand the importance of culture "is an uphill battle." Favel believes that if "you concentrate on culture it alleviates many, many other problematic areas because...you are dealing directly with a person's feelings, ideas and memories. He appeals to the Commissioners for any funding from government sources to help the Theatre continue.
This file contains a presentation by Marie Mumford, Sandra Laronde and Elaine Bomberry relating to Aboriginal people in Canada involved in the arts and culture. A number of Aboriginal organizations and schools involved in art, dance, theater and music exist in Canada and most could benefit from government funding. Some students who cannot afford to pay tuition are sometimes funded by their First Nations or through family and relatives, but the presenters feel that Aboriginal art and culture would thrive if more financial assistance was available for students.