RCAP 68 contains files for a sitting of the Royal Commission for Aboriginal Peoples in the Old Crow Community Centre, Old Crow, Yukon. Subjects include hunting and trapping, alcohol and drug abuse, education, land claims and self-government, and lack of employment and housing. Each submission can be viewed individually on this site.
File contains an individual presentation by Alice Frost relating to the necessity of elders teaching the Vuntut Gwitch'in language to youth and to social problems in Old Crow. Frost states that her community's social problems must be solved before "land claims is settled because we need educated people to run our self-government." A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Ann Bayne that first provides a history of the Kaska First Nations and the Liard Indian Band. Bayne describes her Band's struggle with a referendum addressing a hereditary system or elected system in determining the position of Chief. She believes that residents should have a choice in determining their leadership. Bayne also discusses abolishing the Indian Act, the need for personal development programs and calls for more treatment centres for substance abuse. Following the presentation is a discussion with Commissioner Allan Blakeney.
File contains an individual presentation by Danny Kasi focusing on self-government and and the ways that First Nations may achieve it - through First Ministers conferences, the Supreme Court of Canada and "the world court." Kasi also briefly discusses education and the lack of housing in his community. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Linda Chipesia relating to land claims and self-government. The presenter believes that "(T)he difficulty of self-government and land claims is that although it is aimed at reviving the culture and identity of Indian people, it is only accessible to those who are educated and trained in the political, legal and economic intricacies of a non-Indian system."
File contains an individual presentation by Randall Tetlichi that touches on a number of subjects, including self-government, residential schools, the loss of Aboriginal languages, substance abuse, health services, economic development and education. A lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains a presentation by Alicia Vance, Jody Sydney, Kathy Alfred of the First Nations Management Program, Yukon College. Vance discusses improving leadership and unity in Aboriginal communities. Sydney discusses traditional culture and how the clan system is being used in Teslin, Yukon. Alfred discusses how education and programs can help solve social problems in Aboriginal communities. The assembled Commissioners discuss the ideas raised with the presenters.
File contains a presentation by Barry Ravenhill, Mayor of Watson Lake relating to Aboriginal self-government as it affects municipalities and local bands. He also briefly discusses housing construction on First Nations without proper building standards. Following the presentation is a discussion with Commissioner Allan Blakeney.
File contains a presentation by Chief Hammond Dick relating to land claims and self-government for the Kaska Nation. He states that the Kaskas would agree only to an offer that provides exclusive control over lands selected for use by their people. The Kaskas also want to play a significant role in the management of renewable and non-renewable resources on their traditional lands. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Clara Schinkel and Peter Sidney, Tagish Governance Society. Schinkel describes the history of the Tagish people and their community (including the seizure of their reserve lands by the government), and makes specific requests to the Commission in terms of assistance, self-governance, education, and land claims. Sidney and Schinkel discuss some of the issues raised with the assembled Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Dr. Chris Durocher and Dr. David Skinner, representatives, Yukon Medical Association, that focuses on numerous issues relating to health care in the North, including under-representation of First Nations people at the administrative and health workers levels, the relationship between poverty and ill health, and little to non-existent treatment for First Nations persons with mental health problems.
File contains a presentation by Joannie McKinnon, President of the Yukon Fish and Wildlife Association. McKinnon discusses her groups desire to take part in land claims talks and work co-operatively with First Nations on wildlife management issues. Following her presentation Erasmus asks her a question which she answers.
File contains a presentation by Margaret McCullough of the Yukon Human Rights Commission. McCullough discusses the Commissions activities and her witnessing of racism and discrimination in Yukon society. She also discusses some of the steps the Commission has taken to educate about racism. Following her presentation McCullough discusses racism and related issues with the assembled Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Mark Wedge of the Yukon Indian Development Corporation. Wedge discusses his views on education and how different cultures have different basic definitions of the concept. Wedge discusses some traditional Tlingit and Hopi views, as well as educational legislation and constitutional issues. Following his presentation the assembled Commissioners engage Wedge in a discussion on the issues raised.
File contains a presentation by Norma Shorty, Kwanlin Dun First Nation. Shorty describes the history of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, and its reserves in the Whitehorse area. Shorty suggests that since the government contributed to the destruction of traditional systems of Kwanlin Dun learning, it should contribute to rebuilding them. Following Shorty's presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss language, education, and rights issues with Shorty.
File contains a presentation by Stanley Njootli relating to hunting and trapping, the Porcupine Caribou Management Agreement, land claims and self-government in the Yukon. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains a presentation by Winnifred Felker, Skookum Jim Friendship Centre. Felker discusses the activities and programming of the Friendship Centre, and protests that the National Association of Friendship Centres was only granted 17% of a funding request, when these Centres do work dealing with 15 of the Commission's 16 points of mandate. Following Felker's presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with him.
File contains a presentation by Shirley Adamson, Council for Yukon Indians. Adamson, chairperson for the Vuntut Gwich'in Council, discusses the self-governance negotiations which her organization has embarked upon with the Government of Canada. The respective First Nations parties involved in such negotiations included the Vuntut Gwi'chin Tribal Council, the Na-cho Ny'a'k Dun First Nation, the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, and the Teslin/Tlingit First Nation.