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 Antonia Jack, patient of Dr. Dave Bridgeman, chiropractor in Whitehorse, Yukon. Jack describes her negative experiences with the health care system in attempting to be treated for back pain. Jack states that the policy for chiropractic help discriminates against Aboriginal people who need medical attention as soon as possible, not months later. A brief question-and-answer session with Georges Erasmus, Co-Chair, follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Carl Charlie focusing on education and the high dropout rate of Aboriginal students in the Yukon. He also discusses hunting and trapping and the urgent need for housing in Old Crow. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Colin Bairsto addressing the land claims issue and the voluminous and complex documents that accompany the land claims process. The presenter feels that because the Vuntut Gwitch'in people have an oral tradition rather than a written tradition, "they want to be out on the land without having to worry about what the rules and the regulations and interpretations of the agreement are." A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
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 Don Sax, a businessman-turned-Anglican clergyman with nine years experience living in the Canadian North. Sax sees a need for the recovery of Aboriginal and Inuit culture and also the lack of communications for Northern businesses to expand and be financially viable. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by George Smith, via translator, that focuses on Aboriginal self-government from the perspective of elders. Smith states that elders were consulted in all facets of life pre-contact but with the Canadian government's policies over the years, elder input and influence have been irrelevant. He calls for the government to consult with elders during self-government negotiations. Smith also briefly discusses band relocation, natural resources, and the effects of residential schools. Following the presentation is a discussion with Commissioner Allan Blakeney.
File contains an individual presentation by Helen Charlie focusing on education in Old Crow. She states the elementary school teaches students how to sew, cook, fish, hunt, trap and numerous other traditional ways of the Vuntut Gwich'in First Nation. She calls on the Commission to help secure a high school in Old Crow, which she feels would encourage students to remain in school and hopefully lead to post-secondary education. 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 Marion Nukon focusing on the ineffective alcohol ban in Old Crow. She states the ban cannot work if there are no youth workers, organized sports programs and community activities for adults. Nukon believes unemployment is a large contributing factors to the social problems in Old Crow. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Rae Stephensen relating to education, health and housing problems in Old Crow, Yukon. He focuses on education and the need for more high schools and post-secondary institutions in northern Yukon. A lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
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 an individual presentation by Roy Moses offering a different perspective on life in the bush in the 1930s and 1940s. He states that the "people who dream about let's go back to our traditional way must have been told a fairy tale somewhere." Moses describes his childhood and believes that progress has been made to better the lives of Aboriginal and Inuit people today. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Shawn Bruce focusing on the necessity of teaching the Vuntut Gwitch'in language to youth to ensure it does not become extinct. Bruce is frustrated with the division in his family due to Bill C-31 and rulings by the Old Crow council that have determined the speaker's sisters to be Indian and one brother as non-status. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains an individual presentation by Vickey Josie relating to alcohol and drug abuse in Old Crow, Yukon. She states that the youth of her community are unable to view adults as role models when a significant portion of the adult population has substance abuse problems. Josie believes the community ban on alcohol is not working and calls on the Commission for help to battle these social problems. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains opening remarks for the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Westmark Hotel, Whitehorse, Yukon, on Wednesday, November 18, 1992 by Commissioner Georges Erasmus. Erasmus welcomes the participants and explains the Commissions mandate, composition, and goals. He also introduces the Commissioners, including Commissioner for the day Johnny Smith.
File contains opening remarks by Allan Blakeney and Viola Robinson, Commissioners, who speak about the purpose and objectives of the Commission. George Miller, representative of the Kaska Tribal Council and Barry Ravenhill, Mayor of Watson Lake are introduced.
File contains a presentation by the Alcohol Related Birth Defects Committee by Betsy Jackson and Lorraine Stick. Jackson and Stick discuss FAS/FAE related issues as they pertain to Aboriginal communities in Yukon. They discuss the composition of their committee and its mandate, as well as their activities and contacts with other organizations across Canada and in Alaska. Following their presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of these issues with them.
File contains a presentation by Alfred Charlie relating to the valuable role elders play in passing down traditions and language to the youth of his community. He is disappointed that the youth must travel to the south to complete high school and any post-secondary education. Charlie also briefly discusses land claims, oil production and employment. A 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 Barbara Russell, and Cheryl Mullens from Skookum Jim Campus. Russell discusses how and why she thinks the school system needs to be changed in the Yukon. Amongst the concerns she lists are racism and discrimination, the need for Aboriginal faculty, and the need for listening on the part of teachers to Aboriginal students. Mullens discusses the need to make the schools equal in terms of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal curriculum in fields such as history, the need for learning at ones own pace, and the need for more programs for pregnant teenagers.
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 Calvin Linstrom. Linstrom discusses Tagish/Tlingit concerns, and ideas for economic development, education and culture. Linstrom also discusses his peoples relations with the Yukon government. Following his presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with Linstrom. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
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 Chief Roger Kaye that touches on a number of subjects, including education and youth, housing, justice, land claims and a proposed museum in Old Crow. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
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 Debbie Groat that focuses on the lack of Aboriginal cultural content, a drop-out rate of students and the lack of parental support as roadblocks to improving the educational system for Aboriginal youth. Groat states that the problems continue when students graduate from high school and seek post-secondary education. Following the presentation is a discussion with the 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.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Eileen Van Bibber
Description
File contains a presentation by Eileen Van Bibber that offers six proposals relating to the Liard First Nation and its residents. They include construction of a building for the creation and sale of crafts, training of band members for equipment operation in the Liard area, and construction of a community hall. Van Bibber calls for funding to achieve these goals. Following the presentation is a lengthy discussion with Commissioners Allan Blakeney and Viola Robinson.
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 Louise Bouvier, Yukon Indian Women's Association. Bouvier, the organization's President, discusses their program the Dene Nets'edet'an which is a community healing project intended to treat "family violence, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual abuse, mission school syndrome, et cetera." Dene Nes'edet'an differs from past approaches in emphasizing After-care: an emphasis on long term recovery treatment for dealing with traumas. Following Bouvier's presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss the program with her.
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 Marvin Frost that begins with a brief biographical sketch of Grafton Njootli, longtime political leader with the Vuntut Gwitch'in First Nation. Frost touches on a number of issues, including justice, alcohol abuse, taxation, unfulfilled treaty obligations and health problems. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains a presentation by Mary Jane Moses relating to health services in Old Crow. Because of the high turnover of nurses, Moses suggests shorter rotations for nurses in the district to prevent burnout. Moses also recommends that courses on Aboriginal and Inuit culture be included in the education of nurses who work in the North. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
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 Robert Bruce Jr. that touches on a number of subjects, including preservation of Aboriginal culture, economic development, women's rights, lack of employment and funding for a local youth camp. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains a presentation by Ron Blinn that focuses on social issues on First Nations such as inadequate housing and water quality, the high cost of food, fire protection, health care, and youth crime and suicide. He invites the Commissioners to tour the Liard River First Nation to experience the way its residents live. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.
File contains a presentation by Seeth Seethram, the only non-Caucasian president of any publicly funded educational institution in Canada. He speaks on a range of subjects, including land claims, the Indian Act, the "erosion" of Aboriginal culture and language, and the role of elders in education. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
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 Steven Jakesta that discusses the Cassiar mine closure scheduled for late 1992. There is no other economic base for the area and Jakesta foresees the deterioration of existing infrastructure in Good Hope Lake once the mine closes. He calls for funding to assist the town in maintaining services and programs. Following the presentation is a brief discussion with Commissioner Allan Blakeney and Blakeney's closing remarks.