Cultural Survival Quarterly, vol. 30, no. 3, Two Countries, One People, Fall, 2006
Description
Outlines some problems that residents of the community of Akwesasne have with border crossings, due to the U.S.-Canadian border intersecting their communal lands.
"National publication for the Indians of Canada." Focus on Indigenous issues, events at residential schools and legal decisions. Previously published as Indian Missionary Record .
Articles reflect the attitudes and policies of the time.
Uses the example of an Australian initiative to develop a radio network as an exercise in developing an agency capable of caring out the community's will. The author argues that the experience can be transfered to other cases where the community executes government policies of "Aboriginal self-determination".
Chapter 12 of: The Power of Knowledge: The Resonance of Tradition edited by Luke Taylor.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Charles Joseph Bernard
Description
File contains a presentation by Charles Joseph Bernard, Jr. of the Whycocomagh First Nation. Bernard was a sitting member of the Nova Scotia Working Committee on the Constitution. He discusses the relationship of his people with the Government of Canada including the Sylliboy case, residential schools, Treaties, the Donald Marshall case, his thoughts on the Royal Commission, some of the problems facing Aboriginal youth today, the justice system, racism, self-governance, culture, government funding, and other issues pertaining to Aboriginal people in Canada.
File contains a discussion paper by Gay Caswell, a former MLA and consultant with Caswell Consultants of Saskatoon. Caswell is "here to argue that a very appropriate place for Aboriginal self-government is in the area of social services, in particular child welfare protection." Following Caswell's presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with her.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Babette Bastien
Description
The file contains further comments by Babette Bastien. Bastien discusses his youth on reserve and the struggles he had, leaving the reserve to attain an education, his views on the current drive towards self-government, the federal government capping education funding for First Nations, under-representation in the professions, and related policy issues.
This file contains an individual presentation by Dave Yager, a former columnist and non-Aboriginal who wrote about Aboriginal issues in the Calgary Sun. One column raised the ire of many Aboriginal people and Yager was thrust into the spotlight concerning the "'political correctness' of the Native affairs debate." He gives his views on Aboriginal education, self-government, NAFTA and taxation. A prickly question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
File contains a presentation by Clem Chartier of the Metis Nation - Saskatchewan. Chartier relays the regrets of President Gerald Morin who was unable to attend the sitting, introduces some of the participants in attendance, then discusses Metis land title and land rights issues, hunting rights, economic concerns, self-government and self-determination, policy ideas, personal and collective healing, racism and discrimination, intergovernmental relations, and the Metis Nation Accord in order to "give a holistic view of our organization."
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Description
This file contains a presentation by Eric Johnston, Lenore Keeshig-Tobias and David McLaren relating to overcoming roadblocks such as racism in the fight for Aboriginal self-government. The presentation focuses on hunting and fishing rights, with the Saugeen Ojibway recently being recognized as having the right to fish for trade and commerce. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Gary LaPlante
Description
File contains a presentation by Gary LaPlante, Kewatin Communications. LaPlante discusses self-governance and the critical view of it he has experienced from some Aboriginal people. LaPlante discusses his own life experiences and his view that race relations are a two way street and that some Aboriginal people harbour racist views and that this must be addressed.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Greta Gunner
Description
File contains a presentation by Greta Gunner. Gunner discusses her concerns about the treatment of Aboriginal women and the prejudices they face. Although originally scheduled to discuss her concerns on education, she felt "moved to talk and to speak on behalf of Native women and that the views that I express today are my own views, that I do not speak on behalf of the Native Women's group." She states that "as native women we not only suffer oppression by the white society, but we also [suffer] oppression by our own men" then goes on to discuss the barriers Aboriginal women face.
File contains a presentation by Marilyn Fontaine, Spokesperson, Aboriginal Women's Unity Coalition. Fontaine discusses her organizations history, and the issues it deals with including sexism, violence, abuse, lack of political representation, self-government talks, and the environment.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Peter Sinclair
Mathias
Description
The file contains a presentation by Peter Sinclair, Mathias Colomb Cree Nation. Sinclair discusses "our day to day nightmare with the ongoing obstruction and interference by Government Bureaucracies." Sinclair relates some of the Cree Nation's history with regard to resource exploitation, residential schools, land use, racism, the negative impact of hydro-electric development, and related concerns. Following the presentation Commissioner Wilson discusses some of the issues raised with Sinclair after which the Commission's sitting is concluded for the day.
Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples - Transcriptions of Public Hearings and Round Table Discussions
Documents & Presentations
Author/Creator
Sharron Simpson
Description
The file contains a presentation on behalf of the Central Okanagan Regional District by Sharron Simpson, Chairperson. Simpson discusses her viewpoint as a Canadian with little knowledge of Aboriginal peoples. Simpson discusses her limited experiences with First Nations and Inuit people in her youth, the colonial mentality, the sociological concept of anomie, the need for mutual respect and understanding to forge a new relationship, work with the Westbank Indian Band, and concerns about the development of self-government. Simpson also makes a variety of recommendations to the Commission.
File contains a presentation by Micmac Wallace Libillois. Libillois discusses the history of colonization and his people in Canada, the commonalities between indigenous people across the country in their relationship with the state, residential schooling, proseltization, Aboriginal fishing rights, threats to Aboriginal people's rights, an indigenous view of resource use, the Aboriginal roots of many European democratic concepts, and the importance of Constitutional recognition and inclusion for Aboriginal peoples in Canada.
File contains a presentation by Jean Allard (in English). Allard discusses colonization and the suppression of Aboriginal peoples, segregation, his problems with the concept of self-government, and the need for fiscal self-sufficiency and economic developments for Aboriginal (specifically Metis) peoples. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners regarding his views on these issues.
File contains opening remarks by Michael Thrasher of Victoria, B.C. Thrasher relates his experiences of learning from Elders, engaging people across the country in addressing addictions and culture reclamation issues, the importance of solidarity amongst Status Indian, Metis, Non-status Indian, and Inuit peoples, the reality of racism and discrimination in Canadian society, and the need for people to be committed to addressing these issues rather than just involved with them.