Land Claims

File contains a presentation by Oscar Kistabish on Algonquin Economic Development. Kistabish, whose Algonquin name is Osezima, discusses the history of his people, his idea of autonomy and self-sufficiency, the importance of territory and the different conceptions which Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people have of it.

File contains a presentation by Paul Hogan. Hogan discusses his personal views on a variety of issues facing Aboriginal people. These include education, urban issues, self-governance, governmental relations, land rights, language concerns, and the Indian Act. Following Hogan's presentation Commissioners Erasmus and Chartrand discuss some of the issues raised with him.

The file contains a presentation by Paul Scotchman on behalf of the Western Indian Agricultural Producers Association. Scotchman discusses Aboriginal agriculture as it relates to the Commission's four areas of focus: relationship, self-determination, self-sufficiency and healing.

File contains a presentation by Peter Brook, Executive Director of the Prince Albert Tribal Council. Brooks asks the Commission if it is prepared to undertake a special investigation into ongoing land claims disputes involving three Dene nations in northern Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories which the Prince Albert Tribal Council represents.

File contains a presentation by Peter Cooke. Cooke, an Iroquois artist, discusses the history of the Six Nations Confederacy and his hometown of Brantford, Ontario with reference to the overall history of Canada. Cooke discusses land use and his people's philosophy regarding it for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal peoples. Following the presentation Commissioners Wilson and Sillet thank him for his presentation.

File contains a presentation by Peter Haavlik, Director, Treaty Eight Tribal Association. Haavlik discusses his organizations views of Treaty Eight and the ongoing land claims and self-government process its members are engaged in with the Federal government. He makes a series of recommendations to fix problems he sees with the process as it is currently ongoing in British Columbia, one of which is to copy positive aspects of the Saskatchewan government's Treaty Land Entitlement process. Following the presentation Commissioner Erasmus discusses some of the issues raised with Havlik.

File contains a presentation by Peter Owl. Owl discusses the history of a specific land claim that his Sigma-Anishinabe First Nation is involved in in "the Hudson Bay lands" of the North Shore area of Espanola and Bine River, Ontario. Following his presentation Commissioners Wilson and Sillett discuss the claim with Owl.

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.

This file contains a presentation by Philip Goulais relating to the mandate of the Indian Commission of Ontario: To provide a forum for the negotiation of Aboriginal land claims and self-government; and to assist in the resolution of any other issue of mutual concern to Canada or the First Nations in the Province of Ontario. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

This file contains a presentation by Phyllis Fisher relating to the use of violence towards Canada's First Peoples, historical and present day. The Canadian Friends Service Committee, a Quakers committee, have previously assisted the Innu in Labrador, the Lubicon in Alberta and were present at the Oka Crisis. The presenters make numerous recommendations, including the establishment of an environmental process that will adequately protect the land, environment and wildlife; and that public policy and funding must give preference to renewable resource development over non-renewable resources.

File contains a summary of the preceding round table discussion on the Oka Crisis of 1990, and related issues of Aboriginal Non-Aboriginal relations in the Oka area by Pierre Trudel, rapporteur. Trudel highlights a variety of themes in the discussion by Non-Aboriginal people which shows the difference in perception of the root causes of the Oka crisis between the Mohawk and Quebecois populations. For a full transcript of the round table discussion see Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples 115: Round table No. 1 on this site.

File contains a presentation made by Marie Symes Grehan for the Pinehouse Metis Society Local and Deputy Mayor George Smith. The presentation touched on the topics of economic development and employment in the Metis community. Also contained are comments and questions concerning the Intervenor Funding Program.

File contains a presentation by Regena Crowchild, President of the Indian Association of Alberta. Crowchild discusses Aboriginal lands in Canada, and argues that the Canadian government uses a racist approach to land claims questions based on the outdated notion of terra nulius. To ameliorate this, Crowchild suggests the Canadian government must recognize "Indigenous ownership to lands and resources." Crowchild then discusses Treaties and the need to discuss the benefits that non-Aboriginal people enjoy from the Treaty relationship.

This file contains a presentation by Rev. Dr. R. Burn Purdon, Rev. Faye Wakeling and Rev. Pierre Goldberger.

File contains a presentation by Reverend Walter Edmunds of the Moravian Church of Labrador. He provides a brief history of the Moravian Church in Labrador and discusses the overlapping land claims of the Moravian Church and the Labrador Inuit Association. Following the discussion is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

This file contains a presentation by Reverends Douglas Crosby, OMI, Marc Lortie, OMI and Achiel Peelman, OMI. Their presentation makes a number of points, including recognition and implementation of Aboriginal self-government, Aboriginal input concerning decisions about Aboriginal lands leading to self-sufficiency, and the federal government's recognition of its fiduciary responsible to on- and off-reserve Aboriginals, Metis, non-status and registered Aboriginal people. A lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains a presentation by Richard Long that examines concerns of the off-reserve Aboriginal person. Long states that off-reserve Aboriginal persons feel they have no political or financial power and he questions who will govern urban Aboriginals in the larger centres. He introduces Nora Houle, representative of the Native Council of Canada Board of Directors.

The file contains a presentation by Rita Corbiere. Corbiere, an Ojibwa Elder from the Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve, discusses the past of the Anishnabe people, economic and taxation issues, the state of the British Empire and Monarchy, the Chartered Lands Act, fisheries, environmental issues, Ojibwa service in the War of 1812, the 1836 Treaty on Manitoulin Island, and the Chartered Lands Act.

This file contains a presentation by Chief Robert Bone that begins with a history of Dakota people by Reverend Donald Pratt, also of the Sioux Valley Reserve. Bone focuses on the government red tape needed to negotiate through the Intervenor Participation Program and on a larger scale, through the self-government and land claims process. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

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 Robert Gambler that states that the Jean-Baptiste Gambler Reserve has been under the rule of the Bigstone Cree Nation. He expresses dissatisfaction with the Bigstone Cree Nation's governance and wonders how the Gambler Reserve fell under the jurisdiction of the Bigstone Cree Nation.

File contains a brief presentation by Robert Michel relating to the history of Aboriginal self-government. He cites the Indian Act as a policy that has "taken away the natural and economic resource base which is necessary for Aboriginal people to remain self-sufficient." He then introduces the next speaker, Desmond Peters.

The file contains a presentation by Rod Murphy, MP. Murphy, New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for the Federal riding of Churchill, discusses the aftermath of the Charlottetown Accord referendum, his views on Aboriginal issues in Canada, positive achievements in the recent past, educational programs, employment programs, the situation in his own riding, housing issues, transportation issues, water and infrastructure issues, health issues, child care issues, seniors issues, addictions issues, land claims issues, justice issues, the Indian Act, and resource issues.

File contains a presentation by Roger Cousins. Cousins speaks on the topic of land claims in the Eastern arctic. He discusses Aboriginal land claims in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, and then the Nunavut claim in the Eastern arctic. In answerance to Commissioner Dussault's earlier question on where the Commission should start Cousins states "a good place to start would be to make sure that the Inuit have a land base in their home communities." Following the presentation Commmissioner Dussault discusses the topic with Cousins.

This file contains a presentation by Ron George and Bob Groves focusing on self-determination for Aboriginal peoples in Canada's larger urban centres. The presenters state that nearly half of Canada's Aboriginal peoples live in large urban centres and feel that the Indian Act has left out people who do not live on reserves. Their group was involved in the Royal Commission's National Round Table on urban issues last year and the presenters state their presentation reinforces their concerns from last year's Round Table.

This file contains a presentation by Rosemary Brown focusing on education, the First Nations Chartered Lands Act and the Lubicon Lake Cree land claim. Education funding cutbacks are threatening to close the Plains Indian Cultural Survival School, an important facility for Aboriginal youth education in Calgary. The Lands Act will empower Chiefs and Council to request that reserve lands by privatized and available for mortgages, and Brown requests that the Act be scrapped.

File contains a presentation by Rosemarie Kuptana, President, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. Kuptana discusses the Royal Commission and her organizations hopes for it, as well as some structural concerns they have with it related to incorporating Inuit perspectives. Kuptana discusses the Inuit's experiences with land claims and modern treaty processes, and tells the Commission that there is much that can be learned from it.

File contains a presentation by Roy Littlechief focusing on the misuse of power by the chief and band council relating to his unidentified First Nations. Accountability is needed with money and policies and he says reserve residents are denied better housing because of the greed.

This file contains a presentation by Sam Horton whose organization recently acknowledged that "Ontario Hydro is really a company which failed to respect the Aboriginal people as individuals and nations with a proud history that were inhabitants of this land since time immemorial." Horton states that the presentation is more a status report on Ontario Hydro's experiences in working with Aboriginal people in Ontario.

The file contains a presentation on behalf of Secwepemc re Social Development by Charlene Belleau, Ralph Phillips, and Bob Manuel. The presenters discuss social development as a necessary precondition of land claims and self-governance. They discuss the need to address the social damages inflicted by residential schools and foster homes, dealing with drug and alcohol abuse. Commissioner Sillett discusses some of the issues raised with the presenters.

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 Sharon Venne, Lubicon Cree First Nation. Venne discusses the history of the Lubicon Cree, how they were left out of Treaty Number Eight, and the negative impact the oil industry has had on their community. Venne discusses the Lubicon land claim and the standoff between the Cree and the government of Canada. Following the presentation is a discussion between Venne and Commissioners Chartrand and Blakeney on these issues.

File contains a presentation by Stan Louttit that states the ultimate goal for First Nations organizations in Canada is to "attain a self-government structure suitable to their unique values and traditions." Louttit says that water claims should be an issue as well as land claims. Following the presentation is a lengthy question-and-answer session with Viola Robinson and Georges Erasmus, Commissioners, and Commissioner For the Day Chief Thomas Archibald.

File contains a presentation by Stan Nelson regarding Treaty Land Entitlement. Nelson discusses the Indian Act, Self Governance, and Treaty Land Entitlement for Rouseau River. Following his presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss the issues raised with Roseau.

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 the Abitibiwinni Band (Pikogan), Chief Harry McDougal and Edward Kistabish. The Band representatives discuss their land claim, and their unique position as the only Algonquin band in the area who are signatories to Treaty 9. In addition to this they discuss how some members of their communities are subject to the James Bay agreement, which makes for a complex legal situation for their people. Following the presentation the two presenters discuss some of these issues with the assembled Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by the Corporation de developement economique montagnaise and by the Conseil regional de concertation et d'intervention en milieu amerindien. Presenters include co-coordinator Stephane Bacon of the CRCI, President Zacharie Mollen of the CRCI, and General Manager Paul A Fournier of the CDEM. Stephane Bacon covers a variety of economic concerns including Band management of businesses, Constitutional, Treaty, and Indian Act issues, the need for sharing based on equality and respect, and the need for self-governance to direct economic development.

File contains a presentation by the Council of the Huron-Wendat Nation. Participants include Grand Chief Jocelyne Gros Louis, Deputy Chief Francois Vincent, and Legal Adviser Michel Pouliot. Gros Louis presents a brief on the case for Huron-Wendat self-determination and self governance, and comments on its economic and political components. Gros Louis makes reference to the Murray Treaty her people made with British Govenor James Murray of Quebec. Pouliot elaborates on the land claim concerns of the Huron people.

File contains a presentation by Raymond Laliberte and Sylvie Paquerot of the First Nations Support Committee. Laliberte gives an overview of the organization and its history which is composed entirely of non-Aboriginal Quebecois and functions as a pressure group making statements on current events regarding Aboriginal-non-Aboriginal relations in Quebec. Following his presentation, the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with Laliberte and Paquerot.

This file contains a presentation by Matthew Coon Come, Grand Chief of the Crees of James Bay; Romeo Saganash, Deputy Grand Chief; Chief Billy Diamond; and Bill Nemagoose, Executive Director, Grand Council of the Crees of Quebec. Their presentation focuses on the proposed James Bay Phase II, consisting of two hydroelectric projects: the Great Whale River project and the Nottaway-Broadback Rupert project. The damming, flooding and construction done during the first phase of the project in the 1970s destroyed Aboriginal fishing and hunting grounds and animal migration paths.

The file contains a presentation by Carl Simms, Greg Haste, and George Hinton of the Hay River Corridor Group.

File contains a presentation by the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, Government of the Northwest Territories, Minister for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs.

File contains a presentation by Chief Remy Kurtness, Yvon Parent, and Pierre Gill of the Montagnais Council of Lac-Saint-Jean, Quebec. The presenters discuss their organization's view of Montagnais self-governance, their inherent rights, land issue, and related matters. Following their presentation the assembled Commissioners engage them in a discussion on these issues.

File includes a presentation by the Most Reverend Henri Goudreault, Bishop of the diocese of Labrador City-Schefferville. Goudreault discusses his views on Aboriginal people and how he thinks that legally entrenching their rights, providing an adequate land base, and promoting the idea of self-determination are key to their cultural and political renewal. Following his presentation Commissioner Dussault questions him on Church policy, and how he sees his ideas working with relation to social problems.

File contains a presentation by Shelley Nitikman, President of the Musqueam/Salish Park Residents' Association. The Association is a non-profit society of non-Aboriginal leaseholders who live on land that was surrendered for lease by the Musqueam Indian Band near the City of Vancouver. Nitikman discusses a variety of taxation and jurisdictional concerns which require legislative clarity, and protests that the people represented by her group are living under a situation of taxation without representation.

The file contains a presentation by the Nisga'a First Nation by Herbert Morven, Reg Percival, Peter Squires, and Tommy Dennis. Herbert Morven introduces the other presenters; Reg Percival speaks on behalf of the Gitlakdamix Band Council and the Tribal Council, Peter Squires speaks on behlaf of the Health Board, and Tommy Dennis makes a presentation on behalf of the Nisga'a Nation's urban locals.

File contains a presentation by Laura Wynn, Executive Director of the Nishnawbe-Gamik Friendship Centre. Wynn discusses the Friendship Centre itself in terms of funding and service arrangements, and delivers their position on issues of land claims, self-governance, urban issues, and health issues. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of these issues with Wynn.

File contains a presentation by the Regional Council on Education and Culture by Therese Niquay, and Genevieve Neashit. Niquay presents on education, culture, and linguistic concerns amongst the Attikamek. Genevieve Neashit presents on the steps the Attikamek have taken with regards to educational control. Neashit also requests additional assistance from federal, provincial and Aboriginal governments. Charles Coucou also gives some observations on education, residential schools, and the importance of spirituality.

The file contains a presentation by Deputy Mayor Red McBryan on behalf of the Town of Hay River. McBryan presents a submission which summarizes the views of the Town Council and residents on self-determination, self-sufficiency, and healing. The report includes a variety of recommendations to facilitate a new relationship between Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Canadians. Following the presentation Commissioner Georges Erasmus and Paul Chartrand thank Red McBryan for his contribution.

File contains a presentation by Theresa Dust of the Muskeg Lake First Nation. Dust discusses the creation of an urban reserve in Saskatoon as a result of the Treaty Land Entitlement Process, and associated issues.