Society

The file contains a presentation by Joe Karetak, Inuit Tapirisat of Canada. Karetak discusses programs to deal with suicide issues in the Keewatin Region of the Northwest Territories (now Nunavut). Karetak also discusses some of the language difficulties involved with operating the Keewatin Crisis Line, participation of elders, and costs.

The file contains a presentation by Joey Hamelin, Metis National Council. Hamelin discusses funding issues for the Metis, some examples of suicides that occurred amongst that community in Alberta, and the role of the Metis Services Organization, and Native Brotherhood in Alberta.

File contains a presentation by John Crisp. Crisp discusses the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement, its establishment, history, and socioeconomic condition. Crisp relates problems with the Federal government whose census refuses to acknowledge Paddle Prairie's existence as a Metis Settlement, and a variety of health care, social services, and education concerns. Following the presentation is a discussion between Crisp and Commissioners Barb Beaulieu and Rene Dussault on these topics.

File contains a presentation by John Dudley. Dudley discusses post-secondary education financing issues with Commissioners Wilson and Chartrand, and the relation of education to self-governance.

This file contains a portion of a transcript of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Regina Friendship Centre, Regina, Saskatchewan. This portion of the Commission includes a presentation made by Jolene Wasteste in the youth circle on the topic of youth involvement in the Aboriginal Community after which a discussion of the presentation is recorded.

File contains a presentation by Joy Thorkelson, United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union. Thorkelson, the Union's Northern Representative, delivers a presentation "from a Northern perspective of a fishing community that has a great deal of Native participation and certainly within our Union we have many First Nations people...Seventy-five to eighty per cent of our members." Thorkelson discusses a range of environmental, trade, and economic issues effecting the West Coast fishery, and its various communities.

File contains a presentation by Joyce Rabesca. She discusses the process of finding common ground between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Following the presentation Commissioner Wilson makes comments on her approach, which are echoed by the other two Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Karen Commanda. Commanda, a First Nations librarian from the Nipissing First Nation, discusses funding concerns, discrimination concerns, and allege misappropriation of funds meant for First Nations libraries. Without naming names Commanda asks that the Commission recommend an independent investigation into these concerns. Following the presentation Commissioner Wilson poses questions on some of the issues raised which are answered by community member Reg McCormick.

The file contains a presentation by Keith Chiefmoon on social housing. Chiefmoon discusses racism in the Lethbridge rental market, homelessness, and Aboriginal student's housing needs. Chiefmoon also discusses the exclusion of the disabled from on-reserve housing programs at the Blood Reserve. Chiefmoon makes recommendations regarding emergency housing, the establishment of an urban Indian housing program, the establishment of a student housing program, and the need for Aboriginal representation on the city's Landlord-Tenant Board.

File contains a presentation by Keith Chiefmoon. Chiefmoon discusses racism "as it pertains here today" with a focus on off-reserve life. Chiefmoon discusses racism in the city of Lethbridge in the employment, post-secondary, and provincial government services. Chiefmoon also discusses what he deems discriminatory law enforcement practices, and Aboriginal over-representation in prisons. Chiefmoon also makes recommendations about languages, land claims, political representation in the federal parliament, and the need for an "off-reserve Indian government."

The file contains a presentation by Kelly Healy. Healy presents a video clip from a trip her class took to Calgary to watch a debate between Progressive Conservative leadership candidates Jean Charest and Kim Campbell. During the trip the group experienced an incidence of overt racism which is referred to, and Healy states that she shares it to "show how much racism affects us. I just want something to be done about it."

The file contains a presentation by Kristen Many Bears. Many Bears, a grade 10 student at Winston Churchill High School in Lethbridge, Alberta, discusses stereotypes and discrimination. Many Bears also discusses some ways in which racism and discrimination can be addressed.

File contains a presentation by Ken Harris, Meensganist Housing Society. Harris discusses his organization, a non-profit low-rental organization...not affiliated with any tribal councils or villages. We are actually independent." Harris discusses his organization's activities and associated housing concerns. Harris also discusses his relationship with the government and funding agencies, off-reserve migration of Aboriginal people to Prince Rupert and associated issues, and a series of questions about government policy.

The file contains a presentation by Chairperson Kris Ramchandar and Harold Rampersad, of the Community and Race Relations Committee of the City of Winnipeg. The presenters discuss the position of Aboriginal peoples in Canadian society, some of the history of colonization, and make a series of recommendations to the Commission regarding government policy in the social and economic spheres.

File contains a presentation by Frank Sam, Kutnaxa/Kinbasket Veterans. Sam presents on his own experiences as a veteran, his reasons for enlisting, and the ill treatment he received upon his return to Canada. Following the presentation are comments by Commissioner Phillips, and by preceding presenter Wilfred Jacobs on the plight of Aboriginal war veterans.

File contains a presentation by Dr. Ron Sparks and Winnie Montague of the Labrador Community College. Sparks discusses the College's operations for Innu, Inuit, and Metis students, and some of its programming (particularly a traditional Innu skills training program). Montague discusses barriers to Aboriginal educational advancement and makes some policy reccomendations to the Commission. Following the presentations Commissioners Sillet and Erasmus discuss cultural, educational, and policy issues with the two presenters.

File contains a presentation made by the Lac Seul First Nation. Deputy Chief Roger Bull, Jack Brightnose and Harry Ignace all spoke to the topic of social plights on the Reserve and conditions of the First Nations reserve community. Also contained are questions and comments from the assembled Commissioners.

The file contains a presentation on behalf of the Westbank Indian Band by Larry Derrickson, Micha Menczer, and Gary Swite. Derrickson, a Band Councillor, gives a demographic overview and brief history of the First Nation, its three reserves, economic activities, by-laws, motions towards self-governance, justice issues, B.C. treaty making, resources and funding concerns. Micha Menczer, Legal Advisor to the Band, discusses self-government and land issues, jurisdictional confusion in social services, the Constitution, and the B.C. treaty making process.

The file contains a presentation by Larry Soldier, Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre. Soldier discusses the background of the Friendship Centre, its' operations, and some of its' organizational history. Amongst the issues Soldier raises are race relations; elder's issues; recreation and youth issues; cultural programming; self-governance; housing; addictions; education; and service delivery. Following the presentation Commissioners Wilson and Chartrand discuss some of the issues raised with Soldier.

File contains a presentation by Larry Ussak. He discusses his concerns with the way the government handles the polar bear population, specifically some of the techniques they use which he believes is contributing to the populations decline. Ussak also talks about job training, welfare, drop-out rates, suicide, the financial difficulties of life in the north, and related concerns. Following the presentation Commissioner Robinson discusses employment and training issues with Ussak and Paul Kaludjak.

File contains a presentation by Leona Shandruk and Arvin Landry on behalf of the High Level Friendship Centre. Shandruk discusses her concern for continued support for Friendship Centres across the country for the good work they do helping bridge the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. Arvin Landry, the Youth Worker, presents on the needs of youth in the community and some of the programming he has been involved with to help young people.

File contains a presentation by Leoni Kappi. He discusses education in a variety of facets including the need for traditional cultural content, a lack of funding, the need for adult education facilities, especially with regard to drop-outs, and the importance of traditional language instruction. Following the presentation Commissioners Robinson and Sillet discuss some of these issues with Kappi.

File contains a presentation by Leslie Knight. Knight, a health care worker, discusses community developments and health concerns. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues Knight raises with her.

The file contains a presentation by Archie Catholique, Joe Boucher, and Ellen Bielawski of the Lutsel'Ke Dene Band. Catholique discusses concerns with a nearby hydro dam, flooding, and the loss of two experienced Elders through the ice due to it. Boucher, an Elder who speaks via a translator, discusses the impact of flooding at Nonacho Lake on gravesites, animal populations, and Dene life in general. Follwoing the presentation Commissioner Georges Erasmus makes some comments on the contents.

File contains a presentation by Lionel Whiteduck, Director, Health and Social Services, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg Council. Whiteduck discusses his personal experiences with health delivery across the country, gives a brief historical background to health delivery in traditional society, discusses the need to integrate traditional ideas with modern technologies, discusses some of the social and health issues facing Aboriginal communities such as high suicide rates, the importance of self esteem, funding and juridisdicitonal concerns.

File contains a presentation by London District Chiefs, Chief Al Day. Day, Chief of Onayataka, an Oneida First Nation, discusses the need to dismantle Indian Affairs, self-governance and nation to nation affairs, land claims, jurisdictional issues, education, justice concerns, and self-determination. Following the presentation Chief Day discusses some of the issues raised with Commissioners Chartrand and Erasmus.

File contains a presentation by London District Chiefs, Chief Daniel Miskokomon. Miskokomon, Chief of Walpole Island, London District, discusses his views on the empowerment, enablement, and equality of First Nations.

File contains a presentation by Lorne Schollar, Northwest Territories Wildlife Federation. Schollar discusses wildlife management concerns with relation to Aboriginal subsistence harvesting, and access to resource concerns. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of these issues with Schollar.

File contains a presentation by Louisa Smith, North Coast Tribal Council. Smith discusses First Nations education issues, a dispute she had with School District 52, funding issues, administrative problems in schools, teacher issues, special needs students' issues, and teacher racism in schools. Bernice Goldie discusses her experiences as a teacher, administrative abuses, bureaucratic practices which detrimentally effect students, and related concerns.

File contains a presentation by Lucassie Arragutainaq, Vice-President, Arctic Co-operatives Limited. Arragutainaq discusses the Co-operative movement in the North, its principles, function, and history across the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. He discusses its importance to Inuit and Dene people, and the need for government policies that are helpful to this kind of community development, particularly in the finanical sector (Credit Unions).

File contains a presentation by Lucien Taparti who's an Elder and Chairperson of the local Elders' organization, discusses how Elder and hunters' concerns are often neglected while those of people who own businesses are addressed by government. He states that their is a knowledge gap of traditional Inuit culture among youth which should be addressed. Taparti discusses the local Elders organization, his work-related disability, and concerns with the justice system and the role Elders can play.

The file contains opening remarks by Maggie Hodgson, Chairperson. Hodgson discusses her personal involvement in the area of suicide prevention, labour market analysis, and training issues in the health field.

The file contains a presentation by Loretta Clark, General Manager of the Communities Economic Development Fund. Clark discusses "the economic conditions and opportunities or lack of the same for Aboriginal peoples." Clark also gives some of the historical background of the CEDF, and describes its' operations. Following the presentation Commissioners Chartrand and Wilson discuss some of the issues raised with Clark.

The file contains a presentation by Marguerite Sanderson. Sanderson, presenting on behalf of the Northern Women's Resource Services, discusses that organization's mandate and work in northern Manitoba "improving the situation of the Northern women and their families, in the social, economic, and political spheres." Following the presentation Commissioners Wilson and Chartrand discuss some of the issues raised with Sanderson.

File contains a presentation by Therese Ottawa and Delima Niquay of the Regional Council on Education and Culture. Ottawa discusses family violence, addictions, and associated social services concerns. Ottawa recommends harsher sentences for conjugal violence, stronger community participation, better funding for social services, as well as discussing general women's issues, the need for increased awareness campaigns, and the establishment of men's discussion groups on the issue of family violence.

The file contains a presentation by Margaret Jackson. Jackson discusses family support, particularly with reference to single mothers, and complications arising from Indian Act restrictions on the paying of child support by fathers.

File contains a presentation by Marjorie Andersen, Mayor of Makkovik. After welcoming the Commission to her community, Andersen discusses some of their concerns such as a lack of adequate community funding, water and sewer system problems, poor roads, fishery issues, policing, housing, and the need for land development.

The file contains spresentation by Marlene Villebrun, Canadian Mental Health Association. Villebrun discusses discrimination and low self-esteem issues; alcohol and drug abuse; the need to make Aboriginal history mandatory and a priority in Canadian schools; the intergenerational effects of cultural deprivation; and the need to better equip youth for "living in two cultures."

The file contains presentations by Marshall Murdock, Bernadette Harrison, and Rosa Walker, of the National Aboriginal Youth Career and Awareness Committee, Clayton Sandy of the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Career Awareness Committee. Murdock discusses the mission statement of N.A.Y.C.A.C., self-government, aboriginal justice, the future of the department of Indian Affairs, the future of Indian Lands, Taxation of Indian lands, and the Indian Act. Sandy gives an overview of the M.A.Y.C.A.C. organization and some of its' work, issues with policing in Winnipeg, and a conference they held there.

The file contains a presentation by Mary Ann Crow Healy. Crow Healy, a Native liaison worker with the Lethbridge Public School Districts No. 9 and 51, introduces the next series of presenters and discusses the format which will follow.

File contains a presentation by Mary Anne Wilson, Skidegate Caregivers. Skidegate is a small reserve of the Haida Gwaii people on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Wilson discusses the administrative structure of the band, its' health needs, and her organization's composition and mandate. Wilson discusses the need for a healing house for the people there, and some of the needs it could address in the community such as addictions, general and cultural education.

The file contains a presentation by Mary Jane Adamson of the Inuvialuit Communications Society. Following a brief introduction from previous presenter Billy Day (also of the Communications Society), Adamson discusses the importance of Aboriginal broadcasting to not only Aboriginal but non-Aboriginal Canadians as an educational and cross-cultural understanding tool; language issues; educational issues; and job training in broadcasting.

File contains a presentation by Mary Simon, Melva George, Christine Keechago and Amanda Blackbird. The presenters discuss education concerns in their Ojibwa and Oneida communities, particularly with regard to Aboriginal language curricula.

File contains a presentation by Mary Teya, Community Health Representative. Teya discusses health staffing concerns; alcoholism; the community's Concerned Persons Committee; suicide; running water, sewage, and basic infrastructure for Aboriginal people. Following the presentation Teya discusses some of the issues raised with the assembled Commissioners.

File includes a presentation by Mathilda Fontaine on behalf of the Maliotenam School Parents Committee. Fontaine discusses concerns with money being allocated for education not necessarily being spent on it, and also with the recognition of Montagnais teaching certificates. Following her presentation Commissioner Dussault and Wilson discuss these issues with her, while Commissioner Chartrand thanks her for her presentation.

File contains a presentation by Mayor Pat McMahon. McMahon discusses a variety of concerns including urban Aboriginal issues generally, municipal governance issues, education, economic development, justice issues, family violence, self-governance, and the Constitution. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with McMahon.

File contains a presentation by Merilda St-Onge, representative of the women of the Montagnais Nation. St-Onge discusses the legal issues pertaining to women's status in the Indian Act, and Bill C-31, as well as the issues she has personally faced as a reinstated individual under that legislation. St-Onge also discusses Montagnais women's economic and political issues in a more general sense, paternity issues, and other related matters. Following the presentation St-Onge discusses these issues with Commissioners Dussault, Wilson, and Chartrand.

File contains a presentation on behalf of the Metis Addcitions Council of Saskatchewan by Ms. Georgina Jolibois. Jolibois discusses the demographic make up of La Loche, some of the problems facing its youth, and her personal experiences as a youth councillor. Jolibois highlights problems with a lack of recreation facilities, proper housing, family violence, alcohol and drug abuse, a high rate of teenage pregnancy, welfare dependency and a lack of employment options, and the lack of educational facilities.

File contains a presentation by Betty Thomas and Jean Clayton of the Metro United Way (Halifax). Thomas and Clayton discuss their organizational history and their Multicultralism/Anti-Racism Program. Following the presentation Commissioners Erasmus discusses the program with them.

The file contains a presentation by Michael Eshikibok. Eshikibok, an Ojibwa student at Laurentian University and freelance writer for the Sudbury Star, gives a statistical overview of Aboriginal people in Canada, over-representation in Saskatchewan prisons, poverty, alcoholism, and the need to replace the Indian Act and institute self-government. Following the presentation Commissioner Dussault discusses some of the issues raised with Eshikibok.