Oratory Skills & Practises

File contains opening remarks by Chief Pat Chilton welcoming attendees to the evening potlatch and hearing. Chilton explains the purpose of the Commission and emphasizes that elders have a large role to play with their presentations. He introduces Chief Norm Wesley of Moose Factory.

File contains opening remarks mainly by Chief Lorne Waditaka, Chief of the Wahpeton First Nation. Waditaka discusses national issues such as the Constitution and First Nations place in it, the development of self-governance structures, the need for continued federal responsibilities and the importance of the treaties, the Metis people and their place in Canada, urban aboriginals, justice issues, social issues, and what he hopes will be gained from the hearings of the Royal Commission. Waditaka then introduces Commissioners Bertha Wilson, Paul Chartrand, Rene Dussault, and Mary Sillet.

File contains opening remarks by Commissioners Georges Erasmus and Viola Robinson for the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples held at Moosonee, Ontario, on June 10, 1992. Commissioner Erasmus gives an overview of the Commission's work thus far, and his hopes for it. Commissioner Robinson discusses her own Micmac community and the differences between it and Moosonee.

File contains opening remarks by Commissioner Georges Erasmus delivered at the hearing of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at La Ronge, Saskatchewan on Thursday May 28, 1992. Erasmus intorduces the Commission and its mandate to the people in attendance, and discusses a wide range of Aboriginal issues as well as his hopes that the Commission will be an excercise in developing positive solutions to issues rather than just another study.

File contains opening remarks by Georges Erasmus that explain the purpose and goals of the Commission. Erasmus introduces Art Wilson, Commissioner For the Day.

File contains opening remarks by Georges Erasmus, Co-Chair, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. Erasmus directs participants to a brochure outlining the Commission's mandate and proposed time length of hearings [possibly going into 1994].

File contains opening remarks by Commissioner Georges Erasmus at the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on June 11, 1992. Erasmus explains the mandate and goals of the Commission for the audience in attendance. He introduces the first speaker, Mary Desmoulin.

File contains opening remarks on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples by Justice Sinclair and Paul Chartrand. Discusses the Commission, its mandate, and the historical significance of Winnipeg as the starting point for the Commission.

File contains brief opening remarks by Kathy Lane, Commissioner For the Day.

File contains opening remarks by Matthew Happyjack who reviews the speakers. He introduces Rene Dussault, Co-Chair.

File contains opening remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair, and Bertha Wilson and Mary Sillett, Commissioners, who explains the purpose and objectives of the Commission.

File contains opening remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair, that explains the purpose and goals of the Commission. He introduces Viola Robinson and Mary Sillett, Commissioners.

File contains opening remarks by Rene Dussault, Viola Robinson and Mary Sillett, who discuss the purpose and goals of the Commission. Dussault introduces Francis Penashue, Commissioner For the Day. Ben Michel is the facilitator.

File contains opening remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair, and Commissioner Mary Sillett. Dussault introduces the Co-Commissioners for the Day, Grand Chief Wilson Samms and youth Co-Commissioner Lisa Blandford. Dussault gives a brief talk on the purpose and objectives of the Commission. Mary Sillett introduces the members of the Royal Commission who organized the hearings in St. John's. Sillett notes that this is the Commission's second round of hearings in St. John's, and that when the Commission returns to Newfoundland, they will go to another community.

File contains opening remarks on the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples by Rt. Hon Brian Dickson. Dickson speaks on the creation of the Commission, his appointment by Prime Minister Mulroney, the mandate, and composition of the Commission, which Dickson was largely entrusted with enacting. Dickson lists the seven Commission members and provides some biographical background data on them, as well as the importance of dialogue in establishing a new shared future for Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal peoples in Canada.

File contains opening remarks by Tom MacCagno who provides the Commission with a history of the exploration and establishment of Lac La Biche. He notes the involvement of Metis people when Father Albert Lacombe arrived in 1852. MacCagno says that Portage La Biche, forerunner of Lac La Biche, is a Canadian national historic site but the government chooses not to designate and restore the site. MacCagno also comments on aboriginal language policy and how elders must pass down the language and traditions of Aboriginal peoples to the youth.

File contains opening remarks by Commissioners Viola Robinson and Georges Erasmus who explains the purpose and objectives of the Commission. Erasmus introduces Chief Thomas Archibald, Commissioner for the Day.

File contains opening remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair, who introduces the Commissioners for the Day, Aksaayook Etuagak and Youth Commissioner Lucy Mike. Dussault explains the purpose and mandate of the Commission. He introduces Pauloosie Angmaalik, the first speaker.

File contains Index of presentations and opening remarks by John Morriseau, Commissioners Rene Dussault, Mary Sillett, Charlie Snowshoe, and Allan Blakeney.

File contains Index of presentations and opening remarks by Commissioner Rene Dussault. Dussault outlines the mandate and goals of the Commission, and introduces the other Commission members. Kingsclear is a Maliseet First Nation.

File contains a presentation by Abbie Crook, Representative, Northwest Territories Friendship Centres. Crook provides a history of the eight Friendship Centres in the Northwest Territories and emphasizes its role as "a major link between Aboriginal people and the majority community, bridging the cultural gap between the two worlds and creating an environment of understanding and appreciation." He calls for increased funding as cutbacks in the 1980s have caused hardship to the people the Friendship Centres seek to help.

File contains a presentation by Abe Okpik. Okpik discusses the significance of midwifery to the Inuit people, and on Baffin Island in particular. He also discusses traditional knowledge and its importance in contemporary midwifery. Following the presentation are some comments on it by Commissioners Mary Sillet and Rene Dussault.

File contains an individual presentation by Agnes Gendron describing the impact of Bill C-31 upon her personally. Relatives of the speaker were present at the signing of Treaty Six in 1876 and she questions whether Aboriginal women will ever enjoy the full rights that the treaties should have provided them. Following the presentation is a brief question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Agnes Lidstone of the Southern Ontario Metis and Aboriginal Association focusing on education. Lidstone has a number of recommendations, including funding for more community-based programs for Aboriginal peoples in northern Ontario, and establishing one or more Aboriginal post-secondary institutions, also in northern Ontario. She introduces the next speaker, Howard Restoule. He introduces the next speaker, Agnes Lidstone.

File contains remarks by Al Ducharme, Metis History Teacher. Ducharme introduces a series of student presenters from his class.

File contains a presentation by Albert Marshall. Marshall lists some of his concerns with the governance system in the Eskasoni area ranging from education, policing, economic development and criminal justice, to taxation.

File contains a presentation by Alethea Baril, Adam Kilukishak and Tara Lindsay, Grade 7-8 students, Nanook School, Apex, Northwest Territories [Nunavut]. The students call for amending the Education Act to accept elders as qualified teachers, consultation from students and parents when building schools and planning classes, and free daycare for those students babysitting siblings during class time. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Alex McKay and George Fulford. McKay discusses Ojibwa spiritual beliefs and the importance of Aboriginal languages. Fulford expands on this by presenting on Aboriginal languages in a Canadian Constitutional and political policy context. Fulford reccomends that the Royal Commission "appoint a task force to look into the matter of aboriginal language and education in Canada." Following the presentations is a discussion between the presenters and the assembled Commissioners on language issues.

File contains a presentation by Alex Nelson, Aboriginal Sport and Recreation Association of British Columbia. Nelson describes himself as a sports addict and has been involved with coaching sports his entire adult life. He sees the North American Indigenous Games as the pinnacle of Aboriginal sporting achievement, and he hopes that sports funding at the local levels is increased so that Aboriginal youth continue to have the opportunity to play sports. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Alex Skead, Migweech Elder. Skead outlines his spiritual views, his background, and the problem of Alcohol abuse.

File contains a presentation by Alfred Beaver that focuses on financial accountability of First Nations governments. He sees young children sleeping in train cars at night on his First Nations and wonders how band councils can ignore this problem. He calls upon the Commission to make First Nations accountable for their finances.

File contains a presentation by Alfreda Trudeau that reiterates many of the concerns expressed by Harvey Thunderchild, the previous speaker. She describes specific programs aimed at treating various problems, with the Native Interpersonal Skills Program being the most successful. Trudeau calls for more Aboriginal people to be working in the correctional system and particularly sees the role of elders is very important. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Alice Kruta and Lorraine Dennis discussing the plight of Aboriginal people trying to negotiate through the Aboriginal system where it is unjust. They state that there are no appeal processes for those who question their Band or First Nations leadership. The women call on the Commission to help make Aboriginal leadership accountable to their own members. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains remarks by Allison Ballantyne, Kiknahk Friendship Centre. Ballantyne discusses the Centre's programming and some of the issues it faces, notably a lack of adequate resources for its programming.

File contains a presentation by Alma Brooks, a Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) woman. Brooks relates her life journey and involvement with both politics and the community at large in helping to heal her people's problems. She states that self-governance is an impossibility until her people are healed. Following her presentation is a discussion between her and Commissioners Dussault and Sillet on healing and politics respectively.

File contains a presentation by Mr. Andrew Boase, Hopedale RCMP. Boase discusses problems with the RCMP in Hopedale, Labrador. Following the presentation Commissioners Dussault and Sillet discuss policing issues with Boase and previous presenter Toby Andersen.

File contains a presentation by Andrew Rickard. Rickard discusses linguistic, cultural, and Constitutional concerns.

File contains a presentation by Andy Poonae. Poonae discusses some of his personal life experiences with relation to issues facing Aboriginal peoples. Amongst these experiences he describes growing up without knowledge of his own people's cultural traditions, attending a Conference of residential school survivors, and being present at the side of the Mohawks at the Oka standoff.

File contains a presentation by Andy Von Busse, Alberta Fish and Game Association. Von Busse discusses conservation issues in Alberta, specifically with regards to Aboriginal utilization of wildlife. Following the presentation is a discussion between Von Busse regarding Treaty rights to hunt, and jurisdictional questions with regard to wildlife management and land usage.

File contains a presentation by Angel Sampson, Pre-School Director, Songhees Band. Sampson recalls her difficulty in receiving funding to finish her final year of childhood education studies, but she eventually did receive it so she could graduate. She calls on the Commission to help establish daycare services for young mothers while completing their education.

File contains a presentation by Anthony Francis, Former Chief, Big Cove, New Brunswick, discussing the effects of the British North America Act, the Indian Act, the Diamond Jenness Policy and the White Paper have had on Canadian Aboriginal peoples. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Apenam Pone discussing the effects of alcohol abuse on the Innu people. Two-thirds of Innu adults have difficulty with alcohol, caused "by the lack of power and control over their lives, lack of control of education, social services, religion and the justice system." Due to the lack of control, the Innu culture is weakened and people feel they lack power to direct their lives and the lives of their children. Pone calls on the Commission to help end the inadequate funding of treatment centres in terms of wages and programming budgets.

File contains a presentation by April Waditaka, Student, Carlton High School, Prince Albert. Wadikata discusses issues in education, babysitting, the need for more Aboriginal staff in the city school system, the need to upgrade the band's recreation program, social issues of home life which need to be addressed, money for recreation facilities, and other issues addressing youth. Following the presentation is a discussion between Waditaka, Miranda Propser (the preceding presenter) and Commissioners Erasmus, and Chartrand on the issues raised in their presentations.

File contains opening remarks by President Art Miki of the National Association of Japanese Canadians. Miki discusses what he sees as problems in the telling of Canadian history, as well as his hopes for the Commission and that the lives of Aboriginal people across the country will be improved by it.

File contains a presentation by Chief Baptiste Cazon, who is concerned about poverty levels among Inuit, the lack of opportunities for young people and financial discrimination against pensioners. Cazon was on the Royal Commission when John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister and feels this Commission may be a wasted opportunity as well.

File contains an individual presentation by Barbara Becker describing the effects of residential schools, Bill C-31 and discrimination against Aboriginal women have had on her family. She urges Canadian non-Aboriginals to understand their history because without that background, she feels that understanding Aboriginal history is impossible. Becker suggests having Commissioner Viola Robinson lead a closed hearing for Aboriginal women to present their concerns and ideas. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Barbara Johnson, a Micmac person from Hants County, Nova Scotia. Johnson discusses a wide variety of issues including Micmac identity, the Indian Act, Aboriginal women's issues, drugs, mobility rights, traditional lifestyles, and Education. Following the presentation is a discussion with the Commissioners on issues covered.

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 Bernard Heard, speaking as an individual member of the Labrador Metis Association. It focuses on recognition and acceptance of the Labrador Metis people. He states that the Canadian Constitution recognizes Aboriginal people in Canada as the Indians, the Inuit and the Metis, but the federal and provincial governments operate as if the Metis in Labrador do not exist. He calls on the Commission to assist with more recognition with the federal government. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Bernice Cree, Chief, Fort McMurrary No. 468, First Nations. Cree gives an overview of her First Nation and its reserve including demography, economy, and some of the social issues it faces. Cree also comments on government policy regarding her First Nation.