File contains a presentation by Alex Skead that describes his personal experiences with learning from daily life: "So much things to learn in life." He recounts several legends relating to educating Aboriginal youth on his First Nations about living with nature, utilizing sweat lodges for healing and preserving Aboriginal languages.

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 Alice Sabourin who is completing her Master's degree in social work. She relates problems she has experienced with discrimination within the educational community, both as an Aboriginal person and as a woman. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

This file contains an individual presentation given by Alvin Manitopyes relating to the protection of Aboriginal sacred sites and the protection of Aboriginal rights to spiritual freedom. Some sites are located off-reserve, and in provincial and federal crown lands. Manitopyes calls for federal legislation to protect sacred sites and for laws similar to the American Indian Religious Freedom Act in the United States.

File contains an individual presentation by Andrew Rickard that covers a number of topics, including extinction of Aboriginal languages, self-government, natural resources rights and the lack of Aboriginals in mainstream jobs. A lengthy question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains an individual presentation by Angela Andrew, teacher at the local community college, discussing Innu culture and education. She states that elders should be utilized more in teaching traditional skills to Innu youth, but because they do not have the proper teaching certification, they are not allowed to teach. She calls on the Commission to ease teacher education restrictions with elders to ensure traditional Innu skills and traditions are passed on. Following the presentation are brief remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair.

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 Ann Cox, an Objibwe woman who believes the Canadian government is unable to help Aboriginal peoples solve all issues, and that "all of the answers are in our past." Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

This file contains an individual presentation by Arnie General that expresses frustration with a number of topics, including taxation, Bill C-31, the Indian Act, and treaty obligations. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

File contains an individual presentation by Arthur Williams focusing on education and the individual freedom to choose a career. He speaks of his choice to attend aviation school and the lack of funding for flying as a career. He calls on the Commission to help to secure funding to attend aviation school in British Columbia. Following the discussion is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Barbara Wood addressing the lack of educational opportunities for Metis people in Labrador. She is a single mother putting two sons through University and describes the financial hardship involved. She calls on the Commission to assist Labradorian youth who seek education and "a future free of debt." Following the discussion is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Beatrice Watts focusing primarily on education. She provides a brief history of the Inuit in Labrador and relocation efforts in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1977 the first Inuit education conference was held, which laid the groundwork for the teaching of Inuktitut and cultural programs in schools. Watts also briefly discusses the Inuit radio station at Main, Labrador and a 1978 conference sponsored by Inuit women held in Labrador. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Ben Andrew focusing on Innu land claims and self-government. Andrew states the Canadian government has "deprogrammed Innu people so they deny their own people, their own nationhood, and their own uniqueness." Andrew is skeptical of the Commission's purpose and goals but hopes the Commission can influence the federal government in future negotiations relating to Innu land claims and self-government. Following the presentation are brief remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair.

File contains an individual presentation by Ben Michel detailing the negative effects of government assimilation on the people of Sheshatshiu, Davis Inlet and other Innu communities. He states that "Canada once again is masking itself in the form of a Royal Commission to legitimize its denial of a people's right of self-determination and arightful place in the global human community." Michel calls on the Commission to take his complaints to the Canadian Human Rights Commission and to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. A question-and-answer session follows the presentation.

File contains an individual presentation by Betty Hardisty, teacher, via translator. She discusses her experiences with teaching Slave children about treaties and displays her students' wall murals that portray their understanding of treaties. Her students are fifth-generation relatives of the treaty signatories.

File contains an individual presentation by Bob Major that focuses on education. Major wants to see a curriculum geared towards Aboriginal and Metis children regarding the history of northern Alberta and languages. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Brenda Jonah, graduate of the Native Community Worker Program of Sault College, Sault Ste. Marie. She describes her experiences working in a high school with a high number of Aboriginal students. Through workshops, displays and social events, the students learned about their culture, many for the first time. Jonah proposes establishing Aboriginal liaison programs in high schools with large Aboriginal student populations. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Burt Sellick, a retired school director with Hillcrest High school in Thunder Bay, which has a large percentage of Aboriginal students. He discusses a wide range of subjects including youth self-esteem, more Aboriginals in the education system and eliminating cultural bias and omissions in textbooks. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

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 Charles Wagamese stating that the federal government has not fulfilled their treaty obligations and must fulfil them as representatives of the Queen. He calls for an end to patriarchy and for more input from elders relating to political leadership. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Charlie Andrew relating to his frustrating personal experience with attempting to complete the Adult Basic Education program at Labrador Community College.

File contains an individual presentation by Chief Francis Penashue describing the culture and values of the Innu people pre-European contact, and now Innu communities are dealing with substance abuse, family dysfunction and high unemployment and welfare rates. Following the presentation are brief remarks by Rene Dussault, Co-Chair.

File contains a presentation by Chief Norm Wesley stating that Aboriginal peoples are bound together by a sense of togetherness, family, equality and sharing, which was given to Aboriginals by the Creator. Elders must work with youth to give them a sense of the past and parents must instill in their children respect for others and themselves.

File contains an individual presentation by Cindy Gilday of Fort Franklin, NWT. She tells the Commission about the 398 unmarked graves in the Deh Cho (formerly a residential school) Hall yard and says that unmarked graves are "a very significant symbol of opporession, the ultimate symbol as far as the Dene are concerned." She states that her father was present at the Treaty signings in 1911 and 1921 and feels the Canadian government has not fulfilled any of the treaties' terms.

File contains an individual presentation by Claris Rudkowski, businesswoman from North West River, Labrador. She questions the lack of Aboriginal women in business and attributes that to a lack of education opportunities, a lack of daycare facilities, and a lack of support from family and friends. Rudkowski asks the Commission not to forget about women's issues, lost among the larger issues of land claims and self-government.

File contains an individual presentation by Claudette Chevrier-McLeod relating to the Goods and Services Tax (GST). She states that exemptions should be the same for Aboriginals who live both on and off reserves. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Cliff Calliou. Calliou, a Cree man from Kelly Lake, British Columbia, outlines a detailed programme for Aboriginal self-governance which pertains to a wide variety of areas. Amongst the areas Caillou addresses are governance structures (including a council of Elders), government funding issues, the need for a land and resource base, education, history, culture, health care, ethics, social services, and justice concerns. Following the presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with Calliou.

File contains an individual presentation by Cliff Gladue, who, despite involvement in a number of federal and provincial Metis organizations, is representing himself. Gladue's presentation discusses the principles and parameters of Aboriginal self-government. He sees three self-government agreements being negotiated with the federal and provincial governments: the treaty self-government agreeement, the Inuit self-government agreement and the Metis self-government agreement. Following the presentation are remarks by the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Clive Linkletter, a treaty status Aboriginal, focusing on Aboriginal self-government, treaty rights and on Section 35. Following the presentation is a brief question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

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 Danny Montour that focuses on the treaty Indian, the Indian Act and Bill C-31. He hopes that "the Government of Canada and the Indian people come to a reasonable level of mutual understanding as to the present-day meaning of the treaties." Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

This file contains an individual presentation by Dave Janvier detailing his struggle to upgrade his high school education so he can attend the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Janvier feels that the Department of Indian Affairs has unfairly denied him funding for high school upgrading. Georges Erasmus, Co-Chair, makes brief comments after the presentation.

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 an individual presentation by David Akpalialuk, resident of Pangnirtung, who expresses frustration with the application of Unemployment Insurance and the Canada Pension Plan and would like documents in both Inuktitut and English. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by David Martin and read by Doris Saunders. It focuses on mobility rights of Aboriginal peoples.

File contains an individual presentation by David Nuke focusing on the justice system and how it fails Innu people regarding summary offences. He cites statistics for incarceration of an inmate for one year and feels that amount would be better served providing community programs for Innu youth in Labrador, thus avoiding criminal activity by young people.

File contains an individual presentation by Davidee Arnaqaq, resident of Pangnirtung, expressing frustration with the lack of economic opportunities and employment to support his family. He hopes that the future government of Nunavut will support employment and business programs in his community as there has been little support in the past.

File contains an individual presentation by Don Imbeau, a non-Aboriginal man that describes his introduction and appreciation for the power of the medicine wheel and for "the four symbolic races; white, red, yellow and black, who are all are brothers and sisters living on the same Mother Earth." He offers his interpretation of Aboriginal self-government and his vision of "First Nations together developing a unique charter which would apply exclusively to the Indian, Métis and Inuit peoples within a Canadian co-federation." Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Co

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 a presentation by Doris Saunders that details the histories of Happy Valley and Goose Bay communities, their amalgmation in 1974, and the services provided today.

File contains an individual presentation by Eli Chilton relating to social issues from a youth perspective. He states that these problems have originated since colonization, but Aboriginal people must now take responsibility for their own lives.

File contains a presentation by Emile Bell relating to the negative effects of residential schools and the impact of AIDS on Aboriginal people in Canada. Bell, a co-founder of Joe Duquette High School in Saskatoon, works with street people in Saskatoon where the majority are Aboriginal. He calls on the Commission to help provide financial compensation for survivors of residential school abuse, and funding for a shelter for those living on the streets. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Emile Nakogee stating that Aboriginal peoples should "conserve our lifestyles, our culture, our languages and follow what our Creator created for us within the lands." He is concerned for the problems facing Aboriginal youth and states that parents need to involve elders and the community in raising children.

This file contains an individual presentation by Ernie Benedict focusing on broken treaties promises or treaties ignored altogether by the Canadian government. Benedict provides some history on early European contact in the Akwesasne. He questions where in his First Nations treaty was it stated that the St. Lawrence Seaway could be built without input from Aboriginals living in that area: "Where is the law in which an engineering drawing can supersede a treaty?"

File contains an individual presentation by Ernie Rickard that briefly discusses a number of issues, including education, justice, economic development on reserves, and self-government. He relates his experience when interviewing for a justice of the peace position with the Canadian government and how his interpretation of the job did not match the government's interpretation.

File contains an individual presentation by Evelyn Schrieber expressing concern for Aboriginal homeless people. She describes the hopelessness within her family as she, as well as her two children, were homeless at various points in their lives. Schrieber states that Aboriginals are denied the right to proper psychiatric treatment, particularly those who are homeless. She calls on the Commission to provide funding for programs for mentally ill people, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains an individual presentation by Frances Ebersbach, a Metis elder in her community who assists residents in a variety of ways. Ebersbach is frustrated by policies of government departments that work against Aboriginal people and wants to draw attention to the Commission the unfairness of treatment. Following the presentation is a question-and-answer session with the Commissioners.

File contains a presentation by Garnet Cumigant detailing the history of the city of Kenora, Ontario.

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.