International

The file contains a presentation by Gordon Robertson. Robertson, a federal civil servant during the time of the High Arctic Relocation, testifies on the government's intentions with regard to Inuit policy, Arctic policy, and sovereignty issues during the era. Robertson also gives his view of Inuit testimony on the relocation and his own visits to Resolute Bay during the 1950s. The assembled Commissioners question Robertson on some of his testimony.

File contains a presentation by Helena Laroque. She discusses her personal perspective on Aboriginal issues as someone who has worked in the international sphere. She makes mention of Ecuador and rights struggles, as well as addictions and environmental issues. Following Laroque's presentation the assembled Commissioners comment on it.

File contains a presentation by John Harker, Canadian representative of the International Labour Organization. The International Labour Office is a specialized agency of the United Nations. Harker delivers an international perspective on the issues faced by indigenous peoples, and discusses how his organization seeks to promote the human rights of indigenous peoples and enchancing their position within national societies. Harker also discusses some of the legal history of indigenous issues within the United Nations, and actions taken by his group.

File contains a presentation by Jacob Feenstra of the Summer Institute of Linguistics. He discusses his perspectives on Aboriginal languages in Canada. Feenstra is a Dutch (Friesien) student who works in the NWT, and draws parallels to minority language situations in Europe and Canada. He discusses his work preparing a Dogrib dictionary, and shares his ideas on language promotion and usage. Following his presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with him.

File contains a presentation by James Zion. Zion, an American Navajo lawyer, discusses European colonial powers efforts to come to terms with Aboriginal law and governance institutions in the New World as it pertains to the question of "Would a separate Aboriginal justice system mean a single system or would it be composed of many systems?" Zion also discusses some of the Aboriginal justice systems in place within the Navajo Nation, and the United States generally.

File contains a presentation by Jim Carberry. Carberry discusses his favourable impressions of Canada as a youth in Northern Ireland, and his shock and disgust at the position of Aboriginal people in Canadian society when he arrived here. Carberry discusses how he sees Aboriginal problems as mirroring those of other minorities around the world, and makes some suggestions to increase Aboriginal pariticipation in the wider society. Following the presentation is a discussion between Commissioners Chartrand and Blakeney with Carberry on some of these topics.

File contains a presentation by John Edsu of Fort McPherson. Edsu discusses his views on the trapping industry in the area and his view of its great importance to people of the north. Edsu protests southerners coming in as transient labour and taking jobs that he feels northerners are qualified to do. He also discusses rival claims over land by trappers and large multinational resource companies. He requests recognition from the federal Government of the importance of the trapping industry to his people, and criticizes the anti-fur movement as destructive and naive.

File contains a presentation by Johnny Naktialuk. Naktialuk recounts the history of his people's experience with Euro-Canadian healthcare, and makes some recommendations on midwifery and other areas of health for contemporary times. Naktialuk also discusses the importance of education in addressing the social problems faced by his people. Following the presentation Commissioner Rene Dussault discusses the lack of trained health care professionals in the region with Naktialuk.

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 Kenneth Emberley. Emberley briefly discusses the Oka Crisis, then presents on the connection between being an administered people and many of the social ills plaguing Aboriginal communities. Emberley then presents a series of ideas on imping the Land Claim process, preserving Aboriginal rights, the need for a whistle-blower's law, and dealing with the legacy of residential schools. The remainder of the presentation deals with world affairs and resource use as the presenter thinks they pertain to the goals of Aboriginal peoples.

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.

The file contains a presentation by Mary Ann Crow Healy. Crow Healy discusses the Indian Act, and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, arguing that both should be abolished. Crow Healy's second recommendation is that the federal government invite Aboriginal people's into Confederation, and claims that this kind of partnership is a necessity to move forward. Presenters Kurtis Eagle Speaker, Amber Flett, Kelly Healy, Kristen Many Bears, and Michelle Spear Chief also contribute comments on this second recommendation.

File contains a presentation by Maxwell Yalden, Commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, regarding his organizations past advocacy on behalf of Aboriginal peoples (including its support for the creation of the Commission), a universalist approach to Charter of Rights and Freedoms rights, his view that the Charter is complimentary to collective Aboriginal rights, the need to redress and relieve discrimination and abuses against Aboriginal Canadians, the importance of acting now with regards to Aboriginal issues rather than later.

File contains a presentation by Laurent Gagnon of Moral Rearmament. Moral Rearmament (now Initiatives of Change International) is an international moral and spiritual movement that, in 1938, grew out of the Reverend Frank N. D. Buchman's Oxford Group. Gagnon discusses the personal development of his changing views as someone from a Quebecois farming background towards the province's Aboriginal people. Gagnon discusses how his organization has worked to build dialogue and partnerships between communities in conflict worldwide, and the parallels between the Aboriginal and Quebecois experience.

File contains a presentation by Paul Stevens, Wallace Belleau and Bob Pelletier of the Ojibwe Peacekeepers Society. Stevens briefly explains the history of the Society as an organization of concerned Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal persons who are dedicated to the pursuit and the advancement of Aboriginal issues. The society acts as an advocacy group to ensure that treaties are adhered to. The Peacekeepers also peacefully protects citizens in their own land from outside forces if so requested by that tribal government or that particular First Nation.

This file contains a presentation by Paul Shay and Michele Audette focusing on the Aboriginal youth who participate in the Canada World Youth program. Audette recalls her positive experience as a participant living and working in different countries in South America. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.

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.

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.

The file contains a presentation by Shelagh Grant. Grant discusses the issue of Canadian sovereignty with relation to the High Arctic Relocation program of the 1950s. Following Grant's presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with her, after which Commissioner Dussault delivers closing remarks and concludes the day's sitting of the Commission.

The file contains a presentation by Shelagh Grant. Grant, a part-time teacher of History and Canadian Studies at Trent University, discusses sovereignty concerns with relation to the High Arctic Relocation program. Following Grant's presentation the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the issues raised with her.

File contains a presentation by Ted Harlson. Harlson discusses individual rights and why he thinks they must be absolute for a successful application of self-governance to Aboriginal peoples. Harlson presents a philosophical paper outlining why individual rights are important, and what he views as the dangers of collectivism. Following the presentation are comments by Commissioners Chartrand and Dussault.

The file contains a presentation by Gordon Smith, Donat Pharand, and Marc Denhez of the Sovereignty Panel. The three presenters discuss historical and legal sovereignty issues particularly with relation to Canada's role in the Arctic, and the High Arctic Relocation program. Following the presentations the assembled Commissioners discuss some of the ideas raised with the presenters, after which the Commission adjourns for the day.

The file contains a presentation by Victor Allen. Allen delivers a presentation on the history of Inuvik going back to the establishment of the community in the 1950s. Following Allen's presentation Commissioner Mary Sillett delivers opening remarks, and Commissioner Allan Blakeney makes brief comments before questioning Allen regarding his presentation. Commissioner John Holman also discusses some of the issues raised in the presentation with Victor.

File contains a presentation by Georgio Kooster and Gilles Graveline of de'Medici North Bay Inc.; a joint venture between Nipissing Indian Band Holdings & Investments Limited and de'Medici & Co. Inc.; a Canadian holding company owned by de'Medici & Co. SPA, fur dressers and dyers of Milan, Italy. Kooster discusses how the venture came about, its organizational history, and its economic activities. Following the presentation Commissioners Wilson and Sillett discuss the partnership and issues raised with Kooster and Graveline.

This file contains a portion of Volume 2 of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Akwesasne Mohawk School, Cornwall Island, Ontario. This portion of the Volume includes a presentation given by Grand Chief Mike Mitchell, Grand Chief Joe Norton of Kahnawake, Gordon Peters from Chiefs of Ontario and attorney Micha Menczer on the subject of border crossing rights.

File contains a presentation by Alana Dams of the First Nations Confederacy Inc. Dams delivers a pre-prepared statement regarding her organizations views on the Commission, and what it sees as the Commission's failure to properly consult and engage with Aboriginal peoples thus far. Commissioner George Erasmus addresses some of the concerns raised, and the Commissions hearings for the day conclude with a closing prayer by Thelma Chalifoux. First Nations Confederacy Inc. is an organization of Manitoba First Nations which represented 16 band governments in Manitoba at the time of the Commission.

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.

This file contains a part of a transcript of a portion of a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at The Fern Resort, Orillia, Ontario. This part includes a presentation given by Cynthia Wesley-Esquamaux at the Round Table discussion on Healing issues(Body, Mind and Soul) in the Aboriginal Community.

This file contains a Wampum Belt Reading by Chief Oren Lyons that continues with the same topics discussed by Jake Thomas, the previous presenter who also did a Wampum Belt Reading. Lyons believes that the Commission's mandate should be focused on peace between all First Nations and non-Aboriginal people.

Law Thesis [LLM?]--Lund University, 2003.

Looks at Niillas Somby, a Sámi activist who opposed Norwegian government's Alta-Kautokeino Hydroelectric Project on Sámi pastoral lands.

Discusses debate over land right obligations of Norwegian State towards the Sami people after the ratification of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 169 in 1990.

Reviews the laws from 1850 to the present and concludes that real equality cannot be achieved without political and territorial rights.

Author's opinion on the Finnmark Act requested by the Norwegian Parliament.

Talks about basic fundamental human rights under international law: physical existence, self-determination, and the use of natural resources.

Materials from the Saskatchewan Survival Gathering, held at the Pinehouse Lake, SK campground site; 1. Program; 2. News release; 3. Schedule. The Group For Survival, based in Saskatoon, SK, sought to protest uranium mining in Saskatchewan and bring to light the harmful effects of uranium on humans and the earth.

Comments on the ethnic history of the Tuvan people, and on the changing social, economic and geopolitical conditions they are facing.

Highlights from conference bringing together indigenous youth representatives from all over the world to define the roles and tasks of a youth network. To access this article, scroll down to page 24.

Political Science Thesis (Ph.D.)--York University, 2002.

Outlines the implementation of communal title in three pilot villages in the north-East of Cambodia. To access this article, scroll to page 14

Examines the eternal quest for self determination and how self-determination varies tremendously in international law.

Discusses the establishment of a community-based credit union as an example of a self-determined development model implemented by the peoples of Kalimantan. To access this article, scroll down to page 28.

Discusses responsibilities Greenland will take over from Denmark, economic consequences and environmental changes.

Webcast focuses on discussing three points: where the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission is situated on the international stage, the special visit to Canada by the UN Special Rapporteur, James Anaya, and the interim report recommendations on the United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Duration: 18:25.

Discusses the 1796, Seven Nations Treaty, the context in which it was concluded, whether entered into lawfully, not ratified by congress, and its applicability to Mohawk land claims in 1974.