ANNOUNCEMENT 14 May 1992
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CAUCUS
with the Canadian Environmental Network
MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT
JUNE 25-28, 1992
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA
The purpose of the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus meeting is to bring
together indigenous people across Canada who have and are prepared
to accept responsibility as caretakers of Mother Earth. We will
discuss our common concerns about environmental issues that affect
our peoples within community, provincial, national, and
international levels. We foresee a coalition being established to
assist us in our work of protecting Mother Earth.
We will discuss the formation of the National Indigenous Peoples'
Caucus on the Environment and the possibility of working within or
alongside the Canadian Environmental Network (CEN). These
decisions will be made by consensus by all indigenous participants.
We have invited Indigenous Elders, youth, women and men who have
been active on environmental issues from a grassroots level,
representing various tribal areas across the country.
Representatives from James Bay, Lonefighters, Indigenous Women's
Network, the Innu Nation, Mother Earth Healing Society, and others
have confirmed their attendance. Representatives from all Caucuses
within the CEN will be invited to participate in some of the
sessions. Time will be allotted for Indigenous-only meetings, if
desired by participants. We will utilize traditional processes of
meeting and decision-making to honour our ancestors and the
children not yet born. Our hosts in Winnipeg are assisting in the
planning of a feast and cultural sharing activities.
There have numerous attempts in the past to find ways to have
meaningful participation of Indigenous People within the Canadian
Environmental Network. Thus far, we have been unsuccessful in
fully bridging the gap between non-Native ENGO's and Indigenous
peoples who work on environmental and social justice issues. Often
the two communities live side by side but know very little of each
other. It is vital that we seek common ground in order to
strengthen each other. Each community has knowledge that could be
shared rather than running on a collision course as sometimes has
happened. It is our hope that we can reach an agreement that would
respect indigenous responsibility in protecting Mother Earth.
For more information please contact:
Gwen Orechia
Fredericton, New Brunswick
(506)453-2305
Lorna Born With A Tooth
Calgary, Alberta
(403)283-1576
Craig Boljkovac
Ottawa, Ontario
(613)563-2078