Membership
Members will be representatives of sensitive areas witin nations.
Caucus members will be people who are either active in the defence
of traditional lands or who follow a traditional way of life. Youth
membership is an important targeted area for the Caucus and will be
recruited by each Caucus member. Youth members will become full
caucus members.
Linkage to Other CEN Caucuses
The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus will meet as a caucus within the
structure of the CEN and will be open to participation from each of
the other 13 caucuses. Additionally, representatives of the
Indigenous Peoples' Caucus will participate in each of the other
caucuses in order that a more in-depth understanding of the issues
can be achieved. The representatives to each of these caucuses will
be responsible for briefing other Indigenous caucus members on the
issues under consideration.
Themes
The following themes for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus have been
proposed by members:
1. To advance an understanding of environmental issues from
indigenous perspectives within CEN and the national and
international arenas.
2. To advance solutions to environmental issues confronting
indigenous territories as defined by the people from those
territories.
3. To share information which will be of assistance to people
active in the protection of traditional lands.
4. To meet regularly in territories under environmental stress to
support indigenous peoples involved in the defence of
traditional lands and in the promotion of sustainable
development based on traditional knowledge and values.
5. To work with environmental organizations to achieve balance
between the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples and
the technical knowledge of environmentalists.
6. To undertake our own research, utilizing culturally
appropriate research methods, to document the traditional
knowledge of Indigenous peoples that forms an equally viable
scientific model for assessing environmental impacts. For
example, the knowledge of traditional bundleholders is on par
with the academic understanding acquired through a Master of
Science degree.
7. To produce a range of educational materials that can be
utilized with Indigenous territories, the environmental
community and schools.
8. To create a space which will facilitate the legitimation and
exercising of the fiduciary responsibilities of Aboriginal
people to stop the assault on the environment and further to
address the unheard concept of alternatives.
Required Resources
The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus will seek full partnerships with the
CEN and other support groups to:
1 Access technical information sources.
2 Access traditional people in the various Indigenous
territories who are the carriers of the knowledge, values and
practices that are critical to the preservation of the eco
sphere.
3. Facilitate the full involvement of Indigenous youth to ensure
a sustainable future.
4. Permit the distribution of information through faxes and by
mail.
5. Link up in an electronic network with each other and with CEN
members and caucuses.
6. Enable travel to the various territories for caucus meetings.
7. Enable caucus members to participate in meetings of, or events
sponsored by, other caucuses, as necessary.
8. Undertake research and documentation of issues as necessary.
9. Produce information and education products as necessary.
Caucus Meeting
The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus will meet in the various territories
on a regular basis. For the first year, since it is a developmental
period, it is anticipated that the caucus will be required to meet
more often, at least once every two months, while in subsequent
years it will be feasible to meet every three or four months.
The first meeting of the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus will take place
June 26-28 /'92, in Winnipeg and will be the first step to full
participation by Aboriginal people within the Canadian
Environmental Network. This initial meeting will take place over
three days and will focus upon the ratification of a plan of action
for the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus. Indigenous youth, women and
traditional people from Winnipeg and surrounding territories.
International guests will be invited to address the meeting.
Representatives of all other CEN caucuses will be invited to
attend, as well as representatives of support groups including
development agencies, churches and labour organizations. Federal
ministers will be invited to share their plans for supporting this
process.