CANADA: Landmark Ruling Backs Native Self-Determination

By Am Johal

VANCOUVER, Nov 29 (IPS) – In a case that took a decade to complete and cost close to 30 million dollars, a British Columbia Supreme Court judge last week gave a boost to Native Canadian bands seeking aboriginal land title, but also sent the various parties back to the table to negotiate a treaty.

Justice David Vickers issued a massive 458-page ruling, prompting some provincial politicians to quip that it was “just short of ‘War and Peace’”.

British Columbia, Canada’s western-most province, is still largely unceded territory and subject to First Nations land claims. While some bands have formally joined the government-sanctioned BC Treaty process with mixed results, other bands have stayed out of the process and have proceeded to direct litigation to pursue their claims.
 
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GREATER VANCOUVER URBAN ABORIGINAL STRATEGY COMMUNITY FORUM

EVENT REMINDER:

Saturday, Dec. 1 2007, 10 am – 4 pm
Kla-how-eya Aboriginal Centre
13629 108th Avenue, Surrey, BC

This is an invitation to contribute your ideas on the continued delivery of the Urban Aboriginal Strategy in Metro Vancouver at a fun and interactive one day forum.

The Urban Aboriginal Strategy is focused on improving the lives of Greater Vancouver’s Urban Aboriginal people by concentrating on community needs in the following areas:

Supporting Aboriginal Women, Children and Families
Promoting Job Training, Skills and Entrepreneurship
Improving Life Skills

This forum will be held in an open and transparent environment, and all ideas will be considered.

Lunch & refreshments will be provided.

Transportation to and from the event is available upon request.

Please contact Jolene Warren or Ryck Bronzon of Kla-how-eya at 604.584.2008 to pre-schedule for pick up time and location. For more information on the GVUAS, please visit www.gvuas.ca
 
A poster advertisement for this event is attached for your distribution.

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Prime Minister Harper announces Indian status for Newfoundland Mi’kmaq

November 30, 2007
ST. GEORGE’S, Newfoundland and Labrador

PLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. Welcome chiefs and elders.

Chief Brazeau and Vice Chief Sheppard, thank-you for being here today and thank you Chuck, for your kind introduction, and for all the hard work you’ve done for this announcement today.

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BC ABORIGINAL WOMEN’S FORUMS

Registration Form
Message from Lillian George, President:

I am pleased to invite all Aboriginal women to attend one of two forums to discuss the composition, mandate and terms of reference for a BC Aboriginal Women’s Council.

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Action For Accountability – The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples wants to hear from you

As the voice of Canada’s off-reserve Aboriginal community, the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP) is holding community meetings in your area.  CAP would like to hear your ideas and opinions on ways to improve Aboriginal accountability.

Issues for discussion include:

 Ensuring that off-reserve First Nations peoples are able to cast their votes in band council elections in their respective First Nations communities as affirmed by the Supreme Court’s Corbiere decision

 Enabling access to human rights protection for off–reserve First Nations citizens

 Discussing ways to improve Aboriginal accountability

United Native Nations Society (UNNS) is the BC representative organization for the CAP.  UNNS is hosting 2 community information sessions and would be pleased to have you join us at one of them:

Session 1 – VANCOUVER  
 
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2007 
Time: 9:30 – 11:30 am (lunch at noon) 
Place: Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre
 1607 East Hastings Street 

Session 2 – PRINCE GEORGE

Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 pm (lunch at noon)
Place: Prince George Native Friendship Centre 1600 Third Avenue

For more information go to: www.abo-peoples.action.org

Be certain your voice is heard by those who care.
Hope through Transparency

**IMPORTANT**
In order to secure your seat (and lunch) at one of these meetings, please contact Donna Cole by Friday, November 23, 2007

Email:  donna@unns.bc.ca
Fax:  604-688-1823

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