2023 Agenda
Research and Transformative Change:
Principles, Practices, and Possibilities
səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) Territory
North Vancouver, BC
October 24, 25, 26, 2023
DRAFT AGENDA
Day 1 – October 24, 2023: Expanded Remedies and Relationships to Evidence and Research
| 8:00 am – 8:45 am | Conference Registration, Breakfast |
| 8:45 am – 10:00 am | Opening Prayer, Ceremonies & Welcome Overview of agenda and day’s proceedings Chief Dalton Silver (Chair, BCSCWG) Jody Woods (UBCIC) BC Showcase Moderator: Morgan Chapman, Havlik Consulting Group Treaty 8 Treaty Land Entitlement Specific Claim Settlement Chief Rudy Paquette, Saulteau First Nations, Cheyenne Smith (Havlik Consulting Group), James Hickling (Hickling-Harrison, TBC) Description to be added. Sticky Democracy Overview (Virtual and Onsite) Morgan Chapman |
| 10:00 am – 10:15 am | Break – Refreshments provided |
| 10:15 am – 11:15 am | Integrating Indigenous Laws in the Proposed Independent Specific Claims Resolution Centre (ISCRC) Moderator: Jody Woods This is the first in a series of panels that will focus on the relationship between expanded or alternate remedies for claims as informed by Indigenous laws and their relationship to evidence. A New Independent Process to Resolve Claims that Includes Indigenous Laws in All Aspects of Resolution Kathleen Lickers – TBC This presentation would include introductory remarks to discuss basic principles and functions in the AFN proposal for a new independent specific claims resolution centre with a focus on the transformative aspect of the inclusion of Indigenous Laws. How Incorporating Indigenous Laws May Impact and be Informed by Research Methodologies Dr. Sarah Morales, University of Victoria Dr. Morales will speak to how research practice may be implicated when the resolution process is broadened or defined according to Indigenous legal protocols or principles. It may include a discussion of Indigenous research methodologies (i.e. how “best practices” could be redefined/broadened by community protocols), how weight currently given to archival records v. oral history evidence could shift or become more equivalent), how data sovereignty could impact access to records. |
| 11:15 am – 12:30 pm | Expanded Remedies: Community Engagement, Land Return and Impacts on Research Moderator: Shannon Williams, NNTC Land Back: Restitution of Lands in the Specific Claims Policy Shiri Pasternak, Toronto Metropolitan University This presentation will focus on understanding expanded remedies, such as the return of land, and its relationship to research and evidence. Researching and Incorporating Intangible Losses into Claims Submissions, Alternative Remedies Shannon Williams (Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council) Rachel Singleton-Polster (UBCIC) This presentation will be focused on sharing the UBCIC publication, “Severed Connections: The Unacknowledged Costs of Specific Claims.” This project looks at the harms that have occurred as a direct result of colonialism and which cannot be undone. We know that restitution appropriate to those harms must be fully explored and guided by those who continue to live with the effects of those harms: First Nations themselves. This presentation will focus on initiating a broader conversation about the full scope of losses that Indigenous Peoples are working to overcome. Community Engagement and Land Back Principles Francis Walsh & Katie Spillane (Mohawk Council of Kahnawake) Description to be added |
| 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm | Lunch provided |
| 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Oral History, Community Evidence, and Indigenous Laws in Support of Expanded Remedies Moderator: Rebecca Sinclair Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation Oral History Project Councillor Randall Roulette, Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation & Sylvie Canning, First Peoples Law Description to be added University of Victoria Indigenous Laws Field School, Ye’yumnuts Project Dr. Sarah Morales and Brian Thom, University of Victoria (TBC) Description to be added |
| 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm | Break – Refreshments provided |
| 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm | Providing Evidence Using Technological Tools Moderator: Shannon Williams, NNTC Drone Use for Ground-Proofing Claims NNTC Speaker TBD/possibly together with Angie Bain Part Two – hands on follow up of last year’s presentation on drone and video use “how to” for the work we do (e.g. how to georeference historical records on maps, how to use video editing software etc). Understanding the Territory through Community Visits and Photography in Claims Chief Lisa Robinson, Wolf Lake First Nations (TBC) Description to be added |
| 4:15 pm – 4:30 pm | Announcements & Adjournment |
| 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm | BC Showcase (Optional Activity) Movie Screening: Unceded Chiefs, introduced by the film’s Creator and Director, Secwépemc filmmaker Doreen Manual |
Day 2 – October 25, 2023: Resources for Research and Claim Development
| 8:30 am – 9:00 am | Conference Registration, Breakfast |
| 9:00 am – 9:30 am | Overview of agenda and day’s proceedings Jody Woods, UBCIC BC Showcase Moderator: Jody Woods Cash Advances to Purchase Lands – Okanagan Indian Band Chief Byron Louis and technician to link to research (TBC) Description to be added. |
| 9:30 am – 10:15 am | Access to Records – Challenges and Solutions Moderator: Peter Di Gangi, Sicani Research This session will begin with an overview of the NCRD submission to ATI and Privacy Act legislative reviews in 2022. The panel will then discuss current challenges researchers are experiencing with informal requests for records in 2023 as well as Canada’s responses and some external solutions and tools. Discussions on day three can focus on understanding these challenges, especially from the perspective of researchers and communities who are experiencing them as a way to consider the role of a Resource Hub in a new independent specific claims resolution centre. Informal Access to Information at CIRNAC and ISC: Issues and Outcomes to Date and Responses from Canada Morgan Chapman, Havlik Consulting Group Darlene Bess, CIRNAC (TBC) Description to be added Overview of “Secret Canada”: The Globe and Mail’s ATIP Project and Portal Tom Cardoso, The Globe and Mail This presentation will provide an overview of the “Secret Canada” project and database. |
| 10:15 am – 10:30 am | Break – Refreshments provided |
| 10:30 am – 11:30 am | Record Repositories: Initiatives, Tools, and Partnerships Moderator: Alison McBride, ANS This is the first in a series of panels that will explore challenges and advances in obtaining and managing historical records. It will provide updates and set the stage for discussions on day three that consider how a resource hub in an independent claims resolution centre could support initiatives or address challenges related to specific claims. Library and Archives Canada: Access Initiatives and Updates Ryan Courchene, Strategic Advisor, Indigenous Initiatives, Library and Archives Canada LAC will provide update on access initiatives, internships etc . New Tools for Working with RG 10 Jason Friedman, Heritage Services, Canadian Research Knowledge Network Description to be added Algonquin Nation Secretariat and Community Partnerships to Support Digitization of Community Archives Dominic Lafontaine, Timiskaming First Nation Annie Presseault, Algonquin Nation Secretariat This presentation will provide an overview of a digitization project that is allowing for Algonquin communities to get their records digitized including ways that projects like these can be funded. |
| 11:30 am – 12:00 pm | #DataBack: Asserting and Supporting Indigenous Data Sovereignty Moderator: Rebecca Sinclair Jeff Doctor, Animikii This presentation will explore what it means to get our digital data back. It will discuss how we can build our own software, host our own digital data, assert our digital sovereignty – and the responsibilities we take on when doing so. |
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Lunch provided |
| 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm | Building Capacity to Obtain and Preserve Evidence Moderator: Morgan Chapman A look at what communities, CRU archives and likeminded organisations are doing to improve their access to and management of records for claims. Moderator can frame these discussions in terms of how community or CRU archives can connect to or possibly be supported by the resource hub. Managing Historical Information: National Advisory Committee on Residential School Missing Children Dr. Tricia Logan, University of British Columbia Tricia Logan from the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation will discuss their repository approaches to historical information management and open linked data. What Happens Next? Evidence Meets the Real World Peter Di Gangi, Sicani Research This presentation will explore what happens to evidentiary materials once the claim or court case is settled (or not), or once your research team retires, what happens to the data and how will it be used? |
| 1:45 pm – 2:15 pm | Updates from the Specific Claims Branch and Negotiation Support Directorate Stefan Matation Specific Claims Branch TBC Speaker TBD, Negotiation Support Directorate |
| 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm | Break – Refreshments Provided |
| 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm | Research and Development Funding: Updates and Impacts Moderator: James Lasaga, Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq This panel sets out current challenges with funding to support the research and development of claims, Canada’s responses, and impacts experienced by unfunded First Nations as a way to frame discussions around how researchers can inform the priorities of an independent funding mechanism that incorporates Indigenous Laws. Update on Funding Issues and CRU-NSD Working Group Jody Woods, Morgan Chapman (CRU Working Group Representatives) Impacts of Funding Denial – Two Communities Reflect Councillor Carl Kennedy, Little Pine First Nation Second Community – TBC |
| 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm | Updates from the Chair of the Specific Claims Tribunal Madam Justice Victoria Chiappetta |
| 6:00 pm – 8:30 pm | Banquet [Location TBD] Remembering Reuben Ware (Dan Gottesman) and Trevor Tracey |
Day 3 – October 26, 2023: Practical Steps Towards Transformative Change
| 8:30 am – 9:00 am | Conference Registration, Breakfast |
| 9:00 am – 9:30 am | Overview of agenda and day’s proceedings Jody Woods (UBCIC) (more likely a facilitator) Today we will lead a series of facilitated discussions on the following topics: 1. Spec Claims Slam – catch us up on what is new and exciting in your research, or things we didn’t get to talk about on Days 1 or 2 2. The Resource Hub – what matters to you – Archive access? Incorporation of Indigenous Laws? Breaking the ATIP logjam? Training? 3. Funding 101 – What would help you do a better job of researching claims? Specific Claims researchers and technicians offer a unique and vital perspective as we continue to work towards an independent process that includes Indigenous laws. In addition to your expertise, many of you are rights holders whose experiences are integral to the co-development of the independent centre. Members of the AFN-Canada Specific Claims Implementation Working Group (SCIWG) are invited and here to participate and learn from you. It is important that you feel free to ask questions and share your experience so the SCIWG members can learn from you and take this important knowledge back to the co-development table. The NCRW planning committee encourages the SCIWG members to fully participate in today’s discussions, and we have asked Canada and the AFN to reflect on what they hear today. |
| 9:30 am – 10:45 am | Spec Claims Slam Got something to say that doesn’t align with one of the panels? Didn’t get to ask a question or share your experience? You now have 3 minutes to talk about something that excites you or grinds your gears about the spec claims world. A few suggested topics may include (but really, the floor is yours!): – The unseen inventory – what issues do you know about that aren’t quite “specific claims” but still need to be resolved? – What do you want to know about spec claims in the system – what is useful and why? – Find a cool record or new database? Have a cool story to share from your research?Tell us about it! Don’t want to talk to the group but still have something to share? Grab a sticky note and go stick your thoughts on the walls! |
| 10:45 am – 11:00 am | Break – Refreshments provided |
| 11:00 am – 12:15 pm | The Resource Hub – What matters to you? Facilitated Discussion Moderator: TBD Facilitator will provide short recap of items discussed during previous two days of NCRW around document access, incorporating oral history/genealogy. We will then convene a discussion with researchers in attendance about the proposed Resource Hub as part of the independent specific claims resolution centre envisioned in the proposal and ask for thoughts, ideas and feedback with respect to principles, priorities and needs, to inform the actual mechanics of how the Hub could operate. Researchers would be the primary users of a Resource Hub. |
| 12:15 pm – 1:00 pm | Shortened Lunch – provided |
| 1:00 pm – 2:15 pm | Funding 101 – lets talk financial resources! Moderator TBD This portion of the panel will explore what researchers have to say about how they are resourced/funded. 1. Do researchers have the resourcing they need to visit archives, order docs, manage their own collections, visit community, carry out oral history, purchase technology. 2. Would their ability to work improve in a well resourced, independent process and how could funding be administered independently if Canada still provides the money? |
| 2:15 pm – 2:30 pm | Break – Refreshments Provided |
| 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm | What we learned this year: Sticky Democracy Results Moderators from the 2023 NCRW will provide a brief overview of what was shared/discussed as a wrap up. Solicit discussion, consider and collect information about concerns related to of transition to a new process etc |
| 4:00 pm | Closing Prayer and Adjournment Raffle/Door Prizes/etc |
| 4:15 pm – 4:45 pm | Research Directors Meeting Choosing / Announcing Next Year’s Host |