Ethical Redress: A Gathering on Indigenous Laws and the Practice of Research
Hosted in Mi’kma’ki on Millbrook First Nation
Please join the British Columbia Specific Claims Working Group (BCSCWG)[1] and our Mi’kma’ki hosts, Millbrook First Nation, for a day of learning and dialogue to consider how to meaningfully, ethically, and practically include Indigenous laws into specific claims research and development.
Specific claims are historical grievances brought against the federal government by First Nations when Canada fails to fulfill its lawful obligations as set out in statutes, treaties, agreements, or the Crown’s reserve creation policies. For decades First Nations have called for an end to Canada’s conflict of interest in managing the specific claims process and assessing historical claims. First Nations have also called for the inclusion of Indigenous laws and legal orders in all aspects of the specific claims resolution process, including claim research and development.
Building on its longstanding advocacy on this issue, the BCSCWG invites the specific claims research community to a day of dialogue and reflection with Mi’kma’ki Elders, community members, political leaders, and legal theorists to explore how working with community knowledge holders and being attentive to Indigenous laws may inform the practice of historical research, including determining and implementing research methodologies, developing ethical guidelines, agreements, and protocols, incorporating new forms of evidence into historical reports, and protecting community information according to OCAP principles. The event format will include panel discussions and opportunities for small group dialogue.
The hope is that the event will generate a working set of key considerations and insights to help the BCSCWG develop a practical tool for specific claims research practitioners wanting to implement this approach.
Space is limited and research attendance is prioritized.
For More information, please contact Jody Woods: jwoods@ubcic.bc.ca
[1] The BC Specific Claims Working Group (BCSCWG) is a group of Indigenous leaders and specific claims technicians, created via resolution by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) in 2013 and tasked with advocating for the fair and just resolution of BC specific claims and advancing specific claims as a national political agenda item.