Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Project...
Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Caribbean and Americas
Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Project
Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, UK in association with the Amerindian Peoples Association, Guyana
Hotel Tower
Georgetown, Guyana
June 23rd-25th 2003
Programme
Monday, June 23rd
9.00 Welcome by Richard Bourne, Head, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit (CPSU)
9.10 Welcome by Tony James, President, Amerindian Peoples Association, Guyana
9.15 Welcome and Presentation by Hon. Carolyn Rodrigues, Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Guyana
9.45 Discussion - chaired by Les Malezer, Coordinator, Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples, (CAIP)
10.15 Introductions by participants
10.30 - 11.00 ~ Tea/Coffee ~
Session 1. Indigenous Peoples and the Commonwealth - an overview
Chair: Richard Bourne, Head, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, (CPSU)
11.00 Welcome and Presentation by Helena Whall, Project Officer, Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Project, CPSU
The Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Project
11.30 Welcome and Presentation by Les Malezer, Coordinator, Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples, (CAIP)
The Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples, (CAIP)
12.00 Discussion
12.45 Strategy for the Meeting
1.00 - 2.00 ~ Lunch ~
Session 2. Indigenous Rights in the Caribbean and Americas - an overview
Chair: Yvonne Pearson, Vice President, Amerindian Peoples Association, Guyana (tbc)
2.00 Fergus MacKay, Three Guyanas and Legal/Human Rights Programme, Forest Peoples Programme, UK
Indigenous Peoples' Rights in the Commonwealth Caribbean and Canada
2.30
Joseph O Palacio, University of West Indies, School of Continuing Studies,
Belize
Public ambivalence on the
human rights of indigenous peoples in the Commonwealth Caribbean - introducing
the concept of peoplehood
3.00 Discussion
3.30
- 4.00 ~ Tea/Coffee ~
Session 3. Indigenous Land Rights, Development and the Environment
Chair: Andy Orkin, Advisor, Grand Council of the Crees, Canada
4.00 Tony James, President, Amerindian Peoples Association, Guyana
Indigenous Land Rights in Guyana: Past, Present and Future
4.30 Valentino Shal, Maya Alliance, Belize
Environment, Development and Indigenous People- Belize
5.00 Cathy Towtongie, President, NTI, Nunavut, Canada
Modern Treaty Making - The State and Indigenous People in the 21st Century
5.30 Discussion
6.00 ~ Close ~
6.30 - 8.30 ~ Reception ~
Georgetown Club
(Reception hosted by British and Canadian High Commission)
Tuesday, June 24th
Session 4. Indigenous Land Rights, Development and the Environment
Chair: Cathy Towtongie, President, NTI, Nunavut, Canada
9.30 William Andries, Ex-Chair, North Rupununi District Development Board, Guyana
On Behalf of the Macushi Nation of Guyana
10.00 Sydney Allicock, Iwokrama Board, Guyana
10.30 Discussion
11.00 - 11.30 ~ Tea/Coffee ~
Chair: Valentino Shal, Maya Alliance, Belize
11.30 Peter Persaud, President, Amerindian Action Movement of Guyana(TAAMOG)
Environmental and Developmental Issues of Guyana's Indigenous Peoples
12.00 Phyllis Cayetano, National Garifuna Council, Belize
Indigenous Land Rights, Development and Environment - Garifuna perspective
12.30 Discussion
1.00 - 2.00 ~ Lunch ~
Session 5. Indigenous Socio-Economic and Cultural Rights
Chair: Ian Melville, Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples, Guyana
2.00 Colin Samson, Director of American Studies, Essex University, UK
Community Trauma and Forced Assimilation of the Innu in Canada
Statement of George Rich of the Mushuau Innu Band Council of Natuashish Village of Labrador, Canada
2.30 Pulcheria Teul, Toledo Maya Women's Council, Belize
Indigenous Socio-Economic and Cultural Rights - Toledo Maya Women's Council Perspective
3.00 Discussion
3.30 - 4.00 ~ Tea/Coffee ~
Chair: Joseph O Palacio, University of West Indies, Belize
4.00 Romeo Saganash, Director of Quebec Relations, Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee), Canada
4.30 Ian Melville, Guyanese Organisation of Indigenous Peoples, Guyana
Guyanese Indigenous Culture: Past and Present
5.00 Discussion
5.30 ~ Close ~
Wednesday, June 25th
Session 6. Indigenous Socio-Economic and Cultural Rights
Chair: Colin Samson, Director of American Studies, Essex University, UK
9.00 Chief Garnette Joseph, Carib Council, Dominica
Indigenous Rights in Dominica
9.30 Kenneth Deer, Editor of 'The Eastern Door', Mohawk Nation, Canada - paper to be presented by Les Malezer, CAIP
Mohawk Communities in Canada: Our Struggle for Cultural Survival and Renewal
10.00 Discussion
10.30 - 11.00 ~ Tea/Coffee ~
Session 7. Lobbying the Commonwealth: CHOGM, Nigeria, 2003
Chair: Fergus MacKay, Forest Peoples Programme, UK
11.00 Richard Bourne, Head, Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) - an overview
11.20 Mr Les Malezer, Coordinator, Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples (CAIP)
The Commonwealth Association of Indigenous Peoples - Lobbying CHOGM
11.40 Mark McDowell, Deputy Director, Aboriginal and Circumpolar Affairs, DFAIT, Canada
To be confirmed
12.00 Discussion
12.30 Drafting of Indigenous Statement for CHOGM 2003 and Consultation on the Indigenous Rights in the Commonwealth Project Recommendations
1.30-2.30 ~ Lunch ~
Plenary Session
Chair: Sydney Allicock, Iwokrama Board, Guyana
2.30 - 4.30 Drafting of Regional Press Release
4.30 - 5.30 Press Conference
5.30 ~ Close of Meeting ~