Conference aims to make lives better for Aboriginal people

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The United Native Nations and a number of community organizations hosted a conference at the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre on January 20 and 21.

The purpose of the meeting was not only to discuss problems faced by Indigenous groups and individuals in the Vancouver area, but also to propose practical steps to begin resolving them. Banners with the text "Making lives better for Aboriginal people, and their communities: Let's get beyond the talk. Let's start doing it in the Vancouver Area." decorated the walls, and set the theme for the two days.

The conference started with a reception attended by about 100 people, including MP Hedy Fry, Jenny Kwon, the area's MLA, and Mayor Philip Owen. Each of the politicians made a short statement complimenting the organizers and the Aboriginal community, and wishing everyone success.

While the politicians spoke with glowing optimism for the future, some Native community workers, like Seislom, a UNN youth worker, expressed concern. When the federal government devolved funding to the provinces, not enough funding was made available to house Indigenous youth who come to Vancouver, he said. The UNN is making some progress, however. A 10-unit house, where newcomers can stay and get their bearing, has been in operation for three years at 1818 East Pender St. It's barely a beginning, however, and outlying areas are worse off than downtown.

Friday's meetings began at 9 a.m. with a prayer by Chief Leonard George and his son. Master of ceremonies Chris Corrigan then explained the format of the proposed "open meeting" to some 200 attendees. Topics of discussion flow from the audience, and in this way the "whole conference can be owned by the people."

Members of the meeting were urged to write down and post subjects they would be intensely interested in discussing with other members of the group. After an initial hesitation, a steady stream of participants posted many topics. There were about eight topics per hour for each of the six hours.

The subjects ranged from poverty and community services and support; healing centres, exploitation of Aboriginal youth and children for commercial sex, ecotourism and Aboriginal title; connecting community and education, HIV/AIDS, capacity building for First Nations living in the downtown eastside, and child poverty, to services for special needs students, and many, many more.

Some participants felt the format of the meeting was not inclusive enough. Carol Dawson, who chose to discuss government incompetence and immigration as her topic, spoke briefly to Raven's Eye.

"Immigration suffers from Euroism. Quite apart from what it did to our people, Euroism is with us here today. To me Euroism is the development of thought processes, that is a prescribed fashion or process. This orchestrated event today isn't really giving people a full opportunity to really get to the issues. I would do better to hold a meeting on the sidewalk outside. Talk about the homelessness, the immigration, about all the burning issues that face all of us, not just the First Nations. I'm enraged at the spending of $8 or 9,000 per month per boat person, while people are dying on the street in Montreal. No matter what their race, this is hypocrisy. Native people have asked for parity and we don't have that. But when I see white people dying in the streets, I don't want parity. It alarms me, because the First Nations are the alarm bells, they're the canaries of the system. When the social system, the healthcare system breaks down, it's the First Nations who are first affected. But now we're seeing the contrary, that other Canadians are being treated equally as we are. In other words, Canadians are being treated badly all the way around."

MP Hedy Fry took an active role in Friday's proceedings. She chose a topic on the commercial exploitation of Aboriginal youth and children for sex..

"Aboriginal community and First Nations' leadership groups must become partners in an active campign to address pornography and sexual abuse of Aboriginal children," she said. "This must happen both in the urban and First Nations communities, because it is not isolated in downtown east-side Vancouver."

She also urged the development of culturally appropriate programs that deal with sexual abuse and the trauma of sexual abuse of Aboriginal children and families.

A member of Fry's discussion group noted that young Native girls are being kidnapped and taken overseas to work in the sex trade. She suggested that pedophiles are impossible to cure, and should be exposed and monitored. Another participant explained that it is difficult to get a conviction against perpetrators. One party approached the attorney general, who promised support, making a statement to that group promising action. However, that person said, the attorney general did nothing. Another person noted in this connection that pedophiles are often influential professional men. Fry made no further comment.

The conclusion of this discussion group was that action should originate from the community level and target schools. Fry stated she is committed to doing public education. Penny Kerrigan of Mother Centres promised to help in this important area.

Several groups dealt with variations on the theme of urban Aboriginal people and the treaty process. Raven's Eye stopped by one group where Shawn Atleo, an Ahousaat member, was the recorder. The discussion centered on the fact that in many nations more than 50 per cent of the members live off reserve. Difficulty of communication between on and off reserve members seems to be one of the major problems.

Scott Clark, a member of this discussion circle, suggested that the leadership, namely the four Aboriginal groups, and the three levels of government should talk about these issues. Relevant government departments should be involved, and they should brainstorm with "urban locals." Scott offered his home for a meeting at the end of February to establish a teamof urban Aboriginal representatives who would discuss common interests, including the treaty process. Then they could meet with government reps, perhaps by mid March. Scott can be reached through the UNN.