Academics prepare to examine Native issues

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Academics from the University of Saskatchewan are helping to lay the groundwork for a hemispheric conference on Indigenous issues, an event that would raise the profile of First Nations affairs and shed an international light on the unique challenges facing Aboriginal people from Saskatchewan and Western Canada.

The conference, tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2000, is being promoted by a variety of department heads and research directors at the university. The conference would concentrate on issues affecting Aboriginal people in Canada, the United States, Mexico and throughout South America, organizers say.

The idea for a hemispheric conference grew out a meeting held Oct. 29 and 30 at the Wanuskewin Heritage Park near Saskatoon. At that meeting, more than 50 participants sought ways to raise the profile of Indigenous issues affecting Native people in North and South America.

Participants at the Wanuskewin meeting decided to promote an ongoing dialogue on Aboriginal issues with the ultimate goal of hosting an international conference in 2000.

Organizers haven't picked a date for the event, but they are looking at a window of time between the Organization of American States' general assembly to be held next June in Windsor, Ont., and the Summit of Americas meeting to be held in Quebec City in 2001. Asit Sarkar, event co-ordinator and director of U of S International, said the University of Saskatchewan is well-placed to start an international dialogue on Aboriginal affairs. Sarkar said the university has developed a solid reputation for promoting Aboriginal issues and educating First Nations people.

To illustrate his point, he cited a variety of academic initiatives at the U of S, including special Aboriginal programs in education, law, medicine and engineering.