Events focus on cultural promotion and protection

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Saskatoon became a Mecca for the exchange of ideas thanks to two conferences dealing with Indigenous issues. First up was the Indigenous Knowledge Conference, held May 28 to 30 and hosted by the Indigenous People's Program at the University of Saskatchewan. That was followed by the annual conference and general meeting of the Canadian Indigenous/Native Studies Association (CINSA), held May 31 to June 3 and hosted by the University of Saskatchewan Department of Native Studies and the Department of Indian Studies at Saskatchewan Indian Federated College.

The Indigenous Knowledge conference saw more than 300 enthusiastic delegates from North and South America, New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa converge as one mass to discuss and share their concerns over issues ranging from genetic engineering and its impact on Indigenous peoples, to the protection and preservation of Indigenous knowledge and languages.

Despite a few cultural differences, language for one, delegates found that much common ground was shared in regard to their traditions and issues affecting their homelands. This aspect became one of the event's strongest uniting factor.

Conference chairperson Priscilla Settee gave opening remarks for the Indigenous Knowledge conference. Further welcoming remarks by Michael Atkinson, vice president Academic with the University of Saskatchewan; Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Perry Bellegarde; and Metis Nation of Saskatchewan president Clem Chartier.

Following the opening remarks was an Elder's discussion panel on Indigenous Knowledge, where Elders Danny Musqua, Alma and Simon Ktwayhat, and Walter and Maria Linklater presented their vast experience and wisdom to the delegates.

At noon, delegates were treated to a luncheon consisting of African and Indian cuisine, while a rather forward and unapologetic keynote on the effects of academic elitism and discrimination on Indigenous peoples was delivered by Professor Sharon Venne, a doctoral candidate in Law at the University of Saskatchewan. Following the luncheon, the workshops began.

Though the conference's main mandate was to provide a venue for delegates to share Indigenous knowledge, one of the main points raised within each session was the importance of protecting it from prostitution and cultural appropriation by non-Indigenous groups and people. Workshop attendees unanimously felt that Indigenous groups should be asked to share knowledge by outsiders rather than have cultural teachings and insights stolen from beneath their noses. In some cases, it has been common practice for academics and corporations to develop Indigenous based literature and curriculum - without even recognizing its contributors. A pressing need for non-Indigenous societies to acquire and develop respect towards Indigenous cultures was often pointed out.

One highly interesting workshop was delivered by Northern Paiute Native American Debra Harry, executive director of the Indigenous Peoples Council on Biocolonialism, who gave a dynamic presentation entitled "Biopiracy and the New Gold Rush: Theft of DNA from

Indigenous Peoples". In a nutshell, Harry outlined the risks involved when a dominant society collects genetic material - often without knowledge or consent - from Aboriginal people, simply for the goal of "cataloguing" certain genetic variations within Indigenous societies. To what use would this information serve? And who would benefit? Until corporate ethics become industry standard, Harry recommended increased education at the grassroots level regarding personal human rights and the development and implementation of strategies to protect our DNA from corporate exploitation.

Other interesting workshops focused on a wide variety of subjects: sacred water sites and Indigenous healers in South Africa,the traditional dress of the Zulu woman, environmental protection and increased grassroots participation in political decision making, and traitional ecological knowledge.

The event wrapped up with a banquet at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, with Native Hawaiian Mililani Trask, an attorney with much experience on land trusts and legal entitlements, delivering a keynote on land rights issues concerning Native Hawaiians.

The day after the Indigenous Knowledge conference wrapped up, the annual CINSA conference began. According to main Conference organizer Robert Alexander Innes, over 150 delegates registered for this event-several of whom had attended the previous conference just a day earlier.

A pipe ceremony was held prior to the event's start, followed by a continental breakfast, some welcoming remarks by representatives of local academic institutions, and some highly interesting speakers. Donald Fixico in particular, director of Indigenous Nations Studies at the University of Kansas, gave a great speech- with a few entertaining stories and funny personal anecdotes thrown in to boot.

Presentations at the CINSA conference covered such diverse issues as education and Indigenous curriculum maintenance and development, World War II Indian Veterans, the Zapatistas situation in Central America, urban Aboriginal development comparison studies in Edmonton and New Zealand, Indigenous knowledge studies in South Africa, health, Aboriginal law, and Aboriginal women's history-to name a few.

Andrew Peters, Aboriginal Australian from Swinburne University in Melbourne Australia was one of the international delegates taking part in the conferences. He said he was leaving the events with a better understanding of how other Indigenous Studies programs are run, along with the knowledge that Aboriginal people throughout the world are supporting each other.

Another delegate, Roger Maaka with Maori Studies at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, said the conferences stressed for him the importance of preserving and maintaining culture and traditions while pursuing higher learning.