Conference Offers First Opportunity to Discuss History-Making Court Decision
The recent Delgamuukw judgment will have a very significant impact on the economy and the treaty process of British Columbia says Dr. Frank Cassidy (Public Administration), chair of an upcoming Jan. 26 conference to discuss the judgment's impact. "The Delgamuukw Judgment: We Are All Here to Stay," at the Victoria Conference Centre, is being co-sponsored by the Office of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs, the Gitxsan Litigation team and UVic. It will be the first opportunity for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to discuss the landmark case.
"The Delgamuukw decision is of profound importance to British Columbians and Canadians in general," says Cassidy. "It not only addresses matters at the heart of the relationship between Aboriginal people and other Canadians . . . it addresses matters that go to the heart of what Canada is."
The day-long conference provides an opportunity to examine the court decision and gives a wide variety of experts in Aboriginal issues a forum in which to articulate their views. Conference participants will discuss the decision's implications for economic and resource development in B.C., the law of Aboriginal title in Canada, the B.C. treaty process and the duties and powers of Crown governments.
The program for the day-long conference is:
7:30 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. Welcome and Introduction Salon C
Chief Andy Thomas, Esquimalt Nation
Verna George, Songhees Nation
Frank Cassidy, UVic
Delgamuukw (Earl Muldon), Gitxsan Nation
Gisday Wa (Alfred Joseph), Wet'suwet'en Nation
9:00 a.m. Opening Address
'Maas Gaak (Don Ryan), Gitxsan Nation
9:30 a.m. Session 1: The Law of Aboriginal Title Salon C
Session Chair: Frank Cassidy, UVic
Panel participants:
Denis de Keruzec, Government of Canada
Hamar Foster, (Law), UVic
Peter Grant, Hutchins Soroka & Grant
Rob Lapper, Province of B.C.
Joanne Lysyk, Blake Cassels & Graydon
Kent McNeil, York University
Stuart Rush, Rush, Crane Guenther
Marvin Storrow, Blake Cassels & Graydon
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Session 1: The Law of Aboriginal Title (continued)
12:30 p.m. Lunch break
2 p.m. Session 2: The Implications of Delgamuukw Salon C
Session Chair: Frank Cassidy, UVic
Panel Participants:
Taiaiake Alfred, (Public Administration), UVic
Michael Asch, University of Alberta
Dan George, Office of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs
Ed John, Tl'azt'en Nations
Louise Mandell, Mandell Pinder
Maria Morellato, Blake Cassels & Graydon
Jack Woodward, Woodward & Co.
3 p.m. Break
3:15 p.m. Session 2: The Implications of Delgamuukw (continued)
5 p.m. Conclusion and Summary
Speakers:
'Maas Gaak (Don Ryan), Gitxsan Nation
Satsan (Herb George), Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs
MEDIA ADVISORY: Members of the media are invited to attend the opening addresses and the sessions. For information in advance of the conference contact Continuing Studies at (250) 721-8703 or Patty Pitts, Information Officer, at (250) 721-7656.
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