From the Desk of the Director General...

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CCI Newsletter, No. 37, Spring 2006

From the Desk of the Director General...

by Jeanne Inch, Director General and Chief Operating Officer, CCI

Something quite remarkable is happening behind the scenes in the planning for our next symposium, Preserving Aboriginal Heritage: Technical and Traditional Approaches, which will be held in Ottawa in September 2007.

Our previous international symposia have been strictly technical, with the papers scientific in nature. With this symposium, there will not only be scientific and technical papers, but also presentations aimed at bridging the gap between conservation as a science and the beliefs of Aboriginal people towards their material cultural heritage.

We realized early on that successfully creating this balance would require engaging First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people in the planning process. Only with their collaboration could we ensure that the symposium reflects the interests and perspectives of Aboriginal communities in Canada, and offers a true presentation of the issues associated with preserving Aboriginal material cultural heritage.

We struggled for a while on how best to do this. A typical advisory committee, with a mix of Aboriginal people and conservation professionals, just didn’t seem to be the answer. The solution came in April 2005, when Tom Stone (Symposium Coordinator) and I were introduced to the “circle” process at a meeting of the advisory group for the National Gatherings on Indigenous Knowledge in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. What we saw was a respectful and empowering process that gave “voice” to the Aboriginal people around the circle. Many Aboriginal groups use this type of discussion forum, with variations that reflect their communities and traditions.

We decided that our Advisory Committee should comprise only First Nations, Inuit, and Metis people. Individuals were selected on the basis of their experience and knowledge as a member of their respective community, and for their involvement with the care and interpretation of Aboriginal heritage. They were chosen from all corners of Canada and, just like the communities they represent, they are diverse — in their backgrounds, their community involvement, and their professions.

Our next step was to select a facilitator for the meetings. We decided to approach Valerie Kaufman, whom we had observed respectfully and effectively facilitating the discussion around the circle in Yellowknife. A Metis from the Northwest Territories, Val works for the Department of Canadian Heritage in Edmonton as Manager of Aboriginal Programs for the Alberta District. Much to our relief and delight, she agreed to facilitate our circle discussions.

Throughout the process of establishing the Advisory Committee, we continued to discuss symposium planning with the Kitigan Zibi Algonquin group near Maniwaki, Quebec — for it is on their traditional territory that CCI is located, the Advisory Committee meetings are held, and the symposium will take place.

The participation of Elder Peter Decontie from the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg community near Maniwaki is integral to the respectful nature of our circle discussions. Elder Deconti begins our meetings with a prayer followed by a traditional smudging ceremony — a form of purification that helps those present to focus on the job at hand.

As in the traditional Aboriginal circle process, Val Kaufman (or one of us) introduces a subject and questions for discussion, and then each member of the committee shares their perspectives and views in turn. No one speaks out of order, and we, CCI folks, are silent. At the end of each “circle,” it is my responsibility to summarize what we have heard on that particular issue.

I have been deeply impressed by how efficient the circle discussion is in dealing with business issues while affording everyone an opportunity to speak and present their thoughts in a non-threatening and respectful environment. At the end of the first two-day meeting, several CCI organizing and program committee members commented that the discussions had “been so open.” One individual believed the circle process had contributed to “a peaceful meeting and an understanding of one another.”

We have listened, and we have incorporated, as much as our resources and mandate allow, the perspectives of our Advisory Committee. Although much remains to be done before September 2007, we have made a good start in developing the program and planning for the logistics. But most importantly, we believe we have earned the trust of our Advisory Committee, a trust we intend to nurture and to expand, I hope, to all those who attend the symposium.