INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S ART DESIGNS

In the spring of 1993, Canadian indigenous women leaders met and discussed the need to establish links and highlight the unique aspirations of indigenous women from Canada, and Central and South America. The involvement of Panamanian, Colombian and Ecuadorian organizations provided the impetus to begin networking.

The immediate challenge was to develop a strategy for the continental-wide process that would incorporate the vision of grassroots indigenous women. Three regional workshops were held in Panama, Colombia and Canada in order to establish communication among indigenous women and to reach consensus on priorities among the issues facing them. Recommendations from these meetings served to formulate basic strategies to address social, cultural, environmental and economic survival issues concerning indigenous women. The priorities of IWA are:

• To empower indigenous women through training that will enable them to participate more fully within their organizations and with regard to the future of their peoples;
• To improve communications and mutual support among indigenous women of the Americas to broaden their economic and political spheres of influence, both nationally and internationnally;
• To enhance indigenous women’s control over craft commercialization, the protection of their intellectual property rights and the development of sustainable markets for their crafts.

As an active participant, the Canadian Committee is a member of the Commission of Commercialization and Intellectual Property, along with Chirapaq from Peru and CONAMUIP from Panama. In this context the Canadian Committee agreed to organize the present workshop.

The role of the organizing committee in Canada has been to build a foundation for this collaborative work between the Americas. It comprises representatives from the following Canadian organizations:

Métis National Council of Women seeks to foster a contemporary understanding of the traditions and roles of Métis women within Métis communities and society in general. The primary purpose is to address and respond to issues and concerns of Métis women and their children. Its main objectives are to unite and organize Métis women in Canada, promote respect for individual rights, freedoms and gender equality of Métis women, promote the preservation and enhancement of Métis culture, facilitate and promote the development of services, influence policy and be actively involved in policy development at all levels that impact upon Métis women and their children. The Métis are defined as follows in Section 35 (2) of the Constitution Act, 1982. " In this Act, " Aboriginal peoples of Canada " includes the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada. " The Métis have always perceived themselves as Aboriginal people, that were and continue to be distinct from the other Aboriginal groups.

Pauktuutit Inuit Women’s Association is a national non-profit organization representing all Canadian Inuit women. Their mandate is to foster a greater awareness of the needs of Inuit women and to encourage their participation in community, regional and national concerns in relation to social, cultural and economic development. Some of the objectives of Pauktuutit are to unite the Inuit women of Canada, familiarize Inuit children with Inuit values, heritage and culture, encourage Inuit women to take their rightful place in society, encourage involvement of inuit women at all levels of Canadian Society.

Quebec Native Women’s Association represents women from all Native nations in Quebec:  Abenaki, Algonquin, Atikamekw, Cree, Huron-Wendat, Innu, Maliseet, MicMac, Mohawk, Naskapi. For the past twenty years, the Association has been the voice through which the needs and priorities of Native women were heard in Quebec. We continue to function in this capacity and encourage Native women to work towards improving the quality of life in their communities. Our main focus has been on justice and violence. We have organised two huge conferences on violence in the four past years. The QNWA holds now a seat at the Quebec Assembly of Chiefs.

Assembly of First Nations is the national representative of First Nations in Canada. There are over 630 First Nations communities in Canada. The AFN Secretariat is designed to present the views of the various First Nations through their leaders in areas such as Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, Economic Development, Education, Languages and Literacy, Health, Housing, Social Development, Justice, Taxation, Land Claims, Environment and a whole array of issues of common concern that arise from time to time. Historically, First Nations have a unique and special relationship with the Crown and the people of Canada, as manifested in treaties and other historical documents. In essence, the special relationship is one of peaceful coexistence based on equitable sharing of lands and resources, and ultimately on respect, recognition and enforcement of our respective right to govern ourselves. The AFN exists to promote the "restoration and enhancement" of this relationship and to ensure that it is mutually beneficial to First Nations people.

Congress of Aboriginal Peoples is a national Aboriginal organization that represents the interests of the off-reserve Indian and Métis people in Canada. Incorporated in 1972, its member organizations represent Aboriginal people from coast to coast.

Nechi Institute was established in 1974 is the only facility in Canada that combines an Aboriginal training centre with an Aboriginal treatment centre (Poundmakers Lodge, a culturally-based addiction treatment centre). It is the longest operating facility of its kind in North America. The shared facility, which was designated with input from Aboriginal elders, includes training rooms, a cafeteria, a gymnasium, a large ceremonial room, three sweat lodges and residential facilities for 44 training program participants and 54 treatment clients. Nechi is a powerful resource for aboriginal people and their communities. The Nechi Institute is known, in many cultures, as one of the finest Aboriginal training, research and health promotions centres in the world.

Native Women’s Association of Canada represents First Nations women all over Canada. Its members are the indigenous women’s provincial organizations.

International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development is a Canadian institution with an international mandate. It is an independent and non-partisan organization that initiates, encourages and supports the promotion, development and strengthening of democratic and human rights institutions and programmes as defined in the International Bill of Human Rights. It provides the committee with logistical support.

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