Reconciliation - Weaving Webs of Community: Conversations About Indigenous and non-Indigenous Relations
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Jan 26 Jewish - First Nations Joint Initiatives
January 26th 2006, 10am PST / 1pm EST
Three years ago, the media focussed on First Nations leader, David Ahenakew's anti-semetic remarks; however, there is another story of collaboration and connection between First Nations and Jewish communities. For example, did you know that Holocaust survivors and Indian residential school survivors have an initiative to learn from each other and teach the world? Or that the Canadian Jewish Congress is hosting an on-going Jewish - First Nations dialogue? Have you heard about a recent Native American peace mission to Israel and Palestine and how these trips are impacting Jewish - First Nations relations in Canada?
During this teleconference participants learned about Jewish - First Nations dialogues about land, genocide, cultural survival, and human rights with Special Guests Mark Weintraub from the Canadian Jewish Congress and Chief Robert Joseph from the Indian Residential School Survivors Society of BC.
Guests: Mark Weintraub and Chief Robert Joseph
Mr. Weintraub is a commercial and estates trial lawyer. He was called to the British Columbia Bar in 1983. He is currently a partner with the Vancouver law firm of Clark, Wilson, a member of the firm's Business Litigation Practice Group and the firm's senior trial lawyer for disputed estates and elder law. For over 15 years, Mark has played a leadership role in the national advocacy organization of Canadian Jewish Congress. Mark has served as National Vice-President and was National Chairman of Community Relations Committee. He has also participated in and led various projects involving CJC and other community organizations related to various public policy issues. During the course of his legal work and community volunteer work, Mark gained experience with the media in several different capacities. He has acted as a Jewish community spokesperson to the media on issues related to antisemitism and Israel. See http://www.cjc.ca/ for more.
Chief Robert Joseph, Kwun Kwun Wha Lee Gei Gee 'Big Thunderbird', is a Hereditary Chief of the Gwa wa enuk First Nation. He is also an Indian Residential School Survivor who spent 10 years at St. Michael's Indian Residential School at Alert Bay on the central coast of British Colombia. He spoke only Kwa Kwala as a six year old boy entering this Residential School. He was beaten many times for speaking his own language and endured other hardship and abuse. He recognizes the destructive impact that this experience had on his life, family and community. This same experience has given him the inspiration to assist aboriginals in seeking hope, healing and reconciliation in his position as Executive Director for the Indian Residential School Survivors Society.
Joseph has spent most of his working life as an advocate for aboriginal people. He has worked for provincial organizations in BC including the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Native Brotherhood of BC, and the First Nations Summit. He has also worked for Tribal Councils like the Nuu-Chah-nulth, Kwakiulth District Council, and Musgamagw Tribal Council. In addition, he has worked for large and small Bands as Band Manager.
Joseph has a broad experience in dealing with public and government institutions.
Joseph also has some experience in media having been the first native reporter for the Vancouver Sun. He also worked on small weekly publications. In addition, he was involved with the aboriginal media including the Native Voice, Indian Voice and Neseika as well as with the Radio Audio Visual Education Network. Joseph has served on numerous charitable organization Boards both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal. He has served on Credit Union and Hospital Boards. Joseph also strives to be active on a volunteer basis. He has led fund-raising drives both for United Way and Heart Drive in the past.
Recently Joseph has been awarded with an Honourary Doctorate of Law Degree from the University of British Columbia for his distinguished achievements in serving BC and Canada through the Indian Residential School Survivors Society and for preserving the traditions and cultures of the First Nations of BC. He has always sought to bridge the differences brought about by intolerance, lack of understanding, and racism. Recently, as chair of Native American Leadership Alliance for Peace and Reconciliation, Joseph was part of a peace delegation to Israeal and Palestine. Joseph understands that faith, hope and healing for Aboriginals well ultimately require the bringing about of good will between many parties. See http://www.irsss.ca/ for more.
Impressions of Participants
A selection of comments we received via email during or shortly after the teleconference.
- "Here I am to say that was a very impressive way of getting people to talk about sensitive issues with hope and transparency."
- "The presentation about land touched my heart deeply."
- "The work you are doing is so important and so necessary."
- "Wow Jessie! This is awesome!!!" (email sent by a participant during the teleconference)
- "I thought the teleconference a remarkable initiative."
- "I felt there was so much respect and understanding in this teleconference."
- "I admire the work the two speakers had done in terms of understanding each others history and collective pain."
To download or listen to the podcast teleconference, go to: http://www.worldviewstrategies.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=41#pod
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