Meeting the challenges
A remarkable conference!

Approximately a hundred researchers and university students from all disciplines took part in the last IPG conference on October 10 and 11, 2008, in Montreal. This conference provided an opportunity for all the project researchers to present status reports on their work on indigenous governance. Over the course of the two days, about twenty researchers presented research results, allowing the assembled team members (co-researchers, associate researchers, students, collaborators) to glimpse the scope of the project and the results expected by the end of the project’s five-year term.

This conference was remarkable on a number of levels. From a scientific point of view, it was a chance to update our research work; in terms of communications, it provided researchers from different disciplines and different institutions a chance to exchange; and finally, from a pedagogical standpoint, it meant that more than 25 university students had an opportunity to work with their colleagues on further developing various concepts related to research on indigenous issues.

It should also be noted that an outstanding student conference was held on October 9, resulting in worthwhile exchanges among dozens of students involved in research on indigenous issues. These students are taking an active part in the project and are considered to be full members of the research team.

Project overview
Upcoming conferences

Over the next three years, the IPG’s activities will involve a number of thematic conferences. The first of these will take place on June 10 and 11, 2009, in Val-d’Or, Quebec. The theme of this conference, organized by colleague-researchers Rod Macdonald (McGill) and Daniel Thomas (UQAT) is “territory, resources, goods, ideas, and indigenous economic independence”.

The other conference themes (dates to be confirmed) are:

Introducing an Ally
Makivik Corporation

Makivik is the development corporation mandated to manage the heritage funds of the Inuit of Nunavik provided for in the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA). Makivik's role includes the administering and investment of these funds, and the promotion of economic growth assisting in the creation of businesses run by Inuit in Nunavik.

Makivik promotes the preservation of Inuit culture and language, as well as the health, welfare, relief of poverty, and education of Inuit in the communities. Makivik's corporate structure is composed of sixteen elected members of the Board of Directors, five of whom form the elected Executive, and three appointed Nunavik Governors.

The corporate objectives are as follows:

Bravo to the whole team!

This past fall marked the halfway point in the Indigenous Peoples and Governance project, given that our team has been in operation since January 2006. Accordingly, on October 9, 2008, we had the mid-term report visit required for projects funded by the Major Collaborative Research Initiatives program. The SSHRC review committee visited the project’s home institution, the University of Montreal, and met all of the people working on the project: students, researchers, institutional actors, and indigenous partners, the latter being essential actors considering the objectives and goals of the research project. The reviewers were very interested in our work and the quality of intellectual reflection within the team.

The visit on October 9 went very well. In fact, they expressed their satisfaction with our work in their report. The remarks and recommendations from the visiting committee members were very positive in terms of the team’s work and the amount accomplished to that point.

This outstanding mid-term report means that our funding has been maintained for the rest of the project. While fully aware of the work that remains to be done, the whole team was thrilled to receive the committee’s recommendations. Congratulations to all concerned, and keep up the good work!

Pierre Noreau

This year’s theme for the annual conference organized jointly by Laval University’s Interuniversity Centre for Aboriginal Studies and Research (CIÉRA) and the Aboriginal Student Association (AÉA) will be Aboriginal Networks: appropriation, redefinition, and connection.

The conference will be held on Wednesday, April 15 and Thursday, April 16, 2009, at Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec:

For any questions about your conference registration or participation, or for any additional information, visit the CIÉRA Web site at www.ciera.ulaval.ca.

Or contact Florence Dupré at (418)-656-2131 ext. 6040.

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