Objective 3: Advance Global Interests

Facilitate Indigenous Peoples' Partnerships

Promote Environmental Stewardship Facilitate Indigenous Peoples' Partnerships Advance Francophone Opportunities Facilitate International Development Strengthen Safety & Security

There are about 300 million Indigenous people - descendents of the original inhabitants of a particular region - living in over 70 countries around the world. These peoples have their own cultures, religions, and economic and social organizations. Their values, traditional knowledge, and special relationship to the Earth make an important, ongoing contribution.

Unfortunately, throughout the world, Indigenous peoples are often among the poorest of the poor, and have lower life expectancies and poorer health than non-Indigenous populations of their respective countries. Their cultures and traditional ways are often threatened by modern economies and they can face discrimination in their day-to-day lives.

Over the past two decades, Indigenous peoples from around the world have been working together to bring the issues they face to the international arena. Their efforts prompted the United Nations' General Assembly to declare the United Nations' International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples (1995 to 2004) and to create a UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues to strengthen international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by Indigenous peoples. In December 2004, the 59th Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming the Second International Decade of the World's Indigenous People, beginning on January 1, 2005.

Several of the world's International Financial Institutions are supporting international partnership activities between Indigenous peoples. For example, the World Bank provides financial support to the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, funds a Grants Facility for Indigenous Peoples, and supports Capacity Building for Indigenous Leaders in the Andean region of South America. Similarly, the Inter-American Development Bank's Canadian Technical Assistance Program (CANTAP) provides up to $1 million for projects or programs which promote the development of linkages between Indigenous groups in Canada and Latin America.

The Government of Canada has been actively working with Canada's Aboriginal peoples on initiatives that support the goals of the International Decade. For example, an international business strategy for Canada's indigenous peoples has been developed, and $10 million has been set aside for an Indigenous Peoples Partnership Program (IPPP) within the Canadian International Development Agency.

The Province has also been active in encouraging international recognition of Manitoba's Aboriginal communities. In 2004, the communities of St. Laurent and Hollow Water were selected by the internationally acclaimed Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. to present exhibits of Canadian Métis' and First Nations' culture and heritage within the newly developed National Museum of the American Indian. The Province participated in the procession launching the display that will share the vibrant culture of Manitoba's Métis and First Nations with over 6 million of the museum's visitors each year.

The Province, through the Premier's Economic Advisory Council, also hosted a special Aboriginal Economic Summit in 2004 to examine strategies for increasing the numbers of Aborginal people working at Manitoba businesses and increasing business development opportunities for Manitoba's Aboriginal peoples, including international business development and Aboriginal tourism opportunities. Aboriginal tourism has been identified in the Province's Adventure Travel and Eco-tourism Sector Analysis as having one of the greatest growth potential in Manitoba's tourism sector.

This Summit also resulted in Canada's first Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce that is planning an Indigenous Trade Summit in the future to develop an international trade network of Indigenous peoples.

In addition, in November 2004, the Province signed a partnership agreement with IBM Canada that is designed to further Aboriginal economic and human resource development in the province. The global connections that this partnership could provide will further strengthen the ability of Aboriginal entrepreneurs to connect internationally.

Developing these kinds of international networks of Indigenous peoples will not only help address the issues they face in common, it can provide the opportunity to open more doors to Manitobans internationally and develop the relationships we need on the global stage.

These activities support the Province's Northern Development Strategy that recognizes that northern people must be full partners in creating a strong and sustainable economy.

Strategic Actions

The Government of Manitoba will:

• Develop and implement an Aboriginal tourism strategy that will encourage the development of ecotourism and Aboriginal tourism. It is anticipated that the nomination of a pristine Boreal Forest region on the east side of Lake Winnipeg as a UNESCO World Heritage Site may provide additional opportunities for ecotourism and Aboriginal tourism development.
• Explore opportunities to share internationally our recognized expertise in areas such as:
  • working in unique public-private and Aboriginal community partnerships in the development of natural resources, such as hydroelectric power, that provide Indigenous peoples with opportunities to participate in projects as partners, collaborate in the design to minimize environmental impacts and opportunities to share revenues;
  • Aboriginal professional education programs (education, nursing, and law, for example) based on Manitoba's widely acclaimed ACCESS model; and
  • Proactive skills development of Aboriginal people in economic development projects. For instance, Manitoba Hydro, the Government of Canada and the Province are working together on a $60 million pre-construction venture to prepare Aboriginal workers for construction and maintenance of hydroelectric dams in the province. This unique model can be shared with others involved in projects of this nature.
• Enhance opportunities for Aboriginal participation in international development projects and in provincial - international activities.

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