Our Journey to a UNESCO World Heritage Site November 2010
This picture book is published by Pimachiowin Aki Corporation of Canada. It briefly explains some of the steps in our journey to a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination. November 2010 1
In June 2002 the leadership of Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi, Poplar River and Pikangikum First Nations sign The Accord that sets out the vision for the World Heritage Site In 2004 The Government of Canada added the Pimachiowin Aki area to its list of tentative World Heritage Sites, signaling the launch of the World Heritage project. 2
The Accord The Protected Areas and First Nation Resource Stewardship: A Cooperative Relationship Accord (The Accord) acknowledges the Creator, who placed the people on the land and that all things come from the Creator as a gift human life, the land, everything that is living and non-living. The Accord sets out the shared vision for protecting and caring for the land and resources for survival and well-being. The vision incorporates the teachings and wisdom of the Elders. The Accord also invokes mutual respect and cooperation between the communities, with other First Nations, governments and the larger society. It says that, taken together, the respective initiatives of the First Nations to protect and care for the lands and resources represent a unique and internationally significant opportunity... 3
The Accord...Given the richness of traditional knowledge and First Nations territories as cultural landscapes, The Accord explains that the World Natural and Cultural Heritage designations provide a unique opportunity for the First Nations to cooperate with Canada and the international community. Simply put, The Accord establishes the fundamental vision for a proposed World Heritage Site. The next few pages provide additional information about this project, describing and illustrating some of the significant values of the Pimachiowin Aki area and introducing the members of the Pimachiowin Aki Corporation charged with developing the nomination bid. 4
9
13
The nomination will be built on First Nations and provincial governments land-use plans. Six key areas of research will make up the nomination document and it will be reviewed by the government of Canada and ultimately by the World Heritage Committee. 17
Pimachiowin Aki Board of Directors & Staff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
Pimachiowin Aki Corporation Co-Chairs Alex Peters, Pikangikum First Nation, Ontario, Canada Bruce Bremner, Manitoba Government, Manitoba, Canada 19
Board Members: (left to right) Ed Hudson, Poplar River First Nation; William Young, Bloodvein River First Nation, Augustine Keeper, Little Grand Rapids First Nation. 20
Board members (left to right) Jerry Crow, Pauingassi First Nation; Graeme Swanwick, Ontario Government; Gord Jones, Project Manager 21
Advisors to the Board: (left to right) Ray Rabliauskas, Poplar River First Nation; Andrew Chapeskie, Whitefeather Forest Corporation; Alison Haugh, Manitoba Conservation. 22
Advisors to the Board: (left to right) Joe Owen, Pauingassi First Nation; Stephen Barg, International Institute for Sustainable Development; Marilyn Peckett, Parks Canada 23
In July 2008 Sophia Rabliauskas of Poplar River became the organization s spokesperson. Shortly after she joined the staff of Pimachiowin Aki as Community Coordinator. 24
One of Sophia s first duties was to meet with a group of Aboriginal youth studying the environment and eco-tourism in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 25
The Pimachiowin Aki Annual General Meeting 2008 and 2009 Brokenhead First Nation 26
27
Board members have visited existing and proposed World Heritage Sites in Canada, such as Aisinai pi (Writing-on-Stone); Waterton-Glacier; and Joggins Fossil Cliffs. Co-Chair Alex Peters and Canada's Ambassador to UNESCO, Gilles Laurin (bottom right). 28
Community meetings have been held in Pauingassi, Little Grand Rapids, Pikangikum, Poplar River, Bloodvein River and at an Elders Camp at Weaver Lake. 29
For additional copies contact: www.pimachiowinaki.org Photo credits: B. Blanchard/E. Pivard, Bruce Bremmner, G. Brehm, Government of Alberta, Gord Jones, Shirley Muir, Ted Muir, hidehiro otake, Parks Canada, M. Patry, F. Rozier, Don Sullivan, Tom Thompson, Whitefeather Forest Corporation, American Philosophical Society, Text: Gord Jones, Shirley Muir Produced by: themediabank.ca