DOCSLIB.ORG

Teetł'it Gwich'in Practices of Indigeneity: Connection T

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Teetł'it Gwich'in Practices of Indigeneity: Connection T “Nakhwanh Gwich’in Khehłok Iidilii - We Are Our Own People” Teetł’it Gwich’in Practices of Indigeneity: Connection to Land, Traditional Self- Governance, and Elements of Self Determination by Elaine Donna Alexie B.A., University of Victoria, 2011 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS in the Department of Political Science Elaine Donna Alexie, 2015 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee “Nakhwanh Gwich’in Khehłok Iidilii - We Are Our Own People” Teetł’it Gwich’in Practices of Indigeneity: Connection to Land, Traditional Self- Governance, and Elements of Self Determination by Elaine Donna Alexie B.A., University of Victoria, 2011 Supervisory Committee Dr. Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark (Department of Political Science) Supervisor Dr. James Tully (Department of Political Science) Departmental Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr. Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark (Department of Political Science) Supervisor Dr. James Tully (Department of Political Science) Departmental Member This thesis examines the practices of Indigeneity, acts of Indigenous social and cultural traditions stemming from Teetł’it Gwich’in land-based culture in the Northwest Territories. By emphasizing Teetł’it Gwich’in philosophy, this project illustrates how Teetł’it Gwich’in practices of Indigeneity are rooted in their social, physical, and cultural relationship with the land, which are central to Gwich’in self-determination. This thesis demonstrates traditional Teetł’it Gwich’in self-governance practices are driven by cultural and social norms rooted in traditional knowledge, as well as contemporary Gwich’in-Canada relations. Utilizing knowledge collected from Teetł’it Gwich’in elders, these first-hand accounts show the connection between Canada and the Teetł’it Gwich’in through state policies that impede Teetł’it Gwich’in self-determination. By examining these challenges to their cultural practices, Teetł’it Gwich’in worldviews rooted in land- based practices is considered the basis for Gwich’in self-determination rooted in the physical and cultural landscape of Gwich’in lands. iv Table of Contents Supervisory Committee ...................................................................................................... ii Abstract .............................................................................................................................. iii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................. vi Dedication ......................................................................................................................... vii Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Gukagwiniidhat Dai’ Nihs’at Gik’atr’aanjii - “In The Beginning We Learn From Each Other” .............................................................................................................................. 1 Purpose Of This Study ..................................................................................................... 2 The Teetł’it Gwich’in ...................................................................................................... 3 Teetł’it Gwich’in Political History .................................................................................. 4 Literature Review ............................................................................................................ 8 Placing Myself In The Research .................................................................................... 15 The Importance Of Land-Based Practices of Indigeneity ............................................. 16 Methodological Approach ............................................................................................. 17 Chapter Outlines ............................................................................................................ 20 Chapter One: The Politics and Practice of Indigeneity ..................................................... 23 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 23 Defining Indigeneity ...................................................................................................... 24 Practices of Indigeneity: A Review of Existing Literature ........................................... 27 The Politics of Indigeneity ............................................................................................ 40 Differing Structures of Governance .......................................................................... 40 Negotiations with the State ........................................................................................ 42 The Importance of Practices of Indigeneity .............................................................. 47 Indigeneity and Governance .......................................................................................... 48 Moose Hide Tanning as Practices of Indigeneity ...................................................... 48 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 51 Chapter Two: The Impact of Canadian Policy on the Teetł’it Gwich’in .......................... 54 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 54 The Whiteman Ways: Social Housing Versus Life On The Land ................................ 56 Housing as Removal from the Land .......................................................................... 59 Loss of Culture .......................................................................................................... 63 Community Living and A Life Out On The Land ..................................................... 65 Impacts of Residential School ....................................................................................... 69 Changing Traditional Governance ................................................................................ 77 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 85 Chapter Three: Gwindii Gwa’an Yiinjigwicidhoh’eh – “Respect Everything Around You” .................................................................................................................................. 87 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 87 Teetł’it Gwich’in Nankak Gwizhii K’iighe’ Tra’agwandaih– “Teetł’it Gwich’in Connection with the Land” ............................................................................................ 88 Juudin iidalih Gwijiinchii Nilii - “The Importance of Being Who We Are” ................ 95 v Nakhwanh Gwich’in Khehł’ok Iidillii - “We Are Our Own People” ........................... 97 Yiinjigwichidhoh’ eh -“Respect People, Respect Everything” ............................... 101 Nihtatr’indaih -“To Give to Each Other” ................................................................ 103 Nan Ts’at Sriigwandaii K’it Gwiidandaih - “We Live Healthy By The Land” .......... 108 Nankak Srinatr’ilii Gwizhit Goo’aii -“Land is a Place of Healing” ........................ 113 Conclusion ................................................................................................................... 115 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................... 118 Bibliography .................................................................................................................... 123 Primary Sources ........................................................................................................... 123 Secondary Sources ....................................................................................................... 123 vi Acknowledgments There are many that I am indebted to that in one form or another helped me succeed in my academic endeavours. First, I want to recognize the ancestral homelands of the Coast and Straits Salish Peoples. For four years I was situated on their ancestral lands to receive this education, to experience community and to witness the beautiful lands that belong to the original people. Thank you to the University of Victoria and the Department of Political Science for the opportunity to learn there as a student. I want to recognize Brad Bryan and Matt James for inspiring me throughout my undergraduate degree and believing in me enough to write support letters for my grad school application. Your teachings and guidance in my earlier years enabled me to do the work I had done through my master’s research with my people. Thank you. I want to say thank you to my supervisor, Heidi Stark, and James Tully, my second committee member for the amazing support I received throughout my degree. I am very grateful for the guidance I received. To the many professors over the years that helped me foster a love of learning and research that is essential to Indigenous scholarship.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Understanding Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in the Northwest Territories: Chapter 2: Early Treaty-Making in the NWT
    Understanding Aboriginal and Treaty Rights in the Northwest Territories: Chapter 2: Early Treaty-making in the NWT he first chapter in this series, Understanding Aboriginal The Royal Proclamation Tand Treaty Rights in the NWT: An Introduction, touched After Great Britain defeated France for control of North briefly on Aboriginal and treaty rights in the NWT. This America, the British understood the importance of chapter looks at the first contact between Aboriginal maintaining peace and good relations with Aboriginal peoples and Europeans. The events relating to this initial peoples. That meant setting out rules about land use contact ultimately shaped early treaty-making in the NWT. and Aboriginal rights. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 Early Contact is the most important statement of British policy towards Aboriginal peoples in North America. The Royal When European explorers set foot in North America Proclamation called for friendly relations with Aboriginal they claimed the land for the European colonial powers peoples and noted that “great frauds and abuses” had they represented. This amounted to European countries occurred in land dealings. The Royal Proclamation also asserting sovereignty over North America. But, in practice, said that only the Crown could legally buy Aboriginal their power was built up over time by settlement, trade, land and any sale had to be made at a “public meeting or warfare, and diplomacy. Diplomacy in these days included assembly of the said Indians to be held for that purpose.” entering into treaties with the indigenous Aboriginal peoples of what would become Canada. Some of the early treaty documents aimed for “peace and friendship” and refer to Aboriginal peoples as “allies” rather than “subjects”, which suggests that these treaties could be interpreted as nation-to-nation agreements.
    [Show full text]
  • Diamond Mining and Tłįchǫ Youth in Behchokǫ̀, Northwest Territories
    ARCTIC VOL. 65, NO. 2 (JUNE 2012) P. 214 – 228 All That Glitters: Diamond Mining and Tłįchǫ Youth in Behchokǫ,̀ Northwest Territories COLLEEN M. DAVISON1 and PENELOPE HAWE2 (Received 5 March 2010; accepted in revised form 23 September 2011) ABSTRACT. Currently, Canada’s northern territories have three active diamond mines and one mine under construction, and one mine has recently closed. In response to local concerns, and in partnership with members of the Tłįchǫ First Nation, this ethnographic study examines the positive and detrimental impacts of diamond mining on youth in Behchokǫ,̀ Northwest Territories, using data collected from intensive fieldwork and participant observation, focus groups, interviews, and archival documents. The study of mining impacts remains a complex and contested field. Youth in Behchokǫ̀ experience both negative and positive effects of mining. Diamond mining companies are places of employment and act as community resources; their development has influenced the transience of individuals in the region, the identity and roles of family caregivers, the motivation of students, the purpose of schooling, and the level of economic prosperity in some (but not all) families. The diverse impacts of these changes on the health of northern individuals and communities can be understood only within the broader context of social, economic, political, and environmental changes occurring in the Arctic today. Results of this study help inform ongoing efforts by those in Behchokǫ̀ and the Northwest Territories to monitor the effects of diamond mining and maximize the potential benefits for local people, including youth. Key words: Aboriginal health, youth, diamond mining, resource development, education, employment, impacts and benefits RÉSUMÉ.
    [Show full text]
  • Treaties in Canada, Education Guide
    TREATIES IN CANADA EDUCATION GUIDE A project of Cover: Map showing treaties in Ontario, c. 1931 (courtesy of Archives of Ontario/I0022329/J.L. Morris Fonds/F 1060-1-0-51, Folder 1, Map 14, 13356 [63/5]). Chiefs of the Six Nations reading Wampum belts, 1871 (courtesy of Library and Archives Canada/Electric Studio/C-085137). “The words ‘as long as the sun shines, as long as the waters flow Message to teachers Activities and discussions related to Indigenous peoples’ Key Terms and Definitions downhill, and as long as the grass grows green’ can be found in many history in Canada may evoke an emotional response from treaties after the 1613 treaty. It set a relationship of equity and peace.” some students. The subject of treaties can bring out strong Aboriginal Title: the inherent right of Indigenous peoples — Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation’s Turtle Clan opinions and feelings, as it includes two worldviews. It is to land or territory; the Canadian legal system recognizes title as a collective right to the use of and jurisdiction over critical to acknowledge that Indigenous worldviews and a group’s ancestral lands Table of Contents Introduction: understandings of relationships have continually been marginalized. This does not make them less valid, and Assimilation: the process by which a person or persons Introduction: Treaties between Treaties between Canada and Indigenous peoples acquire the social and psychological characteristics of another Canada and Indigenous peoples 2 students need to understand why different peoples in Canada group; to cause a person or group to become part of a Beginning in the early 1600s, the British Crown (later the Government of Canada) entered into might have different outlooks and interpretations of treaties.
    [Show full text]
  • "It Was Only a Treaty"
    "IT WAS ONLY A TREATY" TREATY 11 ACCORDING TO THE DENE OF THE MACKENZIE VALLEY Revised for The Dene Nation and The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Rene M.J. Lamothe April, 1996 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY "It Was Only A Treaty" provides some basic concepts about Treaty 11 from a Dene perspective. The paper sets out cultural parameters of Dene life by providing information on key social, economic, political and spiritual aspects of Dene life with the intention of providing readers with the historical and legal context in which the Dene live. Through the presentation of the context of Dene life, the paper sets the parameters which limit Dene decision making with regards to the land and relationships with non-Dene. Some of the information may be viewed by academic interests to be outside the scope of what they consider "sound knowledge" about the Dene. The information, however, is provided from within the context of Dene experience, much of which, being of a spiritual nature, is not readily available to the "outside" academic. This information is also intended, in part, to set the stage for the non-Dene to better understand the social, political and economic conditions in play in Dene society in 1921. Understanding the context from which the Dene approached the Crown's Treaty Party is fundamental to understanding the Dene version of Treaty 11. The paper explores government interests in the territory covered by Treaty 11. Although this section is very limited in its' scope and does not provide conclusive evidence about the motives of government, it provides information on land surveys which took place in Dene territory before Treaty was made, as well as bringing to light some of the political and economic pressures which have been at play within the Euro-Canadian/American public since contact.
    [Show full text]
  • Arctic Policy &
    Arctic Policy & Law References to Selected Documents Edited by Wolfgang E. Burhenne Prepared by Jennifer Kelleher and Aaron Laur Published by the International Council of Environmental Law – toward sustainable development – (ICEL) for the Arctic Task Force of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law (IUCN-CEL) Arctic Policy & Law References to Selected Documents Edited by Wolfgang E. Burhenne Prepared by Jennifer Kelleher and Aaron Laur Published by The International Council of Environmental Law – toward sustainable development – (ICEL) for the Arctic Task Force of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of ICEL or the Arctic Task Force of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers and boundaries. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of ICEL or the Arctic Task Force. The preparation of Arctic Policy & Law: References to Selected Documents was a project of ICEL with the support of the Elizabeth Haub Foundations (Germany, USA, Canada). Published by: International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL), Bonn, Germany Copyright: © 2011 International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL) Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non- commercial purposes is authorized without prior permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction for resale or other commercial purposes is prohibited without the prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation: International Council of Environmental Law (ICEL) (2011).
    [Show full text]
  • Eetsii Tthak T'agwahii Getr'ootanahchàh
    Eetsii tthak t’agwahii getr’ootanahchàh (Learning About the Machine that Does It All) Digital Content and Connectivity with Dinjii Zhuh Contexts Student Workbook DIGITAL CONTENT AND CONNECTIVITY WITH DINJII ZHUH CONTEXTS Eetsii tthak t’agwahii getr’ootanahchàh (Learning About the Machine that Does It All) Digital Content and Connectivity with Dinjii Zhuh Contexts R. McMahon; M.McNally; C.Fraser; H.Pearce; T.Fontaine This digital literacy resource is designed as a freely available Open Educational Resource (OER), licensed through a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.1 Photographs and illustrations are not subject to this licence. ISBN 978-1-7750507-4-2 1 Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ 2 Acknowledgements The University of Alberta, in partnership with the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC), is pleased to provide this learning resource, which was developed to accompany digital literacy pilot workshops that we facilitated and delivered in June 2017 and 2018 on the traditional territories of the Dinjii Zhuh (Gwich’in peoples) and Inuvialuit nations. We acknowledge the significance of Treaty 11 (1921), Inuvialuit Final Agreement (1984), and Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement (1992). We recognize the moral, intellectual, and cultural rights of Dinjii Zhuh and Inuvialuit as the sole owners of their knowledge, including (but not limited to): • Cultural heritage objects • Scientific, technical, and ecological knowledge • Documentation of local Indigenous knowledge in all forms • Literary and artistic works This is a joint project between the GTC and the University of Alberta’s Faculties of Extension and Education. It was made possible through funding support from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority’s Community Investment Program (CIRA).
    [Show full text]
  • Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik to the Standing
    Address by Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik to the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples – Pre-Study Bill C-15 – May 14, 2021 Drin Gwinzii (Good afternoon) Mr./Mme. Chair/Senators, My name is Ken Kyikavichik and I am the Grand Chief of the Gwich’in Tribal Council of the Northwest Territories. I was elected only last year, and I am here speaking on behalf of the over 3,500 participants to our Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement that we signed with Canada back in 1992. It is my honour to be here speaking with you with respect to this milestone legislation in Canada’s history. For us as Gwich’in, some of the core principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples or the UN Declaration for short include: • Recognition and Affirmation; • The principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent or FPIC as it is more commonly known; • The Right to the Conservation and Protection of the Environment; and • Improvement of Economic and Social Conditions. Recognition and Affirmation On recognition and affirmation, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge Treaty 11 in the Northwest Territories. On July 28, 1921, Treaty 11 was signed by my great-grandfather, Chief Johnny Kyikavichik who was a Headman at the time of signing along with other Teetl’it Gwich’in leadership such as Chief Julius Salu and Headmen Abraham Francis and Andrew Kunnizzi. The Gwich’in were also represented in the signing of Treaty 11 by the Gwichya Gwich’in leadership of Chief Paul Niditchie and Headman Fabien Coyen two days earlier on July 26, 1921.
    [Show full text]
  • Land Entitlement Under Treaty 8 951
    LAND ENTITLEMENT UNDER TREATY 8 951 LAND ENTITLEMENT UNDER TREATY 8 ROBERT METCS' AND CHRISTOPHER G. DEVLIN" This article provides an analysis of the land Cet article analyse /es dispositions sur /es droits entitlement provisions of Treaty 8 as they relate to fonciers du Traile 8 relalivement au traile federal current federal treaty land entitlement ([LE) policy actue/ sur la po/ilique sur /es droils fonciers el le and to the judgment in Lac La Ronge. The authors jugement du Lac La Ronge. Les auleurs delerminen/ identify and analyze significant textual, contextual, el analysent des differences lexluel/es. conlex/uelles el and historical differences between Treaty 8 and !he hisloriques considerables en/re le Traite 8 el /es sepl previous seven numbered Trealies. On !he basis of lraites precedenls. Comple /enu de celle analyse, /es !hat analysis, !he au/hors advance various proposals au/eursfont plusieurs propositions visanl a appuyer in support of a principled policy approach lo une demarche de polilique molivee dans le bu/ determining the existence and extenl of the d 'etablir I 'existence et la portee des obligations obligalions placed upon the Crown by Treaty 8 and imposees a la Couronne par le Traite 8 et /es the land enlitlemenl provisions contained therein. dispositions sur /es droits fanciers qu 'ii conlient. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION ............................................. 952 II. INTERPRETATION OF TREATY 8 ................................. 953 A. THE LAND ENTITLEMENT PROVISIONS OF TREATY 8 .......................................... 953 B. LEGAL PRINCIPLES APPLICABLE TO THE INTERPRETATION OF TREATIES ............................. 955 C. THE LAC LA RONG£ DECISION ............................. 958 D. APPLICATION OF LEGAL PRINCIPLES TO TREATY 8 .........................................
    [Show full text]
  • First Nations' Self-Government
    FIRST NATIONS’ SELF-GOVERNMENT, INDIGENOUS SELF-DETERMINATION: ON THE TRANSFORMATIVE ROLE OF AGONISTIC INDIGENEITY IN CHALLENGING THE CONCEPTUAL LIMITS OF SOVEREIGNTY A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in the Department of Political Studies University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon By Tanya Andrusieczko © Copyright Tanya Andrusieczko, April 2012. All rights reserved. Permission to Use In presenting this thesis/dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis/dissertation in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised my thesis/dissertation work or, in their absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis/dissertation or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis/dissertation. Requests for permission to copy or to make other uses of materials in this thesis/dissertation in whole or part should be addressed to: Head of the Department of Political Studies University of Saskatchewan 9 Campus Drive Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada S7N 5A5 OR Dean College of Graduate Studies and Research University of Saskatchewan 107 Administration Place Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada S7N 5A2 i Abstract This thesis explores the possibilities of decolonizing the Euro-American political traditions of sovereignty in an effort to re-craft the social contract between the Canadian state and Indigenous peoples.
    [Show full text]
  • Acknowledging Land and People
    * ACKNOWLEDGING LAND AND PEOPLE Smith’s Landing First Nation TREATY 4 Dene Tha’ Mikisew First Nation MNA Cree Lake REGION 6 Nation TREATY 6 Athabasca Athabasca Beaver First Nation Chipewyan TREATY 7 Little Red River First Nation Cree Nation TREATY 8 Tallcree MNA First REGION 1 Nation Fort McKay TREATY 10 PADDLE PRAIRIE MNA REGION 5 First Nation Métis Settlements Loon River Peerless/ Lubicon First Nation Trout Lake Fort McMurray Lake Nation MNA Regional Zones First Nation Woodland Cree Métis Nation of First Nation Whitefi sh Lake Fort McMurray Alberta (MNA) First Nation Bigstone Cree First Nation (Atikameg) Association Nation PEAVINE Cities and Towns GIFT LAKE Chipewyan Kapawe’no Duncan’s Prairie First First Nation First Nation Kapawe’no Nation Sucker Creek First Nation Grande First Nation Lesser Slave Lake Sawridge Horse Lake Prairie First Nation First Nation EAST PRAIRIE Swan Heart Lake River First Nation** Sturgeon Lake Driftpile First BUFFALO LAKE Nation Cree Nation First Nation Beaver Cold KIKINO Lake Cree Lake First Nation Nations Whitefi sh Lake First MNA N a t i o n ( G o o d fi s h ) Kehewin ELIZABETH TREATY 4 First Nation Frog REGION 4 Alexander First Nation Saddle Lake Michel First Lake First Alexis Nakota Sioux First Nation Cree Nation Nation TREATY 6 Nation FISHING Edmonton Paul First Nation LAKE TREATY 7 Papaschase First Nation Enoch Cree Nation (Edmonton) Ermineskin Cree Nation TREATY 8 Louis Bull Tribe Jasper Samson MNA Montana Cree Nation Cree Nation TREATY 10 REGION 2 Métis Settlements O’Chiese First Nation Sunchild First
    [Show full text]
  • Native Claims Native Claims 163
    THE REPORT OF THE MACKENZIE VALLEY PIPELINE INQUIRY 11 Native Claims Native Claims 163 The paramount cry of the native people of the must be seen as the means to the establishment Government of Canada’s fulfilment of its North is that their claims must be settled before of a social contract based on a clear constitutional obligations. a pipeline is built across their land. In this understanding that they are distinct peoples in In considering the claims of the native people, chapter, I shall outline the history of native history. They insist upon the right to determine I am guided primarily by the testimony that the claims in Canada. This history is important their own future, to ensure their place, but not Inquiry heard at the community hearings in the because the concept of native claims has assimilation, in Canadian life. And the North. No doubt the native organizations will, in evolved greatly in recent years: they have their Government of Canada has now accepted the due course, elaborate these claims in their origin in native use and occupancy of the land, principle of comprehensive claims; it negotiations with the government but, for my but today they involve much more than land. recognizes that any settlement of claims today own purposes, I have, in assessing these claims, When treaties were signed during the 19th must embrace the whole range of questions that relied upon the evidence of almost a thousand century, the settlement of the native people’s is outstanding between the Government of native persons who gave evidence in the claims was regarded primarily as surrender of Canada and the native peoples.
    [Show full text]
  • Universal Health Coverage
    The G7 Research Group at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at Trinity College in the University of Toronto presents the 2019 G7 Biarritz Summit Second Interim Compliance Report 27 August 2019 — 3 June 2020 Prepared by Meagan Byrd and the G7 Research Group 21 June 2020 www.g7.utoronto.ca [email protected] @g7_rg “We have meanwhile set up a process and there are also independent institutions monitoring which objectives of our G7 meetings we actually achieve. When it comes to these goals we have a compliance rate of about 80%, according to the University of Toronto. Germany, with its 87%, comes off pretty well. That means that next year too, under the Japanese G7 presidency, we are going to check where we stand in comparison to what we have discussed with each other now. So a lot of what we have resolved to do here together is something that we are going to have to work very hard at over the next few months. But I think that it has become apparent that we, as the G7, want to assume responsibility far beyond the prosperity in our own countries. That’s why today’s outreach meetings, that is the meetings with our guests, were also of great importance.” Chancellor Angela Merkel, Schloss Elmau, 8 June 2015 G7 summits are a moment for people to judge whether aspirational intent is met by concrete commitments. The G7 Research Group provides a report card on the implementation of G7 and G20 commitments. It is a good moment for the public to interact with leaders and say, you took a leadership position on these issues — a year later, or three years later, what have you accomplished? Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme, in G7 Canada: The 2018 Charlevoix Summit G7 Research Group: 2019 G7 Biarritz Summit Second Interim Compliance Report Contents Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]