The presence of the US/Canada Border is a fact of life for Aboriginal People. It is also a simple fact of life that Indigenous people along the border have established their relationship with both US and Canadian governments through Treaty, and those Treaties affect people along the border in profound ways.

As “treaty rights” are continually challenged in the courts, the courts are given opportunities to continually “re-interpret” these treaties.  Thus it is important to explore these treaties and related issues in some depth.  To that end, The Anishinaabeg Joint Commission (Batchewana First Nation, Bay Mills Indian Community, Garden River First Nation, and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians), in cooperation with the Center for the Study of Indigenous Border Issues, is issuing a Call For Papers for the Living Treaties Anishinaabeg Summit. The gathering will be held August 13 – 15, 2008, at the Sault Tribe Conference and Convention Center in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

The primary objective of this gathering is to bring together Tribal Elders, Traditional Knowledge Keepers, Tribal historians, college and university faculty and students, land claims researchers, Government officials (US, Canadian, Tribal), and Indigenous Community members so that we can all benefit from a thorough discussion and understanding of the role that Treaties play in the lives of Native Peoples along the US/Canada border.

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