Canku Ota
	(Many Paths)
	An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
	September 22, 2001 - Issue 45
	Ten Aboriginal Youth Take Off on South Pacific Adventure

Victoria – September 15, 2001 marks the beginning of a six-month South Pacific odyssey for 10 young Aboriginal Canadians. Through the internship program, these youth will immerse themselves in the work and daily life of indigenous communities in the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Zealand. Their work placements will offer them a range of experiences in everything from indigenous tourism to coastal resource management, and from community popular theatre to traditional medicine. Victoria-based Pacific Peoples’ Partnership has teamed up with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to offer this international program, now in its third year. Interns come from aboriginal organizations across the country and each brings unique skills. Brennan Gohn (Cowichan, BC) and Tricia Collinson (Haida, BC) will be stationed in the Cook Islands. Dana Reid (Mamgis, BC) and Kathleen Graham (Dene, NWT), along with Sheldon Wuttunee (RedPheasant, Sasktchewan) and Angie Shuter (Nlakapa’mux Nation, BC) will all be working with Maori peoples in New Zealand. Shuter will be focusing on intellectual property policy and law reform. “While Canada has taken some important steps in developing policy pertaining to First Nations intellectual property and traditional knowledge, we have much to learn from the international community. I think that we can learn from the experience of the Maori people and from their very advanced work in this field,” Shuter said. Cameron Patterson (Metis, Alberta), Kyle Halsey (Iroquois, BC) and Murphy Patrick (Carrier, BC), will be based in Vanuatu. And Michele Thomas (Seneca, Ontario) will pursue her interest in traditional medicine both here on Vancouver Island and in Fiji. Pacific Peoples Partnership, founded in 1975, is a social justice organization that supports Pacific Islanders in their efforts to protect and promote their environment, livelihoods and community development. For more information, contact: Jessie Sutherland, intern coordinator or Rita Parikh, executive director Pacific Peoples’ Partnership Phone: 250-381-4131 email: general@pacificpeoplespartnership.org

Pacific Peoples Partnership Welcome to Pacific Peoples' Partnership! PPP is Canada's only non-profit, non-governmental social justice organization, devoted exclusively to working in solidarity with peoples of the South Pacific to promote their aspirations for peace, justice, security and sustainable development. http://www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org

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