2011 Workshop

Workshop 1

Internet Resources for Geoscience Data
Sunday, November 6
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Cost: $25

Data used by geoscientists has become widely available on the internet.  It is the mandate of various government and non-government organizations to manage digital information and make it available electronically.  This digital information consists of recent digitally captured and older digitized maps, reports, and databases.  Discovering these data sources and determining which source to use can be time consuming.  The goal of this workshop is to provide the audience with an overview of the current and future internet resources for data utilized by geoscientists.

Presenters will include:
• Canadian Federation of Earth Sciences
• Natural Resources Canada
• NB Department of Natural Resources
• Service New Brunswick

Workshop 2

An introduction to Aboriginal rights and interests as they pertain to the mining and petroleum industries in New Brunswick
Sunday, November 6
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Cost: $25

The Assembly of First Nations' Chiefs in New Brunswick Inc. is a not-for profit, rights-based organization representing New Brunswick First Nations. The Assembly formally engages with the federal and provincial Crown on issues related to Aboriginal and Treaty rights and Aboriginal Title through wide-ranging bilateral and trilateral processes. As part of that engagement the Assembly assists its member First Nations in dealing with the Crown’s duty to consult with First Nations and accommodate their rights and interests. The Assembly also assists its members in discussions with industry regarding proposed natural resource development and its consequent impacts on Aboriginal Peoples.

The Assembly will lead a workshop on Sunday November 6th from
1:30 pm until 4:30 pm. The workshop is an introduction to Aboriginal rights and interests as they pertain to the mining and petroleum industries in New Brunswick. The themes addressed will include: rights, cultural or world view differences, reconciliation, and the need for traditional knowledge and western science to be used cooperatively in the relevant industries.

Presentations will be made by Assembly representatives and experts. Workshop attendees will be asked to explore and discuss various topics. The major areas to be addressed are:

1. An outline of the Mi'gmag and Wolastoqiyik Peoples and their societies from the time prior to contact with Europeans until today;
2. Differences in world views between First Nations and the larger society;
3. An overview of Aboriginal and Treaty rights in Canadian law and international law;
4. First Nations' perspectives regarding natural resources and the role of First Nations, the Crown and industry in the development of resources; and
5. Traditional knowledge and western science: complementary or irreconcilable?

The Assembly hopes that the workshop will lead to improved understandings and better working relationships among First Nations, the Crown, and industry.