WILTON LITTLECHILD, I.P.C.,C.M., F.P., Q.C.
Barrister and Solicitor
Box 370
Hobbema , Alberta, Canada
TOC 1NO

North America Indigenous First Nations, Organizations and Communities:

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

As the Indigenous Independent Expert Member from North America on the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, I would like to provide you with an update from our recent Inter-Sessional meeting of the Permanent Forum Members. This meeting took place in Nuuk, Greenland on February 13 to 17, 2006.

I am concerned about how we can work together to make the Permanent Forum more effective, focused and productive. One solution proposed last year was to strongly encourage participants to consolidate their recommendations into regional statements and presentations as much as possible.

As some of you may also recall at the last session, Indigenous participants from two regions, Africa and Asia, were able to organize regional preparatory meetings before the session. As a result, those two regions were able to present strong consolidated statements, which made a considerable impact on the session. As you know, we scheduled regional side events during the session to share issues of particular concern to some regions with other participants and Permanent Forum Members.

This year North America and the other regions are scheduled to present regional special events during the upcoming 5th Session of the Forum. In order to do this most effectively, I would respectfully recommend that we hold a preparatory session for the North America region, even though the time frame is short. In addition to planning this special event together, this preparatory meeting will provide the opportunity to share important information and could develop regional statements and possible recommendations on key issues.

The agenda for this meeting could include:

1. A report on the decisions and discussions from the Inter-Sessional Meeting.
2. Recommendations for strengthening the role and increasing the effectiveness of the Permanent Forum, especially in light of the impacts of the current “U.N. reform” and changes in the U.N. Human Rights System.
3. A report from the recent U.N. Expert Seminar on Indigenous Peoples’ Permanent Sovereignty Over Natural Resources and Their Relationship to Land, and the specific recommendations regarding the work of the Permanent Forum.
4. Organizing the North America region special event for the 5th session.
5. Announcing the U.N. Expert Seminar on Treaties, Agreements and Other Constructive Arrangement in Treaty 6 Territory, Alberta, Canada in September, 2006.
6. Updates on the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the possible role and responsibility of the Permanent Forum in light of what happens at the Final Session of the C.H.R.
7. Development of a regional statement and/or recommendations on these and other issues, including the focus issue for this session of the Permanent Forum, the Millennium Development Goals 3 to 6.

Since unfortunately the Permanent Forum does not have a budget to support regional preparatory meetings, the travel and lodging costs will need to be “on our own”. A few Indigenous organizations are working to help raise funds to cover costs for at least some of the meals for participants during the meeting, but this effort is still in process. You should plan at this point to be able to cover your own meal costs as well.

The dates proposed for this two-day meeting are April 29 and 30, 2006. The University of Minnesota Human Rights Center has offered to provide meeting space (room 65) at the

University of Minnesota Law School
229 19th Avenue South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Tel: (612) 626-0041
Fax: (612) 625-2011

We did consider holding the meeting right before the Permanent Forum session in New York to save on travel costs, but this would make for too long of a time commitment for many representatives as well as a very rushed time frame for any preparations based on the results. There are also several other meetings already scheduled for the weekend before the Permanent Forum starts.

I realize this is short notice and everyone has a busy schedule. Finances may also make it difficult for some representatives to attend, but it seems, based on some initial consultations, that at least some of the First Nations and Organizations who regularly attend the Permanent Forum from the North America region [ United States and Canada] will make every effort to send one or more representatives to this session.

The hotel nearest the site, within close walking distance, is the

Holiday Inn Metrodome
1500 Washington Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55454
Tel: (612) 333-4646
Fax: (612) 338-4049
toll free number: 1 (800) 448-3663

Let them know that you are attending a meeting at the University of Minnesota Law School to receive a discounted rate (about $99US per night). Marcus is the Reservation Manager’s name.

Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions. Also please call Emily @ (780) 585-3038 to confirm your participation or e-mail @ jwlittle@incentre.net. I hope to see many of you at this regional preparatory meeting and also at the Permanent Forum’s 5th session this May in New York.

Yours truly,

Mr. Wilton Littlechild, I.P.C.
Member, U.N. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

JWL/ehl