Jose Zarate

Representing the Wilp Wilxo'oskwhl Nisga'a in Peru were Deanna Nyce, Irene Seguin and Bertram McKay. Monica McKay (centre) represented the indigenous peoples development subcommittee of the Primate's Fund.

Indigenous groups from Central and South America are looking to the expertise of Canada's Aboriginals to help them develop their business know-how and post-secondary education.

This good-news story might surprise non-indigenous Canadians accustomed to hearing about Natives only in association with residential school lawsuits or in connection with high suicide rates, drug and alcohol addiction and high unemployment.

The Nisga'a, who live in British Columbia's Nass River Valley, have signed a partnership agreement with indigenous peoples living near the Amazon River in Peru. They will help the Confederation of Amazon Nationalities of Peru (representing 200,000 people) develop a post-secondary educational program so they can begin exploiting their own natural resources, rather than watch transnational corporations walk away with all the profits.

The Nuu-chah-nulth, who live near Nanaimo, B.C., have signed an agreement with a Mexican indigenous organization. The Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation will share their expertise in economic development with the Indigenous Council of the Huastec Region of Veracruz. Indigenous groups there produce some high quality products but lack the markets or know-how to sell them.

Both these agreements have been made possible by the Anglican Church's Primate's World Relief and Development Fund. The Primate's Fund is probably best known for its international development work but it also has a Canadian program dealing with Aboriginals.

José Zarate was hired three years ago to co-ordinate the Canadian Development Program: Indigenous Communities. He was asked to forge partnerships with indigenous peoples in Canada and to promote links between Canadian aboriginals and indigenous peoples in other countries. Dr. Zarate is indigenous himself, hailing from Peru.

The Nisga'a told Dr. Zarate they wished to link up with indigenous peoples in other countries. He learned of their success over the last decade in developing post-secondary education which allows the Nisga'a to study in their own villages through the Wilp Wilxo'oskwhl Nisga'a (the Nisga'a House of Wisdom).

They have developed partnerships with the University of Northern British Columbia, Northwest Community College and Open Learning Agency. The bilingual, bicultural studies are wide ranging and include training for forest rangers and technicians, hospitality and tourism, fishery technicians, biologists and scientists, social services, trades and financial planning, and cultural services including Nisga'a language, contemporary Nisga'a arts and religious studies.

When Dr. Zarate received a request from a Peruvian indigenous group wanting help to exploit their own resources, it seemed a perfect fit for the Nisga'a. The Amazonians were frustrated to see transnational corporations exploiting their many natural resources - forests and fisheries, oil and gas resources and eco-tourism - for their own gain. At the same time, Amazonian young people were leaving for the cities to train as professionals and they weren't coming back since they saw no economic future in their villages.

The Primate's Fund provided the cash for Dr. Zarate and a three-person Nisga'a delegation to visit Peru and for a return visit to be made by the Peruvians. The visits ended in a partnership agreement.

The Amazonians, the Nisga'a and post-secondary institutions in B.C. and Peru have agreed to work together to design and develop a post-secondary program for the Amazonians. "They will be the bosses; the ownership is in the hands of the indigenous peoples," Dr. Zarate said.

The partnership may involve student exchanges. Nisga'a with expertise in particular areas might spend internships with the Amazonians and indigenous Peruvians may come to Canada for specific training.

The Primate's Fund will continue to facilitate communication between the two groups. Dr. Zarate has acted as English-Spanish translator and the Fund has paid for the visits, at a cost of about $30,000 in 1999. Other cash sources are also being sought.

The Nuu-chah-nulth also visited their Mexican counterparts and the Mexican indigenous groups returned the visit. The Indigenous Council of Veracruz represents 19 Nahuatl and 21 Teenek communities. The Nahuatl have been more successful in developing good roads and housing, Dr. Zarate said. The Teenek have just recently become involved with the Council. Their housing is in very bad condition and the people are quite poor.

But the Mexican Natives have gifted hands and produce beautiful handcrafted items, with talents passed on for generations. The Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation will offer their expertise in running successful businesses and joint ventures to help the Mexicans develop a detailed marketing strategy.

The two groups will also focus on education, business and employment training with the goal of self-sufficiency for the Teenek and Nahuatl. Trade opportunities will be explored, as will exchanges. The Nuu-chah-nulth plan to seek funding from various programs.

The Nuu-chah-nulth are moving even beyond the letter of agreement they signed at the Canadian embassy in Mexico. During their visit, they saw children in the villages walking up to 20 kilometres to school and back each day, Dr. Zarate said. The Nuu-chah-nulth tribal council has agreed to buy a bus to transport the children and they are exploring twinning communities. The Nuu-chah-nulth were impressed with the tranquility they found among the Mexican indigenous peoples, despite their poverty, Dr. Zárate said. They want their children to see that example.

Dr. Zarate said the financial contributions of Anglicans, "are making a change in the life of indigenous peoples and ensuring their own agendas are being implemented."