Indigenous Peoples’ Rights are focus of the Network’s Western Regional Event

This year, the Rights & Democracy Delegation at the University of Saskatchewan is hosting the 2010 Western Regional Event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from Thursday evening, February 18 to Sunday afternoon, February 21, 2010. The theme of this year’s Western Regional Event is “Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights: Global Perspectives”.

This Regional Event will bring together delegates from universities across the western provinces (B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba) in order to share our knowledge about indigenous peoples’ human rights and to explore ways of promoting indigenous peoples’ rights around the world. Indigenous leaders, academics, students and human rights defenders will join us for workshops, panels, discussions, open space forums, and traditional ceremonies, which will offer a diversity of learning opportunities and approaches.

The Regional Event will begin on Thursday, February 18th with a public forum organized with Rights & Democracy as part of its Cross-Canada Dialogue Series. Entitled "Indigenous Peoples at Risk of Extinction: the Case of Colombia", the event will feature experts on the topic from Colombia and Canada who will discuss the fragile situation for many indigenous peoples in Colombia and the action that needs to be taken to address this urgent issue.

For more information about the Regional Event, contact: Elana Wright, Rights & Democracy Network Coordinator at ewright@dd-rd.net.

For more information about the Rights & Democracy public forum, visit: www.dd-rd.ca