Groundwork: Facilitating Change’s Post

Important reporting on the transformation of authority and responsibility for uu-a-thluk (‘taking care of’in Nuu-chah-nulth) in this time of great peril and promise.

Public servants in Aotearoa New Zealand are required to incorporate the Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) into their work. An Institute of Public Administration New Zealand (IPANZ) webinar saw the Environment Department’s Will Collin (Principal Advisor, Te Tiriti me te ao Māori policy), outline the history of the Treaty and its Principles, and gave practical advice on how to use it develop policy which genuinely reflects Māori values, interests and needs. https://lnkd.in/gSGFpt9j

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the CMA as part of a coalition of national and provincial heritage organizations urges the Government of Canada to take immediate, decisive action to establish an Indigenous-led National Framework for Indigenous Cultural Heritage Rights. We do this to support the return of Indigenous ancestors and belongings through repatriation and to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples to their own cultural heritage. We urge the Government of Canada to: • Fulfill Canada’s commitments enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP). • Take urgent action. Despite Canada's commitment to UNDRIP, Action Plan Measure 98, which commits to co-developing a comprehensive approach for the repatriation of Indigenous Ancestors and Cultural Belongings, has not yet been started. • Address the full spectrum of Indigenous cultural heritage rights through an Indigenous-led National Framework for Indigenous Cultural Heritage Rights. • Release the funds requested in our pre-budget submissions to the Department of Finance, and the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance for initial research on repatriation scope and costs. It's time for meaningful progress on Canada's UNDRIP obligations. Read the full joint statement: https://bit.ly/3BuRm7X

So far as I can see, the only plain talking politician on this issue in New Zealand. "Seymour said when it comes to the Treaty of Waitangi, "we as a country have a simple choice to make". "We can either believe that the Treaty of Waitangi created a partnership between races, as some say, or we can believe that it delivers what it says itself in the Māori version: ngā tikanga katoa rite tahi – the same rights and duties. That is the fundamental question." Seymour said instead of hinting at violence or calling someone "racist" when disagreeing with the bill, people should "try dialogue like adults". "Instead, you could just answer this: If the Treaty is a partnership between the Crown and only Māori, then what is the place of a child born in this country today who is not Māori? Are they born into second class citizenship as tangata tiriti, where some roles in public life are not available to them because they have the wrong ancestors? "If the answer to that is yes, then where are the successful societies that treat people differently based on their ancestry? What is your model for the future of New Zealand based on those Treaty principles? "If the answer is no, then we have a bright future, but it requires casting off the divisive notion that the Treaty is a partnership between races, between tangata whenua on the one hand and tangata tiriti on the other, and embracing the Treaty as a commitment to all New Zealanders having freedom under the rule of law." He told reporters following his speech that he expects his coalition partners will support the bill if it receives public support. "Ultimately, if we say the Treaty Principles Bill is divisive, what we’re really saying is we can’t do anything where people disagree in this country, and that’s one of the biggest problems – we’ve lost the ability to disagree agreeably."" https://lnkd.in/gUQz_ZQ6 #maori #waitangi #treaty

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the CMA as part of a coalition of national and provincial heritage organizations, including the National Trust for Canada, urges the Government of Canada to take immediate, decisive action to establish an Indigenous-led National Framework for Indigenous Cultural Heritage Rights. We do this to support the return of Indigenous ancestors and belongings through repatriation and to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples to their own cultural heritage. We urge the Government of Canada to: • Fulfill Canada’s commitments enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UNDRIP). • Take urgent action. Despite Canada's commitment to UNDRIP, Action Plan Measure 98, which commits to co-developing a comprehensive approach for the repatriation of Indigenous Ancestors and Cultural Belongings, has not yet been started. • Address the full spectrum of Indigenous cultural heritage rights through an Indigenous-led National Framework for Indigenous Cultural Heritage Rights. • Release the funds requested in our pre-budget submissions to the Department of Finance, and the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance for initial research on repatriation scope and costs. It's time for meaningful progress on Canada's UNDRIP obligations. Read the full joint statement: https://buff.ly/3XXm6rc

#PeriploPacifico #WednesdayEdition October 16, 2024 Here are the key news and events reported today from the #Pacific region. Today we were live in the Italian Parliament for an audition in front of the Permanent Committee on Italian foreign policy for the #IndoPacific. link to view the audition bit.ly/Esteri161024 #PicoftheDay is Safata, Samoa, where ongoing efforts to address the environmental damage caused by the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui continue amidst rising concerns about fuel leakage. #Samoa – Environmental Fallout from Shipwreck Samoan authorities and the New Zealand Defence Force are working to manage the environmental impact of the Manawanui shipwreck, which leaked an estimated 200,000 liters of diesel into surrounding waters. Fishermen have been advised to avoid contaminated fish, and further efforts are underway to contain the spill and protect marine life.. #Pacific Championships – Rugby League Action Excitement builds as the 2024 Pacific Rugby League Championships kick off this week. Fiji Bati, with several NRL stars, is gearing up to face the Australian Kangaroos in Brisbane this weekend. This tournament is set to be one of the largest sporting events in the Pacific region, drawing teams from across the Pacific to compete. #Bougainville – Mining Class Action A class action lawsuit has been launched against Rio Tinto over its historic mining operations in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea. The lawsuit seeks compensation for environmental damage and the impact of the Panguna copper mine, which was a major factor in the civil war on the island #NorthernMarianas – Infrastructure Boost The Northern Marianas Islands have secured $11 million in funding from the U.S. government to upgrade the territory’s drinking water infrastructure. This marks a significant increase in investment compared to last year and aims to improve access to clean water for residents. #New Caledonia – Political Tensions Over Azerbaijan Deal New Caledonia's Congress president has declared a controversial deal with Azerbaijan "null and void" after backlash from pro-independence parties. The deal, signed without broader consensus, had caused tensions within New Caledonia's political landscape. These updates reflect key developments across the Pacific region. Stay tuned for further news!

Learn more about Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month through our most recent spotlight: https://ow.ly/25lx50RERoy #RSLaw #AANHPI #RSCelebratesDEI

Discover The Islander Magazine's new article on the extraordinary adventure of Fons Oerlemans. Aboard his unique bottle boat, powered by Nanni, he shows us that innovation and passion can bring extraordinary projects to life. To read the article, click here: https://lnkd.in/eZG6RDPs The Islander Magazine

Beautiful archive shot of my mum Tiahuia Te Puea Herangi Ramihana (Ramsden) Gray after completing the welcoming karanga to powhiri Fleetwood Mac into New Zealand for their 2 month tour in 1980. Captured moments like these are what makes Aotearoa New Zealand such a unique and magical place, and if race relations are ostensibly resolved in the bedrooms of the nation, my mother's union with my father Neil Edward Gray (from England and Scotland) was the perfect emulation of a positive Treaty Partnership. Given the outward sharing of their undeniable life-long aroha (demonstrated by their open door policy in our household), the mixing of European and Maori would be daily features of our lives growing up, and as a child I thought this seamless weaving of culture was the norm for everyday New Zealand. I was quite surprised upon entering government (and other working roles as an adult) that there would be situations where Maori workers and European workers would stand shyly on opposite sides of the room. I soon understood that the role my parents had raised me was to be a bridge between cultures, especially given the fondness I had for my friends on both sides of the racial tide. Indeed such roles are vital if the Treaty partnership is ever going to be successful, requiring people of goodwill on all racial sidings to enable such a cultural experiment to flourish. In particular, mutual respect and non-exploitation of this fiduciary partnership emulating the idea of cultural siblings growing as one together, utilizing the individual strengths and unique moral standings of all participating peoples to enhance further our national identity in the global context. As an example, by combining the spiritual authenticity of Maori with the intellectual might of the British, this merging of attributes should enhance, not detract from the evolution of Aotearoa's symbiotic cultural melting pot. Values like Manaakitanga - looking after one another. Kaitiakitanga - guardianship and protection of our environment. Whaikoha - following the path 'giving' and Whakapoukahatanga - uplifting and strengthening those around us. To me, these are the blueprints to enhance the social health and sustainability of our Treaty partnership moving forward. Indeed, it should be a point of shame, not a point of pride to display your ignorance and be unwilling to learn another language. This has always been the first phase of a colonizing entity's attempt to destroy or assimilate another culture. We face enormous challenges as a Nation, and it will require all of us to bring our best to solve them. It will not be easy, but as Kiwis have shown, we don't shy away from a challenge. As I reflect upon this photo of my mother and attempt to honour my parent's legacy, in order to 'never break the chain', I know how I am going to play it. What will you choose to do?

🐲🐉🐲 端午节快乐 Wishing you a glorious time full of cheers, Joy, traditions, and customs of the Dragon Boat Festival. The Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional Chinese holiday on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese Calendar. The holiday is celebrated by holding dragon boat races and eating sticky rice dumplings called zongzi. The Dragon Boat Festival is a folk festival integrating worship of gods and ancestors, praying for good luck, warding off evil spirits, celebrating, entertainment and eating. It became the first Chinese holiday to be officially approved for its inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. In some regions, people wear silk ribbons or threads of five colours - blue, red, yellow, white, and black, representing the five elements on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival believing that this will help keep evil away. . . . #lawyer #advocate #attorney #lawfirm #UAElawyers #Dubailawyers #GCC #ASEAN #sglawyer #hklawyer #arbitration #internationalarbitration #businesslaw #global #gllegal #globallegists