Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, 1 January 1983 — INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CONFERENCE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE CONFERENCE

The Second Conference of Indigenous Peoples lnternational was held in the Senate Chambers of the State Capitol for three days commencing on December 8. 1982. The conference was sponsored this year by the Olliee of Hawaiian Affairsand included thirty two delegates representing Canada. New Zealand. Australia and the United States participating in p'enary sessions and workshops. A 11 delegates to the conference are responsible for administration of programsserving indigenous peoples ol' their respective countries. Hawaii delegates represented the Department of Hawaiian Homes L.ands and the Office ol Hawaiian Affairs. The first ĪPI conference held in New Zealand in 1981 brought agreement from the delegates that a regular exchange of ideas and expertise would have direct and immediate benefits to governmental agencies as well as community programs. There was eoneem expressed that the case for indigenous peoples was not being given an adequate prolile on an international scope, and this was a goal that the 1P1 could work toward. J he conlerence this year focused on the two primary subiects of: I) the Native Hawaiian situation. and 2) the feasibility ol formally establishing an internationa! eleaiinghouse for the indigenous peoples ol the major anglowesterni/ed countries ol the Paeilie. 1 hree workshops concentrated on the topics ol eeonomie de\elopment. culture and politics as areas ol'eommon interest and eoneem to indigenous peoples. Forthe purpose ol' this IPI conference. the major focus was Hawaii and Hawaiians. Workshops recommendations l'ollow. \earing the end of the conference. the delegations reached several recommendations l'or Hawaiians to use. It was suggested that Hawaiians should set up their own Hawaiian owned and managed corporation to gain eeonomie control ol' their assets. especially in the areas ol culture and tourism. Another interesting idea was hrought up through the example ol the Maori people in \ew Zealand and their use ol pre-schools to teach the Maori language. I hat program called I e Kohanaga Reo Continued on Page 6

. S:SS mm I wmmmm — ■ « lnauguration photo of the Board of Trustees. (Photos by Williams Photographv)

Caucus of the Hawaiian Delegation at the IPl Conference. Chairman Joe Kealoha confers with OHA staff. Francis Kauhane.

Continued from Page 3 or the "Language nestings" has just started in New Zealand. Kara Puketapu. the Chair for the conference said. "We belie\e we ha\e found a way. You pullyoure\tended family together and put some money in there. lnstead of putting the children in play centers, put them in \\ith vour own kupuna at 5 months old. Begin putting them in there now and you'll have them all speaking Hawaiian in 10 years. That's a social revolution in the best sense." Other recommendations were: There should be an in\estigation of the implications of petitioning the Federal Government to grant a special status to Hawaiians similar to American indians. Aleuts and Eskimos. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs should consider assuming the leadership in establishingan indigenous Hawaiian membership. fhe issue ofwhoisa Hawaiian should be resolved as soon as possible either by vote, or legislation at the State or Federal level. Hawaiians should indentify and inventory the eeonomie resources available to them and conduct an analysis ol it. J he creation of a eouneil like the Maori Planning Council should be considered. And !astly. there should be a centrali7ation of information. Now the importance and benefit of those recommendations remain with us. a 1 1 Hawaiians. as to whether or not they will heeome a reality. The objectives of the conferenee were to e\change information, e\pertise and resources, and that has been done. Already these recommendations are being discussed by the Board of 1 rustees. as they were part of the delegation to the conference, but such ideas are only suggestions unless there are those in our community willing to help make them real.

Support for the IPI Conference was given by former Senator Kennelh Brown and George Kanahele (l-r).