Sylvia McAdam

Nêhiyawak Knowledge Keeper, Assistant Professor, University of Windsor Law School, Big River First Nation

Back to Indigenous Governance

Interview Summary
Start Time	End Time	Topic
00:00	04:49	Introduction – how she learned, what she is working on How she has learned Indigenous knowledge, Indigenous governance How others can learn by learning from Elders in their communities
04:50	06:00	The history of how Cree laws came to be
06:01	08:01	Two broad areas within Indigenous laws: Human Laws (laws between human beings) and laws that are other than between human beings. Four elements within Creator’s Laws: Human Laws Earth Laws Spiritual Laws Animal/Plant Laws
08:02	11:04	Roles of men and women in the governance structure during the time of treaty signing Hereditary Chiefs Clan Mothers – Guardians of the Laws
11:05	19:36	Discussion of the Indian Act imposed system of governance compared to Traditional, Indigenous systems of governance How Canadian system does not work for them – high incarceration rates Her perspective on being under the Indian Act and being under Treaty Chief and Fake (or Pretend) Chief under the Indian Act Canadian system – current Chief and Council system is looked upon as a municipality with a Mayor and Council No Cree words for sex-related offences; why not?
19:37	29:16	Discussion of difference between Laws of the Bible and Laws of the Creator Laws of how to raise your children Laws of kinship Laws of leadership and respect No support/financial assistance in reclaiming Indigenous laws – it is individual choice and commitment to follow Indigenous laws Laws of the Land If seeking out Laws, you must follow protocol and procedure; all Peoples have their own protocols and processes to learn
29:17	32:54	Her thoughts and perspective on sovereignty
32:55	36:56	At time of treaty signing, how land was allocated Cree understanding of land allocations for future generations Expectations/understandings and what really happened
36:57	43:36	Differences in what treaties say (e.g., treaty rights) and what took place Discussion about sovereignty and treaty signing, treaty rights History of Indian Act How the Indian Act evolved – pass system, residential schools
43:37	48:59	Treaty implementation and concept of ‘comity’ – ‘friendly relations’ It was foretold that the ‘Hereditary Chief and Headman’ governance structure will come back to Canada Respecting these laws is a choice Discussion of laws of kinship and adoption Importance of family and support of family Kinship parenting – a preferred term for foster parenting
49:00	54:43	Indigenous laws are housed in the ceremonies When laws are broken, “ceremonies are the corrective force” A ‘sickness’ is in them and ceremonies can correct/heal For example, if food is stolen, then the person would be taught to hunt and replace the food that was taken – the ceremonies would be taught Ceremonies are used as a remedy (e.g., going on a vision quest or going to learn from a particular Elder, etc) When sentencing circles were used in the past; what the use of them today is missing
54:44	57:23	Several people have different roles to play in Indigenous laws Apprentices to carry laws and keep laws alive loss of language contributing to the loss of use of their laws
57:24	58:59	United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples right to self-determination right to recognize their own Indigenous laws
59:00	1:00:37	Encouragement for young people to learn their lineage, history, language, laws system of leadership – has eroded over time, but not gone claim to sovereignty Nowhere in the treaties were rights extinguished to the land, water, trees, etc.

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Interview Summary