Traditional Knowledge Rights Information Sessions

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The National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition, in partnership with
Urban Shaman Gallery present an information session on Traditional
Knowledge (TK) rights with Dr. Greg Young-Ing.

Greg will be presenting two workshops at the Urban Shaman Gallery. On
Wednesday February 7th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for artists working
in all genres and on Thursday February 8th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
for the general public, to speak about Traditional Knowledge (mis)Use
and Protection based on his research and involvement in the CRA IPC
activities outlined below. Both workshops are FREE but
pre-registration is required.

Greg Young-Ing is Chair of The Creator's Rights Alliance Indigenous
Peoples Caucus (CRA IPC) and is directly involved in discussions on
Traditional Knowledge (TK) rights for Indigenous artists and
communities at the national and international level. He recently
completed his PhD at University of British Columbia on "Intellectual
Property Rights, Legislated Protection, Sui Generis Models and Ethical
Access in the Transformation of Indigenous Traditional Knowledge".

The Creator's Rights Alliance (CRA) / L'Alliance pour les droits des
créateurs (ADC) is a coalition of national artists' associations and
collectives responsible for managing authors' rights, which is devoted
to the defense, the promotion and the protection of the interests of
Canadian creators in relation to intellectual property. Among the CRA
fifty plus members are: Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and
Radio Artists (ACTRA), Canadian Artists representation/Front des
Artistes Canadiens (CAR/FAC), Directors Guild of Canada, Guild of
Canadian Film Composers (GCFC), League of Canadian Poets, Professional
Photographers of Canada and The Writers' Union of Canada.

The Indigenous Peoples Caucus (IPC) was established at the CRA
founding meeting in 2002. The mandate of the IPC is to advance,
promote and protect the intellectual property and TK rights of
Indigenous artists and communities in Canada at a national and
international level. The current members of the IPC are: Mi'kmaq Grand
Council, The En'owkin Centre, ImagiNative Media Arts Festival, Full
Circle First Nations Performance, Native Earth Performing Arts,
Association for the Development of Native Performing and Visual Arts,
Terres en Vue: Societe pour diffusion de la culture autochtone, Centre
for Indigenous Theatre, Tribe: A Centre for Aboriginal Media, Visual
and Performing Arts Inc. and Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance,
National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition and Urban Shaman Gallery.

The Indigenous Artists Research Project: The IPC conducted five
regional symposia dealing with TK related issues in 2003-2004, as well
as The National Conference on Traditional Knowledge in Montreal in
June 2004. The IARP has been met with a positive response from Federal
government departments, art councils and the Indigenous artistic
community.

The Indigenous Advocacy Support Project (IASP): The Rockefeller
Foundation provided the initial funding for the IASP in September 2004
to financially assist Indigenous peoples' advocates in international
meetings, leading to increased capacity building in the Indigenous
lobbying effort for TK rights. The Project focuses on the crucial role
that TK and, correspondingly, Indigenous advocates, are playing in the
following international discussions: (1) The World Intellectual
Property Organization; (2) The Convention on Biological Diversity, and
(3) Other relevant UN forums where issues of TK are being discussed.

The National Indigenous Media Arts Coalition is a Region within the
Independent Media Arts alliance (IMAA), and is comprised of Aboriginal
media professionals. NIMAC assists in the development of Indigenous
run media arts organizations and collectives across Canada. With
support from the IMAA, NIMAC continues to advocate the needs of
aboriginal media centres to funders and organizations across the
country.

Urban Shaman Gallery is an aboriginal artist run centre dedicated to
meeting the needs of artists by providing a vehicle for artistic
expression in all disciplines and at all levels by taking a leadership
role in the cultivation of indigenous art.

To reserve a seat, please call Liz Barron, Project Director for the
National Indigenous Media Arts Alliance at 942.2674 or 227.8910. Space
is limited, so register early.

If you would like to arrange an interview with Dr. Greg Young-Ing,
please call Liz Barron at 942.2674 or 227.8910.

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