Saori Miyazaki, Faculty of Law Visiting PhD student
The University of Alberta's Faculty of Law is happy to be playing host to Saori Miyazaki, from Japan, who has come to the Faculty of Law as a visiting PhD student to work on research on Indigenous rights and attend Professor Bell's course on Canadian Aboriginal Law. Saori is a PhD student studying at the Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University, Japan. She has been working on a research project on the Ainu people and Indigenous rights - the situation of Self-determination of Ainu in Japan and the future direction. The research includes comparative studies on the cases of Indigenous issues in Australia and Canada, and was the driving force for her coming to Canada and to the U of A Faculty of Law. Before coming to Canada Saori had conducted field research in South Australia (Australia) and Hokkaido (Japan), and had attended the 11th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (PFII) as an observer, in New York in 2012.
Saori's supervisor at Osaka University, Professor Masanao Murakami, a former colleague of Professor Bell's from their time working together at Niigata University (Japan), suggested that she contact Professor Bell regarding the possibility of doing Indigenous rights research in Canada. Saori received an 'Osaka University Scholarship for Short-term Overseas Research Activities' scholarship from her home university to help support her during her time at the U of A Faculty of Law. Her application was accepted by Professor Catherine Bell, and Saori was invited to conduct research as a visiting PhD student by the Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, starting in January 2013.
Professor Bell also invited Saori participate in a research project during her visit. Conducted in collaboration with the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, Carcross-Tagish First Nation, Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation, and the Ta'an Kwach'än Council, this research concerns Chapter 13 (the Heritage Chapter) of the Yukon First Nations Land Claim Agreement, self-determination, heritage law, practice, management and policy. It forms part of a larger international research program entitled, 'Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage (IPinCH)'. It has provided unique legal, intercultural and interdisciplinary research opportunities for undergraduate, graduate students at the Faculty of Law, University of Alberta, and elsewhere as well as tangible benefits to our YFN partners and their communities.
Saori and U of A Law student Heidi Besuijen assisted with and attended a workshop held in Whitehorse which brought together YFN representatives, policy makers and legal experts to explore the intersection between YFN values emerging from ethnographic research, Indigenous law, heritage policy and legislation of self-determining First Nations. The workshop, which took place in March, was sponsored by the York Centre for Public Policy and Law, and the Canadian Forum on Civil Justice.
During the March 20 - 24 trip to the Yukon, Saori also had the opportunity to visit the DӓKų Cultural Centre in the traditional land of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations, which is about a couple of hours by car from Whitehorse. DӓKų means "Our House" in Southern Tutchone. The centre is especially built as a gathering place where people can learn and enjoy their cultural heritage, recognise and celebrate the cultural contributions as well as way of life of Champagne and Aishihik First Nations peoples.
Saori described her meeting with the Yukon First Nations (YFNs) at the Whitehorse workshop as being a wonderful experience which brought home to her how relevant her area of research was: "Since the workshop in the Yukon involved the community-based approach and was about examining issues of implementation and translation of the goals and objectives YFNs' policy into an operating on-going practice and programme in the area of cultural heritage, I had a wonderful learning opportunity with regards to the way YFNs' perceive, consider, and value their own cultural heritage as the source of their identity," Saori explained. "This certainly connects how indigenous peoples reflect their past, and design and shape their own lives both today and for their future, which is exactly what I understand 'self-determination' is about. Thus, I felt the workshop experience was closely connected to my theoretical research."
Back at the U of A Faculty of Law, Saori had the opportunity to audit the course 'Aboriginal peoples and the law' taught by Professor Bell. There she was able to learn about Canadian legal cases on Indigenous issues and gained much insight into the issues of Indigenous rights. Professor Bell also invited Saori to join the workshop on First Nation Water Rights and Legal Issues in Alberta, held at Rundle's Mission (which is about an hour south of Edmonton) at the beginning of March. Saori stated that she had learnt much, from attending this workshop, about the serious water issues surrounding indigenous peoples and also how academics and lawyers can contribute to the aspect of community empowerment in certain way by passing and sharing knowledge together and facilitate discussion.
Saori at the bead exhibit at the DӓKų Cultural Centre
Outside of the academic life of the U of A, Saori threw herself into exploring the multicultural life experiences available in Edmonton, including learning about Turkish culture and dishes from her roommate, and celebrating Nowruz at 5 am on March 20th, which she described as being a "momentous time and a great experience" for her. Another 'first' for Saori, during her time in Edmonton, was experiencing so much snow! "As I am from Osaka where it seldom snows, I like snow," Saori exclaimed. "So I enjoyed the beautiful winter scenery in Edmonton."
In the Fall Saori will be head north and visit Iqaluit, and hopefully Rankin Inlet, in Nunavut as part of her research studies, before returning at the end of the summer to the U of A Faculty of Law to complete her research in Canada. There she will meet some of Professor Bell's former students and research partners in Nunavut. After November Saori will journey back to Japan to work on her research, and complete her dissertation.
(l-r) Saori Miyazaki, Professor Catherine Bell, and U of A Faculty of Law student Laura Skorodenski (3L)
When asked to summarize the experience of her time as a Visiting Student at the U of A Faculty of Law Saori replied, "I enjoy the assistance and supervision by Professor Bell very much who has been very kind, helpful and inspiring. She has tried very hard to make sure that I get to know people who are experts in, and have deep experiences in, the field of indigenous rights and issues. I will never forget her kindness and thoughtfulness. I benefitted so much from being as a visiting student at University of Alberta, and really think this visiting student programme is valuable. I hope in the future there will be more students and researchers coming and going between our two universities, and possibly even an exchange programme will be created between Osaka University and University of Alberta so that students from each university will benefit greatly from attending the unique courses which are not originally provided at their home institution."
Additional Information:
Council of Yukon First Nations
IPinCH (Intellectual Property Issues in Cultural Heritage)
Workshop/Project Co-Sponsors: