Executive Summary

• Main Author: An Ethnographic Review
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Canada; inuit; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.512.9036; http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/ippd-dppi.nsf/vwapj/thom_final_report_e_proofed_28feb05.pdf/$file/thom_final_report_e_proofed_28feb05.pdf

Aboriginal peoples in Canada have diverse and complex customary protocols regarding a wide range of intangible property. These customary protocols have operated within the distinctive Aboriginal cultures, often being critical aspects of Aboriginal economic, social and ceremonial life. In this paper we describe specific, concrete examples of customary protocols respecting intangible property in four of the major Aboriginal cultural regions of Canada: Northwest Coast (Kwakwaka’wakw and Coast Salish), Subarctic (Carrier), Arctic (Inuit) and Plains (Blackfoot, Blood and Peigan, as well as the nearby Crow and Hidatsa Native American Tribes). In this description, we investigated the published ethnographic literature to attempt to detail the following: • Purpose of the relevant customary protocols regarding intangible property • Scope of subject-matter protected by customary protocols • Scope of rights and responsibilities or obligations with respect to the customary protocols • Describing which individuals or social groups are generally the holders / custodians/ owners of rights / powers and responsibilities • Procedures for acquiring and sharing rights / responsibilities