University of Victoria

Published purpose

This project aims to organize and deliver a 2-part innovative symposium designed to strengthen the capacity of Indigenous communities to further implement the Indigenous Peoples Economic and Trade Cooperation Agreement (IPETCA). This project seeks to establish and strengthen Canada's commitments to working with Indigenous partners in Canada and the Indo-Pacific region, removing barriers for Indigenous economic empowerment, and facilitating trading relationships. The University of Victoria (UVic) implements this project in collaboration with the National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) in Taiwan. The project includes 2 conferences, the first aims to host over 2 days by UVic in British Columbia in Spring 2025 and the second by NDHU’s department of Law in Taiwan over 2 days in Spring, 2026. The conferences are guided by Indigenous laws and governance principles, including trade, economic empowerment, ecological balance and community wellbeing. Participants include Indigenous thought leaders, lawyers and community representatives involved in negotiating and drafting IPETCA, and scholars focused on economic empowerment and wellbeing of Indigenous communities on both sides of the Pacific.