Te haerenga ki Turtle Island
Left to right: Traci Houpapa (co-chair IPETCA), James P Dehart – US Consul General to Canada, Penny Flanagan, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, David Cohen – US Ambassador to Canada, Pita Tipene (co-chair IPETCA) and Tane Waetford (co-chair IPETCA)
Co-convenor Pita Tipene was privileged to travel to Canada and Washington DC from June 16 to 23 alongside Traci Houpapa and Tane Waetford. Together, all three are co-chairs of IPETCA (Indigenous People’s Economic and Trade Arrangement).
IPETCA emerged out of New Zealand’s hosting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2021 and is a ground breaking international waka aimed at strengthening the economic inclusion of indigenous peoples through trade and investment. It is indigenous led and government supported. IPETCA looks to address key indigenous trade issues, raise awareness of indigenous economies around the world while encouraging economic cooperation between indigenous peoples.
The haerenga
The main focus for travelling to Canada was to meet with indigenous representatives including government agents to discuss how the IPETCA co-chairs can support Canada who do not currently have Indigenous representation on the IPETCA. The visit also allowed the team to bolster the US representation on IPETCA who currently hold observer status.
The trip started in Vancouver where the roopu took part in the Indigenous Agricultural Forum to speak about the IPETCA and the role it can play to support trade outcomes with and between Indigenous Peoples and governments.
While in Vancouver, they were honoured to be included in the inaugural US-Canada Indigenous trade mission, and to meet develop good working connections with the likes of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations.
This was a great start to the journey and was the beginning of a host of meetings to network and personally build and enhance relationships with indigenous peoples on Turtle Island.
The roopu were by hosted by David Cohen, the US Ambassador to Canada and the US Consul General to Canada, James P Dehart, amongst other top diplomats like Under Secretary Alexis Taylor and Penny Flanagan, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota, who all underscored the importance of Indigenous trade and more importantly Indigenous values.This was a great start to the journey and was the beginning of a host of meetings to network and personally build and enhance relationships with indigenous peoples on Turtle Island.
Ottawa
Flying to Ottawa on the second leg the team were superbly hosted by the NZ High Commission based there (in particular by Iain Wood) and that part of the trip provided an important opportunity to meet with Global Affairs Canada and to discuss approaches and strategies to advance Indigenous issues.
Pita and the team enjoyed meeting in person with the likes of Emilie Carrier, closely involved in the CPTTP and with Jennifer Hopkins and colleagues from Indigenous Affairs Canada and CIRNAC to discuss the IPETCA.
In Washington DC they met with the likes of Brian Schatz, Senator representing Hawai’i since 2012. As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Schatz is committed to advancing Native priorities and honouring the federal trust responsibility to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians.
They also met with the IPETCA representative from the USA, Chris Wilson and honoured to be joined for lunch by the US Treasurer, Chief Mutáwi Mutáhash (Many Hearts), Lynn Malerba.
They also had a chance to meet up with their own whanaunga while there. For instance Pita met his niece Maraea Tipene for breakfast. Maraea works in the NZ Embassy in Washington DC.
In Toronto, Pita and Tane were pleased to tautoko Traci who spoke as part of a CanWIN (Canadian Women’s International Network) panel of Indigenous women leaders, again to speak about and highlight IPETCA and the collaboration opportunities across our region.
In particular, they once again met with the inspirational Mary Ng. Mary has served since 2018 as Canadian Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development. She is a strong supporter of IPETCA
Canada remains an important cornerstone IPETCA partner and hence the concerted effort by our co-chairs to visit there and have quality time with a host of key representatives.
As hosts of IPETCA and as inaugural co-chairs, Pita, Traci and Tane are obviously keen to successfully lead IPETCA and enusre that it has tangible results for our people here in Aotearoa and our indigenous kin in their respective nations.
E tā te kōrero, titiro ki ngā taumata o te moana.