INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S ART DESIGNS

Day 2 - Thursday, April 22, 1999

Morning working group: Western and Indigenous Concepts of Intellectual Property

Objective: to define the difference between non-indigenous and indigenous peoples’ vision of intellectual property. Identify the specific protection needs of indigenous peoples.

QUESTIONS:

1. To whom do designs produced by men and women belong? Why?
2. Do copies of indigenous designs exist? Is any copy acceptable? Under what conditions?
3. What is intellectual property? How would you summarize western definition from what you have heard?
4. What elements are essential to meet the needs of indigenous beliefs with respect to intellectual property? What individual or collective rights to ownership must be taken into account?
5. Why do indigenous designs need to be protected? Who should protect them?

Afternoon working group: International Documents

Objective: To identify the possibilities and limitations of the international documents that deal with intellectual property.

QUESTIONS:

1. What have you learned about these international documents?
2. What is not covered by these documents?
3. What international institutions monitor the appliation of these international accords and conventions?
4. What do we as indigenous peoples want to obtain from these conventions? How can we participate in this process?