This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

071719Z Nov 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 OTTAWA 003309 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE 
 
SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/F/A - MCAIN; WHA/PDA - JCARPENTER 
CALGARY FOR PAS AND PASS TO WINNIPEG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL CA
SUBJECT: FY 2006 VOLUNTARY VISITOR:  LILLIAN THOMSON 
 
 
¶1.   SUMMARY.  Post proposes a six-day funded Voluntary 
Visitor program for Lillian Thomson, Winnipeg City 
Councillor and Secretary of Urban Aboriginal Opportunities, 
focused on U.S. approaches to Native American Affairs and 
urban indigenous populations at the federal, state and local 
levels.  Proposed program dates are January 8-13, 2006.  Ms. 
Thomson has full-country team approval.  END SUMMARY. 
 
START FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables 
: automated processing in Washington and should not be 
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software. 
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB 
VERSION: 3.0.7 
POST-EMAIL: slw@pd.state.gov 
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Ottawa 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 6540 
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE: E/VFA 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID: 366 
ECA-PROJ-NO: 
PROJ-NAME: Thomas, Lillian - VV 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
An individual voluntary visitor program to enable a city 
councillor in the Canadian city with the largest population 
of indigenous people to explore U.S. best practices in 
addressing the social and economic needs of urban indigenous 
populations. 
Visitor will cover international airfare.  The post requests 
Voluntary Visitor funding for domestic travel and per diem 
for six nights (Jan 8-13). 
 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: Individual 
PROG-TYPE: Voluntary Visitor 
FY: 2006 
DEPART-POST: 01/08/2006 
SESSION-DATE: 
RETURN-POST: 01/14/2006 
NO-OF-PART: 1 
RANK-ORDER: 0 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
 
Canada shares with the United States the heritage of the 
indigenous people who inhabited North America before the 
advent of European settlers.  Today, native Americans and 
Canada's "First Nations" and aboriginal peoples face similar 
challenges in adapting and harmonizing their traditional 
lifestyles and values with the economic and cultural demands 
of the modern milieu in which they find themselves. 
Canadians, like Americans, continue to discuss approaches to 
preserving and respecting indigenous heritage while at the 
same time seeking viable economic and social avenues for 
integrating them into modern society. 
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city in the Canadian 
province of Manitoba.  Fully 680,000 of Manitoba's 1.2 
million people live in Winnipeg, and the city has become the 
destination of choice for thousands of aboriginals (as they 
are now known in Canada) fleeing poverty in Manitoba's 
remote northern reserves.  Winnipeg's rapidly growing Indian 
population now makes up one-tenth of the city's total, and 
at current rates, could approach 100,000 (one-sixth of the 
total population) by 2020. 
The post proposes a program to allow influential Winnipeg 
city councillor Lillian Thomas to engage with U.S. federal, 
state and local officials to better understand the range of 
programs and institutions in the United States which help 
native Americans adapt to urban lifestyles.  The program 
supports the post's interest in promoting dialogue and 
possible trade and economic exchange between Canada and the 
U.S., as well as the MPP goal focused on broadening Canadian 
understanding of the values and attitudes that underlie U.S. 
policy goals and objectives.  Ms. Thomas' travel may also 
open new opportunities for American Indian groups to expand 
cross-border contacts in trade. 
Since being appointed by Winnipeg's mayor as Secretary of 
Urban Aboriginal Opportunities for the city of Winnipeg, 
Thomas has worked to develop a better understanding of the 
issues confronting Indians migrating to the city from remote 
reservations.  She has been keen to learn of different 
approaches taken in different cities in Canada, and now is 
eager to learn about what is being done in the United 
States.  She is particularly interested in innovative 
programs that have proven successful in U.S. cities and that 
could be usefully adapted to Winnipeg's situation. 
Post proposes Washington, DC and Arizona for the exchange 
sites, but welcomes suggestions from ECA/PE/V/F/A on 
destinations that can best accommodate Thomas's interests. 
Other U.S. sites Thomas expressed interest in include the 
Indian Housing Loan Guarantee program being initiated by the 
Office of Native American programs in Denver, and the 
Seattle Indian Center, which provides a wide variety of 
services to native people. 
Arizona shares several similarities with Manitoba.  In both 
jurisdictions, Indians make up a larger percentage of the 
population than the national average, are moving in large 
numbers from rural reservations to the cities, and are 
having similar problems adjusting to life in urban 
environments.  In both locations, the recent migrants from 
remote reservations struggle with the consequences of 
addiction, poverty and homelessness.  We believe it would be 
useful for Thomas to see the approach taken by U.S. cities 
to their native American populations, and also to develop 
contacts with those involved in developing and implementing 
services designed to help alleviate the problems, spawning 
contacts that will endure beyond the immediate future. 
After the program concludes, Thomas will be in a position to 
convey to Canadian native groups, the media and the general 
public what she saw and learned on her visit.  We anticipate 
this will create a significant multiplier effect beyond 
Thomas herself.   She will also be in a position to 
implement the ideas she has seen in U.S. cities when she 
returns to Winnipeg.  Winnipeg has the largest urban Indian 
population of any Canadian city, and other Canadian cities 
are looking to Winnipeg for ideas on how to aid the 
transition.  Ms. Thomas has expressed a willingness to share 
her experiences with the network of professional colleagues 
she has developed in the field across Canada.  English is 
Ms. Thomas' primary language.  An escort officer, if 
available, may help the participant navigate the cities, but 
is not required. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1029 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: IND 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 30 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 6540 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: P 
SUBJ-DISC: Social Issues 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Ms. 
F-NAME: Lillian 
M-NAME: Jean 
L-NAME: Thomas 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 136 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
GENDER: F 
DOB: 06/25/1949 
MAR-STAT: 
BIRTH-CITY: Port Arthur,Ontario 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Canada 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Canada 
RES-CNTRY: Canada 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Winnipeg City Councillor and Secretary of Urban Aboriginal 
Opportunities 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
City Councillor - Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs 
City Councillor - Deputy Mayor 
City Councillor (16 Years) 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
Many visits, none funded by the United States 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
M.A. - Sociology 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
n/a 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
none 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
Low Salt 
No MSG 
Allergic to hazlenuts 
Non-smoker 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: English 
ENGL-READ: 5 
ENGL-SPEAK: 5 
ENGL-COMP: 5 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: French 
OTHER-LANG-ID: FR 
READ: 2 
SPEAK: 2 
COMP: 2 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: Ukrainian 
OTHER-LANG-ID: UK 
READ: 1 
SPEAK: 1 
COMP: 1 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
Canada shares with the United States the heritage of the 
indigenous people who inhabited North America before the 
advent of European settlers.  Today, native Americans and 
Canada's "First Nations" and aboriginal peoples face similar 
challenges in adapting and harmonizing their traditional 
lifestyles and values with the economic and cultural demands 
of the modern milieu in which they find themselves. 
Canadians, like Americans, continue to discuss approaches to 
preserving and respecting indigenous heritage while at the 
same time seeking viable economic and social avenues for 
integrating them into modern society. 
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city in the Canadian 
province of Manitoba.  Fully 680,000 of Manitoba's 1.2 
million people live in Winnipeg, and the city has become the 
destination of choice for thousands of aboriginals (as they 
are now known in Canada) fleeing poverty in Manitoba's 
remote northern reserves.  Winnipeg's rapidly growing Indian 
population now makes up one-tenth of the city's total, and 
at current rates, could approach 100,000 (one-sixth of the 
total population)by 2020. 
The post proposes a program to allow influential Winnipeg 
city councillor Lillian Thomas to engage with U.S. federal, 
state and local officials to better understand the range of 
programs and institutions in the United States which help 
native Americans adapt to urban lifestyles.  The program 
supports the post's interest in promoting dialogue and 
possible trade and economic exchange between Canada and the 
U.S., as well as the MPP boal focused on broadening Canadian 
understanding of the values and attitudes that underlie U.S. 
policy goals and objectives.  Ms. Thomas' travel may also 
open new opportunities for American Indian groups to expand 
cross-border contacts in trade and in meeting the needs of 
aboriginal populations. 
Since being appointed by Winnipeg's mayor as Secretary of 
Urban Aboriginal Opportunities for the city of Winnipeg, 
Thomas has worked to develop a better understanding of the 
issues confronting Indians migrating to the city from remote 
reservations.  She has been keen to learn of different 
approaches taken in different cities in Canada, and now is 
eager to learn about what is being done in the United 
States.  She is particularly interested in innovative 
programs that have proven successful in U.S. cities and that 
could be usefully adapted to Winnipeg's situation. 
 
 
 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
Post proposes Washington, DC and Arizona as program sites, 
but welcomes the Voluntary Visitor office's recommendations. 
Thomas expressed interest in including the Indian Housing 
Loan Guarantee program being initiated by the Office of 
Native American programs in Denver, and the Seattle Indian 
Center, which provides a wide variety of services to native 
people. 
Arizona shares several similarities with Manitoba.  In both 
jurisdictions, Indians make up a larger percentage of the 
population than the national average, are moving in large 
numbers from rural reservations to the cities, and are 
having similar problems adjusting to life in urban 
environments.  In both locations, the recent migrants from 
remote reservations struggle with the consequences of 
addiction, poverty and homelessness.  We believe it would be 
useful for Thomas to see the approach taken by U.S. cities 
to their native American populations, and also to develop 
contacts with those involved in developing and implementing 
services designed to help alleviate the problems, spawning 
contacts that will endure beyond the immediate future. 
Washington program elements would include: 
-- Bureau of Indian Affairs (Department of Interior), to 
discuss their programs aimed at aiding native Americans who 
migrate to urban areas 
--Arizona congressional office representing district with 
large American Indian population 
--HUD, HHS, and other USG agencies dealing with Indian urban 
integration 
--Lobby groups advocating native American rights and 
interests 
--Think tanks or organizations doing work on Indian issues 
--The National Museum of the American Indian, particularly 
programs the museum may be doing in the way of urban 
integration, economic development or social issues 
evening travel to Arizona (Tucson) 
Visit Native Dispute Resolution Network; meet with Tucson 
city councillor; visit HUD field office; urban Indian 
associations and tribal governments 
Evening travel to Phoenix 
Visit National Centre for American Indian Enterprise 
Mesa Indian Affairs Commission, Phoenix 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Principal Office Todd Schwartz 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Since being appointed by Winnipeg's mayor as Secretary of 
Urban Aboriginal Opportunities for the city of Winnipeg, 
Lillian Thomas has worked to develop a better understanding 
of the issues confronting Indians migrating to the city from 
remote reservations.  She has been keen to learn of 
different approaches taken in different cities in Canada, 
and now is eager to learn about what is being done in the 
United States.  She is particularly interested in innovative 
programs that have proven successful in U.S. cities and that 
could be usefully adapted to Winnipeg's situation.  Her 
visit will expose her to U.S. economic and social policies 
and players which may 
The proposed program (see full proposal under "Post 
Objectives") supports the Mission's MPP prosperity goal and 
the North American Security and Prosperity Partnership. 
Results of this exchange may include increased contact 
between central Canadian leaders and American counterparts, 
policy innovations that will advance both countries 
interests in meeting the economic and social needs of 
indigenous populations, and increased Canadian appreciation 
of U.S. commitment to equal opportunity and celebration of 
diverse cultures in our country. 
 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: APP Winnipeg 
SPEAKER?: No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA?: No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: Yes 
E-I-TYPE: ELEO 
NOMINEE-ID: 538 
PERSON-ID: 416 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CA 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CA 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CA 
FIRST-LANG-ID: EN 
E-I-TYPE-ID: E 
NOM-POST-ID: 6540 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 179098 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 45.1201 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
 
WILKINS