Hi Roz. Thank you for posting your excellent letter to the Expert Panel. Like you say, you can "type pretty" if you have to. However, it is not the typing that is important, but the message that the typing conveys. I agree with Doug that you may have hit upon a point on which no one else has to date. That is why I started this mail list one year ago this month - to get subscribers to share their thoughts and ideas regarding release of historic census. Together we can achieve our goal You are a relatively new subscriber to the CCC mail list, but I consider you a valuable participant. Perhaps your example in posting your submission will encourage other listers to do likewise. There are currently 200 subscribers to this list and I would like to see postings from some of those who are "lurking" in the background. <]:-) Come on people, lets hear from you. Share your thoughts and ideas with us. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@telus.net Port Coquitlam, BC ICQ # 9183352 Keep up to date on Post 1901 Census information at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census and http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html Download and circulate Post 1901 Census Petitions now from http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: Roz Griston <r_griston@dccnet.com> To: <CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, 30 April, 2000 7:57 PM Subject: [CCC-L] United Nations and Rights of Nationality submission re: Post 1901 Censuses Roslyn Griston April 30, 2000 Re: Post 1901 Census Release Dear Expert Panel While considering all the other documentation regarding the release of the Post 1901 Censuses. Please consider, I am a child of people listed on these censuses. I will be listed on censuses from 1953 onwards. I hereby give my permission to have census information regarding me and my minor children to be open to viewing by researchers in the future. My children have a right to know their heritage and nationality. We are descended from British roots. My four year old daughter also, has Ukrainian roots. You will be denying her, her heritage and ability to find her national origins if you choose to support the lock up or the destruction of the Post 1901 censuses. Her great grandparents and family came to Canada in the decade of the Great War. Her grandfather can not remember family details. The censuses will provide this information for her and her two half siblings. Would you deny my nationality of being chinese, even if I were born in Canada? Certainly not, simply because you would be able to look at me and know my nation of origin identity. Because, I and my children are of Northern European descent does not mean we are not interested in our nation'(s) of origin. Nor should we be denied it. Nor should any other child of Northern European descent. My maternal grandfather's family came to Canada about five generations ago. I'm still trying to find out if he is of Irish or Scottish descent. The Post 1901 Censuses will enable me to research him. He died in 1944. His wife, my grandmother died in 1976. Their only child, my mother died in 1978. I know nothing of my grandfather. Who do you suggest I ask about him? The United Nations says I and my children have the right to our national identity. I am Canadian born, living in a multi cultural country. A country, often stated as a cultural mosiac. Are my children and I of the wrong part of the mosiac to have our inherited right of nationality protected? Would you deny a First Nations person the right to say they were a Canadian born, of the Cree or Sechelt or Huron nations? I believe the following two paragraphs could successfully be argued in court to return mine and others right to access information regarding our historic nation(s) of orgin. UNITED NATIONS Convention on the Rights of the Child Article 8 1. States Parties undertake to respect the right of the child to preserve his or her identity, including nationality, name and family relations as recognized by law without unlawful interference. 2. Where a child is illegally deprived of some or all of the elements of his or her identity, States Parties shall provide appropriate assistance and protection, with a view to re-establishing speedily his or her identity. I and my children have a right to know our nationality. It is part our cultural identity. Thank you for your time and consideration with this submission. Sincerely Roslyn Griston Box 67 Granthams Landing, B.C. Canada V0N 1X0 Phone: 604.886.3430 email: r_griston@dccnet.com