The Commission will soon present to the government its last Annual Report. All Commissioners salute the new Specific Claims Tribunal, a welcome response to several Commission recommendations over the years. We wish them success, in the interest of all Canadians.

The Commission published, over its 18 years of existence, 88 inquiries with reports,17 mediation reports and 16 Annual Reports from 1991-94 until 2009-09. As well, there is a 24 volume collection of ICCP proceedings.

Some important principles guided our work; these principles were integral to our operations until the end. The first principles were independence and impartiality, respected throughout the years of the ICC=s existence and reflected in each step of the inquiry process of every file.

With regard to mediation, there were no more important qualities than impartiality and independence as we attempted to bring parties together to reach a satisfactory agreement. Without these qualities, our attempts would have been fruitless.

The second group of principles covers fairness and natural justice. In some cases, our inquiry process presented the first opportunity for the parties to meet. Moreover, our inquiries were a quasi-judicial process and fairness was paramount.

Respect of tradition and history and of different ways of relating to past events was key. Our process was community based. We engaged the parties in planning the inquiries, following which staff visited to explain our process and to interview Elders. Panels of Commissioners then held public hearings in the communities. Finally, the Elders= evidence and documentary evidence were the subject of written submissions by counsel for the parties, followed by oral presentations grounded in evidence and in law. Panels subsequently deliberated to produce their reports and recommendations.

Throughout its existence, the Commission stressed the importance of oral history. We meticulously collected oral history relevant to our inquiries, according particular importance to the testimony of Elders. This was a unique contribution of the ICC.

Openness and transparency were key, this website being one venue. We communicated through newsletters, participation in conferences and meetings, as well as through inquiry, mediation and annual reports along with our Indian Claims Commission Proceedings (ICCP=s).

We see our role as having bridged different perspectives. Different perspectives will continue to characterize the specific claims process in Canada for some time to come and this concept of bridging will remain critical for the players.