Sharon H. Venne (masko-nôcokwêsiw manitoukan) is a cree woman BA (Hon), LLB, LLM.  She has worked at the United Nations prior to the establishment of the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in 1982.  The background research to the many clauses on the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are included in her book: Our Elders Understand Our Rights: Evolving international law regarding Indigenous Peoples.  She was a professor of law at the University of Saskatchewan College of Law and has lectured on the rights of Indigenous Peoples in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, France, Italy, Hawaii, United States and Canada.  Sharon worked to secure a UN Study on Treaties from the first introduction of the resolution in 1983 until the report was finalized in 1999. Sharon has written numerous articles on the Treaty Rights of Indigenous Peoples. All her work internationally and domestically relates to the promotion of the rights of Indigenous Peoples especially rights related to lands, resources and treaties.