Unity: Bulletin of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs -- Vol. 1 No. 1 (September - October 1970) · UBCIC Periodicals

Unity: Bulletin of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs -- Vol. 1 No. 1 (September - October 1970)

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Unity: Bulletin of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs -- Vol. 1 No. 1 (September - October 1970)

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1.06-01.01 Unity: Bulletin of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

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September 1970

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UNITY

BULLETIN OF THE UNION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA INDIAN CHIEFS VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1 SEPTEMBER — OCTOBER, 1970

MEMBERS
OF THE
CHIEFS
COUNCIL

LILLOOET
Victor ADOLPH
Box 707
LiILLOOET, B.C.

Alternate
Jim SCOTCHMAN

Box 391
LILLOOET, B.C.

FORT ST. JOHN

George BEHN
Box 325
FORT NELSON, B.C.

Alternate

Harry DICKIE

Box 449

FORT NELSON, B.C.

NORTH COAST

John CLIFTON
Box 236
- PRINCE RUPERT, B.C.

KWAKGEWLTH

BABINE

George COOK
Nimpkish Band
ALERT BAY, B.C.

Alternate

Lawrence LEWIS
QUATHIASK] COVE, B.C.

WILLIAMS LAKE
Douglas HANCE
Anaham Band
ALEXIS CREEK, B.C.

Alternate

George ABY
Box 1
WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C.

NORTH WEST ISLAND

Cliff HAMILTON
307 River Road
PORT ALBERNI, B.C.

Alternate

George WATTS

Box 1057

N. PORT ALBERNI, B.C.

BELLA COOLA

Ed NEWMAN
Box 8
BELLA BELLA, B.C.

Alternate

Cecil REID

Box 68

BELLA BELLA, B.C.

OFFICE:

IR R. W. Large Memorial
Hospital

HOME:

Radio “‘Telco-Bella” via
Campbell River

LAKES DISTRICT

Nick PRINCE
Box 505
FORT ST. JAMES, B.C.

Alternate

Frank TIBBETTS
Box 66

BURNS LAKE, B.C.

KOOTENAY-OKANAGAN

Howard WALE
Hazelton Band
HAZELTON, B.C.

Alternate

Alvin WEGET
R.R. No. 1 Kispiox
HAZELTON, B.C.

FRASER

Delbert GUERIN

4077 Stautlo Avenue
VANCOUVER 13, B.C.

Alternate

Ed KELLY, Jr.
R.R. No. 3
SARDIS, B.C.

TERRACE

Heber MAITLAND
Box 194
KITIMAT, B.C.
Phone: 632-6077

Alternate

Bill McKAY
Greenville P.O.
TERRACE, B.C.

SOUTH ISLAND

Phillip PAUL

Box 174

BRENTWOOD BAY, B.C.
Home: 652-2319

Office: 592-1211, Local 230

Alternate

Doug WHITE
553 Centre Street
NANAIMO, B.C.
753-4269

THOMPSON RIVER

Forrest WALKEM
Cook’s Ferry Band
SPECES BRIDGE, B.C.
458-2266

Alternate

Clarence JULES
R.R, No. 3
KAMLOOPS, B.C.
372-9107

UNITY

Jim STELKIA
Box 765
OLIVER, B.C,

Alternate

Murray ALEXIS
R.R. No, 3 Westside Road

VERNON, B.C.

Editor: Donna TYNDAL
6390 Crown Street
Vancouver 13, B.C.
266-8321

“UNITED WE STAND:
DIVIDED WE PERISH”

The Union is the vehicle of programs for all Indian peoples.
If we speak with one voice to the government, we can be
more effective. In helping one another solve some of our
problems we will be that much stronger.

Since the Union of Chiefs received a mandate to improve
the social, economic, and political development of Indian
people, a structured administration was needed and created.
Ideas, suggestions, and criticisms are needed from you to
function most effectively. The administration is your means
of communication. USE IT All decisions acted upon by

the Union staff have been with the approval of the Chiefs
Executive Committee and the Chiefs Council

To better acquaint our readers to the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs, each month we will introduce a portion of
the overall Organization Plan as prepared by Western
Consultants of West Vancouver, B.C. This report was
prepared for presentation to the Chiefs Council meeting on
June 27, 1970.

Quoting from this report... ‘The purpose of this report
is to identify the necessary and priority work of the Union
and to provide a clear definition of objectives and of job
responsibilities. Outlined also are some basic principles of
organization as background information to an understand-
ing of the proposed organization.

The following is an excerpt outlining basic overall Union
objectives:

“The following basic Union objectives are suggested:
1. Settlement of the B.C. land question.

2. Unite the Indian people and the Indian organizations in
common policies and programs.

3. Improve communication with and co-ordinate the ser-
vices of various governments and authorities, the
general public and Indians.

4. Encourage Indian bands to achieve an_ increasing
measure of self sufficiency without interfering in their
internal structure.

5. Develop a broad Indian consciousness to achieve social,
economic, educational and political progress.

6. Create conditions under which Indians will understand
and achieve progress.

7, Improve educational achievements, real incomes, social
conditions and life expectancy among Indians based
upon a comprehensive program considering their needs.

8. Assume a transfer of functions where logical from the
Federal Government.

9. Represent the Indian people of British Columbia as the
officially recognized Indian organization in the pro-
vince.

10. Gain the support, understanding and co-operation of
Indians, the general public, industry and governments
in the interests of Indians and in these objectives of the
Union.”

The “Unity” Bulletin is to inform you of what has been
and is happening in the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. Let
people in other areas of B.C. know what is happening in
your region. This Bulletin is a means of communicating
with one another and again, we ask for your contribution.

Send any material to:

THE UNITY BULLETIN
6390 Crown Street
Vancouver 13, B.C.

Ph. 266-8321

INDIAN
ORGANIZATION

The Evolution of the
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS
by Donna TYNDALL

For centuries British Columbia’s
Indian people lived and worshipped in
the shelter of a bountiful Nature. Her
providence granted that they live inde-
pendent, proud lives and develop cul-
tures of high artistic and spiritual
form.

As the areas of the province vary,
so too, the cultures of the different
tribes. The essence of native life, how-
ever, was a unifying thread Nature
gave to man and he in turn, was
grateful and generous.

Initial contact with Europeans
changed little of this. However, as time
passed, and the numbers of white
settlers increased, the position of the
Indian people changed. Somehow they
became almost ‘foreigners’ in their
own fand. For the white man had
brought a new life style based on
values far different from those of the
Indian.-Indians were at a loss to grasp
the basic concepts of the new way of
life. Because of this, they were regard-
ed by the white society as ‘‘backward”
and much in need of white education.
And, as has always been the case when
an innocent, happy people are discov-
ered, the ‘‘missionary zeal’’ in the
hearts of the Europeans sprang to the
fore. They must re-make these poor
heathens in their own image!

To this tedious, (but essential) task,
the forces of various religious orders
were marshalled. These ‘‘good folk’’
ordered their ‘’charges” to forget their
‘‘Indianness’’; indeed, to become
ashamed of all that they themselves
had evolved. ‘White is might is right’’
was their lesson.

In addition, for the enforcement of
this lesson legal and political systems
were set up. Indians became almost
“chattels’’ to be “looked after” by
people whose interest was bureaucratic
convenience rather than Indian wel-
fare. To further this aim the Indian
was placed (and was most certainly
expected to stay,} on small parcels of

land called “‘reserves.’’ Despite the lack
of treaties, the legal status of the
native Indian was defined when in
1871 the Federal law and the Indian
Act went into effect. Under Article 13
of the terms of Union for the province
of British Columbia “” ... Indians and
land reserved for Indians...‘ became
the responsibility of the Federal
Government. Thus it was, that the
total of Indian life came to be govern-
ed and controlled completely within
the confines of this legislation. An
oppressive blanket of paternalism had
settled upon the Indian. Every facet of
his existence was determined for him
by the indian Department, the admin-
istrative arm of the Indian Act itself.

This bureaucracy-riddled body ad-
ministered to by too large a majority
of over-the-hill service people and poli-
tical appointees is perhaps the most
obvious tool used to squelch the de-
velopment of the Indian people.
Rather than develop initiative among
Indians, this department removes from
them any opportunity for decision-
making. When this is done too often,
over too long a period of time, the
desire to make decisions is lost. De-
prived of all hope or desire for self-
determination, the Indian stands in the
stagnant backwaters while the river of
fast-paced progress rushes past him.
His existence is handed to him and his
family in a piece-meal, barely ade-
quate, oftimes, humiliating manner. It
would appear to a rational, logical
mind that perhaps the intent of this
policy is the surreptitious hope that
natural process will eliminate the
“Indian problem.”

However, we have survived. A few
of our number have tried to stand up
to the authoritarian control of the
government. Many of these individuals
have known the changes which need
be made and have had good convic-
tions as to the solutions of these
needs. Their lack of success is not an
indication of a lack of spirit, but a
definite indication of the tremendous

opposition facing their efforts. Added
to this is the conflict of tribal differ-
ences, often reflected in personality
clashes among these people. The result
of these differences has oftimes been
the formation of regional organiza-
tions which, because of lack of
resources, both human and monetary,
have left these groups without the
political strength required to improve
the lives of our people.

Yet despite these internal differ-
ences which were magnified by the
“divide and rule” tactics of the govern-
ment and its agencies, many important
common issues have remained in the
light. The most prominent of these,
for example, is the concern to achieve
satisfaction in the area of aboriginal
title and aboriginal rights. These issues
result from the absence of any sur-
render or settlement of the aboriginal
question.

The most obvious drawback in at-
tempts at organization was the failure
to use the Band Chiefs at the local
level as a foundation on which to
build. The basic problem faced up to
now is that organizers have tried to
create structures foreign and unnatural
to Indian people. We have adopted the
white man’s ways and tried to create
organizations with presidents, vice-
presidents, etc., elected on the basis of
artificial boundaries describing chap-
ters, ridings, or electoral districts. We
have, for the most part, ignored the
structure that existed for thousands of
years before the white man arrived —
the Chiefs and their local government.

Therein lies the simple beauty of
the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. It has
taken the structure and government
natural to the Indian peopte and
united the leaders of the local govern-
ments on a_ province-wide scale.
Nothing could be more natural; no-
thing could be more simple, yet it
took 100 years of learning by mistakes
and the brilliance and hard work of a
few to make it a reality.

We now have the core structure
which is the jogical progression from
focal band authority. While some prob-
lems have been overcome by the form-
ation of the Union, we have a long
way to go before realization of our
basic aims and objectives. The fore-
most of these being the overall general
improvement and upgrading of Indian
life. Indian people must regain and
maintain their sense of self worth,
their pride in the past, and their hope
for the future. Our objectives with
regard to improvements in Indian edu-
cation, health and welfare and com-
munity and economic development
must be achieved to secure this end.

A subtly destructive force against
this objective is the ignorance and the
uncaring attitude of the non-Indian
population of our province. Aside
from people directly tnvolved in
Indian Affairs, few people know the
conditions facing most Indians —
fewer care to know. These people
form the majority. These people must
be made aware. This must be done by
means of publicity focused on the
problems of the Indian people. Such
publicity costs money and this leads us
to the whole question of resources.

Our success, to a large extent, de-
pends first on the acquisition of funds.
To further any worthwhile work to-
wards our goal, money is needed. It
can be readily understood that any
large umbrella organization entails
great costs in remaining operational
and effective. Such an organization
must maintain a position in the public
eye, and therefore, there are incurred
the cost of public relations personnel
to run such our organization. Such
people as we want are dedicated as
well as talented. But, dedication alone
cannot hold their talent to our cause.
Though, they may want to work to-
ward our goals, we cannot expect,
them to sacrifice their chances for
security. We have to compensate these
people for their full worth — that is
provide salaries at least adequate to
their needs.

Though financial support is essen-
tial, equally necessary is the develop-
ment of understanding, the inspiration
of support and the continuing co-
operation of all the people of British
Columbia.

STAFF

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
William (Bill) GUERIN
(Coast Satish)

As of September 1st, Bill moves into
the position from his former one as
Conference Co-ordinator. Bill is from
the Musqueam Reserve, and has just
recently returned from San Francisco
where he had worked for one year as
Sales and Service Manager for Raise
Incorporated. Prior to this Bill worked
in Toronto for four years. Bill is mar-
ried and has 4 children.

Bill will work very hard toward the
goal of self-determination for the
Indian people. He sees this achieve-
ment as forthcoming through hard
work, education, awareness, and unity.

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Bill Wilson
(Kwakgewlth)

After serving well for 4 months as
interim administrator, Bill is leaving to
resume his studies at the University of
British Columbia where he will be
entering the faculty of law. We are
happy to say that he will be available
to the Union as a public relations
advisor and will continue his hard
work and support.

We are going to miss this hard-
driving, ‘‘no-punches-pulled’’ force in
our office. There is no possible way to
begin to describe his contribution and
accomplishment for the Union, We
wish him continued success at Univers-
Ity.

PUBLICATIONS
DIRECTOR

Donna TYNDALL —
(Kwakgew!th)

Donna comes originally from Comox
where she attended elementary school.
She graduated from Courtenay High
School in 1965 and took Elementary
Teachers’ training at Peterborough
Teachers’ College in Peterborough,
Ontario, graduating in May, 1970.

Donna’s main job is putting to-
gether the material for the “Unity.”
Her aim is to make this magazine a
worthwhile project — not just a
“newsy newsletter,’’ but a vehicle of
strength which will do much to accom-

plish our basic aims — the true
“UNION” of our peopie and the
upgrading of all Indian fife.

She says, “I was raised in a non-
Indian society, as my father left the
reserve before | was born. | remember
when | was a little girl being made to
feel deep embarrassment at the word
“Indian.” What a terrible thing this is!
Our children (and all our people) must
walk tall and proud in our “‘Indian-
ness.”’ | can see everywhere the winds
of change among our people ... we
are regaining our pride in our heritage
and in ourselves. With this, we can do
anything.

“Once we are a united people,
strong and sure of our worth, then we
can succeed in improving our ways of
life — we will have good schools for
our children, jobs for our men, and
recognition from the  non-Indian
society.”

HEALTH LIAISON WORKERS

With the formation of the Health Liai-
son Officers’ position within the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs structure,
many of the problems in the Indian
communities will be investigated and
hopefully solved.

Our present course of action is to
delve into policies of all departments
concerned with the health and welfare
of the Indians. This information will
be disseminated to the heads of all the
Indian bands.

Undoubtedly other problems not
directly concerned with health will be
brought up, and it is our intention to
gather as much information as we can
so they will be on hand,

The Health Liaison team looks to
all concerned; people at the Reserve
level, government levels and any others
for support and co-operation in solving
the health problems.

Wayne BOBB
(Interior Salish)

Wayne is from Seabird Island, married
and has 2 children. Wayne has worked
for the National Health and Welfare
Department of the Federal Medical
Services for 7 years. His duties here
were those of a dispensing optician
who travelled throughout British Col-
umbia with the ophthamologist pro-
viding optical services for Indians.

Wayne will be working with Myrus
James toward the goal of health
betterment for our people.

Wayne feels that in the past there

hasn‘t been enough involvement by
Indians in their own health and social
welfare affairs. He very much approves
of the Union's policy of hiring an
Indian staff because they will be able
to relate more readily to our people
and our problems.

Myrus JAMES —
(Coast Salish)

Myrus is from Kuper Island, and has 5
children. He has worked for the De-
partment of National Health and Wel-
fare as a Public Health Inspector for
10 years.

Myrus and Wayne Bobb will be
travelling extensively throughout the
province investigating problems with
regard to health, housing, sewage dis-
posal, water supply and medical ser-
vices. They will also study the number
and quality of health services for the
Indian population. They will pass on
to the people all information about
the sources available from the federal,
provincial and municipal governments.

CONFERENCE CO-ORDINATOR
Ernest Wesley MODESTE -
(Coast Salish)

Wes is from Cowichan, married and
has 2 children. He has worked for the
Department of National Health and
Welfare as a Community Health Work-
er for 2% years and also as a Band
Councillor.

Wesley was also the representative
for the Band Council on the Duncan
Chamber of Commerce and Vice-
Chairman of the Farm Co-op. He also
worked towards the formation of the
Arts and Crafts in Duncan.

Wes has the big job of making all
arrangements for the Chiefs’ Confer-
ence in November. This includes
renting the meeting hall and equip-
ment, arranging for delegate transport-
ation and accommodation, arranging
conference publicity and information
services, planning and setting-up any
Union-sponsored social functions
during Conference Week.

Wesley says, ‘The formation of the
Union by all the Chiefs of B.C. was a
tremendous step in the right direction.
Over the years attempts have been
made to unite everyone and now it can
be said that the voice of the Union is
that of everyone: UNITED WE
STAND, DIVIDED WE PERISHI!”

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Adam ENEAS —
(Okanagan)

Adam is from the Penticton reserve
and was Vice-Chairman of the Okan

agan Council for one year. At present
he is an executive member of the
North American indian Brotherhood.
Before joining the Union, Adam was a
correctional officer for 3 years at the
Alouette River Unit.

Adam and his Department are
“Spotlighted’” later in this magazine.

Adam is married and the father of 4
children. His family is in Penticton at
the family home.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Tim SPINKS -

Tim has just moved into the job of
co-ordinating the Union’s Community
Development program. He is from
Lytton, married, and has two children.
Prior to coming to work with the
U.B.C.1.C., Tim was a Community De-
velopment worker with the Indian
Affairs Branch itn Lytton for 3% years.
He was also employed in the same
capacity later by the B.C. Government
at Masset, Queen Charlotte Islands,

Tim sees Community Development
work as a means to improve communi-
cations between !ndian people, band
councils and governmental depart-
ments and so to encourage local parti-
cipation in finding solutions for their
problems and planning their own
goals.

It is Tim’s hope that the Union will
take over completely from the Depart-
ment of indian Affairs, the Commun-
ity Development program by April 1st.
He hopes to have adequate field staff
to do a first-class job of improving
Indian Communities. Tim says, “'l
hope the Union will succeed in getting
full support by all Indian people in the
Province.”

ACCOUNTANT
Clarence PENNIER —

Clarence is from the Scowlitz reserve,
Harrison Mills. He is a graduate of
accounting from Vancouver City Col-
lege.

Clarence is very busy handling all
financial expenditures of the Union's
administration,

OFFICE
MANAGERESS
Marion HAMILTON --
(Tsawatnaineuk)

Marion takes over as senior secretary
and co-ordinator supervisor of all of-
fice work. Marion was born in Alert

Bay, and grew up at Kingcome Inlet.
She graduated from Gr. 12 at Delta
Secondary School, and took Gr. 13 in
Nanaimo, also courses at B.C.1.T. (ac-
counting, etc.). Marion has had six
years experience in business offices,
involving all aspects of business. She is
a member of and secretary of the
board of the Vancouver Indian Center.
Marion says that she is very pleased to
be working with the Union as she has
always kept up with what is happening
with regards to British Columbia’s
Indian people. She feels that this
knowledge will be a great help to her
job. In future she hopes to be able to
devote her efforts to Union work in
more than a clerical capacity.

Marion feels that the Union is
symbolic of the whole Indian move-
ment which is developing in Canada
and the U.S. and that the Union will
be instrumental in attaining many
goals in all areas affecting Indian
people (educational, social, economic,
etc.).

SECRETARY
Adelaide LEO
(Interior Salish)

Adelaide comes from Mt. Currie,
where she attended Carson Graham
High School in North Vancouver. She
graduated with a secretarial course in
1969. Adelaide worked for the Depart-
ment of Indian Affairs for 1% years,
first with the Economic Development
and then in the Education Branch.

Adelaide brightens up our offices as
she types correspondence, answers
phones and works the Gestetner. She
hopes to become more actively in-
volved in the activities of the Union.
Adelaide is single, but hopes to change
this within a year.

RECORDING
SECRETARIES
Pauline Hanuse —

Owikeno band. Pauline is from Rivers
Inlet, B.C. She graduated from Ab-
botsford Senior Sec. Schoo! and is
presently attending Vancouver City
College where she will complete her
Executive Secretary course in April of
the coming year. Pauline feels that the
Union is a good thing, as now Indians
in B.C. can speak with one voice.
Pauline works as a part time employee
taking minutes at regional meetings,
transcribing them and_ forwarding
them to the delegates involved.

Marjorie PERCIVAL --
Gittakdamix band from Aiyansh in the

Nass River area. Marjorie graduated
from Kitsilano Secondary School and
plans some time in the future to
attend Vancouver City College to take
a Legal Secretary course. Marjorie
works as a full time recording secre-
tary for the Union. Marjorie feels that
the Union has been able to accomplish
many things and that with further
support from the Indian people in the
province we can achieve much more.

DISCRIMINATION!

Have you been discriminated against?
If you have, and you don’t know what
to do about it, call us at 224-4617. We
are working with a number of groups
to eliminate discrimination in British
Columbia.

For many years now, the B.C. Civil
Liberties Association has fought
against discrimination in many ways,
including improved legislation in this
area and redress for individuals dis-
criminated against. While we wel-
comed the new Human Rights Act, we
have complained bitterly that it is still
grossly inadequate, both in terms of
the kinds of discrimination it covers
and in terms of the inadequate re-
sources available to the Human Rights
Commission.

The B.C. Human Rights Act does
guarantee us all certain rights, regard-
less of race, religion, sex, colour,
nationality, ancestry or place of origin.
If you want assistance to help make
these rights effective for you, call us at
224-4616, or drop in at the B.C. Civil
Liberties Association Office, 3182
Camosun Street in Vancouver.

WE NEED YOUR COQ-OPERA-
TION TO HELP FIGHT DISCRIMIN-
ATION IN B.C.!

being
worker.

This first time out, we are going to
look at the Union's Communications
Department which is headed by Adam
Eneas.

COMMUNICATIONS:

The success of the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs depends upon a network
of good communications between all
the Indian people of British Columbia.

Adam Eneas is hard at work trying
to establish such a network. He has
been travelling about the province con-
tacting people in each of the 14
districts, with the primary purpose of
determing an Indian Policy for British
Columbia and forming a Positional
Paper. His team has been using the
Union Discussion Paper, the Position
Paper and the proposed Union Consti-
tution as the guidelines for these talks.
The first round has been completed
and now a second round is in progress.

Adam hopes to eventually have the
staff and resources necessary to main-
tain close personal contact, at the grass
roots level, with all our provinces’
Indian people.

Our reporter went to Kamloops to
attend one of the Second Round of
Conferences with Adam Eneas, and his
team, consisting of travelling account-
ant George Saddleman and recording
secretary Marjorie Percival. These
meetings are held in each of the
fourteen districts of the province.
Adam’‘s Communications team meets
with the Chief’s Council members in
each district to establish a working
relationship between the UBCIC and

ried out by the. “Spotlight”’

~ the Chiefs and their people.

The Kamloops meetings were held
in the Paul Creek Hall.

On the first day, Thursday, Sep-
tember 10th, twelve Chiefs were regis-
of sai ittear! the

distributed.

Adam began the meeting by pro-
posing a reading and discussion of the
Constitution and By-Laws. One of the
Chiefs asked if this paper had been
significantly changed since the First
Round Conference. — If not, why not
adopt it immediately? Adam argued,
however, that, as this item was so vital,
it should be given careful considera-
tion. After this was read and discussed,
Adam and the delegates went on to
the Position Paper.

This went on through the entire
second day. Each section of the Paper
was completely dissected. Several
items were questioned and often, re-
visions were suggested. One extremely
important one was the inclusion of
“Hunting and Trapping Rights’ as well
as “Fishing Rights” in the paper. Im-
portant matters concerning Adminis-
tration and Political Representation
were discussed,

Marjorie’s shorthand ability was put
to good use taking down all of the
minutes of this gathering. She will
have the task of transcribibg her notes
and sending copies of these minutes to
all the delegates present. Not a small
task!

The impression that one received
from these meetings is that of co-
operation — a striving to achieve a
united stand — “‘Let’s start moving
forward, together!”

RESERVATIONS
ON
CREDIT

On September 11th, the Honourable
Member of Parliament for Skeena, Mr.
Frank Howard, issued a statement re-
garding a credit card plan which is
being instituted by ‘’Marshall-Wells”’
hardware stores in B.C. A manual dis-
tributed to M-W store managers reads
in part ... “some applicants will be
automatically declined credit cards...
" These include “ ... alcoholics, dope
addicts, persons convicted of felonious
crimes in less than ten years ...
Indians living on reservations... Mr.
Howard has urged that the manage-
ment of Marshall-Welis change this
policy. If the store wishes to establish
a credit system, it should extend credit
solely on the basis of individual merit
and not on a racial basis.

The U.B.C.I.C. would like to join
Mr. Howard in calling on Marshail-
Wells stores to amend their policy. We
see it for what it is — rank discrimina-
tion.

— an ugly, glaring thing which
cannot be allowed in British Columbia.

UBCIC ACTIVITIES

1. Second Round Starting: The
second round of regional meetings has
begun. The purpose of these meetings
is to discuss the Position Paper, Discus-
sion Paper (Government policy) and
the Constitution and By-laws of the
UBCIC.

2. Native Indian Brotherhood Conven-
tion: For the first time, Vancouver
was chosen as the site for the conven-
tion of the National Indian Brother-
hood. tt was held in the Hotel Vancou-
ver from August 19th to the 23rd.

The convention elected a new presi-
dent for the N.1.B., Mr. George Manuel
from Chase, B.C.

Andrew DeLisle of Caughnewaga,
Quebec, was appointed director of the
National Committee on Indian Rights
and Treaties.

The convention dealt with many
matters of importance.

3. Forthcoming Chief's Conference:
The second Chief's Conference will be
held in Vancouver from November
16th to November 21st. Final arrange-
ments are still being made.

4, Health Liaison: Wayne Bobb and
Myrus James have been hired and are
setting up a Health Liaison department
for the UBCIC.

5. Community Development: Tim
Spinks has been hired and is co-ordina-
ting a program of Community
Development, activities for the Union
of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

TIME

by Bill Wilson

The totem pole could not be seen
from the beach. It lay on its back
amongst the stinging nettles, hidden
but for the opening above it. It had
once been the newest and tallest pole
in the village. Its fresh cedar scent and
rust-red color had welcomed people to
the chief’s house. But now it was dull
white and gray, the only scent being
that of dampness and decay. The large,
hollow eyes that once looked out
across the inlet now caught the rain
and snow that fell through the opening
in the nettles. The eyes had become
pools for tadpoles and were lined with
a green slime. The figures on the pole,
once sharp and distinct, were now just
outlines. The moldiness of winter and
the dry-out of summer had decompos-
ed the softer layers of the cedar and
left the harder layers exposed like a
fibrous skeleton. At the base of the
pole, from that part that had been in
the ground, a young cedar tree grew. It
wasn’t very tall as yet, but it had
pushed its roots into the pole and
seemed to be feeding on the decay. In
time, it would rise above the stinging
nettles and stand there where the old
pole had once stood.

DIALOGUE

We have reproduced three urgent let-
ters which were sent to the Minister of
Indian Affairs and Northern Develop-
ment, the Honourable Jean Chretien.

The reason for the letters and their
urgency are self-evident.

The first letter is dated June 10,
1970, and was sent by Chief Dennis H.
Alphonse.

The second letter was written and
sent on August 18, 1970, by Bill Wil-
son, interim Administrator.

The third was sent as a telegraphed
night letter on September 3, 1970.

As this magazine goes to press, the
date is September 12, 1970 — the
school term is a week old.

However, the Honourable Mr. Chre-
tien has chosen to ignore this issue. We
have received no response of any
nature at this time.

And so, though the title of this
regular feature of our magazine is to
be ‘‘DIALOGUE,” perhaps we will call
it “MONOLOGUE,” this time around.

June 10, 1970
Minister of Indian Affairs
& Northern Development,
Jean Chretein.

Dear Sir:

Re:
Educational Assistance Policy

There has been considerable talk
amongst our band members and mem-
bers of other bands concerning this
Educational Assistance Policy. Espe-
cially those of our members living off
the reserve. As Chief of the Cowichan
Band and chairman of the Advisory
Board to Kuper island Residence, | am
quite concerned about this decision.

It’s the principal behind the idea
that in fact it says that the status of
the Indians off the reserve has been
changed or the implication is there.
This is understandable if the person
involved has signed off the reserve and
bought property in a Municipality and
were actually paying taxes. But the
majority of our people who are tiving
off the reserve are still band members
or registered Indians who are only
renting a place to live.

| know for a fact that some non-
registered [ndians are having trouble
getting help for their children’s educa-
tion, because nobody would assume
the responsibility of these children. |
can see the danger of this happening to
band members who live off the re-
serve; that they would be left in a
vacuum so to speak. This policy, if
enforced, would, in fact, discourage
our people from moving off the re-
serve for employment or education.

This action is simply denying their
right as band members; and this is onty
going to discourage any incentive they
may have had for finding employment
and living off the reserve.

The most important concern is the
implication of this policy that the
status of the person living off the
reserve has actually changed without
their consent.

An early reply to this letter would
be very much appreciated.

Yours truly
Chief Dennis H. Alphonse.

South Island District
Regional Office-Indian Affairs
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs

6390 Crown Street,
VANCOUVER 13, B.C.

August 18, 1970
Honourable Jean Chretien
Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario

Dear Mr. Chretien:

It has come to our attention that
Indian people living off reserves are
being denied assistance for books and
supplies while going to school. We feel
this practice is not in keeping with the
provisions of the Indian Act and it is
needitess to say placing hardships on
Indian students trying to get an educa-
tion.

It has also come to our attention
that it is a practice in this region to
deny Indian students choice in the
type of schools they attend. This also,
we understand, contravenes provisions
of the Indian Act and apparently has
risen because of some agreement be-
tween the Department and the Provin-
cial Government.

As we have said, these are causing
hardship for students trying to get an
education and we would appreciate
clarification in this regard. With the
school term rapidly approaching, we
hope this receives your immediate at-
tention.

Yours sincerely,

Bill Wilson,
Administrator

September 3, 1970

Honourable Jean Chretien
Minister of Indian Affairs and
Northern Development
Parliament Buildings

Ottawa, Ontario

Dear Mr. Chretien:

We are writing to call to your at-
tention our letter to your office dated
August 18, 1970,

This letter concerns the very urgent
matter of assistance for purchasing
school supplies and books for Indian
people living off the reserves. It also
concerns the question of Indian stu-
dents being denied choice in the type
of schools which they may attend.
Both these matters contravene pro-
visions in the Indian Act and are
causing hardships for students trying
to get an education.

As the commencement of the
school term is less than a week away,
we must request immediate action on
this matter.

Yours sincerely,
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS

Bill Guerin,
Executive Director.

BG/ph
ce Fred Clark

Chief Henry Peters,
(Samahquam)},

P.O. Box 437,
Mission City, B.C.

2 September, 1970

Executive Committee of
Union of Chiefs,

P.O. Box 365,

6390 Crown St.,
Vancouver 13, B.C.

Dear Sirs:

I’ve approached the Department of
Indian Affairs in regard to the finan-
cial assistance available for school sup-
plies. So far | have been unsuccessful
since | cannot seem to convince them
that we, the members of my reserve,
Samahquam, which is situated some
twenty five miles north of Harrison
Lake, are living here in the Mission
City area for the last ten years and
more out of necessity rather than
choice.

I’m asking our union to help me as
| have many families living here that
really need this allowance. I’m hoping
also that we should look into this
particular type of case, whereby, a
reservation is so isolated that its mem-
bers must leave. | have raised most of
my children and so far | have three
graduates in my family. We must have
about a dozen graduates from our
reserve which | think is darn good for
us who really had to put up with rising
costs through the years. However, I’m
anxious for this assistance this year,
we have too many unemployed that
will really need this money. The ‘De-
partment’ argues that we must five on
our reserve before we are eligible. I'd
like to bring them up there and see
how long they last.

Yours truly,
Chief Henry Peters

Babine-Morice Subdivision

On September 2, 1970, Federal Fisher-
ies Officer, A. M. Groat, phoned
Smithers Interior News and “declared
war’’ with these words — ‘‘Hi fellas,
would you like a big front page story

. headlines in red ... war is de-
clared!’"! His avowed enemy? — a
“dangerous” handful of Indian people
eking out the barest existences in their
small houses huddled around the
Moricetown Canyon. The cause of this
great warfare? — Mr. Groat’s
contention that the {Indians are selling
the fish which they gaff from the river.
In less “fiery”, but equally arrogant,
words, Mr. Groat has given notice of
his private little war by means of
official signs which began with the
words — NOTICE TO INDIANS. This
notice declares that ‘Effective August
31st, 1970, until September 13th,
1970, no person shall fish for fish by
means of gaff hook in the Bulkley
River in the Province of British Colum-
bia.”"

| came to Smithers to investigate
this matter on behalf of the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs. | spoke to Chief
Johnny Mack and members of his
Band Council, and to some of the
other people of the village. | was told
that, naturally, there were a very few
who occasionally sold the fish which
they catch, although all villagers are
aware that this is wrong and the prac-
tice is very much frowned on by mem-
bers of the Band. However, this
amount of fish can be only negligible.
A large fish sales operation is quite
impossible here!

On October 25, 1950, at a meeting
attended by Mr. Reid, then Fisheries
Supervisor from Prince Rupert and by
Mr. Coleman, then Indian Commis-
sioner from Vancouver, the {ndian
people at Moricetown were told that,
if the Fisheries Department was allow-
ed to construct two (2) fish ladders in
the Canyon, no fishing restrictions
would ever be placed upon the Morice-
town Indians. The Indians were also
promised that should there be no fish
in the canyon, during any year, a
truckload of frozen fish would be sent
from Prince Rupert to the tribe. Since
that time, restrictions have been
placed continually upon the Indian
fishermen and no one in the village has
ever seen a scrap of frozen fish no
matter how lean a year might be. The
fish ladders are there, however.

Chief Mack indicates his empty
deep freeze and mouths that sad, but
true cliche — ‘‘White men do speak
with forked tongue. They will promise
anything to the Indian to get what
they want, but when they have that,
they forget their promises.”” The Chief
maintains that the fishing ban would
not be such a gut-serious matter if the
men of the village were only able to
get jobs. As this is almost impossible,
the loss of the fish, which would be
traditionally prepared and stored for
winter, will be a terrible hardship to
the people here.

It is a sad day, indeed, when a
minor civil servant forces the original
owners of this province to war. Wedo
not want “WAR”, but we want only
our aboriginal rights by which we will
be allowed to hunt and fish freely for
our family use. We reject combat with
Mr. Groat and his “impressive pow-
ers," superior even to those of a
Mountie, and his .455 Webley. I'm
sure Mr. Groat would be far more
successful in his quest for combat if he
were to issue arbitrary notices headed
‘‘Notice to French-Canadians” or
“Notice to English Persons” -— ‘Notice
to all Scandanavians’’! Or might we
suggest that Mr. Groat take his militar-
istic ambitions with him to the Middle
East or to Vietnam, or perhaps to
Vancouver Island's west coast to dis-
suade the Russians from completely
destroying B.C.’s salmon population.
Or better yet, why doesn’t Mr. Groat
put his ‘‘impressive powers and ener-
gies” to the task of preventing the
construction of a pulp mill at the

junction of the Skeena and Bulkley
Rivers? This mill will destroy both the
river's fish and game life completely
within a few years.

It would seem a more sensible plan
for the Fisheries Department to
“fight” the building of this mill as the
Pollution Control Board is doing,
rather than worrying about an incon-
sequential amount of salmon caught
by a few native people. When this mill
is operational, there wifl be no salmon
in the Moricetown Canyon, and no job
in the area for a Fisheries Officer.

We have, therefore, told the people
of Moricetown that they should con-
tinue to fish, and should there be any
trouble, the Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs will stand behind them one
hundred per cent. We will provide any
defense necessary and go as far as
necessary to restore and maintain this
basic right of theirs. We intend also to
bring this matter to the attention of
the provincial and federal govern-
ments.

As | drove away from Moricetown,
| stopped to read a plaque placed
beside the road by the Department of
Recreation and Conservation. It reads
in part —

Moricetown Canyon:

... oalmon, staple food of the Indian,
concentrated in this Canyon and were
caught with basketry, traps, dip-nets,
and harpoons.

Indians still catch salmon with long
gaff hooks and smoke them at this
historic native fishery.

How ironic!

FIRS
CITIZENS

FUND

On July 7, 1970, the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs returned to the First
Citizens’ Fund Chairman, the Honour-
able D. R. J. Campbell, Minister of
Municipal Affairs, a government
cheque for the amount of thirteen
thousand, two hundred and ninety-
two dollars ($13,292.00). This amount
was the first installment of a fifty-
three thousand dollar grant to the
Union by the First Citizens’ Fund.

Since this time, there has been con-
siderable discussion about this action.
So we are reprinting the statement
which clearly establishes the Union's
stand on this matter.

We do not intend to allow this
matter to die a quiet, unresolved
death, as the government would wish
it. At the Chiefs. Conference in Nov-
ember, the First Citizens’ Fund will be
a major item for discussion. We will
see this fund become “ ... a pro-
gramme of self-help designed, initiat-
ed, and administered by bona fide
British Columbia indian bands, organi-
zations, and individuals ... “ rather
than by a committee of cabinet mini-
sters, none of whom are Indians.

POLICY STATEMENT RE:
FIRST CITIZENS’ FUND

When the First Citizens’ Fund was
established in 1968 it appeared that at
long last the provincial government
was truly recognizing the Native
people of this province. We as Indians
despite our reluctance to embrace with
hope the actions of any government,
felt that the Fund as described and
widely advertised could indeed be of
benefit to us.

Perhaps we fell victim to the pub-
licity the provincial government took
such pains to generate. Perhaps we
even forgot for a time the treachery
and bad faith we had so often encoun-
tered in our dealings with government
agencies. Perhaps we even felt that the
Fund was really ours and would be
used for our benefit.

Yes, we believed the government
when it said that, and | quote, ‘“The
Fund is intended to be a programme
of self-help designed, initiated, ad-
ministered by bona fide British Colum-
bia Indian bands, organizations, and
individuals.”

Needless to say, we were surprised
and disappointed when we learned the
Fund would NOT be administered by
Indians, but rather by a committee of
cabinet ministers, none of whom are
Indians.

We should have seen then the signs
of the old, ‘l-Know-what’s-best-for-
you” attitude but we were grateful
that the provincial government saw fit
to make available to us some of the
wealth of OUR country, regardless of
how small the amount.

The First Citizens’ Fund, however,
has been in existence for two years
and we now realize just how small the
amount is. It is not $25 million; it is
not $1.7 million, in fact, it is some-
thing less than $§00,000 handed out
‘piece-meal’ to individuals and organi-
zations who must go ‘hat-in-hand’ to
ask their ‘great white fathers’’ for a
gift.

We realize also that the Fund has
become not a “programme of self-
help” but an insidious programme of

self-destruction for the Indian people
of this province. We do not think that
this was the true purpose of the Fund
but nevertheless the results are just as
devastating. The Fund has served to
divide the Indians of British Columbia.
In the hope of receiving what in most
cases is much needed finances, various
Indian organizations have applied for
grants. We feel that these applications
have been handled in a manner that
plays off one organization against the
other and thereby perpetuates the
“divide and rule” principle used so
effectively in the past.

The Union of British Columbia
Indian Chiefs as the only truly repre-
sentative organization for all the
Indian people in the province is, there-
fore, rejecting the grant we received
from the First Citizens’ Fund. We have
a responsibility to the Indian people of
British Columbia for we are the only
organization that has any chance, and
perhaps the last chance, of putting an
end to the petty political games that
have hindered our efforts for a hund-
red years. We have the opportunity to
keep the Indian people together as one
and we will not jeopardize this chance
by accepting money from a Fund that
appears to be administered in a man-
ner that can only divide us.

Further, we cannot accept money
from a Fund that at times appears to
us as little more than a campaign fund
for we have no desire to be obligated
to any government or political party.
Our desire is to remain independent
and truly representative of all Indian
people in the province and, at this
state, only by rejecting the First Citi-
zens’ Fund and the money granted to
us, can we do this.

We would like to make it clear that
we are not condemning anyone who
has received support from the Fund
for we realize that despite its mis-
management, some benefit has
resulted.

We are condemning only the hand-
ling of the fund; one, because of the
reason mentioned above and two be-
cause of the precedent the handling of
the fund ts setting for Indian relation-
ships with the provincial government.
If the First Citizens’ Fund is indicative
of the kind of co-operation we can
expect to receive then, indeed, we
have a great deal to fear from the
Federal ‘‘proposal’’ of transferring
Indians to provincial responsibility.

We can take no other course of
action except to reject the First Citi-
zens’ Fund with all its principles, and
still be able to remain true to ourselves
and the people we serve. We are not
doing this for any political gain or
publicity we might achieve, as would
appear was the Government’s purpose
in setting up the fund, but solely
because the “Fund,” as it is now being
administered, is not functioning in the
best interests of Indian people.

if the B.C. Government wishes to
live up to its principles and promises,
it will turn over the First Citizens’
Fund in its entirety, to be managed by
an administrative body composed of
Indian people. We feel that this is the
only way the B.C. Government can
display their sincerity and live up to
the original terms of reference of the
Fund as quoted earlier.

The Province, July 8, 1970

“FIRST CITIZENS” FUND”
LETTERS

B.C. INDIANS REJECT
GOVERNMENT FUND

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has
rejected the provincial government's
First Citizen’s Fund in its present
form.

At a press conference Tuesday, the
union said the fund has become an
“insidious program of self-destruction
for the Indian people of this pro-
vince.”

The union castigated the provincial
government for setting up the fund,
which is administered solely by
cabinet ministers, ‘none of whom are
Indians.’

The $25 million fund was set up
last year with the idea that the annual
interest — about $1.75 million —
would be available to Indians for the
advancement of their education, cul-
ture and economic circumstances.

Bill Wilson, spokesman for the
Union of Indian Chiefs, said the set-up
of the fund has put the Indian in the
position of begging from the ‘’great
white fathers.”

“It is not $25 million; it is not $1.7
million; in fact, it is something fess
than $600,000 handed out piecemeal
to individuals and organizations who
must go hat-in-hand to ask for a hand-
out.”

The union, which represents 167 of
the 188 Indian bands in B.C., said the
fund has served to divide Indians.

“In the hope of receiving what in
most cases is much-needed finances,
various Indian organizations have ap-
plied for grants.

“We feel that these applications
have been handled in a manner that
plays off one organization against the
other and thereby perpetuates the
divide and rule principle used so ef-
fectively in the past.”

The union suggested the fund be
turned over entirely to a committee of
{ndian chiefs.

Until it is, the union wants no part
of it.

“We are rejecting the grant we re-
ceived from the fund.” The fund com-
mittee granted the union $53,000.

The union had originally asked for
about $200,000 to develop communi-
cations among Indians in order to find
out what they really want. The union
is seeking facts to reply to the federal
government's white paper on the
native population.

“There were strings attached to this
grant,”’ said Wilson. “Not only did we
have to beg for it in the first place, but
they want a full account of every
penny and yet they will not allow any
of it to be used for administration.”

He said the union is the only truly
representative organization for all B.C,
Indians, and ‘‘we have the opportunity
to keep the Indian people together as
one. We will not jeopardize this chance
by accepting money from a fund that
appears to be administered in a man-
ner that can only divide us.”

The union also said that if the kind
of provincial government co-operation
they have received is any indication,
then it fears the federal government
proposal that responsibility for Indians
be transferred to provincial jurisdic-
tion.

The press conference was attended
by Chief Joe Mathias of the Squamish
band, Chief Jim Stelkia of the
Osoyoos band, Chief Dennis Alphonse
of Cowichan band, Councillor Delbert
Guerin of the Musqueam band, Chief
Philip Paul of the Tsartlip band at
Brentwood Bay and Chief Bernard
Charles of the Semiahmoo band.

Recreation Minister Kiernan, one of
the five cabinet ministers in the fund’s
administration, said later the govern-
ment has a “responsibility to the
general public” to ensure that the fund
is administered property.

He said the cabinet ministers have
sought the advice the Indian chiefs and
other Indians knowledgeable on the
subject.

“We're seeking to engender co-
operation and to aid the Indian
people.

“The basic problem may be that
the Indian chiefs have a different con-
cept of the fund than what the govern-
ment has.

“| get the feeling the Indians would
like the fund turned over to their
administration, but we have a responsi-
bility to the public at large.”

The Province, July 10, 1970

INDIAN CHIEFS SAY
BENNETT THINKS THEY
AREN’T PEOPLE

By Marian Bruce

Premier W. A. C. Bennett seems to
believe that Indians are not people, the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has
charged,

In an angry letter to the premier’s
office, the union strongly protests
Bennett’s rejection of a proposal that
the First Citizens’ Fund be administer-
ed by Indians.

Bennett said Tuesday this is “’im-
possible in a democratic society” since
the government is ‘responsible for the
people’s money.”

Union administrator Bill Wilson

said:

“What really bothers us is that the
premier has such a God-like attitude
that he can go so far as to infer that
Indians are not people and not part of
the public, which he does when he
states that he is responsible for the
people’s money and cannot turn it
over to what would appear to him to
be some lesser form of life.”

Earlier this week, the union sent a
$13,292 cheque from the fund back to
Municipal Affairs of the fund com-
mittee of cabinet ministers. The
cheque was the first installment of a
grant of $53,000.

The chiefs had requested a
$230,000 grant for a communications
program with bands throughout the
province.

Chief Phillip Paul said the union
will look elsewhere for funds, possibly
to Indians themselves and to private
foundations.

The union pointed out that when
the fund was established, Campbell
issued a brochure stating that B.C.
Indians may use it “to realize improve-
ment they believe to be important.”
The fund was to be a self-help program
“designed, initiated and administered”’
by B.C. Indians.

Bennett said Tuesday the fund
committee would accept advice from
Indians but would not be subject to
advisory groups.

At the same time Municipal Affairs
Minister Dan Campbell accused the
Indians of setting up organizations for
which they wanted individual salaries
of $14,000 for directors.

He said the first request on the
fund was for almost $750,000 ‘‘for
structural organizations with high
salary positions indicated for a very
few.”

“If it was permitted, you could
conceive the entire fund going for
structure and not projects. | don’t
think it was the intention of the legis-
lature to spend $1 million to deliver
50 cents worth of projects,” he said.

Said Wilson: “Mr. Bennett speaks
of a democratic society, yet his defini-
tion of advice is like that of the
U.S.S.R.”

“We, the Indian people of B.C., as
taxpayers and members of the voting
public, ask only that this fund, which
the premier terms ‘‘the people's
money,” be used as it was set aside by
law to do.”

He said Bennett apparently refused
to recognize the union, even if we
could gather al! 47,000 Indians in the
province on the lawns of the legisla-
ture, he would still say we do not
represent B.C. Indians.”

The $25 million fund was to pro-
vide $1.7 million annually in interest
for projects by Indians.

However, the union says only
$350,000 has been a!located since the
fund was established last year.

Province Victoria Bureau, July 10/70
INDIAN ATTITUDE TO
FUND RAPPED

Municipal Affairs Minister Campbell
suggests that Indian leaders who have
rejected the government's First Citi-
zens’ Fund are more interested in
creating a few high-salaried posts for
themselves than in using the fund for
projects to aid all Indians.

He was commenting on the action
earlier this week on the Union of B.C.
Chiefs in sending back uncashed a
$53,000 cheque from the fund and
charging that the fund is ‘‘an insidious
program of self-destruction for the
Indian people.”

The chiefs, who represent some 90
per cent of B.C.’s Indians, had asked
the fund, administered by a committee
headed by Campbell, for $230,000 to
finance a ‘“‘grassroots’’ communica-
tions program. One of the program's
main aims would be to fight proposals
in the federal government’s white
paper on Indian affairs.

Campbell, currently vacationing,
called the legislative press gallery to
issue a special statement in reply to
the chiefs. He started out by saying he
doesn't propose to get into an extend-
ed argument with any Indian groups
on the fund.

He added he was disappointed over
comments about the fund by repre-
sentatives of the union of chiefs
“because | think responsible people
have a responsibility to make respo-
nsible statements.”’

“| think most people cearly under-
stand that the First Citizens’ Fund is
an earning fud and the suggestion that
it is not $25 is completely false,”
Campbell said.

“Its earnings last year alone were
$1.8 million, which is available for
distribution at any time. None of the
earnings go into consolidated revenue.
They simply remain growing in the
fund.”

(The Chiefs said the fund is called a
$25 million one, but that the grants
made from income to the fund
amount to about $600,000 annually,
far short of total earnings.)

“One thing | made clear at the
outset of the fund in terms of policy
was that the department of municipal
affairs and the provincial secretary's
department were absorbing the admin-
istrative costs of this fund,’’ said
Campbell.

“As | indicated, the fund was to be
project-oriented to do those things
which could not be done under other
programs.

“The first thing the fund was faced
with were requests from a number of
Indian organizations, including the
union of chiefs, which totalled almost
three-quarters of a million dollars for
structural organization with high-
salary positions indicated for a very
few.

“| don’t think it was the intention
of the legislature to work on the pro-
position that you spend a million dol-
lars to deliver 50 cents of projects.”

Campbell said the “high salaries to
which he referred were in the $12,000
to $14,000 per year range.

Campbell's statement continued,
“As fast as individual requests for pro-
jects have come in, we’ve processed
them.”

He said it was left up to the bands
and individuals to come up with pro-
jects with the fud designed to encour-
age local initiative.

“We haven't even suggested types
of projects for individual bands —
that’s up to them. The kind of pater-
nalism they're talking about, there is

PBA P.O. Box 365,
North Vancouver, B.C.
July 10, 1970.

Premier W. A. C. Bennett,
Government Leader,
Parliament Buildings,
VICTORIA, B.C.

Dear Sir:

It is rather strange how you can
jeopardize the credibility of one of
your Ministers by making statements
contradictory to those included in a
Government issued pamphlet. The
Honorable Dan Campbell signed a
pamphlet that read in part: ‘B.C.
Indians may use the Fund to realize
improvements ... they believe to be
important,” yet Mr. Premier, you have
stated that while your government

may encourage advice from !ndians, it
sees no reason why it (in all its wis-
dom) should be subject to any of it.

You talk about a “democratic
society,” yet your definition of advice
is like that of the U.S.S.R. and its
facade of parliamentary democracy.
You speak of democracy and then go
on to maintain that the people af-
fected by decisions should have no say
in the making of those decisions. We,
the Indian people of B.C., as tax
payers and members of the voting
public, ask only that this fund, that
you have termed “‘people’s money” be
used as it was set aside by law to do. If
you can, as the feeling moves you,
deny the wishes of an elected legisla-
ture, then you are the last person who
should allude to the concept of demo-
cracy.

While we are disappointed that you
have seen fit to make a mockery of the
First Citizens’ Fund, we cannot be too
surprised as you are merely continuing
the string of broken promises that has
been so much a part of our history.
What really bothers us is that you have
such a God-like attitude that you can
infer that Indians are not people nor
part of the public, which you have
done by stating you are responsible for
the ‘‘people’s money” and therefore
cannot turn it over to what it would
appear you consider some lesser form
of tife.

Your statement, “We wouldn't
want to tie our fund down to the
advice of one Indian group, whether
they be Chiefs or not,” ts much like
some non-Indian saying, ‘’! will not be
bound by the wishes of any group of
people, whether they be MLA's or
not.’” Democracy indeed!

It is disappointing that we, the
Indians of B.C., can apparently look
forward to little more than the con-
tinuation of the old ‘’!-know-what's-
best-for-you” attitude, for despite our
initial hesitancy we did feel that we
could expect better treatment from
our elected representatives.

We would like to make it clear that
our criticism of the First Citizens’
Fund and your government's apparent
policy in regard to indians is not based
on political party lines, for as we have
stated, we have no desire to be obli-
gated to, or to criticize, any one
government or party.

We sincerely hope that through a
more enlightened approach you will
allow us to share in the “‘good life” we
have heard so much talk of but have
only too seldom seen.

Yours most respectfully,

Bill Wilson,
Administrator for the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

P.O. Box 365,
North Vancouver, B.C.
July 11, 1970

The Honourable D. R. J. Campbell,
Minister of Municipal Affairs,
Parliament Buildings,

VICTORIA, British Columbia.

Dear Sir:

You have stated that you do not
propose to get into an extended argu-
ment with any Indian Groups in regard
to the First Citizens’ Fund and so far
as an argument is concerned, we agree
with you. We desire only that you
meet the commitment you have made
in writing and allow the fund to truly
be ‘‘a programme of self-help designed,
initiated and administered by bona-
fide British Columbia Indian Bands,
organizations and_ individuals.”
(Quoted directly from the pamphlet
your committee issued.} As we have
said, we do not see how you can do
this while sole control over the fund
rests with a committee of non-Indians.
You say that no paternalism exists, yet
we find it hard to conceive of anything
more paternalistic than having non-
Indians decide what is best for the
Indians of British Columbia. This has,
unfortunately, been too much a part
of our history and a major cause of the
problems that face us.

You speak of argument; we speak
of co-operation. You speak of respon-
sibility; we ask only to be given the
opportunity to become truly respon-
sible for our own affairs. We ask not
for favours or for hand-outs, but mere-
ly what is rightfully ours as tax-payers
and members of the voting public, and
we might add, to use your term, as the
“First Citizens’ of this Province.

It is unfortunate, Mr. Campbell,
that you should attempt to side-step
the real issue here by bringing up the
“red herring” of high salaries. You are
aware, or should be, if you read our
proposal, that there was to be only
one salary over $10,000.00 with the
average being far below that level.
There certainly were no $14,000.00
salaries nor even any $12,000.00 ones

as you have stated though the jobs
envisaged would certainly have justi-
fied them. But afl talk of salaries in
this case merely ignores the issue.

We have asked, and we ask again,
that you and the government of this
Province live up to the written com-
mitments made to the Indian people
of British Columbia. We are the ‘‘First
Citizens’ and we are rightfully proud
of this fact. We have a great deal to
contribute to the life of this province,
and we are more than willing to do so,
if given the chance. For too long,
governments have played politics with
our lives. You and your government
have the opportunity to end this vici-
ous practise. We await with anticipa-
tion though with waning optimism
your ultimate decision.

Yours most respectfully,

Bitl Wilson,
Administrator on behalf of the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

July 16, 1970.

Mr. Bill Wilson,
Administrator,

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs,
P.O, Box 365,

North Vancouver, B.C.

Dear Mr. Wilson:

Receipt is acknowledged of your
letter of July 7th and of your further
comments of July 11th, 1970.

i am at a loss to understand the
suggestion that the First Citizens’
Fund has in any way been used as a
political instrument. Neither insofar as
the internal politics of the Indian
people themselves, nor insofar as any
political activity on the part of the
Government is concerned, has there
been any attempt to make the Fund a
political instrument.

As a matter of fact, in order to
maintain the independence of the
Indian people with respect to this
Fund, you will note the suggestion
throughout the policy statement that
there should be an input of 50% of
local contribution, whether it be for a
specific project or for organizational
structure.

It is precisely because of this policy
that the Fund was never to be consid-
ered a “hand-out’’ Fund and this has
been pretty clearly indicated to any
individual applying for a grant and to
all organizations applying to the Fund,
including the Union of B.C. indian
Chiefs.

| would have hoped that in any
public statements regarding this Fund
| could have expected a higher level of
responsibility, particularly insofar as
the financial nature of the Fund is
concerned. Any suggestion that it does
not have $25,000,000 invested in it on
a perpetual basis is simply false and |
think you should inform the public
that you are completely mistaken in
this regard. As | have indicated to your
organization, the full financial opera-
tions of this Fund will be tabled in the
Legislature each and every year, but |
have no objection, and never have had,
that the current position of the Fund
could be public knowledge.

Yours sincerely,

Dan Campbell,
Minister.

P.O. Box 365,
North Vancouver, B.C.
July 23, 1970

The Honourable D. R. J. Campbell,
Minister of Municipal Affairs,
Chairman, First Citizens’
Administration Committee,
Parliament Buildings,

VICTORIA, B.C.

Dear Mr. Campbell:

It is indeed a pleasure to have re-
ceived a letter from you directly and
not having to depend on the Press for
our correspondence. You say there has
been no attempt by the government to
make the First Citizens’ Fund a politi-
cal instrument. As we said in our
original statement, ‘‘We do not think
that this was the true purpose of the
fund, but nevertheless the results are
just as devastating.” As you well
know, or should know in your capa-
city as Chairman of the Fund
supposedly for Indians, the major
problem that has faced us in the past is
the lack of a single voice to speak for
all of our people in the province.

Your fund, deliberately or other-
wise, has done nothing to encourage
the development of a unified Indian
voice, in fact it has, as we have stated,
helped to perpetuate the divide and
rule principle used so effectively in the
past. If you are not aware of this fact,
we would hope that you would soon
become aware and end this vicious
practice.

In regard to political activity on the
part of the government we would have
to wonder what is more political than

publicity. The First Citizens’ Fund was
created and publicized on the basis
that at last the government was doing
something to help indian people and
as we have said we may have believed
the publicity. It is certain that a good
majority of the public did and your
government’s image was thereby en-
hanced. But then far be it from me,
the Indian people, to attempt to
enlighten you, a politician, on the
subject of politics, a subject in which
we have been and apparently under
your government will continue to be
mere pawns.

Unfortunately we cannot under-
stand how an input to 50% of local
contribution can guarantee indepen-
dence. In fact, for a fund that is
supposed to be ours it is hard to
understand why we should have to
make any contribution when receiving
a grant, unless of course this is a means
to keep the money disbursed at a
minimum, The question of a 50% con-
tribution does not change the apparent
“hand-out" characteristics of the fund,
for these characteristics arise not in
the shared-cost aspect of the fund, but
in the administration which rests
solely with our ‘‘Great White Fathers’’
in Victoria.

In your last paragraph you speak of
responsibility in public statements, yet
you in your initial reaction to the
Union’s position mentioned $12,000
and $14,000 salaries which were never
proposed in the proposition we made
to you. We wonder what kind of res-
ponsibility exists when the Minister of
the Government can create a “‘red-
herring” of high salaries out of the air.

You say we should inform the pub-
lic that we are completely wrong
about the size of the fund and we
would be glad to do so if we knew
anything at all about the finances of
this fund we were supposed to admin-
istered. We would appreciate knowing
not only how much is in the fund or
how much interest accrues, but also
where the money is invested.

The apparent low rate of interest
leads us to suppose that the fund is
invested in some low yield Bonds such
as those issued by B.C. Hydro or other
government affiliated agency. We are
sure that if this is the case the public
would like to know that the twenty-
five million dollars earmarked, or at
least publicized for Indians, is being
used for other projects, and that the
Indian people have only been granted
the Low Interest that is accruing. But
of course all this is mere supposition

for we do not have any idea about the
administration, financing or other as-
pects of the fund.

In conclusion, Mr. Campbell, we
must mention again the subject of
responsibility. You signed a pamphlet
that stated ‘‘the fund would be admin-
istered by British Columbian Indian
bands, organizations, and individuals.”
We feel that as the responsible Minister
you are, you should live up to the
commitments you have made in writ-
ing and if you do not desire to or will
not, then we would hope that you.
realize your responsibility to the
Indian people and the general public
of this province and admit that the
fund was never intended to be ‘‘de-
signed, initiated and administered’ by
the First Citizens’ of this province.

Yours most respectfully,

Bill Wilson,

Administrator.

Administrator, on behalf of

the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

THE SNOW

It is not like the winter

But this blanket has swept over us
Through four seasons

It is very much like winter

It has many things in common

We do not suffer from the cold

Yet we suffer in many ways

We suffer from lack of land

Lack of progress and independence
You might say we had a long sleep
Like the bear does in winter

But the snow is melting slowly

And we are awaking

Through this day we realize what is
going on and the snow is melting
faster;

And very much like the bear we gain
power to overcome our sleepy habits.

Bill Bell

U.B.C.1.C. STAFF

WES MODESTE DONNA TYNDALL WILLIAM N. GUERIN MARION HAMILTON ADAM ENEAS
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CLARENCE PENNIER MYPRUS JAMES TIM SPINKS LEN MARACLE GEORGE SADDLEMAN
Accountant Health Liaison Co-ordinator = Community Development Fund Raiser Accountant
Director

MAJORIE PERCIVAL NANCY MICHEL DARLENE TIMMONS MARIO de CERDA
Recording Secretary Assistant Conference Co-ordinator Office Receptionist Volunteer Worker

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