Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 1 No. 3 (December 1972 - Christmas Issue) · UBCIC Periodicals

Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 1 No. 3 (December 1972 - Christmas Issue)

Edit item

Title

Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 1 No. 3 (December 1972 - Christmas Issue)

Is Part Of

1.06-01.02 Nesika: The Voice of BC Indians

1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series

Date

December 1972

Subject

volume

issue

Language

Identifier

1.06-01.02-01.04

topic

Contributor

Type

periodical

extracted text

UNION OF B.C.
¢ SUSAN SPARR

INDIAN CHIEFS

2140 W. 12th Ave., Vancouver, B.C.
736-6751

SovGt@ wee)

Telephone
NATIVE INDIANS
OTHERS $3.00 PER YEAR:

FREE TO ALL REGISTERED B.C,

PUBLISHED BY

Vv
oO
L..
U
M
E

= 2IS5mMwe 0

)

“Us”

(Chinook meaning

INDIANS
BILL MUSSELL

2
<q
oc
a Lu
Ee
td
a
7 >
°
al al

THE VOICE OF B

. .. from all your Union staff!

NESIKA

QwowSmwe eanw

NES ItKA

Christmas Issue, December, 1972

The Official Monthly Publication of the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs

Lou Demerais
Perlas Sabino
Cindy Wilson

The official voice of the Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs, this publication is intended for the use
and pleasure of all native people in _ this
province, While the Union encourages all
contributions such as reports, viewpoints
(letters to the Editor), poetry, etc., we reserve
the right to edit all contributions. Letters to the
Editor must bear signature of the writer, and
_ viewpoints expressed therein are not necessarily
_ those of the Union.

Mailing Address — 2140 West 12th Ave.,

’ Vancouver 9, B.C.
Telephone - - 736-6751

Message from Chiefs Council

On behalf of. the Chiefs Council and the Executive Committee a
message of greetings and well wishes to all the Indian people of B.C.

.. Firstly; 1 extend these greetings. to all the children that are of our ops
concert not only in this festive season, but at all times. -

"To these children. again thé best of wishes to enjoy'a rospérity not Folily
in the. new year but in all the years to come. To them and their
aspirations, wishes for success.

To our elders the most sincere in greetings in appreciation for your
teachings and understanding for your tolerance in accepting the
sometimes awkward manner in achieving. our maturity.

In sincere Christianity to all mankind, in Brotherhood a Merry
Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

: : CHIEF VICTOR ADOLPH
Executive Member
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs

Message from Union Staff

This is the season which brings many fond memories to the fore, fond
memories of special friends and warm thoughts about loved ones. It isa
season during which many of us want to share Christmas activities with
the family and. very close friends. This is a special season because its
calendar contains a date which reminds us of a blessed event of many
years past which prompts us to think about people and things which have
been significant in our lives. They are significant because they give real
meaning to our search for self-fulfillment and happiness.

A house is not necessarily a home for it is people within the structure
which make it a home. People who do things to encourage the growth and

development of others in this house — who give recognition and moral’

“support.to each individual in his or her circle —are the real homemakers
_ for they are building on the strengths each person possesses, not on his or
her weaknesses. It is beautiful to have a real home.

It is also beautiful to have genuine friendship. To have a friend is to.
.-have someone with whom you:can share. ideas; thoughts, secrets and:

~-concerns knowing that they won't be treated lightly. Toshare these things
‘helps you to find light in what. may appear to be darkness which can be
‘troubling and burdensome.

Asmile, a compliment, an extended hand, a word of encouragement; or
a greeting from an acquaintance can do wonders for any person. Such
recognition acknowledges your presence and can make you feel good.

Through having a real home and genuine friendship, the search for self-
fulfillment and happiness can be pleasurable.

To have employment which is satisfying can also be beautiful. In sii a:

_- job, you are being paid to provide a service and being encouraged to
enhance your abilities. More importantly, it is the kind of job in-which
those you serve give guidance, moral support, and encouragement.

It is in relation to this that, we, your staff, readily extend special
thanks and warm wishes to the Chiefs Council, band staffs, to our
members, and those people with other agencies who have helped to make
our jobs more satisfying and meaningful.

- May your Christmas be filled with joy and happiness and in the New
Year may you find greater satisfaction from activities associated with
your home, your work and your community.

_ Executive Director
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs

* guests.

. feasts.

BILL MUSSELL ©

Christmas Message

With this festive season of mid-winter renewal, the National Indian
Brotherhood enters its fifth year of service to. the Indian People of
Canada. T am personally beginning my third year as President of your

national organization.

Throughout these years we have worked for the creation of a frame-
work that can unite the Indian People in every corner of our country, and
help to bring to our communities the strength and pride, beauty and

dignity that properly belong to us.

Peace, Unity and Kinship are blessings which all mankind celebrate at
this time of year. They are blessings which have a special place in our

hearts as Indian People.

May the renewal of these blessings bring all of us the health and

prosperity of a healthy new year.

, On behalf of the Brotherhood staff, my family and myself, I wish all of
youa MERRY CHRISTMAS and a very successful 1973.

GEORGE MANUEL
President

NATIONAL INDIAN BROTHERHOOD

MEET ON NATIVE WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Lavell status case
causes rift

OTTAWA —- The three-day

national conference on native
women’s rights found ‘itself em-

broiled in controversy over the
Lavell case.

Jeanette Lavell, an Ojibway
married to a white man, surprised
the delegates to the conference by
taking part in the debate over her
case, .

Mrs. Lavell lambasted Indian
associations as male dominated
and as using the Indian pa as

“ultimate authority.”’

She attacked the Indian Act as a
creation of European men. who

Congratulations

Congratulations: to
Demerais: and his. new,
Maureen!”

The staff of Nesika and the Union
wish to extend their best wishes to
the couple who ‘were wed in
Kamloops. on December 2.

Mrs. Demerais, nee. Maureen
Jane Crawford, is. a former
resident of Kamloops.”

‘Louis assistant executive
director of the Union and. editor of

“Louis
bride,

looked on their own women as
without rights.

Tll probably marry a non-Indian
myself, and I accept the con-
sequences,’’ said Vicki Crowchild,
a Sarcee Indian, after conference
delegates voted. to support Mrs.
Lavell.

Miss Crowehild also warned that
the Lavell case has widened the
“rift” between status and- non-
status Indians.

One of the speakers at the con-
ference, Tony Belcourt, president
of the Native Council of Canada,
took issue with Indian
organizations on their alleged
failure to face the problem of non-
status Indians.

“Tt’s.a crying shame that the

Indian people of this. country. ac-

cept an _arbitrary . government
decision on -who--is and. is nok an
Indian,’ Belcourt said.

USE TRIBAL CODES

He suggested that native peoples
should go back to tribal codes: to
take a stand on the issue of who is
an Indian.

The conference was hosted by
the national committee.on rights
for Indian women.

The national committee was
formed last March in support of

Mrs. Lavell’s suit and to oppose the
discriminatory section in the In-
dian Act.
HEARING IN MARCH

The Attorney General of Canada
appealed to the. Supreme: Court
after the Federal Court of Appeals
upheld the Bill of Rights. over the
section of the Indian Act that strips
an Indian woman of her status
when she marries a non-Indian.

The appeal willbe heard next
March and = most _ Indian
organizations are expected to
appear against Mrs. Lavell.

Angie pleased,
got 5% of the votes

VANCOUVER (Staff)  —
Speaking to newsmen following the
Vancouver civic election, Angie
Dennis said that she was not
disappointed in her third place
finish in the four-way mayoralty
race. 7

Angie, the first Indian-woman to
run for. mayor in any Canadian
city, said that she was pleased with
the number of votes she and other
leftist candidates had received.

Indicating that she considered
the number of votes she and other

-leftist candidates had received as
“proof that the “average person”

was getting more involved in civic
politics, Mrs. Dennis went.on to say
that she hoped to see some sort of
coalition between the leftist parties
for the next civic election.

This year, both NDP and COPE
(Committee of Progressive
Electors) ran candidates in the
election.

Mrs. Dennis received 5% of the
votes. :

Nesika.

“This is my heritage”
— Andrew Callicum

VANCOUVER (Staff) — Andrew
Callicum of the Nootka Band gave
a traditional Indian feast and
celebrated his sister’s birthday at
the Indian Centre here on
December 2. :
- Claritta Jack had turned 16.

Callicum, one of the hereditary
chiefs of the Nootka, explained ve
the feast was for ‘‘washing,”
ceremony. to. give thanks that
nothing more serious happened to
a brother who had had an accident.
“Traditional feasts or potlatch are
given by chiefs on important oc-
casions like when a baby starts

* eating, said Callicum: ‘He himself

had. given such a feast for his
nephew, Benny Jack Jr. The feast
is a way of announcing. that the
baby has started to eat and that he
will. now: sit down an

Callicum said he had given many
including those -on the
coming-of-age of his sister, wed-
dings, and the funeral feast for his
late father four years after the
latter’s death.
CHIEF’S CREST

Callicum pointed out that when:a
chief gives a feast he shows his
ceremonial crest and tribal dan-
ces.

Thus the showing of the crest of
the Nimpkish tribe at the start of
the ceremonies at the. Indian

Centre. This crest was ‘passed on
through marriage of . Callicum’s
great grandfather to a Nimpkish
chief's daughter.

This was followed by dances
performed by Callicum’s relatives.

_ Among the more notable were the

Red Cedar Bark Dance, performed
by Callicum’s brother, and the
Chief's or.Peace Dance.

Callicum said he appreciated
very much the gesture of Mrs.
Katie Ferry of the Kwawkewlth,
and of Chief Mike Tom of the
Hesquiaht Band in giving money to
the guests who come for the feast.

Mrs. Ferry, who took part in

most of the dances, is a woman of
very high rank in the Kwawkewlth
tribe, according to Callicum. She
had given many feasts herself, and
Callicum said that he felt much
pongred by her taking part in his
feas
 CANTRYN ADOPTED.

Some time during the ceremony
Mrs, Ferry announced the adop-
tion of Marge Cantryn, Indian
Centre Director, into her tribe and
she gave Mrs. Cantryn one of her
(Mrs. Ferry’s) Indian names —
Gla-gla-goelth-loug — “‘sealed with
copper.”’

After. the presentation of the
ceremonial crest and the dances of
the Nimpkish tribe, the Hesquiaht
Band presented the top crest of the
Hesquiaht chiefs through the Wolf
Dance.

The ceremonies concluded with
feast songs and money given to
guest chiéfs, along with bowls and
towels.

CHANT FOR RED CEDAR BARK DANCE
Andrew Callicum, centre, takes part in chant to present Nimpkish tribal -
crest,

Christmas Issue, December, 1972

N E— S I K A

Page Three

ns AND RECREATION CONFERENCE

Plans native

KAMLOOPS (Staff) —- Some 60
delegates and akceMTEE gathered
here on December 9 and 10 to

LEN MARCHAND

discuss and plan the future of
native amateur sports and
recreation in B.C.

The meeting, which was the first
ever general meeting of the B:C.
Native Amateur Sports and
Recreation Federation, brought
together people from all corners of
B.C. in an attempt to unify and
promote better recreational : op-
portunities for all Indian people of
B.C.

This conference represents the
results of a three year effort by
Roger Adolph, Ted Seward, John
Raymond, Charlie Williams and
others who ardently desire to
improve the sports and recrea-
tional opportunities ‘available to
Indian people.

“At long last we come around to
our first conference,”’ said Adolph.

And while the meeting is only a
beginning, the federation can now
claim to have province-wide
support. People representing
nearly all parts of B.C. attended
the meeting.

OFFICIAL DELEGATES
Official delegates or representa-

Addresses sports and recreation
conference.

tives were: Angie Dickie from the
Fort St. John District; Felix Moses
representing Thompson River-Lill-
ooet-Lytton; Joe’ Pierre from the
Kootenays; John Marchand from
the Okanagan, and Francis Amos
from West Coast District; Frank
Superneault from the Cariboo; Mel
Bevan representing Terrace-Ba-
Bine; Wayne Edwards for south-
ern Vancouver Island, Larry Louie
from the Fraser West District. and
John Seymour. from the Lakes
District.

Many more people attended as

observers, and represented in-
dividual bands and _ recreation
groups.

Various resource people were on

hand to talk to both individuals and .

groups on the value of recreation
and funding available both to the
federation and to bands or villages

to initiate and continue
recreational programs.
Wayne Smith, recreational

consultant for northwestern B.C.,
gave a multi-media presentation,
using slides, taped comments and
musie on the Mt. Currie Summer

Camp which showed the positive
value of recreational programs.
SOME SUPPORTS

Jim Panton, Director of the
Community Recreation Branch of
the provincial government outlined
services available through his
office for recreation.

Bob Groulx, manager of the B.C.
Festival of Sports explained to
delegates that support from his
organization would be in the areas
of promotion via advertising and
awards.

Mildred Gottfriedson a member
of the First Citizen’ Fund Advisory
Committee gave delegates.a few
instructions on how to obtain funds
from the First Citizens’ Fund.

Emery Barnes, MLA, and Len
Marchand, MP, both spoke on
Sunday afternoon offering en-
couragement and some general
support from the federal and
provincial governments.

Delegates spent a great deal of
time discussing structure, ob-
jectives, possible names and
special projects for the federation.

Prou D’ s future

AGREEMENTS

While nothing definite was
decided beyond the election of an
executive council whose first
responsibility will be to draft a
constitution, some general points
were agreed upon:

—that the federation would be
non-political,

—that it will be a ‘‘grass roots”
organization, relying on and
helping people at the reserve level;

—that the federation involve
itself in the whole recreational
field which includes arts, crafts,
and non-competitive sports as well
as organized team sports so that all
Indian people benefit, not just the
athletically inclined.

The conference also gave its.
support to the 1973 Summer Games
to be held on the Songhees Reserve
next summer.

WINTER GAMES :

To promote and co-ordinate.
winter sports, a committee of
three, Art Helin, (North Coast
District), John Marchand
(Okanagan District) and John

(See Indian on page 4)

Sports council
elected in meet

KAMLOOPS (Staff) —-A three- discussion and then presented to

man executive council was elected -

by delegates to the a general
_ conference of the B.C. Native
-Amateur Sports. and. Recreation
Federation on December 9.
During: the morning session,
delegates ‘chose Art Helin from
Prince Rupert, Felix Moses from
Merritt and Larry Louie of Powell
River to act as the peprulive
council.
Delegates also instructed this
council to draft.a constitution and
set of by-laws for the federation

the membership at the next
general meeting for approval.
The council was-also given the

_ power, in co-operation with Roger
Adolph, provincial diréctor of the -

federation, to appoint: exploratory
committees to. work on various
projects as “‘the need arises’’.

One of the council’s first
responsibilities will be to find ways
and means of funding the
organization.

The first meeting of the new
executive council is to be held in

which will be presented to the 13
member ‘provincial council for

Reports and plans for ’73 projects

By Lia McGookin, Recording Secretary
NORTH WEST INDIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY

Before I get down to the nitty gritty of our brand new column, we
would like to offer congratulations to NESIKA. It’s a great little paper
and a necessary means of communication which is why we are utilizing
its services.

The final meeting of the 1972 season was held at the Niagara Hotel,
Wednesday, Nov. 22. Our turnout was small, but we had an interesting
agenda and got a lot of work done.

Victoria next January.

The financial report was read by our secretary-treasurer, Mrs. Hattie .

Ferguson. After a successful and busy year — Infinity Fair, Vancouver
Sea Festival, PNE — we still haven’t seen any profit, but there sure has
been a great deal of progress for everyone concerned.

There will be an increase in the membership fee for 1973. To help cover
the cost of stamps, stationery and staples for the bulletin, we are asking
members to pay $2.00 per year for membership. This is still a very
nominal amount, so I’m sure there won’t: be anyone to object.

In our January column, we will have a membership application form
for- everyone to send in with their donation. I will then send out your
receipts and new cards for 1973. .

PROPOSED PROJECTS FOR 1973
~ Anumber of new projects for 1973 were submitted for approval:

1. A proposal from Baylow and Associates for a N.W. Coast Cultural
Fair at the Showmart Building either in May or July. It would be a $50;000
project and is now under discussion by the executive.

2. A-proposal from Gilbert Konqui of the Local Initiatives Program to
have the NWICS assist them in co-ordinating an Indian Pavilion for the
Festival. of Arts being held in July 1973. There are-to be nine pavilions
erected on the block* 61 location across.from the rear of the Court House
and will contain local art in all forms plus entries from other countries.
This proposal is also being discussed by the executive.

3. We have been invited to take part in the Victoria Fair, May 14-19,
1973. This project has already been approved. The executive is getting all
the final preparations under way and the necessary financing will be
available via Indian Affairs. /

4. The executive is awaiting the first meeting of the Vancouver Sea
Festival committee before definite approval of our participation is given.

5. We will definitely take part in the PNE, but there will be a few
changes over last year.

That is all the news! We wish each and every one of you a Very Merry
Christmas anda happy, peaceful and prosperous New Year!

P.S. The general meeting and elections are scheduled for March 1973.

’

FOR ALL AROUND DEVELOPMENT : nae
No need for super-athletes - Barnes

KAMLOOPS (Staff) — Speaking
to delegates at the B.C. Native
Amateur Sports and Recreation
banquet, Emery Barnes, MLA for
Vancouver Centre,.made. a strong
plea for all- around recreational
development. -

Thinking hard

JOE PIERRE, delegate from
Kootenay District, ponders prob-
lem at sports and recreation
conference.

Thunderbird

“It’s a misconception to . . . turn
out superstars and’ ‘athletes when
your people need -to have the
dignity ‘of working together...
with pride, with cultural things to
say, artistic things to say, a history

_ to talk about and education to talk

about,’’ Barnes told delegates.
Reminding. -listeners« that:-only.

about five per cent of the people-
would benefit . from. developing |
competitive -sports programs, he-

suggested that the primary — ob-
jective of any coach or
recreational director should be to
“develop an individual’s sense of
self-worth, creativity and his or
her opportunity to participate; not

to build -champions or. medal
winners.’
Barnes’ has : been involved | in

sports and recreation for 20 years,

(See MLA on page 4)

Recreation commissions urged
for better use of leisure

KAMLOOPS. (Staff) — Urging
delegates to-consider recreation as
something more than just
organized sports, Wayne Smith,
Recreational consultant. with the
Community Recreation Com-
mission for northwestern’ B.C.,
spoke to the B.C. Native Sports and
Recreation Federation on the first
day of the conference.

Bands, he said, should be en-
couraged to form recreational
commissions that include all
aspects of recreation and use of
leisure time — art, crafts, music,

. dancing, non-competitive sports,
camping, as well as team sports.

Money is available, he said,

through the Indian Affairs
recreational grants, the Com-
munity Recreation Branch,

Department of Travel and In-
dustry, and from the First Citizens’

‘Fund.

Enforced leisure time, which he
noted is a problem on many
reserves due to lack of: em-
ployment opportunities and school
programs, often is used in socially
destructive ways such as continual
drinking and scrapes with the law.
ALL-ROUND ACTIVITIES

To combat this, he suggested

(See Recreation on page 4)

Peace and Happiness
for this
Holy Season
and for 1973

Len, Lia and Family:

by Haida Artist Rovert Davidson

NOTICE: THE STORE WILL BE
CLOSED FROM DECEMBER 30,
1972, AND WILL REOPEN

JANUARY 15, 1973.

1029 Robson St.

TEMPO CANADIAN GRAFTS

Vancouver, B.C.

687-5411

Page Six

Christmas Issue, December,

1972

WAYNE EDWARDS and John Rice from. southern Vancouver Island listen intently to discus-
sions at sports and recreation conference.

INTERIOR FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY
~ Can’t wait to start centre plan

KAMLOOPS (Staff) — Even
though the Interior Friendship
Society won’t. be a legal entity for
another six.months, organizers are
going ahead with their friendship
centre plans anyway.

The centre is presently operating
on a part time basis by a group of
dedicated volunteers and is located
at 141 Victoria Street.

of the volunteers, lack of money is
the big problem right now.
There is. money available for

friendship centres through the
Secretary of State’s department
but this source of money is limited
to friendship centres that are
already operating and
Kamloops group can’t get their
hands on it — yet.

Right now, they’re selling raffle
tickets and membership cards. to

. pay the.rent.
According to Judy Swakum, one”

~ “We have applied for .a Local
Initiatives grant to employ six
people to staff the centre,” Judy
said, “but we still haven’t heard

Columneetza Indian studies
start of 2-way integration

-WILLIAMS LAKE — Local
school and Indian authorities are in
high approval of the Indian studies
course to be. offered at the
Columneetza.. senior high school
next semester.

The course. had been planned
with the assistance of home school
co-ordinator Irvine Harry, Alkali
Lake Band Chief; by teacher Bruce
Thompson.

The course. will focus on
Shuswap, Chileotin and Carrier
Indians’ history.and culture.

The course was designed’ to
enrich the school program so that
both. Indian and non-Indian
students will benefit from in-
tegration that has been one-way

Columneetza also happens to get
a large flow of Indian students who
are mostly from rural areas. Easy
adjustment to an urban setting and
a sense of belonging are also’
hopefully to be achieved through
the course.

. The resource course has been
accredited by the Department of
Education and the financial end is
being worked out by Thompson and
a committee of Chief Douglas
Hance, Chief Thomas Sellars and
Chief Harry.

Archaeologists as well as the
students also have helped in
designing the course which -will'
include field trips to reserves and
bringing Indian teachers and
leaders to the classroom.

_ SFU

BURNABY (Staff) — The sense
of time #hd motivation for study of
the Indiéin child were the foremost
points raised by-a discussion group
on:education.

The @iscussion was part of a
series fat deals on education of
minority or ethnic groups spon-

sored Sy the Simon Fraser
Univers@y during the second week
of Decd@Aber.

Squamgh Indian Band home

On miivating an Indian child in
a cros@cultural situation, the
group was told that if the teacher
decides'40 pay special attention to
the. child this. must be done
discreetly so as not to make the
student. feel different.

On niaking the Indian child’s
parents"become involved with the
child’s studies; the group was
advised to make ‘some effort. to
socialize in the Indian community,
and in this way. get to know the
parents, their habits and how these

the ©

from the government.”
In the-meantime, volunteers like
Judy are staffing the centre.
“Tt’s kind of hard,” she said.“‘We
all work and can’t spend all our
time there. So the centre’s not open
all the time like it should be.”

NEW TRUSTEE

Chief -Heber Maitland of the
Kitamaat Band. has just been
elected to the school board in
Kitimat. Chief Maitland, also a.

member of the Executive Com-:

mittee of the Union, won with
1,021 votes,

WHAT TO DO WITH TARDY CHILD?

discussion group asks

affect their child. The speakers felt
that this effort would lead to a
cooperative understanding bet-
ween teachers.and parents.
TARDY CHILDREN

On dealing with an Indian child
who comes late repeatedly, the
speakers admitted that time was
important in non-Indian society,
but instead‘of punishing the Indian
child for being late teachers should
emphasize encouragement of work
well done.

Jim White, relating his own
experiences, drew a comparison
between the standard of education
that Indian children receive and
that which non-Indian students get.

He said that at the Indian Day
School, which was then not run by
Indian people, he was made to
believe he was an “‘A’’ student with
top marks. .

But when he moved tothe
residential school, the Alberni
District High School, he realized he
was not an ‘‘A’’ student; he had to
struggle to maintain a passing
mark.

Comparing drop-out - rates bet-

ween the time he attended school
and the present, the present rate is
practically the same as that of the
time he was student — more than
90%.

Among reasons he cited for ‘the
high rate was the too great en-
vironmental change for Indian
students.

FULL CONTROL

“We believe that Indian parents
must have full responsibility and
control of Indian education. We
suggest that there is only one
solution for the future: let Indian
people control Indian education,”
said Andrew Charles, representing
the Union of Chiefs.

Charles outlined the fun-
damentals of Indian eduction as
proposed by the National Indian
Brotherhood and ‘its member
organizations. , .

The. NIB and its member
organizations proposed an emi-
phasis on the Indian philosophy of
education, among others, as a
foundation of any school program
for Indian children, Charles
pointed out. :

Reminiscing of an Indian

By MARGARET WOODS

They hunted with bow and arrows

For moose meat to eat for many tomorrows,
Up before dawn, no one being tardy

In groups they went, many a hunting party.
Many men are no longer needed to carry meat,
Trucks are used, manpower just can’t compete.

It is better to hunt with high powered guns,

Alas! Keeping the poor moose on the run.

This is symbolic of how our rituals have died.

Watching us, our Forefathers must have silently cried.
The present generation cannot have pride,

Their heritage and culture they’d rather hide.

However, who can we blame?

The past? The present? No! Live up to our name,

We strive for education and justice

And we really must do something about prejudice.
Their strange ways of living we try to understand
The paleface, the whiteman who invaded our land.

But, unfortunately, we being of savage descent

To understand? Perhaps of us this was never meant.

No longer do we succumb to the habit of letting things ride,
Stand up! Take notice! We are retrieving our pride.

We must all get an education

To. try to help our beautiful nation.

Never mind our emotional distress

To solve our problems are psychiatrists
and social workers, no less!

To convince us we suffer from a minor ailment

of inferiority complex,

Could it be? Our inner feelings we cannot express?
However, life goes on.and so we. exist
Reminiscing our heritage and culture,

though whiteman’s ways we cannot resist!

SQUAMISH BAND FISHERMEN

Fight with B.C.

__ SQUAMISH — Members of the
Squamish Infian’ Band’s fishing
and hunting committee are. now
waiting for. the result of an en-
vironmental study on development
in the Mamquam Channel and the
Squamish region.

A. committee’ member and a
fisherman, Chuck Billy, had taken
issue with a plan of the B.C.
Railway to build a coal port at the
channel from the originally chosen
site at the Squamish estuary.

The alternate proposal was

‘forwarded by B.C. Railway after

Environment Minister Jack Davis
released a report showing that the
former site plan would harm
commercial and sports fishery
valued at about $7.5-million yearly.

In support of the proposed
alternate site at the Mamquam
Channel Davis had strongly in-
dicated that the channel fishery
would affect decision on the coal
port.

At the same time the minister

offered the opinion that the fishery

at Mamquam Channel is an
“ecological write-off’’.

Billy said that the channel area

Thus the NIB and its member
organizations are much concerned
about teachers, Charles said; non-
Indian teachers should take
courses in acculturation problems;
anthropology; Indian history,
language and culture.

The national and provincial
Indian organizations propose that
Indian parents: should be
responsible for setting goals for
their children, and that the school
curriculum is issued to achieve
such goals, Charles added.

{PP More renee

Railway looms
is the feeding : ground
fingerlings.

He claimed that. he caught coho
this year and in the last year.

“Industry is cleaning up a bit
more each year, and I think the
salmon.would come back if there
were no part,” Billy added.

"Nearly all of the 1,200 members
of the band depend on the fishery
for livelihood and-- oppose the
building of the port altogether.

The local branch of the Scientific
Pollution and Environmental
Control Society has also objected to
the proposal. The society reported
that the protests were considerable
when two public hearings were
made for the proposed port.

Chuck Billy said Davis promised
to meet with band members about
two months ago to seek their
opinions, bu the minister has yet to -
set a date for the meeting.

In its search for an outlet for coal
from the north and central interior
the provincial government met
with Davis in Victoria.

Premier Dave Barrett an-
nounced after the meeting that an

for

‘over-all development plan around

the new proposed site has been
submitted for study to determine
the suitability of a port.

Seasons.
Grsotings

* Let peace encircle all the world.

Let men walk hand in hand

To All Indian Peoples
of British Columbia
from
The Cheslatta Band
i Burns Lake, B.C.
CHIEF GEORGE LOUIE
COUNCILLORS BILL TOM
and MINNIE PETERS
EGE REISS PER RIAN,

}
A voice from land to land. 4

nee

|
} A Living Bond of Brotherhood
j

“A WISH FOR YOU AND ALL MANKIND
PEACE AND HAPPINESS IN THE NEW YEAR

tet

Lillooet District Indian Tribal Council —

Files

Cancel

Union of BC Indian Chiefs Historic Newsletters