Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 2 No. 8 (August 1973)

Edit item

Title

Is Part Of

1.06-01.02 Nesika: The Voice of BC Indians

1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series

Date

August 1973

Subject

volume

issue

Language

Identifier

1.06-01.02-02.09

topic

Contributor

Type

periodical

extracted text

Page Two

“NES IK A

By G. McKEVITT

MASSET — The beach at the
north-western tip of the Masset
Band’s main reserve looks a little
like what could be the remnants of
the seige at Dunkirk. In a line back
from below the tide mark for a
hundred feet the sand is strewn
with concrete blocks, wooden

forms, and stunted pilings. They.

are, in fact, for the most part, the
remains of the Ministry of Tran-
sport’s battle against the elements
to keep a navigation light up at this
entrance to Masset inlet.

That is, all except the last four
stubby pilings. These are the result

of the neat work of the Masset -

Band in their latest and most
spectacular battle with the
ministry.

Like most disagreements, this
one built up over a period of time
before finally erupting. The seeds
of the present dispute were planted
back in 1912 when the first
agreement was reached for the
building of the lights on the
reserve, The two main terms of the
lease, according to Chief Bruce
Brown, was that MoT was to pay
the band $250 for the improvement
of the village cemetery, and to
build- a drawbridge across the

lagoon near the lights. The last was ~

“most important because the lagoon
~ was the only good harbour the band
had for its fishing fleet. Any other
type of bridge would cut off access
and render it useless. In 1917 the
bridge was built. Unfortunately, it
was not a drawbridge.

RESTED FOR 60 YEARS

Nothing was said at the time,
however, and the matter rested for
60 years while time and -the
elements did their part. :

Then earlier this year the band

-received-a letter from MoT asking
for signed permission from them to
cross the bridge.

Chief Brown: ‘It just came out
of the blue. We had no idea why
they. should suddenly need per-
mission to do something they had
been doing for years. Workmen
regularly drove through to service
the light in recent years and
nothing was said about per-
mission.”

THE DISPUTED BRIDGE leoks superfluous as. it

spans the now dry lageon. In the background stands

The band decidede not to sign
anything and took the letter to their
lawyer. It was then that the odd
judicial point was discovered, and
it was this that has suddenly
brought the whole matter back into
the open. :

It seems that when the lagoon

‘was: filled with water as it was
‘when the agreement was first

reached, it came under federal
jurisdiction. However, with the
building of the bridge the inlet was
no longer useful as a harbour and
was neglected. :

FILLED WITH SLUDGE

Over the years it gradually filled
with sludge and the water drained

out until it became. the dry, sandy .

basin it is today. When it emptied it
no longer was federal land but
provincial, and'a law suddenly
came into effect stating that if-an

. agency must pass over provincial
_land in going from one part of an

Indian reserve to another, it must
have permission to do so.

Firstly, the band realized that
MoT had apparently been breaking
this law for several years before
they asked for permission, but,
more important, in delving into the
old papers to research this

ROSEDALE (Staff) —. Ac-
cording to Skulkayn Band Chief
Bob Hall, the federal government,
through the LEAP program, has
approved developmental funds of
$67,799 for the Stalo Centre project.

The Stalo Centre project includes
development of the Skulkayn Band
language project into a Heritage
Village, and a museum and tribal
cultural centre. .

The band hopes that the project
will lead to opening up many jobs
not available to native people, and
carry the project on an on-going

basis through commercial activity. -

Many of the project activities
can be supperted by tying-in with a
commercial development, for
example, tourist facilities with a
native foods restaurant of the Stalo
Centre.

Decisions on money spending
and the development of the project
will be made by an interim plan-
ning committee, said Chief Hall.

This interim committee will
draft a constitution for a Stalo
Centre Society to which all Stalo
people will be a member.

In effect, explained Chief Hall,
the interim committee will be
taking the part of the tribal council
and act as the management board
of the Stalo Centre during the first
six months.

Among consultants to be hired by
the - project,
experts, legal advisors, building
advisors, and financial advisors,
are elders of the Stalo people.

Through the Stalo Centre, the
band also hopes that other B.C.
Indian bands can be assisted. to
develop their own language and
cultural programs.

This can be done with training in

‘para-skills’’ in archeaology,.

linguistics, research, and other
fields.

The ultimate aim of the centre
project is to train Indian people to
be ‘‘confident and expert’ about
their own linguistic,  ar-
cheaological, and general cultural
base, and. thus “promote racial
self-worth” as well as generate
income to people with these skills.

The first schedule of release of
funds to the project is August, 1973,
for $27,120. A similar amount is to
be released in November; the rest
of the funds will be released in
January, 1974.

After the first six months it is
expected that the museum,
heritage project, library, arts and
crafts sales, and training shop will
be supported only by partial grants
for a limited time until no further
major assistance is needed.

besides linguistics ;

question they had another look at
the lease and its promises.
According to Chief Brown, the
band has no record of receiving the
$250 for the cemetery im-
provements. MoT, when con-
fronted, maintained they had paid
it, although, they have not, as yet,
given the band any proof of it.
.. Also, as the land eroded over the
years around the lights the MoT
has. had to move them back four
times. The band contends that in
doing so they have impinged on
Indian land. MoT Regional
Director Ed Harris maintains that
they have stayed within the leased
corridor.

ABOUT THE BRIDGE

“The sorest feelings, however,

arise in the matter of the bridge. At
the time of its construction’ the
band’s boat fleet numbered close to
200 vessels and fishing was their
major sustenance. The fleet now
stands at 13, all of which are kept in
New Masset harbour, and the band
is wrought with employment
problems.

The band charges that by the
apparent breaking of the lease, the
MoT has irrevokably destroyed the
Haida village’s way of life
resulting in years of hardship.

Thus, it was with this in mind
that after one fruitless meeting
with transport officials, the Masset
council made its formal request for
$170,000 in damages and lease
backpayment to the federal
government. If they did not receive
it, they said, they would tear the
top light towers down. A second
negotiation meeting was called and
transport officials made their offer
— one, they said, based on similar
leasing arrangements in another
area — of $600.

Chief Brown described the
reaction: “There was stunned
silence for a minute and then we all
burst out laughing.”

RCMP CALLED IN

MoT did not believe the band
would really tear the lights down.

Still the RCMP was called in on °

their request on August ist,
deadline day, just in case.

Chief Brown said of that
meeting: ‘‘The Council sat in our
meeting room and talked to the
police for two hours. We described
exactly what we were doing and
told them the whole background of
the problem.”

The Councillors argued well, for,
although the RCMP still warned
them not to do it, according to
Chief Brown, they were no longer
too sure about the legality, or more
precisely, the illegality of the
band’s stand. /

So, later that. day, the eight
smiling policemen were among the
bystanders to watch a new

ceremony added to the Haida

Indian tradition: The Navigational
Light and Tower Dismantling
Celebration.

the remaining navigational light tower.

[G. MeKevitt phote]

SONG COMPOSED

Over 300 people turned out from
all over the area to watch and
participate in the ceremonies.
There was dancing, and a song was

even composed by Amanda.
a 70-year-old band —

Edgars,
member, to go along with the
dismantling. The spectators joined
in for the final stage when thick
ropes were tied to the remnants of
the 80’ tower. Everyone, well
almost everyone, heave-hoed the

last of it away amid cheers and .

applause.

The crowd was anxious to get on
with the second tower, one of a

sturdier, all-steel construction, but .

Chief Brown decided to call a halt
to it. es ae
“T think we made our point with
the one. Itis up to the MoT to make
the next move,’’ the Chief said.
To. date the band has heard

nothing at all from them. The ©

hardware and lights still sit in the
band’s warehouse waiting to be
picked up by the department.

In a telephone interview with
NESIKA MoT Regional Director
Ed Harris said that the matter

MASSET CHIEF Bruce Brown with the remnants of the dismantled

~ rested in the hands of the justice

department and was under study
as to whether charges would be
pressed. He said that there were -
possible violations under four
different sections, one of which he
sited entailed a $200 fine. Another,
which was read out to the Masset
Band Council by the RCMP, could
lead up to ten years imprisonment.
A FAVOUR TO BAND

Regarding the bridge problem,
Mr. Harris maintained that it was
not a part of the actual lease but
more like a favour MoT was going
to do for the band. The actual
building was done, he said, by the
band with the transport depart-
ment only supplying money for
materials.

As to the lease money, something
Chief. Brown said they have not
seen a penny of since the original
lease, Mr. Harris said that they
had to be billed by Indian Affairs
before they could pay it out, which
DIA have not done, apparently, for
61 years. :

Whatever. the outcome, the
Masset Band feel they have more
coming to them than lease money.
Their next step will be to bring it
out in court. If MoT presses
charges, Chief Brown said, they
will use the trial to bring their case
out in the open.

“Tf they don’t then we will bring
them to court for the breach of the
lease contract,” said Chief Brown.
ISSUE IS TEST CASE

Chief Brown went on to say that
they saw the whole issue as a test
case: ‘“‘This is only one of several
land problems we have right now,
and how this turns out will effect
our handling of the others.”

Immediately after the light was ~
dismantled, MoT. put.in a floating
one off shore as a’ temporary
replacement for it. The single
remaining light on reserve land
still stands as a mute reminder of
the ongoing struggle.

But just a little inland from the
light are even stronger reminders:
the old cemetery that still has not
got its $250 fence, and, nearby, a
sandy, dried up lagoon still baring
some rotting foundation marks of a
once thriving fishing port.

navigational light at his feet. The Band has been storing them here for the
Ministry of Transport te pick up. To date they have not been around for

them.

—(G, McKevitt photo)

Page Four

N E S i K

PORT ALBERNI NEWS 'N NOTES

By PHYLLIS HANNA

Hesquiat Days Celebration held
July 28 and 29 at Hesquiat had
something for everyone.

Due to inclement weather, many
visitors were stranded in Tofino
until late Saturday evening,
although a few came in by boat
with Mr. and Mrs. Andy Amos
from Port Alberni.

Between 250 and 300 people made
it to the celebrations after the
weather cleared and the warm
summer sun came out.

Since not all band members
could make it in time, the band
meeting and Lahal games had to
be cancelled on Saturday.

Upon my arrival at Hesquiat, I
was met by Chief Councillor Rocky
Amos whe took me up te the newly-
constructed home of Hippolite
George Ignace (Teyeahtum,
Claapshelak) — and also fondly
nicknamed ‘“‘White Man’’ and
“Hip” by his many friends and
relatives.

_ Mr. Ignace spent several hours
recounting his years living in
Hesquiat and sang several songs
including a prayer, a Lahal song, a
rowing song and other native
songs. He also told several stories.
Mr. Ignace has lived all his life

on the reserve, raised his family ~

there and worked as a mail carrier
until his retirement. He now enjoys
his retirement surrounded by his
children and grandchildren. He
also occupies himself doing art
work and is always active in band
affairs.

SATURDAY’S EVENTS

Saturday’s events included a
soccer game between the Out-
siders and the Hesquiat Braves,

esquiat Days

children’s races, and welcoming
ceremonies with traditional tribal
dancing and singing.

Once again, Mr. Ignace played
his role in the celebration, singing
and beating the drum along with
Alex and Mary Amos, Paul and
Charlie Lucas, Pat Charleson and
Rocky Amos.

Joey Tom welcomed all the
people to Hesquiat, ‘‘the greatest

place on earth,” and the singers —

sang their ‘““‘Welcome Song” and
the dancers performed the Serpent
Dance in the guests’ honour.

After a lunch of potato salad, hot
dogs and pop, the young men
gathered up fire wood and lit
bonfires while everyone socialized.

Later in the evening, home-made
fish chowder and coffee was served
in Mr. Ignace’s home.

Yours truly spent the night at
Estevan with the weatherman and
his wife as well as with Matilda
Webster and her young daughter
Florence.

Sunday’s program was much the
same — more games, dancing and
singing, as well as a salmon bar-
beque.

WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS MASS

During Sunday morning mass,
Paul Lucas and Daisy Cootes were
married. Officiating at the wed-
ding ceremony was Rev. J.
MacDonell, OMI of Tofino.

Acting as Best Man was Andrew
Amos and his wife, Marlene, was
Matron of Honour.

The bride wore a white pants
ensemble and aqua plaid jacket.
She carried a bouquet of tiny
yellow roses.

Giving the bride away was
Wilfred Cootes, the  bride’s
youngest son.

ebrations successf

Daisy Lucas was then formally
welcomed into the Hesquiat Band
and the happy couple were

presented with gifts and dances in ©

their honour.
* * *

Among Sunday’s guests were
Mr. and Mrs. George Clutesi.

Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Mickey will
be spending a few months in
Nanaimo as Charlie has been
commissioned by the Bowen Park

Recreation Commission to carve a 7

totem pole.
They will be staying with their
son, Charlie Mickey, Jr.
* * *

The Hesquiat Dancers per-
formed at Maple Band Park,
Esquimalt during the 2nd Annual
All-Native Olympiad. Dancers
were Rocky Amos, Paul Lucas,
Jr., Linus Lucas, Meslie Mickey,
Alex Mickey, Terrance Sabbas,
David Charleson, and Simon
Lucas, Jr.

Eo *

Hesquiat members who took part
in the track and field events during
the Olympiad were: Sennen
Charleson, Buster Charleson,
Mark Amos, Connie Charleson,
Marvin Jones, Brian Amos, Steve
Lucas, and Pat Charleson.

The Hesquiat Braves softball
team members were: Brian Amos,
Harry Amos, John Amos, Frenchie
Amos, Chuck Lucas, Si Lucas,

Connie Charleson, Pat Charleson, -

Joe Charleson, Francis Charleson,
Tom Watts, Joey Tom, Oscar Tom,
Larry Rupert, and Tim Paul.
Coach was Francis Amos and
manager was Pat Charleson.

Despite their best efforts, the
Braves lost.

KAMLOOPS: — ‘Talks between
city officials and Kamloops Band

Council over the forced inclusion of -

reserve lands within city limits are
continuing, but neither side will
make any comments.

The dispute resulted from
Municipal Affairs Minister James
Lorimer’s order earlier this year
that a portion of Kamloops Indian
reserve containing an industrial
subdivision leased to non-Indians
be included in the boundaries of the
amalgamated city of Kamloops so
lessees of the land could be taxed
for city revenue.

The Kamloops Band, under Chief
George Leonard and with the help
of Kamloops MP Len Marchand,
has opposed the move, protesting

that the provincial government has —

no control over Indian reserve
land.

Following the first meeting
between band and city officials
August 9, the lawyer for the
Kamloops Band, Dave Rogers,
said that negotiations between the
band-and city were in a ‘‘delicate

stage.”
Gordon Nicol, mayor of
Kamloops called the meeting
friendly.

“T feel our differences can be
resolved,” he said.

The mayor’s optimism was not
shared by representatives of the
band.

Chief Leonard and Councillor
Mary Leonard both felt that
nothing was accomplished or
resolved at the meeting.

Mrs. Leonard told newsmen that
any action resulting from the
meetings would not happen until
after a court case against the
municipal affairs department
protesting the inclusion.

In July Marchand said that the
federal government is prepared to
take the issue up in court, if a
settlement cannot be reached
between the city and band council,
but agreed with Nicol that a
negotiated settlement between the
Indian band and city would be the
best solution.

While the band and city have
several matters to work out, the

alg

controversy -centres “around two

main points:
Who should collect the taxes and

‘provide the services for the sub-

division, band or city?

And, the precedent set that the
provincial government can,
without consulting the Indian
people affected, arbitrarally in-
clude reserve lands within
municipal boundaries.

Before inclusion of the sub-
division in the city, taxes on the
leased land were collected by the
provincial government but none of
the collected tax money was spent
for servicing the subdivision.

Band officials want assurances
that. with the city now collecting
the tax revenue the services will be
provided by Kamloops city.

' Councillor Mary Leonard ‘also
voiced fears that if the inclusion
goes uncontested, other parts of
Kamloops reserve lands will be
included without the band’s: con-
sent.

Marchand has stated that the
provincial government should
clearly state its intentions in the
Letters Patent of the amalgamated
city concerning the inclusion of
Indian lands.

As matters now stand, the
Kamloops MP said, the Letters
Patent imply, but do not clearly
spell out the portions of the
Kamloops reserve which are in-

~ eluded.

According to Mayor Nicol,
further meetings are planned with
band officials but no dates have
been set. z

Tsimshan history probed by diggers

PRINCE RUPERT — A book on
the historical development of the
Tsimshian people in this area is
expected after archaeological
excavations are ended.

The diggings here have been
going on for eight years under the

sponsorship of the National
Museum.
This year an archaeological

team of 20 led by the field crew
director of the area, Richard
Inglis, are excavating tools and
weapons on a site near the native
co-operative fisheries.

The site is believed to be the
ancestral home of the Tsimshians
for 5,000 years or more till it was
abandoned around the 1700’s.

The team must and has been
working very fast. Some pits are
down to a depth of 2,000 years. It is
hoped that the diggings can go
down to 5,000 years or ap-
proximately 20 feet more.

Inglis, a full-time employee of
the National Museum in Ottawa,
said that excavations must be
finished in the area before port
developments destroy artifacts.

Among the finds are wooden
wedges for splitting wood, digging
sticks for clams or roct crops,
basketry, arrow fragments,
wooden spear handles, and a
wooden bowl.

The artifacts are sent to Ottawa
for final analysis. Eventually they
will be returned to Prince Rupert.

Commenting on the role of the
Tsimshians in Canadian history,
Inglis said:

“These people; actually the first
citizens of Canada, lived in. har-
mony with nature, and, at the same
time, they totally exploited the
environment. It’s really
fascinating to discover their life
styles, tools, and weapons.”

“The archaeological team had to
forego usual implements for one
section of the site in which the soil
has a stream bed. Metal trowels
could not be used at this water-
logged section, and so diggers had
to use a high pressure hose to wash
the artifacts from the sides of the
pits.

The archaeological team  in-
cludes ten students from across
Canadian universities.

August, 1973

ré in

of total children in care.

education for their children.

system.

identity.

placed in foster homes.

lian cl
into foster

VICTORIA — More and more Indian children are ending up in
foster homes according to a report released this month by the
Department of Human Resources.

The report noted that while the total number of children in care
of the provincial department has decreased, Indian children in
group and foster homes has risen from 18.6 per cent of 20.6 per cent

One of the reasons for this increase, according te social worker
Bernice Packford is that more and more families are moving into
urban areas from west coast reserves in search of jobs and.

Unfortunately, the social worker added, such moves don’t work
out and the parents find that.they don’t have the skills or education
to find jobs and the children find it hard to cope with the school

And due to the constant pressures of readjustment and lack of
money, the family becomes discouraged, apathetic and the parents
lose interest in what happens to the children, Dennis Alphonse,
executive director of the Indian Friendship Centre said.

To make matters worse, Indian children are usually placed in
non-Indian foster homes, because there are too few Indian foster
parents, and the children lose contact with their Indian culture and

Suggestions to improve this situation according to represen:
tatives of Victoria area Indian organizations include increased aid
to Indian families for education, housing and employment.

And, increased aid to friendship centres so that these centres
would be able to provide counselling services to deal with problems
before the family unit breaks down completely and the children

Alphonse also said that he would like to see many more Indian
foster parents and Indian group homes as “‘a stop-gap measure”
until the causes of family break-ups are solved.

The problem of infertility

By DR. GEORGE POVEY
[Last of the series.]

A couple is not considered to be
infertile until they have attempted
for a year to establish pregnancy
without success. Infertility is a
relatively common problem, oc-
curing in some 20% of couples.

The first step in the management
of infertility is a general interview
and physical examination of both
husband and wife by the physician.

The. post-coital. test is usually-.

next. The couple is advised to have
intercourse around the time of the
wife’s expected. ovulation.
- Within the next few hours, the
physician removes a sample of
mocous from her cervix and
examines it under the microscope.

If he sees many active sperms,
he can conclude that the husband is
producing these in sufficient
quantity, that intercourse is taking
place in the correct manner, and
that the cervical canal is healthy.

He then performs semen
analysis. This requires that the
husband submit a sample of his
semen, which is examined
microscopically to determine the
characteristics of the sperm.being
produced.

if these tests are unsatisfactory,
further studies are performed to

determine why the husband is not .

producing healthy sperm, and
whether anything can be done.

Next, the wife’s reproductive
system is studied. To determine
whether she is ovulating, she is
instructed to take her temperature
every morning. A woman’s body
temperature increases slightly
following ovulation, so a rise in
temperature about the middle of
the menstrual cycle indicates that
she has probably ovulated.

An examination called en-
dometrial biopsy may be per-
formed. The physician removes a
small sample of the uterine lining.
This is examined under. the
microscope, and will show certain
characteristics if ovulation has
taken place.

The physician may feel that it is
necessary to examine the ovaries.
This may be done directly through
a telescope inserted either through
the vagina (culdoscopy) or through
the abdominal wall (laparoscopy).

If these tests show that the wife
is not ovulating, it may be possible
to stimulate ovulation through the
use of medication.

Another common cause of
female infertility is bleckage of the
uterine tubes. This is usually the
result of infection earlier in life.

To study the tubes, x-ray pic-

tures are taken as a special dye is
injected into the uterus and
through the tubes. If the tubes are
blocked, the pictures show that the
dye does not pass through.

If tubal blockage seems to be the
only cause of infertility, the wife
may be offered the operation of
tuboplasty. This consists of
surgically opening and recon-
structing the tubes.

Studies indicate that about half
of the cases of infertility are due to
problems on the part of the
husband, and half are due to the

_ wife,

Many cases of infertility are
never explained. There are times
when the reproductive systems of
both husband and wife appear to be
in working order, and yet ne
pregnancy occurs. Many aspects of
human reproduction are still
poorly understood.

Diagnosis and treatment of in-
fertility entails a lengthy process
that is often unsuccessful.

The couple that wants a child,
whether or not they are infertile,
might do well to consider adoption.
Adoption offer many advantages,
among them the opportunity to
choose either a girl or a boy, with
proven good health.

Shacken students
want to switch

The Merritt School Board is
considering a request from Chief
Percy Joe of the Shacken Indian
Band in the 14 mile area towards
Spence Bridge, to have their
children attend school in Merritt
rather than have them travelling to
Spences Bridge and Lytton.

He told the board about 15
children in elementary and
secondary school education are
involved, and the Indian Band was
willing to pay transportation,

In reporting this to the Merritt
School Board, the District
Superintendent of Schools, Dougal
McFee, said he hadn’t had a
chance to discuss this with the
South Cariboo School Board yet,
but that would be mutual
agreement between the two schocl
boards.

He said he had acknowledged
Mr. Joe’s request, and would be
informing the Merritt Board on
South Cariboo’s thoughts in this
regard before they had to make up
their mind.

It was. also pointed out that
classroom accommodation for the
students would have te be con-
sidered before an answer could be
given.

Page Six

N ES I K A

By CINDY WILSON
NORTH VANCOUVER (Staff) —
Roughly 2500 spectators turned out
to watch the 4th annual — and best
yet — North American Indian War
Dance Championships held July 28
and 29 on the Capilano reserve.

Sunny skies and warm weather -
held for the three-day event which .

was hosted by the Vancouver In-
dian War Dance Club. Soft drink
vendors were hard pressed to keep
the spectators and dancers thirsts
quenched.

Indian dancers from as far away
as Nova Scotia and northern
California travelled to Canada’s
west coast to take part in the
festivities which have become an

important stop on the summer war

dancing circuit.
Surrounding the outdoor dance

arena in which competitions took '

place on Saturday evening and
Sunday afternoon, were concession
stands selling barbecued salmon
dinners, bannock or fried bread,

hot dogs, soft drinks and Indian _.

handicrafts.
TELPEE ENCAMPMENT
And to one side was the teepee

a ce

JUST A FEW of the 215 dancers who tock part in the
4th Annual War Dance competitions which were

encampment where many of the
visiting dancers stayed during the
competitions. :

Following the teepee en-
campment on Friday, visiting
dancers were invited to attend a
modern dance which was held at
the nearby Mission Reserve
Community Hall. :

On Saturday evening, war
dancing started in earnest with the
young children’s and. junior
division championships, as well as
the semi-finals for the Women’s
War Dance and Men’s Fancy

. Dance being held.

_' RESULTS/CHAMPIONS
Results of the day’s cham-:

pionships were as follows:

Little Girl’s War Dance (5 years
and under): Rhona Philip
(Shuswap) won $15 for first place;
Danielle Macey (Warm Springs)
received $10 for second, and Holly
Paintham (Yakima-Nez Perce)
placed third. -

Little Boys’ War Dance (5 years
and under): Aaron Scalplock
(Blackfoot) placed first; Craig
Charley (Warm Springs) was

THE J ACKSON GROUP of drummers and singers from the Yakima tribe
in Washington take a break from music-making during the festivities.

hosted by the Vancouver War Dance Club. This shot
was taken during the grand entrance parade of all

second; and Wayne tappo was
chosen third.

Winners in the Girls War Dance
(ages 6 to 12), in order of finish
were: Trudy Clements, Celestine
Sappat, and Georgette Clements,
all of Warm Springs.

Members of the Blackfoot tribe,
Dennis Blackrider and Sheldon
Sealplock, placed first.and second
in the. Boys War Dance, while
George Meninich (Yakima) was
third.

AMERICANS MAKE A SWEEP

American dancers swept the

Girls War Dance (13 to 17 years)
with Mary Ann Hood (Pawnee),
Corrine Kahclamat (Yakima)
taking the prize money for first and
second. Donna Tuttle (Sioux) won
third.

All of the 215 registered dancers
were kept busy on the dance floor
throughout both Saturday and
Sunday with periodic warm-up or
special dances in which all dancers

were invited to come out into the:

arena and dance to the drumming.

Although no prizes were
awarded, the 46 drummers and
singers who supplied the music,

championships.

divided $600 among themselves in
payment for their services.

Veterans of the two World Wars
and the Korean conflict carrying
Canadian and American flags led
the grand entrance of the tribal
dancers on Sunday afternoon. As
each group of dancers entered the
arena, Bert Peters, master of
ceremonies, called out the names
of the tribes represented and
where the dancers came from.

JUDGING WAS DIFFICULT

While there were dancers from
Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan,
California, and many other
American states, the majority of
the dancers were from the Pacific
northwestern states as well as a
few from B.C.

Judges had a hard time making a
choice between the excellently
costumed and graceful women
dancers in the circle and women
war dances held on Sunday.

Winners of the circle dance

were: Vivian Kahclamat
(Yakima), Ann C. George
(Colville) and Nancy Macey.

(Warm Springs).

The group was one of five which played during the senior division

—(Staff photo)

dancers taking part in the three-day event.
—([Staff photo]

In the Men’s Straight Dancing
competition, Dick Phare (Lummi)
was awarded first prize money of
$100; Neuman Hood (Shawnee)
won $75 for second place) and
Larry Pierre, Jr. (Okanagan)
received $50 for third.

SPECIAL FOR ELDERLY

A special war dance for women
over fifty resulted in Tillie’ Totus
(Yakima) winning $100, Maggi Jim
(Yakima) taking second prize of
$75, and Lee Piper (East
Cherokee) getting $50 for third.

In the Old Warriors dance,
Frank White Buffalo Man (Sioux)
carried off $100 for first place,
Watson Totus received second
prize, and Alex Saluskin (Yakima)
placed third.

Skillful dancing by those com-
peting in the Hoop Dance caused
the judges some difficulty in
picking the winners.

A playdown between Robert
Michelle (Blackfoot) and Johnson
Meninich (Yakima) was necessary
before judges could decide first
and secend place.

THE CANADIAN - CHAMPION

Robert Michelle, from Alberta,
was the only Canadian to win a
championship when he was chosen

_ as first place winner with Meninich

taking second place money. Gus
Kahclamat (Yakima) was third.

Teresa Moses (Yakima-Nez
Perce) placed first in the Women’s
War Dance with Nancy Macey
(Warm Springs) second and
Rosemary Johnson (Klamath-
Madoc) third.

In the Owl Dance, Sam and
Amelia Colwash from Warm
Springs were chosen as the win-
ners.

In the most spectacular event, of
the dance competitions, the Men’s
Fancy Dance, Butch Kahclamat
(Yakima) took top prize money of

. $300; James Meninich (Yakima)

won $200 for second; Ray Meanus
(Warm Springs) received $100 for
third; and Lelander George
(Yakima) placed fourth for $75.

VICTORY DANCE FOR ALL
A victory dance of all the win-

ners and a dance by the hard-
working judges completed — the

_ annual event which was unmarred

by any dispute over judges’
decisions, or serious mishaps.
Events followed through
smoothly all weekend and both
Indian and non-Indian spectators
were treated to a fine show of
plains-style Indian dancing.

SPORTS/RECREATION
Workshop on recreation

by ROGER ADOLPH —
Director, BCNASRFE

A pilot project for recreation worker training is beng proposed for
Vancouver Island.

In this connection a workshop will be held on September 11, 12, and 13,
at the Echo Centre in Port Alberni.

_ The purpose of the workshop is to find out what type of training is
needed at band level, where training will be held, and when it can start.
But the training program, endorsed by Indian Affairs and Manpower,
must have a guarantee from bands that when thetrainees finish they will
have jobs.
. Work opportunities, of course, will be explored also by the Port
Alberni workshop.

* * e

On the structure of the recreation worker training course, discussions
brought out the following:

1. The trainee should be interested in total programming, not merely i in
one sport, or individual.

2. The trainee’s main function is to organize recreation programs.

3. Immediate programs are Heed regarding tackling the ‘“‘idle
youth” problem.

As a result a committee for course planning was struck up, with the
folowing members: Francis Amos, Alex Sutherland, West Coast; Eric
Pelkey, Dennis Alphonse, Tim Paul, South Island; Bob Joseph, Lloyd

- Cranmer, North Island.

I would like to emphasize that the B.C. Native Sports Federation is
behind the scheme, and would like to make it a province-wide program.
The. course will then have provincial certification.

I feel that this is a good time to start, and to do our best to make the
pilot project in the Island a success. As Maurice had mentioned, com-
munity recreation grants are to be increased in the 1974 budget. Once the
program is decided on, Manpower will cover the cost and expenses of
training. Also, a grant can be obtained for employment assistance.

The program will be handled by the education department under its
special projects division: 3-4 weeks in the fall for winter recreation, and a
spring program for summer recreation. The Nanaimo School District will
do all the administrative work, and has offered its facilities.

The only requirement is that there should be at least 14 or 15 trainees
for the course.
: * * *
As an additional note for the coming big workshop in Prince George,
I’d like to point out that a workshop will also be held for summer events,
and this would emphasize organizing sports for youth.
I'd like to remind delegates that the BCNASRF will pay only for
accommodations and meals, because the federation only has limited
_ funds. Therefore, please bear in mind that travel will be at your. own
expense.
I hope very much, however, that in spite of this you would all make
the effort to come and join us in Pringe George.
* x *
By the time this issue of Nesika is out, the first Indian Golf Tour-
-nament at Prince Rupert would be over. We hope to hear from: Bill
Wesley on how it turned out.

AFTER WINNING the canoe marathon Lady Esther

from Victoria’s Inner Harbor to the International

crew members grin as they carry their Alberta canoe Border and then back tothe Inner Harbor. The Mount

back and help fellow competitors pack their canoe. Prevost team from Duncan placed second.

.C. INDIAN WINTER SPORTS

The marathon which opened the Olympiad, went (Photo by Jim Ryan)

COORDINATING WORKSHOP

Anco Motel

Purpose: To co-ordinate and calendar all winter sports
activities on Village and Provincial level.

Features: Provincial coaches, clinics officiating,
general information on winter sports, zone
playoffs, B.C. championships in basketball,
hockey, boxing, etc.

Coaches’ or !f you wish to attend Winter Sports Workshop, please fill out form and

. . mait to B.C. NATIVE SPORTS FEDERATION, before September 7, 1973.
Village Representatives :

please contact:

B.C. NATIVE

SPORTS FEDERATION
3126 West Broadway,
VANCOUVER, B.C.
Phone: 736-3561

(If you are a Manager or Coach please indicate for what team.)

Pr
o
G
a
mi
n
n

THIS ASSEMBLY LIMITED TO 2 PERSONS PER BAND

= co iM mw Gh BS Sh om GO EM em Gn GS om me oe me om me oe

ew em oe Gm ome Ge Be Go ml me mt Da

Goo oe om ome om oom om ooo

Files

Cancel

Union of BC Indian Chiefs Historic Newsletters