Periodical
Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 1 (January 1974)
- Title
- Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 1 (January 1974)
- Is Part Of
- 1.06-01.02 Nesika: The Voice of BC Indians
- 1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series
- Date
- January 1974
- volume
- 3
- issue
- 1
- Language
- English
- Identifier
- 1.06-01.02-03.01
- pages
- 16
- Table Of Contents
-
Chiefs' resolution urges three-party meet
Provincial and federal governments and bands must negotiate "cut-offs"
FLASH!
VANCOUVER (Staff) — Back here after a meeting of UBCIC representatives with Indian Affairs Minister Jean Chretien, Executive Committee Chairman Victor Adolph was optimistic about the B.C. government.
"Chretien said, 'B.C. should follow the example of Quebec'," Chief Adolph emphasized.
Adolph, saying that Victoria would now be "less reluctant" to take part in negotiations, noted that the provincial government' must take part because it has jurisdiction over land of which more is needed by native people.
Attorney General Alex Macdonald, meanwhile, has reportedly refused to comment and expressed wanting to know more about the meeting between the chiefs and Chretien.
After a two-hour meeting the Union and the federal government have agreed to begin negotiations to settle B.C. Indian land claims.
A negotiating team will be set up .immediately, and, according to a joint statement issued after the meeting, the team. will consider "the adequacy of the Indian land base, the rights of B.C. Indians to hunt, fish and trap, and the programming, services and capital necessary to ensure the social, economic and cultural viability of the Indian people of British Columbia in the future."
VANCOUVER (Staff) — The Chiefs Council, meeting mid-January to deal specially with land claims, passed a resolution calling for the B.C. government to meet with the federal government and Indian bands concerned regarding the return of "cut-off" lands.
"Cut-offs" involve about 37,000 acres pared off from reserves nearly 60 years ago as a result of a federal-provincial commission study of 1913-1916, of the McKenna-McBride report, and the following "improper and inequitable" reductions of reserves' sizes.
"There were 36 or 37 bands that had their land reduced at the time," said Philip Paul, director of the UBCIC Land Claims Centre. "There's no argument from anybody, other than the fact that
ROSE CHARLIE (Staff photo)
Rose Charlie in commission
VICTORIA — Labor Minister William King has recently announced the appointment of Rose Charlie to the B.C. Human Rights Commission.
Ms. Charlie is also the president of the B.C. Homemakers Association. She comes from the Chehalis Indian Band, near Harrison Mills.
Recently, she has been elected vice-president of the Native Women's Association of Canada.
The commission will be responsible for promoting the principles of the "tougher" Human Rights Code, passed in November, 1973.
The chairman of the commission is Bishop Remi De Roo of Victoria who is considered a "progressive churchman and humanitarian."
MLA Peter Rolston (NDP-Dewdney) has expressed that he is "especially happy" that Ms. Charlie, one of his constituents, has been named a member of the human rights commission.
Osoyoos assured, Squamish to try
VANCOUVER [Staff] -- The Osoyoos Indian Band has been. assured of another meeting with the government, but the Squamish Band will try again to have a meeting with the government.
Chief Jim Stelkia has received a call from Lands Minister Bob Williams' administrative assistant, Norman Pearson, that the government, headed by Premier Dave Barrett will hold a meeting with the band on or before February 11.
Stelkia halted his band's demonstration and told reporters that the meeting will be held at the band office. [See details on Page 5.]
Squamish Chief Joe Mathias, after a meeting of the band council, said that the council has decided to write another letter requesting for a meeting with Minister Levi and others.
Levi's office had expressed unawareness of any request from the Squamish Band for a meeting with the minister regarding their claims.the provincial government at this time doesn't want to become involved."
Chief Joe Mathias of the Squamish Indian Band, who met with Resources Minister Bob Williams and Municipal Affairs Minister James Lorimer last year, said that Williams had publicly stated that land cut-off from the Capilano reserve is a federal matter.
Mathias said that the provincial government has been given time to determine its position.
NO RESPONSE
"But we've had no reply," said the Squamish chief. "We've written to them, and all they do is acknowledge receipt of our letters."
The Squamish land in question is a 130-acre area running along the shore from Ambleside Park in West Vancouver to just past the Lion's Gate Bridge.
Members of the band demonstrated, January 21, at North Shore approaches to the bridge to stress their claim.
In the Okanagan the Osoyoos Indian Band also set up its picket along Highway 97 near Okanagan Falls. The band claims that 71 acres of land, now occupied by 92 non-Indian residents, was never released for sale or lease by the band.
PROVINCE HAD REPS
Osoyoos Chief Jim Stelkia said that the claim is a provincial responsibility because the 1913 royal commission that took the land in question included provincial representatives.
The chief said that his band
(See STUDY: Page 3)
HARRY DICKIE (Staff photo)
Citizens award to Chief Dickie
FORT NELSON (Staff) Chief Harry Dickie of the Fort Nelson Band has been chosen "Citizen of the Year" by the Chamber of Commerce.
The yearly selection is made by the Chamber of Commerce on the basis of nominations sent in by members of the community.
Chief Dickie, a member of the Chiefs' Council, is now serving his fourth term on the band council. Before he was elected chief he had been serving as a councillor for about 17 years.
"The award gives me a lift," said the chief. "You know how frustrating it is for my people, working to live like any other Canadian."
Chief Dickie said he had been thinking of stepping down and letting some younger people take over.
"This selection by the Chamber of Commerce sort of gives encouragement, a feeling to carry on and do better," said Chief Dickie.
SPEAKING TO participants of the National Committee on Indian Rights for Indian Women is Kitty Maracle of Vancouver. Standing next to her, Chairman Harry Daniels, and next to him is Margaret Horn-Dichovich, secretary-treasurer of the Quebec Metis and Non-Status Association. The conference was held from December 14-16, at Hotel Vancouver. Among the guest speakers were Vancouver Alderman Harry Rankin and BCANSI President Fred House. See story on page 6. (Staff photo)
NEW MEMBER, Bill Wilson, attends his first Chiefs Council meeting. Wilson is the member for the Kwawkewlth district. The district also has a new alternate member, Bob Joseph. Next to Wilson are: Executive Committee Chairman Victor Adolph, member for Lillooet-Lytton; Stanley Stump, Williams Lake; Cecil Reid, Bella Coola; and Adam Eneas, Kootenay-Okanagan. Besides Wilson Council has four new members and alternates.
NEW ALTERNATE member for North Coast District, Reynold Russ of Masset, sits between Bill Mussell, new member for East Fraser and formerly UBCIC executive director, and Howard Wale, member for Babine district. Member for North Coast is Tom Greene of Queen Charlottes. (Staff photo)
LAND CLAIMS Centre Director Philip Paul, member for South Island, takes notes as Executive Committee member Heber Maitland, representing Terrace district, listens intently. Alternate for South Island is Tom Sampson; Terrace, Bill McKay. (Staff photo)
DELBERT GUERIN, member for West Fraser district, makes a point, while Victor listens. Delbert now heads special committee for food-fishing. Alternate for West Fraser is Philip Joe. (Staff photo)
CHIEFS CREATE SPECIAL COMMITTEES
VANCOUVER (Staff) — Two committees have been formed by the Chiefs Council at its regular meeting in December, 1973, to deal with food-fishing and with matters relating to Minister Norman Levi's portfolio on Indian affairs.
The Native Brotherhood of B.C. will be asked to -- appoint a representative to the UBCIC food-fishing committee.
The UBCIC members of the committee are Delbert Guerin, chairman; Art Peters, West Coast district; Jim Stelkia, Kootenay-Okanagan; Gordon Elliot, South Island; and Ben Bolton, Terrace.
The committee will draft a position paper on food-fishing that will be acceptable to all B.C. Indians, and will deal with government agencies regarding food-fishing.
The NBBC representative to the. committee, Council members agreed, should be a person that does food-fishing by boat.
A motion was adopted to inform the federal government that the food-fishing committee, with consultation with the government, will establish an interim position until legislation can set up B.C. food-fishing:
Regarding Minister Levi's Indian affairs portfolio, formerly held by MLA, Frank Calder of Atlin, Council passed a motion for the Union to be involved with the advisory committee to Levi. '
Delbert Guerin and George Watts were named as Council's representatives to the advisory committee.
On Watts' suggestion Council members agreed that Philip Paul, director of the UBCIC land claims research centre, should attend the first meeting of the advisory committee.
A position paper, prepared on the basis of motions approved regarding the advisory committee, was adopted by Council.
Yet to be finalized, the paper outlines recommendations on the structure and terms of reference of the committee, and on the responsibilities and duties of the two representatives from the Council.
The advisory committee will also include representatives from the B.C. Association of Non-Status Indians.
Council also dealt with the problem of funding of the Indian Act revision program. A motion, moved by Guerin, to have a Union representative meet with others from non-treaty areas to discuss the UBCIC position and request support was approved.
The Union has made it clear that it will not take part in Indian Act revision activities unless there are new funds provided for the purpose.
Indian works in park-like site
VANCOUVER .— A museum to set up collections of West Coast Indian art and other tribal artifacts of the University of British Columbia is to be part of an area of the campus that will be developed into a park-like setting open to the public, said an announcement from the UBC president.
Now under construction, the UBC Museum of Anthropology will include a new building to house the department of anthropology and sociology.
The area around the anthropology complex will be developed "in as natural a setting as possible," according to UBC President Walter Gage.
The construction of the museum had been accompanied by fears of erosion of the Point Grey cliffs.
Gage said that the "best advice" say there is no danger.
Studies have shown that it is safe to build large buildings within 150 feet of the cliff edge; the museum is set back about 230 feet from the edge.
Certain steps are also being taken to control surface drainage and sea erosion of the cliffs, and these include a new storm sewer system that would lead run-off away from the cliffs.
The museum is being built with a $2.5-million grant, part of the federal government's $10-million gift to mark B.C.'s centenary.
The project was announced on July 1, 1971, by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, and is to be completed by April, 1975.
B.C. take-over Indian health care suggested
VICTORIA Among the proposals in the recently released report on health care prepared by Dr. Richard Foulkes is the takeover by the B.C. government of health and social services to Indian people from federal jurisdiction:
Foulkes noted in his report that the present health conditions of native people of the province is such "that it is a manifestation of social injustice so great that it demands highest priority."
High priority should also be given to aiding Indian people to get adequate housing, nutrition, education, and employment opportunities.
Not only is the infant mortality among the native people very high, but also Indians are hospitalized with infectious parasitic, respiratory, and skin diseases more than non-Indians are.
The report, released by Health Minister Dennis Cocke, suggested asking the federal government to turn over direct services to status and non-status Indians to the provincial government, and transfer funds accordingly.
Leaders meet in "think tank"
The town of Parksville on Vancouver-Island was the sight of a National Indian Brotherhood "Think-tank" held on January 9, 10, and 11.
UBCIC Executive Committee Chairman Victor Adolf, who was representing B.C. Indians there; explained that the meetings were held to provide a chance for national Indian leaders to get together informally and pool their ideas and thoughts. Because of this, he said, there would not be a public disclosure of the details of their discussions.
All the NIB member-organizations from across Canada were represented. On the final day they travelled to Port Alberni as guests of honor for a special seafood banquet. —By G. McKevitt
IT'S THIS BIG – George Watts, member for West Coast district, seems to be saying, as Council takes up the problem of Indian food-fishing. Others in picture are Chief Harry Dickie, member for Fort St. John district; Ted Lowley, alternate member for Lakes district; Executive Committee member Forrest Walkem, representing Thompson-Nicola. George's alternate is Simon Lucas; Harry's is John Badine. The regular member for Lakes is Ron Seymour. Ted takes over position formerly held by Margaret Patrick, now manager of the Lake Babine Band.
Chiefs conference site is Williams Lake
VANCOUVER (Staff) — The Chiefs Council has agreed to hold the UBCIC 6th annual conference in Williams Lake in April, 1974.
The 6th conference will be the first to be held in April following the amendment of the Union constitution moving it from November of each year.
The motion to extend the executive committee members' tenure another year was carried, but another, also moved by Bill Wilson, toward a study by a consultant to make the executive committee "a workable system" was defeated.
The present members of the committee are Victor Adolph, Forrest Walkem, and Heber Maitland.
COUNCIL COMMITTEES
For the first time also the executive committee chairman, Adolph, presided over the Council meeting.
Council also organized several committees and two special committees: on food fishing and on matters relating to Minister Norman Levi's portfolio on Indian affairs. (See other story in this issue.)
The Council committees struck are: Personnel — Stan Stump, Victor Adolph, Forrest Walkem. Special ARDA George Watts, Don Moses. Finance — Bill Mussell, Bill Wilson, Ben Robin-son, and the UBCIC accountant. Grants-to-Band — Cecil Reid, Adam Eneas, Philip Joe.
NEW COUNCILLORS
The present Council includes five new members: Bill Mussell of Chilliwack, member for East Fraser district; Bill Wilson of Vancouver, member for the Kwawkewlth district; Archie Charles of Agassiz, alternate for East Fraser; Bob Joseph, alternate for Kwawkewlth; Ted Lowley, alternate for the Lakes district; and Reynold Russ of Masset, alternate for the North Coast district.
COUNCILLORS & ALTERNATES
Other Council members are: Fort St. John district: Harry Dickie; alternate, John Badine. North Coast: Tom Greene. Williams Lake: Stanley Stump; alternate, Eric Gilbert. West Coast: George Watts; alternate, Simon Lucas. Bella Coola: Cecil Reid; alternate, Ivan Tallio.
Lakes: Ron Seymour. Kootenay-Okanagan: Adam Eneas; alternate, Wilfred Teneese. Thompson: Forrest Walkem; alternate, Gus Gottfriedson. Babine: Howard Wale; alternate, Joe Daniels. West Fraser: Delbert Guerin; alternate, Philip Joe. South Island: Philip Paul; alternate, Tom Sampson. Terrace: Heber Maitland; alternate, Bill McKay. Lillooet-Lytton: Victor Adolph; alternate, Wes Williams.
Marchand re-appointed
OTTAWA — Len Marchard (L-Kamloops/Cariboo) has been reappointed parliamentary secretary for Indian affairs.
The announcement of the reappointment along with 15 others and, the appointment of one new secretary were announced recently in the Commons by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Parliamentary secretaries can represent cabinet ministers inside or outside the Commons.
The position often serves as training for new MPs who may be thought of as a possible cabinet member.
A parliamentary secretary earns $26,000 annually, has $8,000 in expenses.
The position also carries a $4,000-increase in annual salary.
Mission centre winners
MISSION — Winners of the raffle draw during the Christmas party at the Indian friendship centre here has been announced, and the first prize of $50 was won by three-and-a-half-year-old Joan Diablo.
Jack Jones won the second prize of $30 and Robert Cantryn of Burnaby won the third prize of $20.
The party was considered a success. All the Indian and non-Indian children received gifts and candy.
Paul Stanley, featured in the movie I Heard the Owl Call My Name, told an Indian legend.
Other entertainment included a film and carol singing.
The board and staff of the centre has expressed thanks to the many stores, organizations, and people who helped.
Study needs more time
(From Page 1)
entered into a 99-year lease with a sawmill company in 1903, but never gave up possession.
A meeting with Human Resources Minister Norman Levi, who has been assigned matters on Indian affairs of the province, and Highways Minister Graham Lea appeared unsatisfactory to the Osoyoos Band.
Chief Mathias of Squamish said that his band-demonstrated also in support of the Osoyoos claims.
REPEATED REQUESTS
The UBCIC resolution said that the provincial government "has failed to agree to carry` out negotiations" although certain bands have repeatedly asked for negotiations between the bands and the federal and provincial governments.
"It's a very clear situation; the federal government has agreed these lands should be returned, and what we're suggesting now to the provincial government is that they begin negotiations with the bands that had their reserve size cut," said the chiefs' land claims research director.
A member of the UBCIC executive committee, Heber Maitland, cited an extreme case of a reserve being "entirely eliminated".
The reserve was a 4,000-acre area in Soda Creek. Band members had to move to another reserve, near Anahim, said Maitland.
Another executive committee member, Forrest Walkem, noted that the bands are not trying to get back land already developed but are willing to negotiate for parts of nearby lands or the value of what was taken.
Friendship is alive and doing 24 hours at Vancouver centre
VANCOUVER (Staff) — The executive director of the Vancouver Indian Friendship Centre, Marjorie Cantryn, emphasized that the centre is open 24 hours a day and buzzing with programs.
Mrs. Cantryn, interviewed about complaints (see. Letters-to-the-Editor column in this issue), said that the centre has not received the letter and had only heard of it from another friendship centre.
"This person must be in the friendship centre movement, but the letter certainly is not very friendly," said the centre's executive officer. "I doubt that this person ever comes to the centre. I've been here several evenings and there are a lot of activities going on."
The centre's program director, Tom Jack, was asked by Mrs. Cantryn to come to the interview to explain the incident about the judo-karate class cancellation.
FACILITY IN JANUARY
Jack said that it begun with the understanding that Ernie Dawson and Jerry Bill would work out for about an hour.
"Then they started to extend the period, and then all sorts of people were coming in and thus also using more space than was allowed for just two persons," said Jack.
The program director then asked Dawson to hold off until January so that the judo. class program could be -scheduled and given a slot among the other programs of the centre.
When someone else asked about the judo class, Jack said that he gave the explanation that had been given to Dawson.
Jack said that at present the centre has no space or facility for judo lessons, and he has asked the University of British Columbia for some mats.
Mrs. Cantryn noted that she also had spoken to Dawson, and told him that a judo program was welcome but it has to be worked in among the other programs of-the centre.
TALENT-SHARING WELCOME
"In fact, we are happy to have people share their talent with others," said Mrs. Cantryn.
Regarding advertising centre activities, Jack said that leaflets are distributed to districts and councillors. Mrs. Cantryn added that a program brochure has been distributed to other friendship centres. Some 2,500 copies were printed and the centre has run out of copies.
It was noted that advertising also depended on the availability of funds.
Mrs. Cantryn said the criticisms are welcome, but that the people also have a role in the programs at the centre along with its personnel.
A BUSY CENTRE
When Nesika visited the centre for the interview with Mrs. Cantryn, it was noted that the architecture of the building is somewhat unique, if not what might be called forbidding. For this reason, however, it would be memorable rather than "forgot-ten."
Inside the centre, the postings on the wall showed a varied range of activities. Various persons were also observed rather busy at work or seemingly engaged in some program.
As to the attitude of personnel, the receptionist — who should not be` held as representing the entire personnel, perhaps — may not have jumped up to meet the Nesika staff member, but then, at the time, she was busy typing. If she smiles sometimes at visitors, there was this day and time she didn't.
Mrs. Cantryn and Tom Jack, the program director, however, were most pleasant, and we take it from them that friendship is indeed the official policy of the centre.
Youth coordinator fired by DIA
OTTAWA — The coordinator of the youth resources program of the Indian affairs department, Danny Goodleaf, says he will go to court over his firing.
The department ordered Goodleaf to resign or be fired due to alleged " misuse of program funds.
In a reported interview Goodleaf, who is from Caughnawaga reserve, said the firing was an attempt to cancel the program.
The youth resources branch was established last year and has been the subject of controversy between John Ciaccia, then assistant deputy minister for Indian affairs, and allegedly some department .officials, as well as between the department and some Indian leaders.
The establishment of the program was, in fact, one of the reasons for the "sit-in" staged in September, 1973, by the Native Youth Association headed by Arthur Manuel.
Manuel had been reported to have commented on the program as having the effect of alienating certain young Indians with high government salaries from young Indians living on reserves.
Ciaccia was accused by some Indian leaders, allegedly, of setting up the program without consulting Indian people.
The then assistant deputy minister, now a Quebec MLA and negotiator for Premier Bourassa for the James Bay project, had reacted sharply at what he called "Indian politicians" and at critical department employees who simply hate Indians.
The program itself was supposedly set up to "assist Indian youth on reserves.
The department's case against Goodleaf involves his giving two airplane tickets worth $360 to NYA President Manuel. Goodleaf admits doing so.
He said he bought the tickets for two field workers to go to Regina, but, when the workers changed their minds, he turned over the tickets to the youth association, which happened to have had some business there.
Goodleaf asked, "If I can't help an elected person like Manuel, who can I help?"
Commenting on Goodleaf's charge that the firing was another way of the department's attempts to cancel the program, the official responsible for the program said: "I don't care who. it is, whether Indian or anyone else; if they misuse funds, they will be fired."
The official, R.M. Connelly, denied any attempt to cancel the program.
Besides losing his post, Goodleaf has also been ordered to repay the cost of the plane tickets.
"It isn't the job, it is the insinuation that I am guilty of fraud and to show that the department can't push Indians around," said Goodleaf as he vowed to fight.
As a contract employee, not a regular civil servant, Goodleaf cannot appeal to the public service appeals board.
Tangling with Assistant Deputy Minister Peter Lesaux, on a television debate, however, Goodleaf did not come off too well, according to a report, and "Lesaux came on top."
EDITORIAL REPRINT
Profit before human existence
Pacific Tribune, Vancouver January 4, 1974
The Supreme Court of Canada has come down on the side of the developers and the Quebec Liberal' Government in the dispute over the James Bay hydro-electric project.
Whatever the legal terms used to excuse such behavior, anyone can see that the land damage is still being committed; and long months of study show that this is destroying the basis of life of some 6,000 Indians and Innuit.
Granting that Canadian laws were never designed to serve the interests of the Native peoples, Canadians as a whole cannot accept, at this stage of human development, a decision so. brazenly putting profit before human existence.
Planned development for the benefit of this and future generations is welcome — by the Native population too. But the indecent haste to accomplish the fact at the cost of thousands of ruined lives (not to mention disregard for the ecology) before the public is fully aware of the dangers, is a cruel use of ruling class courts to trample, not defend, human rights.
In November Justice Albert Malouf in Quebec Superior Court, after long months of study and hearings, granted a temporary stop-work injunction to allow evaluation of the irreparable damage being done.
The Quebec Appeal Court (to hear an Indian group's appeal in March or April) has agreed to let the work go on; and in this now has the support of the Supreme Court of Canada.
Indian Affairs Minister Jean Chretien, representing the white ruling class, talks of a "just and reasonable" settlement for the Native peoples, but, while he talks, unalterable changes are being gouged into the lands and water-ways, spelling disaster for the population of the area.
This use of "justice" to wreak injustice must be brought to a halt by an even higher court, the people of Canada, who, through their working-class and democratic organizations must exert tremendous pressure, if this miscarriage of justice is to be reversed.
Friendship centre in a sorry state
c/o 7552 Dunsmuir St.
Mission City, B.C.
December 3, 1973
Dear Editor:
I am writing this letter in hopes that it will convey to some of the readers of this well known newspaper, but especially to Native Indian brothers and sisters, of the "state of affairs" at the Vancouver Indian Centre on 1855 Vine Street.
Hopefully, some of the interested and concerned people will at least look into the situation, much less do something about it. But that remains to be seen as we do not know how many of our people are interested in what happens in, about, and around Native friend-ship centres whose basic aims are to work with Indian people.
It seems that the centre is just a building, sitting there on 1855 Vine Street, looking very forlorn and forgotten. The fact is that there is no activity. It also seems that the people who run the place, do so on their own, with no consultation with the people whom the centre is there for.
When our people do find out about this and that, or have some suggestions of their own to be made, there is no one there to listen to them. Why?
JUDO CLASS CANCELLED
One incident was brought to the attention of many of our brothers and sisters. There was a judo-karate-defense course happening at the centre a few weeks back. Now, we all know that this is a pretty good course to endeavor upon one's self, especially since the brother who taught .was quite an expert and a good instructor. Also, the course was free!
There was a good turnout of those who wanted to train. Unfortunately, the "Executive Director" (or whatever her position is) sent another brother along to tell the instructor that there were to be no more classes. No reason was given.
There are many of us who feel, during the past year or few, that the centre is not running to full capacity as we think it should. Now, there must be a reason for this. Maybe the centre is doing Well, but we never know anything of what's happening. So, what are. we supposed to do or think about it?
I suppose that the centre does work with our people, but in-directly. Or, it only deals with our people individually. By saying this, I mean that it probably does help our people out with such things as social welfare, legal aid, etc. This is good. But we feel that, being a Native friendship centre, it should be open to anything that any of our people want to put to work.
STAFF'S ATTITUDE
It hardly seems open to those of us who wish to do things, like having judo lessons, for instance. We need to feel that the centre is open to us as a whole, and to anyone at all; not just to those who
( See VISITORS: Page 9 )
What's luxury
January 10, 1974
Dear Editor:
Re: Jack Maley's letter
Jack Maley, what do you think you are? You think it's all right for your people to call us down anytime they want, but let somebody like Ben Abel stand up and fight for what is ours and you get so heated up, you can't even think straight.
First you say you think so low of our Reserves, you wouldn't want to live on them; then you turn around and put us down for not letting your families live there.
You sound bitter because you lost out of the only thing your people didn't cheat us out of yet. Poor, as you say, our Reserves are, you still want to get your hands on them.
Toilets! I got a kick out of how much you think of your flush toilets. It makes no difference where you go, it still comes out the same, but the outhouse is cleaner and better. Your toilets are set up in the house, sometimes right next to the kitchen, stinking up the whole house. Outside, open ditches of filth being pumped into the sea. That's air and sea pollution for you! Is that what you call luxury?
You know something, Jack? You're so hung up on your "great state of luxury" even if you won
( See IT'S NOT: Page 9 )
CORRECTIONS
We apologize for the more-than-usual number of errors in the November-December, 1973, issue and, particularly, for the following:
1. The inadvertent omission of the author's name for the guest editorial — Natural Resources, Public Support Important — by Mr. Alfred Recalma of Qualicum Beach, B.C.
2. The man identified as Chris Cook, Jr. of the Native Brotherhood of B.C. is in fact Bill Cook.
— Acting Editor
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
It's not the end of the world
Dear Editor:
A letter from Jack Maley appeared in the November-December, 1973, issue of Nesika. The letter said that the reserves are not supporting people well.
Mr. Maley, it's a shame if I had to hold your hand, since you're capable of taking care of yourself. You make me sound like I don't even exist. You call yourself people. I am people as much as you will ever be.
Mr. Maley, when I speak out on the Indian Act, you came out tripping all over yourself, and calling me down, like I pulled the world from under your feet. I only follow the Indian Act, Mr. Maley. Don't call me down.
And straighten up there, it's not the end of the world. I never said you can't stay on a reserve. I only meant to say that non-status people do not own lands and funds.
And another thing, Mr. Maley, I have electricity, bathrooms, and a living room. And on top of that, I'm a poetry champ. Want to take me on a contest? And for another, I'm not old.
And for good measurement, I have a lot of friends that are white.
Mr. Maley, don't go tripping all over yourself and getting yourself hurt.
Patience, Mr. Maley, patience. Don't wear yourself down and hit me below the belt. It's not very nice of you to talk to me like that.
So come on there, let's be friends. Don't take me the wrong way. I have nothing against non-status people. We only have rules, Mr. Maley. So think before you speak.
Ben Abel
Indian Reserve No. 9
Westbank, B.C.
A safe place, among one's own
January 7, 1974
Dear Editor:
Re: Shirley Adams' letter of November 20, 1973
Sorry, but Shirley missed my point completely. I wasn't trying to establish whether or not a marriage of an Indian woman and a white man could work out. Also, I was speaking in general terms to get a point across. I did not say ALL women are losers. I know that some of these marriages can work; any marriage can, if the people involved are willing to work at it. I, too, can name some people who have succeeded in marriage without any grudges.
If there were more people who could see beyond the color of skin, we'd have it made, but life doesn't alway - Contributor
- G McKevitt
- Ben Abel
- Lew Mowry
- Charlie Thompson
- Allen Retaskat
- Paul Hall
- Rachel Collins
- Barbara Ann McKinnon
- Alfred Recalma
- Tom Jackson
- W. Qualt-ka
- Sonny Wilson
- David Chestnut
- Dr. George Povey
- Type
- periodical
- Transcription (Hover to view)
-
lf undeliverable, please return to Union of B.C. indian Chiefs,
2140 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., V6K 2N2, Canada
“(Chinook meaning “US”)
_ THE VOICE OF B.C. INDIANS
Vol. Ili, No. 1
‘ROSE CHARLIE
(Staff photo)
Rose Charlie
in commission
VICTORIA Labor Minister
William King has recently an-
nounced the appointment of Rose
Charlie to the B.C. Human Rights
Commission.
’ Ms. Charlie is also the president
of the ‘B.C... Homemakers
Association. She comes from the
“Chehalis Indian -Band,
Harrison Mills... >.
Recently; she has been. elected
; Vice- president | of the. Native
: &
The commission . will. be
responsible for promoting the
principles of the “tougher” Human
a Code, passed in Rover eer
1973
The chairman of the Senttassion
is Bishop Remi De Roo of Victoria
who is considered a ‘‘progressive
churchman and humanitarian.”
MLA Peter. Rolston (NDP-
Dewdney) has expressed that he is
“especially happy’? that Ms.
Charlie, one of his constituents, has
been named a member of the
human rights commission.
SPEAKING TO participants of the National Committee on
Indian Rights for Indian Women is Kitty Maracle of
Vancouver. Standing next to her, Chairman Harry Daniels,
near.
Provincial and federal governments
and bands must negotiate “cut-offs”
FLASH!
VANCOUVER (Staff) — Back
here after a meeting of UBCIC
representatives with Indian Af-
fairs Minister Jean -Chretien,
Executive Committee Chairman
Victor Adolph was optimistic about
the B.C. government.
“Chretien said, ‘B.C. should
follow the example of Quebec’,”’
Chief Adolph emphasized. ;
Adolph, saying that Victoria
would now be “less reluctant” to
take part in negotiations, noted
that the provincial government
must take part because it has
jurisdiction over land of which ©
more is needed by native people.
Attorney General Alex Mac-
donald, meanwhile, has reportedly
refused, to comment and expressed
wanting to know more about the
meeting between the chiefs and
Chretien.
After a: two- hour. meeting the
Union and the federal government
have agreed to begin negotiations
to settle B.C. Indian land claims.
A negotiating team will be set up
immediately, and, according to a
joint statement. issued after. the -
meeting,
.. the pean: will,
the ac equ the
cy 6 ian land:
_ base, the rights of B.C. Indians -to
hunt, fish and trap, and. the
programming, services and
capital necessary to ensure. the
social, economie and cultural
viability of the Indian people of
British Columbia in the future.”
VANCOUVER | (Staff) The
Chiefs Council, meeting mid-
January to deal specially with land
claims, passed a resolution calling
for the B.C. government. to meet
with the federal government and
Indian bands concerned regarding
the return of ‘‘cut-off’’ lands.
and
“Cut-offs’’ involve about 37,000.
acres pared off from reserves
nearly 60 years ago as a result of a
federal-provincial commission
study of 1913-1916, of the McKenna-
McBride report, and the following
“improper and inequitable’
reductions of reserves’ sizes.
“There were 36 or 37 bands that
had their land reduced at the
time,”’ said Philip Paul, director of
the UBCIC Land Claims Centre.
“There’s -no argument. from
anybody, other than the fact that
Osoyoos assured,
Squamish to try
VANCOUVER [Staff] The
Osoyoos Indian Band has been
-assured of another meeting with
the government, but the Squamish
Band will try again to have a
meeting with the government.
Chief Jim Stelkia has received a
‘call. from Lands. Minister Bob
Williams’ administrative
assistant, Norman: Pearson, that
the’ government, headed . by
Premier Dave Barrett. will hold as.
ti ith
demonstration and told reporters
that the meeting will be held at the
band office. [See details on Page
5.]
Squamish Chief Joe Mathias,
after a meeting of the band council,
said that the council has decided to
write another letter requesting for
a meeting with Minister Levi and
others.
_ Levi’s office had expressed
unawareness of any request from
the Squamish Band for a meeting
-with the minister regarding their
claims.
next to him is Margaret
“Indian: set up its p
along Highway 97 near Okanagan
Falls. The band claims. that’ 71
acres of land, now occupied by 92 .
Horn-Dichovich,
secretary-treasurer of the Quebec Metis and Non-Status
Association. The conference was held from December
the provincial government at this -
time doesn’t want to become in-
volved.”
Chief Joe Mathias of the
Squamish Indian Band, who met
with Resources Minister Bob
Williams. and Municipal Affairs
Minister James Lorimer last year,
said that Williams had publicly
.Stated that land cut-off from the
is a federal
Capilano reserve
matter.
Mathias said that the provincial
government has been given time to
determine its position.
NO RESPONSE
“But we’ve had no reply,” said
the Squamish chief. ‘‘We’ve
written to them, and all they do is
acknowledge receipt of our let-
ters.” |
The Squamish land in question is
a 130-acre area. running along the
“shore from Ambleside Park in
‘West. Vancouver to just past the
Lion’s Gate Bridge.
Members of. the band demon-
strated, January 21, at North Shore
approaches to the bridge to stress
their claim.
non-Indian residents, was never
‘released for sale or lease by the
band.
‘PROVINCE HAD REPS
Osoyoos Chief Jim Stelkia said
that the claim is a_ provincial
responsibility because the 1913
royal commission that took the
land in question — included
provincial representatives.
The chief said that his band
(See STUDY: Page 3) -
the Okanagan the Osoyoos
can ie Obanagan Whe Osoyoos . Before he was elected ‘chief.he had...
' Fred House. See story on page 6.
JANUARY, 1974
HARRY DICKIE
(Staff photo)
Citizens award
to Chief Dickie
FORT NELSON (Staff) — Chief
‘Harry Dickie of the Fort Nelson
Band has been chosen “Citizen of
the Year” by the Chamber of
Commerce.
The yearly selection is made by
the Chamber of Commerce on the
-basis of nominations sent in by
members of. the community.
Chief. Dickie, a member of the
Chiefs’. Council, is now-serving his
fourth term on the band council.
been serving as a councillor for
about 17 years.
“The award gives me a lift,”
said the chief. “You know how
frustrating it is. for my people,
working to ‘live like any other
Canadian.”
Chief Dickie said he had been
thinking of stepping down and
letting some younger people take
over.
“This selection by the Chamber
of Commerce sort of gives en-
couragement, a feeling to carry on
and do better,” said Chief Dickie.
14-16, at Hotel Vancouver. Among the guest speakers were
Vancouver Alderman Harry Rankin and BCANSI President
(Staff photo) ..
*
Page Two
N.E S | K-A
January, 1974
NEW MEMBER, Bill Wilson, attends his first Chiefs
Council meeting. Wilson is the
Kwawkewlth district. The district also has a new alternate
member - for the
LAND CLAIMS Centre Director Philip Paul, member for South Island, takes
notes as Executive Committee member Heber Maitland, representing Terrace
district, listens intently. Alternate for South Island is Tom Sampson; Terrace, Bill
McKay.
(Staff photo)
DELBERT GUERIN, member for West Fraser district, makes a point, while
Victor listens. Delbert now heads special committee for food-fishing. Alternate
for West Fraser is Philip Joe.
VANCOUVER :— A museum to
set. up collections of West Coast
Iidian art: and other tribal ar-
tifacts. of the University of British
Columbia is to-be part of an area of
the campus. that will be developed
into a park-like setting open to the
public, said an announcement from
the UBC ‘president.
Now under construction, the
UBC Museum of Anthropology will
include a new building to house the
department. of anthropology and
sociology.
The area around
thropology complex | will
the -an-
be
- developed “‘in as natural a setting
.as possible,” according to UBC
President Walter Gage.
The construction of the museum
had been accompanied by fears of
erosion of the Point Grey. cliffs.
$2.5-million grant,
(Staff photo).
Indian works in park- like site
Gage. said that the ‘best. advice”
say there is no danger.
Studies have shown.that it.is safe
to build large buildings within 150
feet of the cliff edge; the museum
is setback about 230 feet from the
edge.
Certain steps are also being
taken to: control surface drainage
and sea erosion of the cliffs, and
these include a new storm sewer
systeni that‘ would. lead’ run-off
away from the cliffs. -
The museum is being built with a
part ofthe
federal government’s _$10-million
gift to mark B.C.’s centenary.
The project was announced on
July 1,-1971, by Prime Minister
Pierre Trudeau, and is to be
completed by April, 1975.
Committee
‘with
member, Bob Joseph. Next to Wilson are:. Executive
Adolph, . member
Lillooet-Lytton; Stanley Stump, Williams Lake; Cecil Reid,
Chairman Victor
SS
NEW ALTERNATE ‘member. for’ North Coast District,
Reynold Russ. of Masset, sits between Bill Mussell, new
member -for East Fraser and formerly UBCIC executive.
for
Charlottes.
Bella Coola; and Adam Eneas, Kootenay-Okanagan. Besides
Wilson Council has four new members and alternates.
: director, and Howard Wale, member for Babine. district.
Member for North Coast
is Tom Greene of. Queen
(Staff photo)
CHIEFS CREATE SPECIAL COMMITTEES
VANCOUVER . (Staff) — Two
committees have been formed by
the Chiefs Council at its regular
meeting in December, 1973, to deal
with food-fishing and with matters
relating to Minister Norman Levi’s
portfolio on Indian affairs. -
The Native Brotherhood of B.C.
will _be -asked :to --appoint a
B.C. take-over Indian
health care suggested
VICTORIA Among the
proposals in the recently released ©
report on health care prepared by
Dr. Richard Foulkes is the
takeover by the B.C. government.
of health and social.services to
Indian” people from: federal
jurisdiction:
Foulkes noted in his report. that
the. present: health conditions . of
native people of the province’ is
such “that it is a manifestation of
social injustice so great: that. it
demands highest priority.” .
High priority should ‘also ‘be
given to aiding Indian people to.get
adequate . housing, ~ nutrition,
education, and “employment op-.
portunities.
Not only is the infant mortality
among the native: people very high,
but also Indians are’ hospitalized
infectious parasitic,
respiratory, and skin diseases
_more than non-Indians are.
The report; released by Health
Minister Dennis Cocke, suggested
asking the federal. government to
turn over direct services to status
and ‘non-status Indians to the
provincial government,
transfer funds accordingly.
and -
representative to the UBCIC food-
fishing committee.
The UBCIC members of the
committee are Delbert Guerin,
chairman; Art Peters, West Coast
district; Jim Stelkia, Kootenay-
‘Okanagan; Gordon Elliot, South
Island; .and Ben Bolton, Terrace.
The committee will draft a
position paper on food-fishing that
will be acceptable to all B.C. In-
dians, and will deal with govern-
ment agencies regarding. food-
‘fishing.
The NBBC representative to the
committee, Council members
agreed, should be a person. that
‘does food-fishing by boat.
A motion was adopted to inform
the federal government that the
food-fishing committee, with
consultation with the: government,
will establish an interim position
until legislation can set up B.C.
food-fishing.
Regarding Minister Levi's In-
dian affairs portfolio, formerly
held by MLA Frank .Calder_ of
Atlin, Council passed a motion for
‘the Union to beinvolved with the
advisory committee to Levi.
Delbert Guerin and -George
Watts were named as Council’s
representatives -to the advisory
committee.
On Watts’. suggestion. Council
members agreed that Philip Paul,
‘director of the UBCIC land claims
research centre, should attend the
first. meeting of the advisory’
committee.
A position paper, prepared on the
basis of motions approved
regarding the advisory committee,
was adopted by Council.
Yet to be finalized, the paper
outlines recommendations on the
structure and terms of reference of
the committee, and on ‘the
. responsibilities and duties of the
two representatives from the
Council.
The advisory committee will also
include representatives from the
B.C. Association of Non-Status
Indians.
Council also dealt with the
problem of funding of the Indian
Act revision program. A motion,
moved by Guerin, to have a Union
representative meet with others
from non-treaty areas to discuss
the UBCIC position and request
support was approved.
The Union has made it clear that
it will not take part in Indian Act .
revision activities unless there are
new-funds provided for the pur-
pose. ~
Leaders meet
in “think tank”
The town of. Parksville ‘on __
Vancouver -Island was the sight of
a National: Indian Brotherhood
“Think-tank”’ held on January 9,
10, and 11. .
UBCIC Executive Committee
Chairman Victor Adolf, who was .
representing B.C. Indians there;
. explained that the meetings were
held to. provide a_ chance for
national . Indian leaders to get
together informally and pool their
ideas and thoughts. Because of
this, he said, there would not be a
public. disclosure of the details of
‘their discussions.
All the NIB member-
organizations from across Canada
were represented. On the final day
they travelled to Port Alberni as
guests of honor for a special
seafood banquet. —-By G. McKevitt
. Page Four
EDITORIAL REPRINT
Profit before human existence
Pacific Tribune, Vancouver
January 4, 1974
The Supreme Court of Canada
has come down on the side of the
developers and the Quebec Liberal’
Government.in the dispute over the
dames Bay hydro-electric project.
Whatever the legal terms used to
‘excuse such behavior, anyone can
see that the land damage is still
being committed; and long months
of study show that this is
destroying the basis of life of' some
6,000 Indians and Innuit. ‘
Granting that Canadian laws
were never designed to serve the
interests of the Native peoples,
Canadians as a whole cannot ac-
‘cept, at this stage of human
development, a decision so.
brazenly putting profit before’
human existence.
Planned development for the
benefit of this and _ future
generations is welcome — by the
Native population too. But the
' indecent haste to accomplish the
fact at the cost of thousands of
ruined lives (not to mention
disregard for the ecology) before
the public is fully aware of the
dangers, is a cruel use of ruling
class courts to trample, not defend,
human rights. .
In November . Justice Albert
Malouf in Quebec Superior Court,
after long months of study and
hearings, granted a temporary
stop-work injunction to allow
evaluation of the irreparable
damage being done. :
The Quebec Appeal Court (to
hear an Indian group’s appeal in
March or April) has agreed to let
the work go on; and in this now has
the support of the Supreme Court
of Canada. /
Indian Affairs Minister Jean
Chretien, representing the white
ruling class, talks of a ‘“‘just and
reasonable” settlement for the
Native peoples, but, while he talks,
unalterable. changes are being
gouged into the lands and water-
ways, spelling disaster for the
population of the area.
This use of “justice” to wreak
injustice must be brought to a halt
by an even higher court, the people
of Canada, who, through their
working-class and democratic
organizations must exert
tremendous pressure, if this
miscarriage of justice is to
reversed. . :
NES IK A
SS
SSS MTIN
January, 1974
Re ss
£.
BA PS
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
It’s not the end of the world
Dear Editor:
A letter from Jack Maley ap-
peared in the November-
December, 1973, issue of Nesika.
The letter said that the reserves
are not supporting people well.
Mr. Maley, it’s a shame if I had
to hold your hand, since you’re
capable of taking care of yourself,
You make: me sound like I-don’t
even exist:.. You — call » yourself
“people. I am people as much as you —
will ever be. . 8
Mr. Maley, when I speak out on
the Indian. Act, you came. out
tripping all over yourself, and
calling me down, like I pulled the
world from under your feet. I only
follow the Indian Act, Mr. Maley.
Don’t call me down.
And straighten up there, it’s not
the end of the world. I never said
you can’t stay on a reserve. I only
~ meant to say that non-status people
do not own lands and funds.
And another thing, Mr. Maley, I
have electricity, bathrooms, and a
living room. And on top of that, ’m
a poetry champ. Want to take me
on a contest? And for another, I’m
not old.
And for good measurement, I
havea lot of friends that are white.
Mr. Maley, don’t go tripping all
over yourself and getting yourself
burt. ‘
Patience, Mr. Maley, patience.
Don’t wear yourself down and hit
me below. the belt. It’s not very
“nice of you to talk to. me like that.
So come on there, let’s be
friends. Don’t take me the wrong
way. I have nothing against non-
status people. We only have rules,
Mr. Maley. So think before you
speak.
Ben Abel
Indian Reserve No. 9
Westbank, B.C.
Publislied monthly by the _
_ Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
2140 12th Avenue W., Vancouver, B.C. V6K 2N2 |} §
Telephone — 736-6751 :
Nesika is for the use and pleasure.of all native
people in British Columbia. While the Union
encourages all contributions, we reserve the
right to edit all contributions. Contributions,
including letters to the editor, must bear the |
signature and name of the writer. Views ex-
pressed in contributions are not necessarily
» those of the Union.
Contributions must be typewritten, or hand-
written legibly, in double space. :
‘FREE TO ALL REGISTERED B.C.
NATIVE INDIANS
-OTHERS $5.00 PER YEAR
STAFF: PERLAS SABINO — Acting Editor |
FT G.McKEVITT, GERARD PETERS — Reporters
Correspondents:
LEONA FOLSTER — Art & Circulation
TERRI WILLIAMS — Research & Library
Margaret ‘Woods,
Edgar Charlie, Ahousat; Phyllis Hanna, Port
Alberni; N. C. Derriksan, Westbank.
Terrace;
Friendship centre in
- ¢/o0 7552 Dunsmuir St.
Mission City, B.C.
i December 3, 1973
Dear Editor:
Iam writing this letter in hopes
that it will convey to some of the
readers of this well known
newspaper, but especially to
Native Indian brothers and sisters,
of the “state of affairs” at the
Vancouver Indian Centre on 1855
Vine Street.
Hopefully, some of the interested
What's luxury —
January 10, 1974
Dear Editor: ,
Re: Jack Maley’s letter
_ Jack Maley, what do you think
you are? You think it’s allright for
your people to call us ddwn
anytime they want, but let
somebody like Ben Abel stand up
and fight for what is ours and you
get so heated up, you can’t even
think straight. :
First you say you think so low of
our Reserves, you wouldn’t want to
live on them; then you turn around
and put us down for not letting your
families live there.
You. sound bitter because you
lost out of the only thing your
. people didn’t cheat us out of yet.
Poor, as you say, our Reserves are,
you still want to get your hands on
them.
Toilets! I got a kick out of how
much you think of your flush
toilets. It makes no difference
where you go, it still comes out the
same, but the outhouse is cleaner
and better. Your toilets .are set up
in the house, sometimes right next
to the kitchen, stinking up the
whole house. Outside, open ditches
of filth being pumped into the sea.
That’s air and sea pollution for
you! Is that what you call luxury?
You know something, Jack?
You’re so hung up on your ‘‘great
state of luxury” even if you won
(See IT’S NOT: Page 9)
CORRECTIONS
We apologize for the more-than-
usual number of errors in the
November-December, 1973, issue
and, particularly, for the
following :
1. The inadvertent omission of
the author’s name for the guest
editorial — Natural Resources,
; Public Support Important — by
Mr. Alfred Recalma of Qualicum
Beach, B.C.
2. The man identified as Chris
Cook, Jr. of .the Native
Brotherhood of B.C. is in fact Bill
Cook. “ot
— Acting Editor
a sorry
and concerned people will at least
look. into the situation, much less
do something. about it. But that
remains to be seen as we do not
know how many of our. people are
interested in what happens in,
about, and around Native friend-
ship centres whose basic aims are
to work with Indian people.
It seems that.the centre is just a
building, sitting there on 1855 Vine
Street, looking very forlorn and’
forgotten. The fact is that there is
no activity. It also seems. that: the-
- people who run the
their own, with “no -consultation - it
with the people whom the centre is.
‘place, doso on
there for.
When our people do find out
about this and that, or have some
suggestions of their own to be
made, there is no one there to listen
to them. Why?
JUDO CLASS CANCELLED
One incident was brought to the
attention of many of our brothers
and sisters. There was a judo-
karate-defense course happening
at the centre a few weeks back.
Now, we all know that this is a
pretty good course to endeavor
upon one’s self, especially since the
brother who taught .was quite an
expert and a good instructor. Also,
the course was free!
There was'a good turnout of
those who wanted to train. Un-
state
fortunately, the ‘Executive
Director’? (or whatever her
position is) sent another brother
along to-tell the instructor that
there were to be no more classes.
No reason was given.
There are many of us who feel,
during the past year or few, that
the centre is not running to full
capacity as we think it should. -
Now, there must be a reason for
this. Maybe the centre is doing
“well, but we never know anything -
of what’s happening. So, what are:
we supposed to do: or think’ abotit
it? : ape
I suppose that the centre does
work with our people, but ‘in-
directly. Or, it only deals with our
people individually. By saying this,
T mean that it probably does help
our people out with such things as
social welfare, legal aid, etc. ,his
is good. But we feel that, being a
Native friendship centre, it should
be open to anything that any of our
people want to put to work.
STAFF'S ATTITUDE
It hardly seems open to those of
us who wish to do things, like
having judo lessons, for instance.
We need to feel that the centre is
open to us as a whole, and to
anyone at all; not just to those who
(See VISITORS: Page 9) ¢
A safe place, among one’s own
January 7, 1974
Dear Editor:
Re: Shirley Adams’
letter of November 20, 1973
Sorry, but Shirley. missed my
point completely. I wasn’t trying to
establish whether or not a
marriage of an Indian woman and
a white man could work out. Also, I
was speaking in general terms to
get a point across. I did not say
ALL women are losers. I know that
some of these marriages can work;
any marriage can, if the people
_ involved are willing to work at it. I,
too, can name some people who
have succeeded in marriage
without any grudges.
If there were more people who
could see beyond the color of skin,
we’d have it made, but life doesn’t
always work out the way we want it
to. ,
The point that I was trying to
make is that if one of these
marriages does go sour, that’s no
reason for them to try to fall back
on the woman’s people for support
just because a status Indian gets
help from welfare if she has
trouble. Before this Women’s Lib
business’ made everything go
_ haywire, people who got married
knew the score, accepted it, and
were even happy keeping their
share of the bargain. :
Now, all some women can do is
look for things to complain about.
Many of them have husbands who
get the worst part of the deal,
working eight hours a day in cold
wet places; then they come home
to a wife who is complaining about
the housework she does for no pay.
If he pays her, then she has to pay
him for living in his house, eating
the food his money buys and
everything. It makes no senise.
WOMEN’S LIB
Women’s Lib isn’t promoting
equality for men and women, it’s
making women become unfeeling
and selfish. This is especially true
‘for Indians married to white men,
because they want to regain their
status and even be able to move
back on their reserves. They, of all
people, should know that it can
only mean trouble for the ones of us
who live on the reserves.
It’s a rotten thing to have to live
» (See OF GOOD: Page 12)
. January, 1974
OSOYOOS BAND cut-off lands claims: A tong. view of the
71 acres of band lands under dispute. The land was
allegedly sold against their wishes in 1913. The reason given
the band ‘
NES 1K
A
by government representatives for. the forced. sale was that
‘showed evidence of dying out and would not
need the land.” Present users include some business, a
Page Five
stockyard, the Canadian Pacific Railway, a provincial park,
and large number of private homes.
(Staff photo)
Osoyoos Band on alert till February 11
By G. McKEVITT
OLIVER (Staff) — A phone call
from. Lands Minister Bob
Williams’. administrative
assistant, Norman Pearson, has
temporarily put an.end to the
Osoyoos band’s picketing of High-
way 97 south of Penticton. -.
According to Osoyoos © Chief,
James Stalkia, they have received
assurance that the provincial
government is willing to meet. band
representatives ..to...consider
negotiations regarding -a disputed
“71-acre plot of land.
Stelkia said, however; that. the
verbal. assurance was’ not enough
and he was writing to Williams to
secure a more specific statement
from the government. He said that
February 11 still stood as the
deadline for the meeting and, if it
did not take place by then, the band
was prepared to take “drastic .
action.” é
The disputed acreage is situated
in the small community of
Okanagan Falls, about 15 miles
south of Penticton, and at one time.
was included in the band’s land as
their number two reserve. In 1913,
however, as. a result of the
McKenna-McBride Royal Com-
mission the land was sub-divided
and sold by the Indian affairs
department.
A VERY CHEAP SALE
The reason given for the sale was
_that the population of the band was
dying out and, therefore, they did
not need the land. It was sold for
$5,833, although the actual
assessed value at that time was
$13,458.
According to Chief Stelkia, the
details of the sale are not new to
the band. He said they have been
matters of discussion right from
the beginning by band councils and
that he personally had been
researching it. for 13 years.
- Highway 97,
CHIEF J. STELKIA
He said that, from the minutes of
the 1913 meetings, it was evident
that the band had always been
against the sale and had not agreed
to it.
Through the years, Stelkia said,
the band has made repeated ap-
plications to the government‘
drawing attention to it but had
always been ignored.
It was decided, finally, by
council to bring the matter to a
head and, on January 4, they
delivered an ultimatum
threatening eviction of people
living on the.acreage and closure of
if the government
would not meet with them.
FOUR-HOUR MEETING
The ultimatum worked and on
January 21, the last day of this
deadline Highways Minister
Graham Lea’ and Human
Resources Minister Norm Levi
‘met with Stelkia and council at the
band office in Oliver.
Although this meeting lasted for
four hours, Chief Stelkia said he
felt little was accomplished at it.
“Mostly all we got was govern-
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Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
2140 W. 12th Avenue
- Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1E1
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ment doubletalk with no real
committments,’’ he said.
One important statement was
made at the beginning of. the
meeting, according to Stelkia,
when Levi announced the
provincial government wished to
be involved in any policies or
issues affecting Indians in the
province. :
After this meeting the band set
up its picket lines at Okanagan
Falls: to. publicize the - on-going
protest. They .remained ‘until
January. 23,.when: Stelkia eet ived :
word from: ‘Pearson. «
BARRETT’S. PRESENCE
‘Stelkia said that in the proposed
upcoming: meetings with the
government the band will refuse to
negotiate unless Barrett is present.
The first meeting when itis
arranged, he said, will be held at
the band office, with the purpose of
setting up the structure of sub-
sequent negotiations.
The actual working ~ meetings,
Stelkia said, must be held in
Victoria.
OTHER REPRESENTATIVES
“We don’t want to have to put up
with any excuses from the
government about not having the
right files with them or whatever,”
Stelkia explained. “If we are in
Victoria then the records are all
there right at hand.” ~
Penticton Band
to push claims
PENTICTON — The Penticton
Indian Band is ready to launch-
action on its claims on cut-off and
inadequately compensated lands.
The announcement was recently
issued by Chief Adam Eneas, who
also indicated that the band would
probably start action after the
claims of the Osoyoos and the
Squamish bands are settled.
The Penticton Band claims in-
volve 14,000 acres of land allegedly.
taken away without its consent or
compensation by the 1913-1916
federal/provincial commission.
About 1,000 acres of these cut- |
offs are in the area of the city —
land in the industrial park area and .
in the Penticton Curling Club area.
The rest is made up of a Veteran’s
Land Act settlement known as the
West Bench.
The band will also pursue its
claim for additional compensation
for lands expropriated by the
provincial government which are
now: the sites of the Penticton
airport and of the okeriges River
channel.
Stelkia said that he hopes to have
the support and_ first-hand help
from all B.C. bands with similar
land-cut-off disputes. He said he
plans to ask their representatives
to sit in with him at the meetings,
and he has already contacted
Squamish Chief Joe Mathias in this
regard.
Stelkia said that the band is
asking that the federal government
also be there represented’ by Jean
Chretien.
..Other organizations. - the. band
;wants present at the meetings
include: regional Indian Affairs
officials; B.C. Hydro; Canadian
Pacific Railway; the parks
department and the attorney:
general department — all of whom
have an interest in the disputed
land.
Stelkia said that he sees the
negotiations as a test. case. How
they are carried out, he said, will
pre-determine future disputes
throughout B.C. as well-as larger
Planned.claims of his own: band.
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People say, —
“Keep up the good work”
Mission-Abbotsford
Status & Non-Status Indian
Friendship Centre Society
Box 3145 .
Mission City, B.C.
November 23, 1973
Leona Folster
Nesika
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
2140 W. 12th Avenue
Vancouver 9, B.C. -
Dear Leona:
Thank you for your letter dated’
November 21, and the September
issue of Nesika.
Please find enclosed our ‘con-
tribution of $5.00. for a year’s
subscription.
We find the Nesika to be very
informative; keep up- the good
work. ;
Yours in friendship,
Lew Mowry
Executive Director
* ek OF
NITINAHT BAND COUNCIL
P.O. Box 340
Port Alberni, B.C.
V90 7M8
December 19, 1973
Dear People:
In response to your call. for.
financial assistance we are en-
closing -$3.00 for a year’s. sub-
scription to your paper and are
amano a
encouraging other members of the
-Nitinaht Band to do the same.
Very sincerely yours,
Charlie Thompson
Band manger
Tek
Box 302
Sardis, B.C. VOX 1Y0
Dear Editor:
Enclosed is.a money order in the
amount ‘of $3.00 to cover my sub-
scription to Nesika. -
I find the paper very interesting
and informative; keep up the good
work.
Sincerely,
Allen Retasket
VICTOR WALE
Kamloops, B.C.
FRED DRAINEY
Spence’s Bridge, B.C.
LAURENCE SMART
Skeena River, B.C.
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Vernon, B.C.
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Bellevue, Washington
PAUL HALL
NESIKA PUBLICATION FUND epites eee
ee ee —— Ty
| Nesika, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs |
| 2140 W. 12th Ave., Vancouver 9, B.C. V6K 2N2
| Iam pleased to contribute to your publication fund. (
| I enclose $3.00 to cover’my subscription for a year. — |
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(Please don’t send cash in the mail.)
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Page Six
NES IK A
MEN WERE also generously
uded in conference of native Indian women. Talking
into the microphone is Chief Morris McDougall, leader of Treaty 7 chiefs of.
Alberta, a group ‘claiming it'does not recognize the leadership of Indians of
By GERARD PETERS
VANCOUVER (Staff) _
Reinstatement of Indian status to
those women who have married
-non-Indians and recognition of
their organization as a driving
force in matters involving revision
of the Indian Act and settlement of
the land claims issues were the
central themes of the second an-
‘nual. conference of the National
Committee on Indian Rights for
Indian Women.
. The conference, held December
14to 16 at the Hotel Vancouver got
under way on the 14th with opening
remarks by Monica Turner and
Jenny Margetts from © Thunder
Bay, Ontario and Edmonton,
respectively, co-chairmen of the
organization.
. Alderman. Harry Rankin, the.
B.C. lawyer active in recent years
in Indian matters, most notably the’
: Fred Quilt inquest, welcomed the
delegation on behalf of the mayor.
In his statement he noted that
“the disease now is to give grants
for the study of problems. . . which
is much cheaper, of course, than
eradicating them.”
_THE REAL QUESTION
As an example, Rankin cited the
issue of the adoption by white
parents of Indian children in the
province. The. real question, he
said, was ‘‘Why isn’t there stability
in Indian families so that there
aren’t more Indian children up for
adoption than any other group in
Canada?”’
Rights, he continued, should be
issue-oriented and sometimes we
get lost in programs. Of the
adoption issue, he noted that the
real issue was an economic one.
Rights, he pointed out, had.to be
transferred into realities. These he
‘famed as food, shelter, clothing
and the opportunity to develop
one’s intellect to its greatest
potential.
“If we concentrated on those
four things,’ he continued, ‘we
wouldn’t be talking about 150,000
other things.”
In Rankin’s view the most
notorious question is that of
housing, the majority of which he
described as ‘“‘totally and ab-
' solutely inadequate’’.
NO MAGIC
Rankin also expressed grave
concern over the development of
Indian leadership. He pointed out
- that there was “‘no magic in being |
Indian.”
He said that it wasn’t enough to
elect Indian people, the important
thing was to elect good leaders.
“Leadership,” he said, “finally ~
means the development together of
all Indian people.”
Of Indian women, he said, “‘they
form, as women do in any part of
society, the most stable basis.”’
On the question of the loss of
Indian status. by women who
marry non-Indians, as opposed _to
Jomens’ conference |
the reverse situation — Indian
men/white women — he said, ‘It
seems to me, if you’re born an
“Indian then it’s rather difficult to.
have a lawsuit declare that you’re
white.” The ladies applauded this
position.
AN ECONOMIC FOUNDATION'
He noted, however, that there
was not unity on this question. In
summary he said:
“We still must deal with the
question of economic rights as the
foundation of all human rights. The
ability to fight the bureaucracy is
not an easy one. The total answer
still lies in organization; your
conference will hopefully deal with
those questions.” ?
Mary Two-Axe Early from
Caughnawaga, Quebec, in
reference to the eviction attempts
upon herself and other non-status
Indian women, said, ‘‘they’re ©
_fighting over who’s Indian and who
sn’t.”
i
She expressed concern for
‘teenage boys and girls who look
Indian but who are without Indian
status and who are not recognized
by the white society. :
Mary pointed out the lopsides
situation of children of white
women being given Indian status
- while children of non-status women
are not. .
B.C. WOMEN’S PLANS
Jewel Thomas, vice-president of
the B.C. Native Women’s Society
which sponsors the B.C. Indian
Princess Pageant, cited. plans in
her organization for leadership
training, and said plans were
under way for a provincial con-
“ference with representation from.
PAUL JENSON, consultant to the Indians of Alberta
Association, defends the paper he prepared regarding r ert,
_-»Changes .to the. Indian, Act. The..women delegates were . _secretary-treasurer, Native Council of Canada. (Staff photo)
Alberta Association President Harold Cardinal. At far right are Jim Robb,
smoking his pipe, and lawyer Doug Sanders. Chief McDougall had invited:
consultant Paul Jenson.
women’s groups in B.C.
Marilyn John, sole representa-
tive from Newfoundland-Lab-
rador, pointed out that ‘most
people didn’t realize there were
native people in Newfoundland
because the government. of
Newfoundland — didn’t
recognize us themselves. Up until
February of this year we were all
‘Supposed to be dead, but in —
February we formed = an
organization and the government
was quite shattered to find out
there were 5,000 Metis in:
Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Butch Smitheram, past
president of.the B.C. Association of
s.. (BCANS]D
ation. titled
: ers 2 adership Today”
calling’ for’ a change’-in the
organizational structures of Indian
‘oups. : .
The ideal he saw’ isa. structure
where. positions would be tem-
porary. and in which problem-
solving groups of experts would be
linked together by coordinating
executives “rather than through a
top dog.” : .
WET BEHIND EARS
Of the present leadership, he
said there was a
variety”. He cited no- specific
examples but made reference to
“‘young adventurers wet behind the
ears’, “older but irresponsible
types,”’ and ‘‘superstars or power-
trip leaders’.
At one point he noted that ‘our
present and our future may depend
on our leaders. . . .”” and elsewhere
he cited a ned for ‘‘more
managerial competence”’ in Indian
women. Next
even:
critical of the paper for its lack of input from native
(Staff photo)
ks at status question
In the view of this reporter our
future does indeed depend on our
leaders, but leaders with less
political cunning would be in-
competent to lead. Mr. Smitheram
should heed his own advice when
he says “‘let’s be practical in our
efforts and a little less emotional’.
The delegation rejected entirely:
“A Proposal for a new Indian Act
— For Discussion Purposes Only”
prepared by Paul Jenson, an
economist employed as a con-
sultant to the Alberta Indian
Association.
The delegation further called for
-consultation in any steps to change
“the act. Their feelings: were ex-:
pressed by one delegate who said
-of ‘anyone responsible ‘for any
revision to the act that “their first
duty is to consult the victims. of
that certain policy’.
“TREATY 7” CHIEFS
‘Called upon by the delegation to
explain the presence of Jenson,
Chief Morris McDougall from
Alberta said, in part, ‘‘I asked him
who gave him authority to work
toward the amendment of the
Indian Act. I’m recognized as the
leader of Treaty 7 chiefs. The four
“real -Heinz ~
chiefs from Hobbema have
followed suit with Treaty 7 because
they feel that, because we do not
recognize Harold (Cardinal) as our
proper leader for our Association,
they have sided with us.” .
Chief McDougall said that other
bands were “following suit” and:
that recognition now was being
given the president of The Treaty
Voice of Alberta.
: Continued on Page 12
See: LEADERSHIP NEEDS
to Jenson is Gloria Gabert,
.of any treaty,
January, 1974.
Rights case
ruled against
PENTICTON — Judge G.S.
Denroche of the district court has
ruled that two members: of the
Penticton Indian Band do not have
aboriginal rights to hunt-for food.
year-round on traditonal hunting
grounds.
Judge Denroche said that Jacob
Kruger. and. Robert Manuel,
charged with unlawfully killing big
game during closed season, are
subject to game laws.
Kruger and Manuel were
checked by a fish and wildlife -
branch conservation officer below
Rogers Ranch, west of Penticton.
between September 5 and 8, 1973.
Investigation revealed that the
two accused had four deers in their
possession. Se
The trial was based on .the con-
stitutional issue of aboriginal
rights, involving the question of
whether or not non-treaty Indians
have the same rights as treaty
Indians.
Kruger and Manuel were con-
victed on the basis of a B.C, county.
court decision on the Regina v .
Discon .and Baker.
This case in 1968 involved two
members of the Squamish Indian
Band convicted for hunting deer
out of season on the basis that
provincial law .of general ap-
plication: applies to non-treaty
dians. :
Kruger and Manuel told the
court that they hunted the deer for
needy families on the Penticton
Indian reserve. Both. were given
suspended sentences by Judge
Denroche and placed on probation.
The meat was confiscated by the
fish and wildlife branch.
An. observer has noted. that in
hunting cases involving non-treaty
Indians there may now: be more
‘reliance on the Discon and Baker
case decision. ,
British Columbia is not a treaty
area ‘with a small-exception, the
Peace River area which is within -
~ Treaty 8. negotiated in 1899 and
1900.
K. Lysyk, Faculty of Law, UBC,
noted in an article on Indian
nunting rights: “‘. . . In the absence
does the law
recognize a hunting right peculiar
to Indians? ... Or is the hunting
right merely one incident of
aboriginal title to land, such title
existing quite independently of
recognition by. legislative or
executive act, so that failure to
extinguish Indian title necessarily
involves the continued existence of
_ the hunting right as an incident of
that title?”
Professor Lysyk pointed out that
the matter was touched on in the
Regina v White and, Bob case of
:
Haida legends
in book form
VANCOUVER — A booklet of
Haida Indian legends is now
available for $1.25 a copy from the
Indian Education. Resources
“Centre.
The booklet — ‘‘Illustrated.
Legends: of the. Northwest Coast
Indians” by Sharon Hitchcock —
telis five legends accompanied by
the author’s drawings’ in
traditional Northwest Coast Indian
art style.
The author is a young Haida
artist. from Masset, Queen
Charlotte Islands. She has at-
‘tended the University of British
Columbia and has had several
small shows of her art work.
The booklet is a joint project of.
the B.C. Native Indian Teachers’
Association and the Indian
Education Resources Center: .
Copies are available also at $1.00
a copy for order of 10 or more
from: Indian Education Resources
Center, Brock Hall 106, University
of British Columbia, Vancouver 8,
January, 1974"
NUE S !I.KUA
_ Page Seven
Bulldozers carry on in James Bay while politicians quibble
what is considered rather swift:
MONTREAL ~— After Premier
Robert Bourassa revealed that
natives of James Bay had been
offered $100 million and some
modifications on the James Bay-
project, lawyers for. the affected
native people rapped. him for
premature publicity.’
One: lawyer, Robert Litvack,
called the offer of settlement ‘‘very
far’’ from the natives’ position.
Litvack said that the James Bay
Indians are not disposed to selling
their natural resources for money.
* *e *
OTTAWA -— After the Supreme
Court of. Canada handed its 3-2
decision against granting leave to
the James Bay Indians to appeal a
Quebec Court jof Appeal. decision
suspending a stop-work injunction,
Minister Jean Chretien ‘called for
settlement as a solution.
In the Commons the Indian af-
fairs minister-said he knew that the
New Cowichan chief
DUNCAN — Dennis Alphonse
has. been elected chief ‘of the
Cowichan Indian Band Council
replacing Louise Underwood.
Former chief Underwood ran
and won. a seat on the council:
Other newly elected councillors
include Wes Modeste, Arvid
Charlie Simon Charlie, Leonard
Antoine, Fred George, Wilfred
Sylvester, Ernie Elliott, Ruby
Peter, William Joe, and Ron
Daniels:
Indians had rights in James Bay
_and had urged them to go to court.
Flora MacDonald (PC-Kingston
and the Islands) had asked for
assurances that the Government
negotiators will give immediate
consideration to the priority
consideration wanted by the James
Bay Indians regarding important
changes of plans for a dam.
Saying that-the matter should not
be made a_ political issue, . the
minister said: ‘‘We don’t need any
backseat driver in this case.”
“What the minister needs is a
good front-seat driver,’’ Ms.
MacDonald snapped back. -
The Conservative member had
also moved, seconded by Joe Clark
(PC-Rocky Mountain), that: the
House ‘instruct the Minister of —
Indian Affairs and Northern
Development to arrange with the
Quebec government for an im-
mediate halt to construction until
such time as an. acceptable
political settlement of the Indian |
claims can be negotiated.”
The motion, however, did not
receive unanimous consent from
» the members. ;
The case, Chief -Robert
Kanatewat et al v The James Bay
Development Corporatidn, was an
initial victory for the Indians when
Justice. Albert, Malouf: of the
Quebec Superior Court issued an
injunction to stop work on the
James Bay project. -
The Quebec Court. of Appeal,.in
COUNSELLORS
| in-an adolescent ~ Indian
in child. care work pre-
ferred.
NASAIKA
LODGE SOCIETY
Box 34382,
Station “D”
Vancouver 9, B.C.
yf A two year Training Programme ish.
veep Pope age wc OW. available for Grade 12° gradu-@
girls’ home. “Experience i
-@ Health and Welfare Canada to pro-
DENTAL THERAPIST
TRAINING
AN OUTSTANDING
CAREER OPPORTUNITY,
ates'at' the School 6f Derital“Ther-'
g apy ..in. Fort -Smith, Northwest
Territories. :
Upon completion of this. course, ‘a
Dental Therapist can become a full
time employee of Medical Services,
vide dental treatment for Indian
people in outlying communities of
For further information please con-
Regional Director
Pacific Region,
Medical Services, -
Health and Welfare Canada,
4th Floor, 814 Richards Street,
Vancouver 2, B.C. V6B 3A9
Northwest-Coast Indian culture:
QUALIFICATIONS:
development
archival or historical research,
DESIRABLE:
communities of B.C.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
hours required.
STARTING DATE:
STARTING SALARY:
SPECIAL NOTE:
be arranged.
CLOSING DATE:
February 15, 1974.
position of this nature to
Hut L
WANTED |
ASSISTANT RESOURCES CO-ORDINATOR
The B.C. Intercultural Curriculum Project, affiliated with the University of
. Victoria, requires an. Assistant Resources Co-ordinator to assist in the
preparation and production of a multi-media social studies teaching kit on
—Minimum of Grade 12 or equivalent experience
~—Some experience and ability in writing
~Some experience or special interest in teaching ‘or curriculum
—Research experience in such fields as anthropology, linguistics,
—Several years experience working with native people in reserve
—Sensitivity to and understanding of problems of Indian education
~Familiary with audio-visual techniques
—Knowledge of native cultures of the Pacific Northwest
—Applicants must be able to do some travelling and to work at any
Immediately (project will take approximately two years).
$10,000-$ 12,000 range depending on experience and qualifications.
In the case of an applicant being involved in an education programme
arrangements for part-time work “til completiong of programme may .
Apply in your own handwriting, stating qualifications and relevant
experience in detail and stating why you would be interested in a
B.C. Gillie, Executive Director,
B.C. Intercultural Curriculum Project,
University of Victoria,
Victoria, B.C., V8W 2¥2
decision-making, ruled to suspend
the stop-work injunction. /
_ The James Bay Indians sought to
‘have the Supreme Court to rein-
- state the stop-work order, but Chief
‘Justice Gerald Fauteux, who has
recently retired, said there was no
justification for saying’ that ‘the
‘Court of Appeal did not exercise its
discretion judicially.
“Tt is not for us and it might be
improper, to say the least, to ex-
press at this time any view on the
raised in the Court of Appeal,” said
Justice Fauteux.
The former chief justice also
noted that there is no provision in
‘the Supreme Court Act allowing it
to hear appeals from the Quebec’
‘Superior Court without judgment
first being rendered by the Quebec
Court of Appeal.
Justices Roland Martland and
Bora Laskin, the latter is now chief
justice, dissented. Justice Mart-
‘land said he believes the Indians
had shown sufficient evidence that '
that an appeal against the
‘suspension of the stop-work order
should be heard.
The Court of Appeal is expected
to hear the appeal on the Superior
Court decision in favor of the In-
‘dians around March or April.
' Meanwhile, Quebec Premier
Robert Bourassa has announced
.that his government has made an
offer to the James Bay Indians and
is waiting for a counter-proposal.
Work continues on the project
various questions. which may be. important issues. were.at stake and . while negotiations are going on.
Contact:
STAFFING OFFICER
R.C.M. POLICE
“E” DIVISION HEADQUARTERS
1061 FORT STREET
VICTORIA, B.C. V8V 3K7
‘Have you considered
joining the R.C.M.P.?
* Possess a Canadian motor vehicle
* If you're a Canadian citizen
”* Have completed grade 11
* At least 5'8” tail -
* Physically fit
* Exemplary character -
_ operator's licence
* Wish to earn $7,800 a year
(Higher starting salary
for university graduates)
Page Eight
NESIKA
Janvary,, 1974
SIX OF THE TEN AltStars selection at the recently held
B.C, Packers Invitational Basketball Tournament are shown:
with. their. trophies, left to right: Lloyd Williams, Ricky
Sparrow, Nelson Leeson, Wayne Haldane, Art Helin;-Dale
Johnson. The other selections. for all stars were Dick
Leeson, Clarence Innis, Bob Johnson, Ken Wilson. B.C.
Packers took the championship by downing © Victoria,
88-71. Third place was the Macah. Nation team from
Washington
‘on. Haldane also received thet most valuable player
award; Dale Johnson, most inspirational; Wilson, highest
scorer. The tournament games were held at Musqueam.
_ The B.C. Native Winter
Games is going ahead in spite of
the provincial government’s
rejection of our request for its
support.
~ Human Resources Minister
Norman: Levi said in. our
meeting with him that he came
to his decision on the basis of a
comparison of the budget for
the community - recreation
branch and of the proposed
budget for the winter games.
The federation’s position was
that this was an unfair com-
parison. We pointed out, too,
that the minister should take a
look at the budget of the B.C.
winter sports “‘festival’’ and the
apparently scandalous ap-:
propriation of. public funds’ to
grandiose advertising of small,
local, and isolated sports ac-
tivities,
The minister, however, had
also concluded that our
proposal is a ‘“‘one-shot deal’.
SPORTS—_ RECREATION
People must fund games
The B.C. Native’ Sports
Federation is starting a. fund-
raising, therefore, to put up the
$50,000 needed for the Winter
Games.
-The federation requests any:
assistance from Indian people
across the province to make this
first Winter Games a success,
and thus prove to the. provincial
government that Indian people
are capable of carrying out such
an event.
Your full support is urgently
needed.
_ eR
The federation is now un-
dertaking a mail campaign for
groups and business.
organizations to give financial
support for the games. ‘
Those who want to send
donations may send their
cheques or money orders to:
B.C. Native Sports Federation
3126 W. Broadway
Vancouver, B.C.
Nanaimo hosts lacrosse tourdament
NANAIMO — The 1974 North
American Indian Lacrosse
Tournament will be held during the
Labor Day weekend hosted by the
Nanaimo Indian Band.
The tournament is organized by
the Indian. Sports and Cultural
Organization headed this year by
Len Johnston of North Vancouver.
ference
OTTAWA
Warren Allmand has announced in
the House that a special conference
on native inmates will be held
early in summer, and that Indian
leaders will be asked to take part.
Allmand was replying to a
question by Flora MacDonald (PC,
Kingston and the Islands) if the
minister ‘intends to consult with
native. leaders” prior to the con-
ference ‘‘to arrange for their
assistance in working out
rehabilitative programs.”
The Solicitor General, in his
‘reply, also informed the House that
a steering committee has been set
up, chaired by the deputy minister
for Manitoba, to plan the con-
ference.
Federation announces games schedule
VANCOUVER (Staff) — The
B.C. Native Sports Federation has
announced a preliminary schedule
for the 1974 Winter Games.
Roger Adolph, federation
director, said that the games will
be held at the Civic Centre in
Prince Rupert, on March. 22-31,
1974.
The games will begin with
basketball, boxing (the annual
Buckskin Glove Tournament), and
hockey.
The~ following are the zone
playoff schedules for the winter
games: .
“HOCKEY
Southern Interior Zone; Senior
Men — Merrit, February 8, 9, 10.
Contact: Felix Moses, Box 188,
Merritt, B.C. Phone 378-5101.
Northern Interior Zone: Senior
Men and Intermediate — 100 Mile
House (tentative), February 16, 17.
Contact: Simon Moses, c/o Doh
Day De Claa Friendship Centre,
1990 Renwick Crescent, Prince
George, B.C. Phone 563-8145.
BASKETBALL
Vancouver Island Zone: Junior
Men — Port Alberni West Coast
District Gym, March 1, 2, 3. Senior
Men — Port Alberni Secondary
- High School.Gym, March 8,..9, 10.
Contact: Simon Lucas, RR #3, Port
Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7L7. Phone 723-
8165.
Junior Women — Saanich,
February 23, 24. Contact Dave
Paul, 1012 Stelly’s Crossroad,
Brentwood Bay, B.C. Phone 652-
3271.
Senior Women — Nanaimo,
February 16, 17. Contact: Wayne
Edwards, phone 390-4076.
Lower Mainland Zone; Senior
Women — North Vancouver,
Carson Graham High School,
Basketball
tourneys set
VANCOUVER — A boys’ and
girls’ basketball tournament will
be held at the Musqueam Indian
Band gym, February 9 to 10.
Players are in the age group of 12
to 14 years. For more information
please contact Amelia Campbell,
6442 Crown Street, Vancouver 13.
Phone 261-1552.
In Lytton two basketball tour-
naments are scheduled: boys,
February 15-17; girls, March 8-10.
More details are available
through Fred Charlie, Box 20,
_ Lytton; phone. 455-2304. :
March 1, 2,3. Contact: Vern Baker,
Len Johnson. Phone 985-2384, 985-
Wl.
Southern’ intexior Zone: Junior
and Senior Women — Kamloops
Senior Secondary High School,
John Pedersen Jr. Secondary
School, February 23, 24. Contact
Felix Moses, Merritt, phone 378-
5101.
Northern Interior Zone: Junior
Women — Prince George Senior
Secondary High School, February
9, 10. Contact Bob Sebastian, Doh
Day De Claa Friendship Centre,
phone 563-8145.
North Coast-Babine Zone: Junior
and Senior Men — Prince Rupert
Civic Centre. Annual All Native
Basketball Tournament, February
25-March 2. Contact John Lambie,
phone 624-4047; Bill Wesley, phone
624-4480.
Junior. and Senior Women —
Masset, March 5-9.
oe Roe
The following are the basketball
age divisions:
Junior Men — age 21 years and
under as of January 1, 1974. Senior
Men — 21 years and over.
Junior Women — 12 to 16 years
as of January 1, 1974. Senior
women — 17 years and over.
Solicitor General :
Other officers of the organization
are Doug White, Jr., vice
president; John Brisebois
(Caughnawaga, secretary-
treasurer.
Directors are Russ Jacobs and
Simon Baker of North Vancouver,
Ross Powless of Six Nations, Doug
White Sr. of Nanaimo, and Joe Two
Rivers ‘of Caughnawaga..
he... organization’s ~ vice
and the U.S. will take part. in the
games.at the Civic Arena.
The chairman of entertainment.
events, Doug White Sr., said that
dancing, arts and crafts, and canoe
~ Gary © Powless,
: president said that it is ‘hoped that
teams from Quebec, Ontario, B. C:y
racing among others, may also be
scheduled with the tourriament
events. ‘
The tournament in 1973, held in
Caughnawaga, Quebec was won by
the Six Nations team, followed by .
Caughnawaga, North Vancouver,
and Nanimo Nanaimo.
Bob Thomas, Nanaimo, won the
most valuable player award with
a. well-known
eC. Jaerosse-playing:
family from the Six Nations tribe.
Other awards.of the 1973 games
are Barry Delisle, Caughnawaga,
top scorer; followed by Evan
Thomas, Six Nations, and Vern ~
Baker, North Vancouver.
Alcohol named as major problem
by chiefs’ union health survey
VANCOUVER (Staff) — Alcohol
is seen by community health
workers on reserves as a major
health and social problem through
the province.
This finding is one of the results
of a survey of field conditions faced
by community. health personnel
conducted by the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs during the fall and
early winter of 1972.
The survey sought to get in-
formation on, among other things,
what are the major health
problems of Indian people, and
what the community health
workers recommend to improve
health services.
Besides. alcohol, field workers
pointed to the following critical
conditions:
(1) Sanitation. This problem is
complicated by lack of “safe”
or. “‘running’’ water, over-
crowding and inadequate
housing.
(2) Lack of coordination of
health, welfare, and other
workers in the community, and
communication difficulties
among workers and people of
the community.
(3) Inadequate transportation
facilities to clinics and
hospitals.
The chief recommendations
made by the community workers
to improve health services include
improving transportation services,
more in-person contact with
medical personnel, more funds for
improving sanitary conditions,
better communications with chief
and council.
Some respondents to the survey
noted that the chief and council do’
not get involved because the
community health worker is
employed by the department of
national health and welfare.
On the question of improving job
performance of the field workers,
the workers. recommended better ©
transportation, more training for
workers in home nursing and basic
first-aid, and clarification of the
role of community health workers
and community health aides.
Regarding role perception, it
was mentioned that band members
have normous expectations; in
some areas community health
workers are expected to give
medical treatment and diagnose
illness. P
The survey report of the Union
notes that community health
personnel face “multiple yet inter- -
related’ problems, and that the
workers’ recommendations should
be given “serious consideration
and prompt action.”
The Associated Boards of Health
of B.C., meanwhile, has passed a
resolution urging. the federal
government to give all jurisdiction
of health services on Indian
reserves to the B.C. health
department.
The resolution which had been
under study for three years has
been endorsed by the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs.
A former president of ABHBC
said that the association of health
boards delayed its . recom-
mendation pending its approval by
the Union.
Medical services are now split
between the federal . government
for services on reserve, and the
provincial government for services
in schools.
Page Ten
NE S IK A>
B.C. INDIAN COMMUNITY PROFILE
Progress
MORICETOWN BAND council: Left to right, Councillor
Band Manager Barbara McKinnon
(seated), Mrs. Mabel Mack, Chief Johnny Mack, cultural
George Williams,
By G. MCKEVITT
On any. day in the summer,. and
especially on the ‘weekends,
Moricetown Canyon, 20 miles’ west.
of Smithers; is a large attraction
for the tourists travelling Highway
16. The attraction is not just this
spectacular bottlenecking of the
Bulkley River but also the three
fish ladders built at the canyon’s
wild and rocky mouth.
This added attraction might, to a
degree, have helped the sales in the
Moricetown : Band’s craftstore
situated right above the ladders,
but it is a small benefit compared
to the losses the band has suffered
since the ladders were built.
The Moricetown Band's
population, the second largest: in
their district, had depended
heavily on the ideal fishing created
by the narrow. waters of the
canyon. That was drastically
changed in 1950. .
Since then, when the ladders
were installed, the fishing has
dropped considerably. So much so
that where there were once four
‘large smokehouses standing on the
banks of the canyon there now. is
-only one.
According to Band Manager
Barbara McKinnon, the agreement
at the time was that-if the band’s.
fishing was affected by the lad-
‘ders, the government. would
compensate the loss with canned
fish.
‘CANNED FISH
But as Chief Johnny Mack put it
with a-smile: “Mr. Reid (the
Fisheries official) spoke to us with
a forked tongue.”
Despite a survey and numerous
presentations by the band to the
- department, they have not
received one can of salmon in the
' 23 years existence of the ladders.
Manager McKinnon thinks one of
the earlier drawbacks to. com-
pensation might have been inac-
curate recording of the number of
fish actually caught in the canyon.
When fisheries installed the
ladders, they also installed a fish
warden to control thé fishing in the
area and keep track of the catch.
At the time Mrs. McKinnon was
working. for..the department...i
Smithers, and she discovered large
less
irregularities in the reports put.in.
by the warden.and.the.accounts.put:.
to her by her own people, at home;
The warden. was apparently
grossly eae the quantity,
of fish being caught
AN INDIAN WARDEN
This. among other things led to
the strong protest by the band that
eventually led to the installing of a
band member in the warden’s
position.
The new warden, Charlie Basil,
lives in a small house built by
fisheries perched high, almost
overhanging the canyon. From:
here he can keep a constant watch
on the activities of the fishermen
below.
‘Warden Basil talked about the
change he has seen in the fishing
since the ladders were built: ‘At
one time it wasn’t unusual to see
the fishermen bring in 60 fishes in
an hour. It takes a week now for
QNE..OF THE. more active members of the Moricetown
_ Band, Mrs. Lucy Namox, sews some moccasins in the
January, 1974
fish for Moricetown
worker Victor Jim, and Councillor Dan Mitchell at the
newly completed band office. The band also has recently
finished an extension of their recreation hall (in. which the
them to catch: ‘what -used to take
two. hours.’’ :
Although the accuracy the is!
catch: reports can no longer be“
questioned, the band has still ‘not
seen any action from the depart-
ment.
“They’ve adinited that they
have broken .their promise,” said
councilman Dan Mitchell, - “but
what can you do?”
GUILTY... BUT
While it: has been difficult to
make progress in this issue the
band has, however, been moving
ahead in other areas. One tangible
“result is..the nearly completed
addition to their community hall.
The addition almost doubles the
size of the old building, which was
built as a centennial project. in
1967. Besides giving a larger area
for games, dances, etc., the new
wing includes a stage, new band -
council offices, and a clinic room. °
(this page).
‘The work was all-done under a LIP
grant by. band carpenters. .
reserve is also handled by band
-members ‘under: the direction of
‘district supervisor, Walter Wilson.
This year the band was: allotted
five houses which, according to
Chief Mack, were welcome but fell
far short of the need.
FORCED OFF RESERVE
Although the baid’s population is
.close to 1,100, over 600 are living off
‘reserve. Most of those who moved
off have had to do so because of
lack of housing. Chief Mack
estimated a need of at least 45
houses just to start meeting this
demand as well as replace some of
the old houses on the reserve.
Another major reason for the -
migration away from the reserve
is the lack of work in the area. The
majority of the jobs that are to be
‘found are in logging and sawmills.
band’s craftshop. On the table are some finished samples of
her leather and bead work.
(Staff photo)
“House construction: ‘en the’
office is located). The basement. will later house a band ©
health clinic. Manager McKinnon writes of other projects
(Staff photo)
_ But in order to hold down a steady
job, the band members often have~ ‘
to. travel quite far. Some} ‘for--~
example, have.. to..commute. to
Houston and mill: there, over 60
miles away.
Because of this the band ‘has
been concentrating on attempting
to create employment within the
village. The band employs a ‘full-
time maintenance man, Dan
Mitchell, and a hall janitor, Adam
Brown.
Other. employment is derived
through their crafts store and
camp ground. The camp ground,
which can accommodate up to 40.
vehicles and tents has proven quite |
successful. .
NEXT FOUR YEARS
There is, to date, no electricity
into it and the band hopes to bring
it in within the next four years.
Continued on Page 11
See: MORICETOWN
Only trying
to hang on
Continued from Page 9
up to fight for what is ours, but you
think because you’re a white man‘
makes you better even though you
speak with the true tongue of a
racist.
Ask yourself who is more
justified: your people who have
always had the upper hand, so
superior feeling — your nurses,
teachers, judges — all your people
in important positions can turn us”
away because we’re Indians, or
‘we, who are trying to hang onto the
only thing that we can say belongs .
to us without your people yelling
“You don’t belong here; this place
is only for whites.”
Not only Gabriel Dumont and
Louis Riel would have scorned the
likes of you; anybody with any
sense can’t stand greedy, selfish
men like you.
After all, wasn’t it your people’s
idea to keep us separated? Seems
like they thought we weren’t good
enough to mix with.
Rachel Collins |
January, 1974
N ES 1K A
Page Eleven
Participation a must for
new Moricetown ice rink
By BARBARA ANN McKINNON
I am proud to announce that we-
have had the good fortune to have
our Work Opportunity Program
application approved this year for
$7,000 towards our proposed out-
door. skating. rink on the
Moricetown reserve.
‘The total estimated cost.on the
195’ by 80’ rink, including a
changing cabin to provide a
dressing space and heating
facilities, is $16,062.05. “
Other committed funds besides
the grant include $1,500 from self
contribution recreation and $1,000
- from band funds. Other sources
would. be a fund drive through
bingos and sponsors from com-
mittees on the reserve and
hopefully from the Smithers town
area. We have to raise the total
amount of $6,562.05.
How will it. all get done?.
Unemployed men will be hired
through the band council and one
‘qualified carpenter as supervisor.
The band secretary, Amie
Williams, and Band Administrator
Barbara Ann McKinnon will ad-
minister funds available for labour
construction on the skating rink.
The two band employees will
assume full responsibility for
administration of the program in
accordance with Departmental
regulations and the funds will be
used for the purpose indicated
above.
The band council will have audit
of the account for the project when
completed and the.records will be ©
accessible to the depanment at all
‘times.
Our emphasis in the project is to
provide jobs for the unemployed
men with big families or single
men. to get involved. .in_ reserve
activities...
Benefits to participants will be ‘to
be able to create such teams as.
minor, junior, and senior hockey, ©
and more winter activities for the-
young. to enjoy.
The construction of the rink has
been postponed because of cold -
weather until such time when it is
THE LAST remaining smokehouse of four that once stood
here, on the edge of Moricetown canyon. Some band
‘convenient to go on with the con-
struction.
We hope that this will be a
‘success and get the co-operation of
the people on and off reserve.
I am ‘submitting this item to
encourage people to come out and
help the rest and make this: a
success.
Particularly for the people who
have accused band managers for
not doing their THING! So far I
have been in the band office
working and no one came by or
phoned us to even say it’s a good .
project, or give any kind of en-
couragement to see that this
project is a success.
I’ve tried and did my best for my —
reserve and the people. I’ve never
received too many thanks except
for sitting on my fanny and getting
paid for it. How else.am I suppose -
GG do the paper work? Lie around
and complain? -
I have been very patient in
taking unpleasant looks and words |
from some people, but I’m only a
human being and an Indian.
I do enjoy working for my band
and it’s only fair that we have some
credit for sacrificing a lot that’s
being held against’ us and for the
fact that we are working for their
benefit and their reserve as much
as_ ours.
We always. wanted to do
something for our reserve. Don’t
you think now’s the time to do it?
Best wishes to all!
Charles Morven, 65
PRINCE RUPERT — Dennis
Morven — Agwe Lak Hah — a chief -
of .the Eagle tribes died recently.
Morven, born in Aiyansh, had
‘been a mechanic for Colcel.
The late chief is survived by his
wife and nine children, ‘Robert,
Evans, Bruce, Willard; Amy,
‘Coleen, Laura; - Eligabeth and
Audrey:
Chief Agwe Lak’ Hah is also .
survived by his-brother John, and
his sisters Sarah and Elizabeth,
and by 18 grandchildren. -
Services were held at St. An-
‘drew’s Cathedral, and interment
was at Fairview cemetery.
CHARLIE BASIL, a band.member, is fisheries warden. His
duties include keeping a record of the number of fish
regulate their fishing times
caught by the band,
Continued from Page 10
Within that time they also hope
to bring in showers. and improved
roadways to -provide in the end a
complete, modern, totally serviced
camp ground. °
Nearby is the band’s baseball
.field, the scene of one of their chief
recreational pastimes. They are
active in both softball and hardball
-:and have the only all-native hard-
ball team in the Smithers district’
baseball Jeague.
The band is algo active in basket-
ball and field hockey and hope by
next year, also, to have. built: an
outdoor ice rink to add to their
recreational facilities.
VILLAGE CLUB
The craft store is under the
management of ‘the village’s.
rapids at entrance to the canyon. This is also the site of the
fishermen can be seen among tourists by the white water
_ the canyon area.
‘Catholic Women's Club, . which,
according to Band Manager
. McKinnon, have always played an
active part. in the social and
economic life of the band. The
store stocks and sells only products
of the band’s own craftsmen.
_ Although there is some. carving
(evidenced by the several new
totem, poles in the village) the
majority of. the crafts are leather
» and bead. work. -
Besides craftwork, other
traditions are still quite strong. in™
‘village ‘life: According to Mrs.
~ McKinnon, . traditional dancing is,
held quite often and the native
‘Carrier language is spoken
regularly by all but the youngest.
In order to insure the survivial of
the language in the years to come,
the band has been considering the
Moricetown recreation hall grows
(Moricetown is allowed to. net and gaff for five days a
week), and keep an eye on the many sports fishermen in
(Staff photo)
bringing of its teaching into the
‘schools. Mrs. McKinnon recently
|brought the matter up to the local
‘school board.
‘LANGUAGE PROJECT. :
A project that is underway is
‘being carried out for the summer
- by Victor Jim, a band member who
‘is currently in his fourth year in
sociology at the University of
British. Columbia.
The financing of a First Citizens’
.Fund grant has enabled Jim, along
with Bertha Joseph to record and
translate some of the many
traditional stories of the area.
He said. he foresees the
‘possibility of getting the legends
into schools for study as well.as the
possibility of constructing a history
from them.
fish ladders that have caused the sharp decrease in catch,
Top left corner, the fisheries warden’s lookout and home.
The warden has reported more decrease,
* (Staff photo).
Page Twelve
In dark hours of the night —
Family difficulties don’t time themselves to come within the normal
‘office hours of the child care agencies. i :
Sometimes wee ones are left to fend for themselves in the dreary,
dark hours of the night. And it is here where the emergency home parents /
come into the picture.
At. a moment’s notice they will accept the abandoned children,
bathing them, feeding them, soothing and cuddling to help them settle
down from the shock of losing Mummy and Daddy. :
Next is the problem of finding a foster family that will care for the
little ones, for from three to six months, while (hopefully) their parents
get it together, with community support and re-establish the home.
Right now hine-year-old RON.and his seven-year-old brother LEN —
both sturdy fine looking youngsters — are looking for a family to give
them attention and acceptance. RON is on a remedial réading program,
LEN does well at school. Both need a dad’s encouragement to participate
in sports.
Eighteen-month-old BRYAN has chronic bronchitis. He needs a home
where there are no children under ten years of age and where mother
could learn the special skills to help him with difficult breathing. os
Last month 61 children varying in age from newborns to teens neede
temporary foster homes. Others like them will need homes this month.
If your family can expand to care for a baby, toddler, or older
youngster please phone Pat McPherson or Jan Heath at the Catholic
Family & Children’s Service — 683-0281.
Of good whites and bad Indians
(From Page 4)
with, but a ‘lot of white: people.
~ aren’t willing to give us a chance to
make it by oursélves.“One look’ at
our skin and they condemn us as no.
good thieves and drunks, just
because we’re Indians. We can’t
pretend that prejudice doesn’t
exist. Pretending can only make
things worse, that’s why we have to
try to think hard about things
before we make decisions. We’ve
been losing so long, it’s high time
we stood up te fight for what little
the white people left us.
We may never see peace among
all races in our lifetime, but, .as
Shirley says, there are quite.a few
good white people who don’t care
what race you are, they give
everybody the same chance. There
are even some who give more help
‘than our own people in: times of
trouble. I once knew a teacher who
said that he knew two men, one
‘white and one Indian, who went to
apply for the same job. They both
had the same qualifications, but
the Indian had a higher education.
This made no difference, the white
man got the job because the boss
figured he was better than the
Indian. Reason: Race! This
teacher was ashamed for his
people to do such things, but he
figured it would: always be that
way. Race being the determining
factor of who is the better man.
There aren’t many like that
teacher, that’s why I’m against
non-status Indian women
regaining their ‘status.. Because
this, in turn, will lead to white men
moving onto our reserves,.and so
many times we see our people
giving better treatment to Non-
Indians than they do to their own
kind.
“COCONUT PEOPLE”
For example: In one reserve
where they had movies and white
people attended; the councillors
would chase their own people off
their chairs for the whites like their
money wasn’t as good as the white
man’s. Yet, when they went to the
white people’s movies, they were
given a separate side of the hall-to
sit on and called all kinds of rotten
names.
There are some people who have
something good in their hands —
the ability to communicate, yet too
many times they misuse it and turn
it against their own people. I guess,
you could call them, ‘coconut
people,”’ brown on the outside’ and
white on the inside. Willing ‘to
forsake their own people to please.
the white people. If those women’s
demands were met, we’d have
“Coconuts”. on one end and
prejudiced white people on the
other, and we’ll be caught in a
bind. Give them the upper hand
and they’re liable to walk all over
us.
- Our reserves are small enough
without being shoved around by
other people. Some are so small,
you can walk to one end of it, turn
around, and see the whole village
in one glance.
Again, to avoid. misun-
derstanding, this is my opinion, but
from the experiences I’ve had, the
places I’ve been to, I know that
many of our people agree. There’s
good and bad in all walks of life.
Some white people with more
understanding than Indians, some
Indians with no understanding at
all. Some don’t see much of the bad
side, but most of our people know
what. the white man’s prejudice
can do. It can mean a loss of pride
and dignity in a world dominated
by people who, for the most part,
aren’t willing to give peace a
chance. There are so many in-
cidents I could use to justify my
opinions, but there is no space.
A SAFE PLACE
I too, do not like to acknowledge
emotional, broad, and rash
statements, especially when they
are directed at my people and
based on prejudice alone. And,
believe me, I’ve seen and heard
some things that will make you
‘sick with disgust, that’s why I
believe that we would be better off
to keep our reserves for ourselves,
however poor they may be.
For some of us, our reserve is the
only safe place from. the white
people’s ridicule and injustice. It
feels good to know that all the
people on your reserve are your
own kind who understand your
ways of life. Lots of people feel that
way, but we won’t have that
anymore if white people are
allowed to live there with us.
Roxanne Brown
NES Tt K As
By ALFRED RECALMA
QUALICUM BEACH — -Why. is
the land question — in 1974 — still
under study? This is our land. If:
that impression is a fact, then let
us demand retribution in money
for land and natural resources. We
need money for decent homes,
craftshops, credit unions, and
stores.
It’s about time we put our petty
empire-building aside, and lay out.
plans for our children and
generations to come. We are in this
dilemma because we relied: on
-Ottawa, “‘our great white: father,”
to look after our interests. This has
been a dismal failure.
The blame lies with us because
we elect leaders who give us no
direction. Ottawa hands out grants
which are but crumbs, and Ottawa
made chiefs fall for this.
As one voice we can change any
law or treaty that works against
our wishes. Democracy only works
for those. who. are interested
enough to make it work. We need
inspiration, pride, and respect, but
with Ottawa-made chiefs this will
never happen.
With large tracts of Indian land
lying idle, do we honestly expect to
be given more land?. British
Columbia’s population is rapidly-
increasing, and soon there will be
no unoccupied land. What then?
- These are facts. we should be
studying. Let’s’ stop. this
daydreaming that land will be
given us. By whom? The federal
government has already stated
there has to be provincial par-:
ticipation. The old game of buck-
passing. Do we really thinking the
provincial government will give us
land to lie idle when they could be
collecting taxes on the same?
There are billions of dollars in
resources which we could lay
claim to. With a steady income
from land payment and natural
. yesources we could shed Ottawa
and forget their crummy grants.
Grants are subject to their
.whims, and, furthermore, these
are only another form of welfare.
The impression is obvious that
when Ottawa says ‘‘no grants,” we-
January, 1974
Large tracts of Indian lands are idle
have no recourse but accept it.
Until we get politically oriented,
we will never break the barriers
that keep us second-class people.
Write to your MPs in Ottawa,
question them during elections,.
and the same for our MLAs in
Victoria. They must be pressured
before we are paid attention to.
Most important, we must all be
paid up members of all our
organizations with papers where
we could express ourselves freely.
We must learn to pay for our dues
and paper subscriptions in-
dividually, and be involved in
every aspect where we can be
more self-reliant.
As one travels the province, it’s
easily noticed that only on Indian
reserves are there no stores or gas
stations. Do you want, for always,
your children living in this en-
vironment? There are millions. to
be made in- Indian handicraft.
Districts could hire Indian
teachers to set up classes - for
basketry and woolen wear, such as’
sweaters, toques and socks.
Let’s hear from you.
Leadership needs
Continued from Page'6
Chief McDougall continued,
‘Now how did this man (Jenson)
get here? I said, ‘““You have an
obligation. Come to the meeting in
Vancouver because I am sure the
women are going to challenge you
as to why you built that act in that
manner.”
Fred House, president of
BCANSI, said that he wanted
native people regardless — of
whether they were men, women,
youths, or children “to come
together, to talk together, and to
come out with solutions that will
solve the common problems that
people face all. across the coun-
try.” as e nek Td ned Tare o
COOPERATION )
House continued, saying he’d
strive toward unity among. all
Indian groups whether male or
female. with cooperation and
consultation among all groups in
the solution of common problems.
Philomene Ross‘ of Edmonton
countered by asking. for such a
promise in writing.
Bill Wilson, employed by
BCANSI and now also a member of
the Union of B.C. Chiefs Council,
urged the delegation to become:
involved in decision-making that..
would affect them.
Wilson suggested that the women
elect men who would represent
them, or to elect from among
themselves. C .
Finally, regarding the Indian
Act, Wilson stated that he was of
the personal opinion that it was “a
complete red herring to draw our
energies. away from the pursuit of
the land claims issue” and that he
did not think the government ‘“‘had
any intentions whatever in
following through with the
promises regarding the Indian
Act.” . .
problem-solving experts
PART IN REVISION _
The delegation -called for.
recognition of native youth, as well _
as themselves, by the government
to participate in amendments to
the Indian Act. Citing a case on the
Caughnawaga_ reserve,
in traditional burial grounds
should be permitted.
Another resolution dealing with
they.
passed a-resolution saying that the:
burial of non-status Indian women.
deserted, divorced, or” widowed
‘Indian women who lost status upon
marriage, called for the rein-
statement of such women and their
children as status Indians.
Finally Ethel Johnston of On-
tario and Beth Paul of Saskat-
chewan were chosen as coor-
dinators of a- subcommittee
responsible for heading research
into.the rights of Indian women.
Private college wants students
NEW HAMPSHIRE, USA
Dartmouth College in Hanover has.
announced it is recruiting Indian
applicants to join the present 44
students said a spokesman.
In a letter to the Union of Nova
Scotia Indians expressing welcome:
for an application by a member of
the Union, Coordinator Anthony
* Genia urged that students be in-
formed of ‘‘educational op-
portunities. at Dartmouth’ and
said that the college can give
financial assistance to: Indians
living outside the U.S.
Genia wrote: ‘‘Dartmouth
College was founded in 1769 as a
school to educate Indians.” But
since then it has only graduated 25,
having turned in the last 200 years
as a “prestige school for upper-
class non-Indians.”’
In 1970, on his inauguration as
president, John Kemeny pledged to
have the college fulfill its charter.
The founder, Eleazar Wheelock,
had established Dartmouth as a
school for Native Americans.
Under the Dartmouth Plan, one
of the college programs, a student
may do up to two years’ course
work at another school and still
receive financial support and
graduate from the college.
The college policy is that native
American student ‘shall be denied
an education for‘lack of funds, and
an office of financial aid was set up:
to respond flexibly to student.
needs.
Financial aid may be a college
scholarship, atribal scholarship, a
BIA scholarship, parental con-
tribution, or self-help.
Self-help may ‘be by way of
summer work, government in-
sured loans, or work/study
program.
Those interested may write to:
Native American Programs
321 College Hall
Dartmouth College
Hanover, N.H. 03755
.. USA. :
The college also will accept
collect calls for information, 603 -
646-3542.
New Necoslie chief
FORT ST. JAMES — New chief
of the Necoslie Indian Band, 36-
year-old Peter Prince, hopes. to
organize the band council into
committees so that each councillor
will be in charge of a department.
MARY TWO-AXE EARLY testifies at 2nd conference for
native women of Canada — “even the dogs from Montreal
a
are buried on Caughnawaga” — as she joins attack on legal
division of native people as status and non-status.
N ES ' K A
Page Thirteen
Touch the Earth :
By Tom Jackson
The earth cannot remember now
The touch of those who cared
Who walked the unstained snows in peace -
Rode naked in the prairie breeze
And breathed the breath of mountain trees
Upon the morning air.
The winds were green and eager then
_ The eagles nested high
_ Majestic in their hunger’s strife.
Prayers went with the skinning knife
‘That took the deer our brother’s life
To keep us warm and dry.
But now the tortured earth reflects
The white man’s heavy hand
They have made the rivers stink
And every lake a garbage sink
No one besides the red fools think
Of beauty and the land.
euuseNe Though we have wept and prayed
exenens Our land has been betrayed.
The Indian Cowboy
By W. Qualt-ka
The Indian cowboy
looking good, riding tall
lean and strong with a Stetson hat.
He’s just living for the moment
Living only for today
He left a wife and child |
Choosing to chase a dream:
The winner takes all
Thousands applaud
Then luck changes with the wind
Maybe he’ll pack it in, hitch-hike home
Saddle and spurs in a bag ‘
“More likely than not ~~ a
He’ll keep on winning, losing
Gaining money for today
-Tomorrow he’ll hustle and hope for more
Picking up stray women
One night here, four nights there
They’re always forgotten °
Pretty faces, soft bodies, they’re all the same.
What’s his love?
What’s his goal?
Who knows. ;
He’s just a circuit riding cowboy
Living wild, hard and free.
The Half-Breed
By Sonny Wilson _
Feeling the hunger just like you
A chickadee in no-man’s land
Live your death the truthful way
Oh, hand-me-down Indian.
Hoping for help from disunity
Searching for the rain of truth ©
To wash away the ugliness
On the street of brotherhood.
To whom Lodge’s flaps are drawn
To whom Mansion’s gates are shut
The hunger of belonging denied
Even freedom is in limbo.
Who? °
Half-breed.
Points to’ ponder
By ALFRED RECALMA
Some minds are like concrete,
‘thoroughly mixed and _per-
manently set. 3
k OR
A person is not what he thinks he
is, nor is a person what he says he
is. All of us are what we. do;
nothing more, nothing less.
# oe ‘
Equality? Fairness? Rubbish!
The one thing we all share —
Greed.
The world needs more men and ©
women:
1, Who do not have a price at
which they can be bought. -
‘2. Whose ambitions are big
enough to include others.
3. Who know how to win with
grace and lose with dignity.
4. Who are not afraid to go
against the grain of popular
opinions and do not believe in
“consensus’’.
5. Who are occasionally wrong
and always willing to admit it.
By RAYMOND NAHANEE
(EDITOR‘S NOTE: The author
is a member of the Squamish In-
dian Band. He remembers very
well stories told by his grand-
parents about the coming of the:
white men. His grandparents, he
said, thought the white men were
dead because they looked so pale.
When the white men needed food or
were ill, the author’s. grand-
parents, he said, were among those
who went to their aid and helped
them survive. Later, when the
white men began to take away
Indian lands, his grandparents told
their children and grandchildren to
study and know the weapons for
getting back their lands.
Through the years, the author
has kept some clippings of interest
to aboriginal lands, and he has
‘given Nesika some of these. The
author also took great interest in a
landmark case, Regina v. White
and Bob. For this other reason two
editorials on the case in the Van-
couver Sun are reprinted in this
issue.)
The Indian people claim lands as
aboriginal. and tribal lands for
residence, hunting, fishing and
transportation. These lands are not
paid for by, nor given to, govern-
ments — federal, or provincial, or
municipal. Indian people claim
that these lands and waters, trees,
minerals, etc. are theirs and their
right to hunt and fish, and other
rights to these lands and waters
are rightfully theirs without the
jurisdiction of any federal,
provincial, or municipal govern-
ment.
On federal or provincial
jurisdiction, we (Squamish In-
dians) have signed NO treaty or
agreement giving title to our
aboriginal and tribal lands, and for
fishing and hunting rights for
Vancouver City and Stanley. Park;
Burrard Inlet Harbor,
Sound, Squamish River,
Cheakamus. River, and other:
waters; - Bowen,.. Gambier, and
adjacent islands and waters; lands
surrounding Howe Sound. and
Squamish Valley to .the head
waters; North Vancouver, West
Vancouver and other lands.
We have the right to hunt and
fish. such areas because there is no
sale agreement. The Squamish
Indians’ ownership and rights are
Voice of a
fallen warrior
By DAVID CHESTNUT
There was a time. There was a
place. Can you hear? Can you
recall? Can you see the wind? Did
you ever ride naked in the prairie
. breeze? Have you looked into the
eyes of a dying fawn only to see
your own soul? Will your Ged give
you life in meadow streams. by
offering you the beauty of the
hunt? Has there ever been a time
in your past of serenity, when you
walked alone in a land blessed with
the full potential of Mother Earth?
Do you, can you, delve into your
.past and heritage and imagine a
child walking hand in hand with his
creator upon the soil of complete
and unspoiled earth?
These memories are mine, for I
am Almighty Voice: And they will
forever remain. No violence or
abuse shall shake me from the
wisdom I have learned from within
the dignity of my origins. And I ask
younow, walk with me, now, in my
footprints, along the sundance
margin of night and day, where
you leave behind the spoils of the
earth, and enter into the times and
dreams, beauty and the heritage,
of my own people. In spite of what
you have done to me, I offer you
friendship and brotherhood. I offer
_ you.peace and I ask you to know
me as-you have never known me
before. I ask your respect, for I am
a man. “
There was a time ... when I
offered these to you, and you stole
' Continued on Page 16
See: A JOURNEY ~
Howe.
still valid, even though the white
governments have stolen and
claim such lands. without. the
Squamish Indians’ consent or
authorization, without a treaty,
and without paying for such lands
through an agreement of sale.
The white governments set up
reserves for animals, and our
people — afraid at the time of
genocide — accepted harboring
themselves on pieces of mudflats
to protect their surrounding land
On the Squamish’s aboriginal rights —
until such a- time when the
majority would be educated
enough to speak for their rightful
aboriginal and tribal heritage, for
what was theirs and still is.
_Now that we have been and
continue to be harassed and in-
timidated by government officials,
we must declare ourselves as .
original owners who have the right
to hunt and fish, etc. on our tribal
lands — now and forever — without
yeing harassed and intimidated.
EDITORIAL REPRINTS
The skeleton in the cupboard...
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following
editorials appeared in the Sun,
March 6, 1964-in connection with
the Regina v. White and Bob case.
The clippings of these editorials
had been given to Nesika by
Raymond Nahanee, Squamish
Band. We are reprinting these
because it gives a clue to
-somethinking on aboriginal rights
ten years ago, almost.
Judge A. H. J. Swencisky let a
skeleton out of the cupboard with
his decision that B.C. Indians must
‘be permitted to hunt game animals
for food on Crown lands, despite
what our game laws may be.
Most British Columbians don’t
want to meet this native Indian
skeleton. For one thing, it reminds
them that they invaded this land,
little more than a century ago, and‘
took it from the Indian.
For another, they are baffled,
because they don’t know how to
help the Indian, even with the best
‘intentions. His individualism, his
quiet humors, his peculiar lack of a
. sense of time and his strange pride
. and prejudices are puzzling and
_ embarrassing.
It would be so much more con-
venient to the white if the Indian
would disappear from this ‘area,
‘preferably by becoming like all the
- rest of us, thereby proving . the
essential propriety of our way of
life.
All these: things the Indian
declines to do.
He remains for the most part,
poor. and proudly Indian, a
reproach to the affluent society.
Judge Swencisky’s decision
reminds white British Columbians,
now the great majority, that these
people do have special rights.
There have been other reminders
in recent months, froma the Nor-
thwest Territories, from Manitoba
and more- recently from
Washington State. There will be
more. 7
Whether or not the Canadian
treatment of the Indian has been
fair — and it may certainly be
argued that in the last century it
was far more fair than the near-
genocidal policy on the American
western plains — it has obviously
‘been ineffective and unsatisfactory
to both parties. .
Judge Swencisky wisely
suggests that his decision be ap-
pealed to a higher court, and the
attorney-general’s department
sensibly agreed.
A matter of this importance,
-affecting as it does Indian rights as
well as game conservation,
deserves deep study.
_But the common attitude of. in-
difference about Indian claims to
aboriginal rights in Canada has
been thoroughly shaken by the
Swencisky decision. So it should
be
... can’t live on deer meat
Whether or not the Swencisky
decision is’ upheld on. appeal,
British Columbian and other
Canadian Indians should not
delude themselves ‘that’ here is a
road back to what are called’ the
good old days. | ©
In almost all of Canada, the
hunters’ economy is as dead as the
Saskatchewan buffalo herds.
Neither white nor Indian will see it
return. .
If Indians take advantage of the
Nanaimo County Court decision to
slaughter game indiscriminately,
there will very soon be: no more
game and no more huntirig, Only
Indians living poorly on the white
man’s conscience money.
Any B.C. Indians who believe
that hunting and fishing rights can .
guarantee prosperity or who
suggest that their reserves can
indefinitely accommodate the
native Indian population explosion
are eating wind.’
Together with people all over
this planet, they have been
catapulted into a new,
technological age, demanding high
education and new skills. As with
any..other people, the Canadian
Indian has no retreat to the past,
only an avenue to the new age.
This is well known to the new
generation of B:C. Indians. If In-
dian leaders suggest that the right
to shoot deer is any real solution,
they do a cruel disservice to this
generation of their people.
children.
program.
School District No. 72.
SCHOOL DISTRICT No. 72
-(Campbell River)
REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY:
HOME-SCHOOL COORDINATOR
The home-school coordinator will act as.a liaison person between
Indian parents, homes, ‘students, and schools. The coordinator
will strive towards major understanding among Indian people and
teachers on matters pertaining to the education of native
An education committee representing local bands and the
non-status Indians will assist in establishing priorities and
Preference will be given to an applicant either of Indian origin or
to a person who has practical experience with Indian people.
Initial salary will be in the range of $8,000 to $10,000 per annum
for the school year depending upon qualifications and experience.
Please forward applications as soon as possible to:
MR. DAVID E. A. ELDRED
District Superintendent of Schools
940 Alder Street
Campbell River, B.C.
VOW 2P8
Page Fourteen
From princess
to treasurer
VANCOUVER — Julia Marks,
an accounting student at Langara
College, has been elected treasurer
of the North West indian Cultural
Society at a general meeting held
on January 21, 1974.
Ms. Marks replaces Hattie
Fergusson who has been the
society’s treasurer for a number of
years and had wished to turn over
the responsibility to a new and
younger member.
The new treasurer has been the
Indian Princess for the society
during the last two years.
“The society has been very in-
terested in the guidance of her
destiny,” said a statement from
the executive.
The executive also issued the
. follcwing statement regarding its
plans for a Heritage Village.
“The Society has decided to keep
plugging at the Heritage Village in
the Vancouver area as a com-
mercial venture for the tourist
season. A working committee was.
set up of volunteers.
“We want to venture in to
something that will eventually be a
money maker and mean the em-
ployment of a large number -of
people, not a selected number of
relatives and friends.
“Anybody or any group in the
Vancouver area with the same idea
should join with the North West
Indian Cultural Society and the
war dance group, who have joined
hands, to work toward this goal.”
~ Students protest
VCC package deal
VANCOUVER (Staff) — After
complaints made by Vancouver
City College, Langara Campus,
Indian students were dealt with at
an Indian’ Students” Advisory
Committee meeting held January
10, it was agreed that there should
be student input and participation
in policy making affecting their
education.
It was suggested by Committee
member Bob Sterling, Director of
the UBC. Indian Education
Resources Centre, and agreed
upon that students be invited: to.
attend meetings of the Advisory
Committee and be allowed to
contribute in that matter.
Others in attendance at. this
meeting were Percy. Roberts: and
Kathleen. Malloway both. Home-
School Coordinators; . student
counsellors Harvey Brooks of
Langara and Dorothy Neville of
the VCC Special Programs
Division, Hattie Fergusson; and
controversial former high school
principal John Young, now
working with BCANSI. :
A “package deal’’ consisting of
Political Science, West Coast
’ Cultural Studies, Communications,
College Orientation and. Urban
Orientation -was ‘‘required’’ as
opposed to “offered” programme
. for all first term Indian students.
_It had been designed originally
for Indian teacher’s aides. It was '
decided to extend this course to all
first term Indian students as. an
antidote to the high drop-out rate.
_. The students, however, were not
’ consulted. Their complaints varied
but centred, around the fact that
the programme resulted ina loss of
personal identity and_ in-
_ dividualism. They wanted no
“‘watéred down”’ courses and they
wanted options to choose from.
Boyce Banner, head of education
for Fraser Indian District when
vasked what the consequences
would be for students who had
withdrawn from college because of
the ‘‘package deal” said that such
cases would be left open and would
be treated on an individual basis.
He instructed Harvey Brooks the
counsellor responsible for Langara
Indian students in this regard and
says ‘I haven’t been contacted by
Harvey (Brooks) so I assume that
he’s handled it all by himself.”—
By G. Peters ‘
They'd love a place to live
Those difficult teen years. Even’
in well-adjusted homes, where
parents strive for understanding
and the youngsters know they are
loved, problems arise and must be
worked out.
But there are those who find the
problems. insurmountable, who
need a helping hand from outside
and. the family to aid in bridging
the gap. from dependence to in-
dependence.
In both their homes, or in foster
homes they have found the stresses
too painful to allow for school
activities or friends, and they need
a breather in a neutral setting.
These youngsters are not looking
for another. mother and father.
They need a place where they will
be accepted for what they are,
where they can work out their own
feelings of self worth and solidify
their achievement gains in school
or in beginning jobs.
There are SUE and JEAN, two
girls in Richmond, both of mixed.
race origin needing homes in that
area. SUE, aged 18, needs a-home
that will offer friendly quidance in
an unobtrusive way and help her.
toward independence. She has
started a new job at the Airport.
JEAN, 15, is also. working and
will benefit from a home with a
younger couple who will be flexible:
enough to give her both supervision
and help her achieve in-
dependence.
In Vancouver, IAN, aged 16, has
been living with his mother and
brother, but things are not working
out. Previously he had to live away
from his family in a group home,
as his mother has had difficulty
coping with the family of. five
children. He is presently seeking a
job. 2 .
Anyone willing to offer a home to
these youngsters or the others
should phone Jan Heath or, Pat
McPherson at the Catholic Family
and Children’s Service, 683-0281.
Mutually satisfactory financial
arrangements will be made.
No Indians homes, no Indian staff
By G. McKEVITT
VICTORIA (Staff) — B.C. Native
leaders have been pressing in
recent times for Indian foster and
adoption homes only for Indian
children in those situations. The
department of human resources,
which is in charge of the programs,
has equally had the push on from
within.
According to Olive Hatter,
capital region supervisor of
placement, however, good in-
tentions are not enough.
“If our ‘workers are going to
‘insist upon Indian foster homes for
Indian children, we as a resource
department are stymied: we don’t
have any Indian homes,” said Ms.
Hatter.
She is speaking for the Victoria
area but it is true that the same
situation is prevalent throughout
the province. ‘
CHILDREN IN NEED
The problem the department is
facing, according to Ms. Hatter
and other foster care represen-
tatives, present at a special
meeting held for Nesika, is that,
while there is a constant shortage
of Indian foster homes, the rate of
Indian foster children in need is on
the increase.
-Receny figures released by the
agency revealed that in an eight- -
month period ending last June the
percentage of Indian children in
care in the Victoria area rose from
18.6% to 20.6%. This was during a
time when the overall number of
‘children was on the decrease.
One solution that has been
partially successful in Victoria and
more so in Vancouver is the group
homes. There are presently six
such home in Victoria that cater to
Indian children. The main
problems with the group homes,
however, has been finding. and
keeping Indian staff workers to run
them.
The same is apparently’ true
throughout the whole department,
according to extended care case
aide Joanne Claxton, one of the
only native Indians on staff.
LACK NATIVE WORKERS
““We’ve had several native
people working in the department
while I’ve been here but I’m the
only one that stayed on for any
time. I realize the problems and
pressures they face as aids make it
a difficult job sometimes but it is
important that Indian people be
involved in our work,’’ said Ms
Claxton.
According to Ms. Claxton, they
are open and willing to encourage
native people to work for the
department. She said that training
can be provided. on the job. -
The primary problem: remains,
however, with the lack of Indian
homes for foster children. The
majority of the Indian children at
present are still being placed. in
non-Indian homes.
For these children, and their
foster parents, the department has
developed a program to keep them
at least aware and in touch with
native culture and people.
POTLATCH PICNICS
Besides briefings for the
prospective foster parents on the
special problems Indian children
face, the department, with Mrs.
-Claxton, have organized’ a con-
tinuing series of ‘“‘potlatch’’ pic-
nics.
The picnics bring the foster-
parents and children together with:
local Indian craftsmen, dancers,
leaders, etc. The picnics both
familiarize the non-Indian foster
‘parents with native culture and
people, and enable the children to
retain a contact with their
heritage.
According to Mrs. Claxton, these |
picnics have worked out quite
successfully so far with good
support from the -local Indian
communities. / é
According to Ms. Hatter,
however, the emphasis remains on
finding Indian foster homes for the
children and preferably homes on
the reserve the child is . from.
Besides lessening the shock when
the child leaves his home, this also
goes along with the agency’s policy
of retaining a contact between the’
child and his natural parents.
Continued on Page 16
See: COMMUNICATIONS
TORONTO —. People’ who
need ‘help cutting through
bureaucracy may write directly.
to:
OMBUDSMAN
BOX 14000
Station ‘‘A’’:
TORONTO M5W 1Y2
The letters will the subject of
a new bi-weekly half-hour show
on CBC starting this month at 10
p.m.
The ‘‘Ombudsman”’ is a
Montreal lawyer, Robert
Cooper. He and his staff. will
‘investigate complaints, and will
pay particular attention to aid
people through the “maze of
government bureaucracy.”
Problems with legal remedies
will be referred to law societies,
bar referral services, or to legal
“Ombudsman” will cut red tape
aid. Problems in other cases
where special ‘agencies already
exist will ‘be referred to the
agencies.
A large percentage of ‘cases
may not be soluble under
present laws, said the
statement announcing the start
of the new CBC program, ‘‘but
we hope that by. drawing at-.
tention to such problems on
television the public will know
more about them, and
legislative reform may be
expedited.”
The statement from CBC also
said that it is hoped the
program will be useful ‘‘by
publicizing cases: where the
letter of the law as such has
been applied, but where the
outcome has not been truly fair
or just.”
January, 1974
Paper ignores
upset widow
MT. CURRIE (Staff) — The
widow of the late Adolph Leo, a
member of the Mt. Currie Indian
Band has complained of the
treatment by a local newspaper of
the death of her husband.
Mrs. Leo objected to the ‘“‘sordid
details” as an attempt to produce
interesting reading.-
The news story appeared on the’
front page of the October 23, 1973,
issue of the Pemberton Valley
News.
The story reads, in part: “Leo.
‘was: found face down with blood
and contusions on his face. It is not
believed that Leo died of violent
causes. Leo’s. blood alcohol was
high and his injuries could have
been suffered in a fall. RCMP
reserved judgment concerning the
death pending a coroner’s report.
No one has been taken in custody.
He was a steady, dependable
worker who got along well with
everyone. The only trquble was
that Leo gave all his money away. °
A month ago, Leo quit work and
things apparently began to go bad
for him.”
Mrs. Leo requested the paper,
published by the Chamber of
Commerce, for an apology since
the story was. printed without
consulting the family. The
apology, she said, was not made,
and so she wrote again to the
newspaper. 2
In part, she said, she wrote: “I
was very disappointed not to have
read an apology in your recent
issue for such an injustice to my
late husband... The article is. ex-
tremely deceiving and written in
such a cold fashion. It offered no
condolences or sympathy: — but,
perhaps, that would have been a
falsification. Surely, you could
have spared my family from any _
article at all; rather: than ex-
ploiting the death of my husban-
d.”—G. PETERS.
Heritage Village
gets the go-ahead
VANCOUVER (Staff)
Members of the North West Indian
Cultural Society have approved the:
proposed . Canadian’ Indian
Heritage. Village, but the project
will have ‘“‘to start from the bot-
tom.” :
On advice of . government
-agencies and others interested in
the project, according to an officer,
the ‘society will launch Heritage
Village with a workshop and show
room.
The society has just received
approval, meantime, for its Indian
village project for the World Fair
and Exposition in Spokane,
Washington. The project has a
grant of $20,000 from the Local
Initiatives Program.
Commenting on the need for
starting with a workshop and show
room in. preparation for the
Heritage Village, NWICS
Treasurer Hattie Fergusson said,
“It is high time that Indians should
. make sales of their art and crafts
and reap the profits themselves.”’
Mrs. Fergusson referred to the
alleged ‘‘rip-off’’ being per-
petuated on Indian artists and
craftsmen. .
Plans for the Heritage. Village
calls for a site in Discovery Park
featuring an arena for dancing,
sports, and other large activities; a
theatre; a library; a museum; an
outdoor experimvntal area for
making traditional structures and
equipments, salmon bakes, etc.;
and a longhouse as a meeting
house and food preparation area.
The site features a beach fron-
tage for which the plan calls for
water-oriented activities.
A unique aspect of the pathways
in the plan is a provision for the
handicapped. .
The starter, however, of a
workshop and show reom will be in
Continued on Page 16.
See: VILLAGE
, January, 1974
PROPOSALS IN NORTHERN B.C. | legs oe
Threat to Indian economic well- being
PRINCE GEORGE The
Scientific Society for Pollution and
Environment has criticized dam
development proposals in northern
B.C. for far-reaching effects, in-
cluding loss of fisheries and the
resulting loss of economic weil
being of Indians in the fraser and
Skeena systems.
“The rivers and lakes involved in
the Kemano II hydroelectric
development presently contribute,
in a-very real sense, to the quality
of life and economic well being of
the people of British Columbia,”
‘said. a. report by the Smithers
branch of SPEC.
‘We recommend that plans to
proceed with the project. be
dropped in their entirety.” | -
The SPEC report suggested that,
instead, the government should
conserve power and look for
alternative resources.
TASK FORCE
An official of the provincial
government’s environment and
land use secretariat, meanwhile,
announced early this month that a
task force is being. formed to in-
* vestigate industry, railways and
‘hydroelectric dams proposed in
northern B.C.
Dennis O’Gorman, assistant
director. of the secretariat, said
that. the task force may include
representatives from the regional
districts of Bulkley-Nechako,
-Kitimat-Stikine, and Skeena,
which will work with the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs and the B.C.
- Association of Non-Status Indians.
Other representatives will come
from 10. ministries and several
federal agencies, to make up 20
members. :
Gorman said that the task force
will make a special effort to get,
public opinion and schedule .a
series of community meetings.
HOLDBACKS HOPED FOR
The aim is to recommend
balanced development rather than
programs based on purely
economic considerations, said
Gorman, who expressed hope that
present proposals, including
Kemano I], will be held back until
the task force completes its study.
, The Kemano II development
. proposal calls for the. damming
and diversion. of three rivers into
the Nechako reservoir. to double
the capacity of power: stations. at
Kemano, 300 miles north of Van-
couver on the coast:
' The increased capacity of the
reservoir would allow building of
another power station at Kemano.
The dams will be built on the -
Nanika, Morice, and Dean rivers.
The diversion of the waters of the
three rivers, said the SPEC report,
would raise the levels of Nanika,
Kidprice, and Morice lakes, and
reduce the flow of the Nechako
River to two per ‘cent™ of . the
original.
SHORT-TERM BENEFITS
The report notes that damming
rivers result. only in short-term
benefits, and this means of
PLANNING YOUR FAMILY
PART Il, No. 3.
ma By DR. GEORGE POVEY
THE CONDOM.
The. condom. also ‘called the
rubber, the safe, the sheath, the
prophylactic, is a thin membrance
which fits over the penis. It is one
of.the most effective contraceptive
methods available.
_ Modern ‘condoms almost. never
__ The use of ‘condoms: and
results from permitting the penis
to become soft in the vagina ’after
ejaculation, allowing the condom
to slip off and semen to spill out.
The condom offers considerable
protection to both partners against
the transmission of venereal
disease.
The Diaphragm—(with Spermicidal Jelly)
Uterus
Diaphragm
Side View
, Vagina
idnphenare: i
“Yeak or tear: béciigichaliy’ ‘failure
NE S.I KA
satisfying power demands. only
means an unending need to dam
more and more rivers.
The benefits from.rivers is on a
“perpetual basis’? and from. the .
long-term view more valuable than
hydroelectric power.
Besides the. threat to’ com-
mercial, sports and Indian fishery,
a loss of esthetic values would
affect tourism, said the report.
As an example, the report noted
-that the little-known Nanika Lake
and_river would be flooded after
construction of the 155-foot tall
rock-fill dam, and thus submerge
the scenic Nanika Falls.
GRAVE EFFECTS
In Quesnel, said a UBCIC field
worker, native peoples were not
consulted about. a’ proposed
residential development by. the
B.C. Forest Service in an area only
a mile away from the NBEO Indian
‘Band village.
Citing ‘‘grave ‘social
sequences’ for the Indians,
Brendan Kennedy urged the
Cariboo Regional District board to
support the UBCIC’s position .that
complete and adequate planning-
go into such developments.
. Kennedy said that: the forestry
service’s proposal was very poorly
planned, on top of. lacking con-
sultation with native people.
‘The development proposal is for
‘providing accommodations for 75
to 100 families living right next to
‘Indian people.
THE DIAPHRAM |
The diaphram consists ‘of a
rubber cover rim, and of a thin
rubber dome. The rim holds the
device in place in the vagina, and
the dome covers the cervix.
Spermicidal cream should
always be used with it. The dome of
the diaphram prevents the sperm
from entering the cervix. The
cream destroys the sperm.
The diaphram must be fitted by a
‘doctor, nurse, or technician: It is
advisable to have it checked once
yearly. After the birth of a child, a
larger one may be needed.
To insert. the diaphram, hold it
with the dome up, and. place the
cream in the dome. Press the two
sides of the rim together and insert
the diaphram into the vagina.
Once it is in place, it should be
ehecked with a finger to be sure
that the dome covers the cervix.
If intercourse takes place four
hours or more after the diaphram
is inserted, additional cream
should be placed in the vagina by
means of an applicator. The
diaphram should not be removed.
for eight hours after: intercourse.
No douching should be performed
until after it is removed.
The diaphram is removed by
inserting a finger into the vagina,
hooking the rim,. and. pulling
gently. After removal it should be
.. washed and dried. x
The diaphram is highly effective
when used correctly. Most failures
result from neglecting to. use it
every time.
KEY POINTS CONCERNING
DIAPHRAM USE:
1. Insert it before intercourse.
Use spermicidal cream.
2. If. four hours pass’ between
insertion and intercourse, inject
additional cream into the vagina
with an applicator.
3. Leave the diaphram in place
for eight hours after last inter-
course.
t. Do not douche while it is in
place.
‘approval.
con-
| HE culture, art,
VANCOUVER — The Depart-
ment..of Manpower has recently
“approved project grants under the
Local Initiatives Program; most
are band projects and a few, are
projects dealing with Indian:
culture, art and artifacts.
The Penticton Indian Band: has
begun a multi-faceted project in
early December, 1973 under a
grant of $37,440. Twelve persons
will be employed.
The project includes native
language instruction and com-
pilation of a history of the reserve;
arts. and crafts instruction; a
recreation program; visitation and
aid in the care of elderly persons;
and a play school on reserve.
An Indian ‘culture kindergarten
proposal in Campbell River, set to
open this month, has been granted
Coordinators Jane
Sterrit and Sarah Johnson said
three full-time. workers will be
hired.
CULTURAL EDUCATION
. The proposed: school will offer
cultural education to status and
non-status children with carvers
(masks and canoes), a toy-maker
and a painter as resource persons.
The Nanaimo Indian Band
. projects has an LIP grant of $21,840
as well as‘a grant of $6,000 from the
First Citizens’ Fund. A spokesman
for the band, said that a lacrosse
box being built will be completed,
and renovations will be done:to the
basement of the church on the
band’s reserve number one.
Detailed. plans are still being
worked. out, but the projects will
employ seven persons.
A half-finished Haida canoe,
thought to be probably 200 years
old, will be preserved and become
part of an exhibition, said. the
president of the Queen. Charlotte
Islands Historical Society, 8. L.
Simpson.
‘MacMillan. Bloedel,, in . whose
a tree farm. the canoe. was: found by
” loggers, has ‘agreed to hee a grove *
of trees. around the canoe.
CANOE EXHIBIT
The exhibition of the half-
finished canoe shows how the big
red cedars were felled, shaped
roughly, as well as show how the
Indians exposed the heart of the log
by digging a hole to check its
‘soundness.
. It is hoped its exhibition will be
opened by spring. The grant of
$10,560 will employ four workers .
for the project. _
The Mission. Reserve Social
Services has a grant of $18,720 for
its ‘Capilano-Mission Child Care
Project in North Vancouver. The
' project will employ six workers to
‘provide counselling to. Indian
families, specially where the
family’s children are to be
removed by the courts, and aid
native children to stay in their own
homes.
The project will also offer home-
making services for families with
problems.
Other projects approved are as
‘follows:
BRENTWOOD BAY
Ten’ jobs, . $30,600: Home im-
provements, clean up of garbage
dump, recreational program
organization on reserve of the
Tsartlip Indian Band.
BELLA COOLA
Ten jobs, $26,400. Land im-
provement: clear land and build
park facilities at: the: Indian
reserve.
WEST: FRASER
Nine jobs, $27,656. Community
improvement. at the. Churchouse
reserve of the Homalco. Indian
Band. Maintenance and renovation
of homes of elderly-.and disabled
persons, help for motherless
homes, clear and tidy up reserve,
paint and restore the church.
Eight jobs, $24,676. Community
program at Squirrel Tove, Cortes
Island by the Klahoose Indian
Band. Construction of floats for
boats and planes, renovation of the
community hall, improvement of
drainage and water supply, aid for
- aged and handicapped.
Page Fifteen
tifacts
LILLOOET
Six jobs, $15,840. Renovations to
‘homes of pensioners and welfare
recipients of the Lillooet Indian
Band, .
Ten jobs, $19,520. Ranch project
of the Fountain Indian Band.
Improvements needed for ranch
which raises funds for the band and
help train native people in ranch
operations.
POWELL RIVER
Twelve jobs, $36,789. Sliamon
Indian Band community project:
build a cultural and community
centre, renovate. administration
building, create a picnic site and
adventure playground, Reppild a
footbridge.
ENDERBY :
Four jobs, $13,000. Construction
of a sidewalk-and a general store
for the Spallumcheen Indian Band.
INVERMERE
Three jobs, $8,000. Upgrade and
improve community facilities - at
the Shuswap Indian Band reserve
near Invermere.
AGASSIZ
Six jobs, $18,720. Various
projects to provide services to
Seabird Indian Band reserve
residents to improve their
economic, recreational, and social
situations.
CHILLIWACK we?
‘Six jobs, $9,480. Home-making
training and counselling service to
‘women.of the Skwah Indian Band.
Three jobs, $31,200. Native
teacher aide development at St.
Mary’s School
VEDDER CROSSING
Five jobs, $7,800. Sponsored by
the Soowahlic Indian Band with
additional funding, $6,000. Im-
provement: of housing and
recreational areas on reserve.
YALE...
en::jobs;; $25;200: Services and
- improvement to: provide various
vaids to the disadvantaged in Yale
and in the Yale Indian Band.
KEREMEOS
Six jobs, $9,600. Susnect4 of clean
up project, the Lower Similkameen
Indian Band has added $2,214 to the
grant. The park will be cleaned up
and prepared for landscaping, a
garbage dump will be set up, and
the church will be painted.
WESTBANK
“Four jobs, $8,160. Operation
“Independence will provide com-
munity services and improve. the
grounds on two Indian band
reserves.
SIDNEY
Ten, jobs, $30,600. Recreational
expansion for the Pauquachin
Indian Band. Includes building a
canoe shed and working on the
Continued on Page 16
See: BAND
Nimpkish research
‘ALERT BAY — Students from
age 15 to 17, of the Nimpkish Band,
undertaking a research study on
the Kwagiutl, have found the
needed support from. the First
Citizen’s Fund with a grant of
$2,380.
The approval of the grant to the
“band was announced by Chief:
Clarence Alfred, who said that the
research project has already
started with money advanced from
band funds. .
The nine students involved in the
research project are recording
legends, history and songs.
“A large amount of the work
involves taping the older people as
they relate the legends and songs
in their own languages,” said the
chief.
Two students are in Campbell
River, and two are in Victoria
studying reports and records. of
Kwagiutl history, said Alfred.
But even with the grant the band
may go into ‘the red” on the
project when all expenses are
reported.
Part of Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 1 (January 1974)