Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 6 (June 1974)

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Page Two

NE S$ I K A

June, 1974

MEN, WOMEN, ADULTS and children turn out in long tine
of indian people on way to present their century-old
grievances to NDP government. The march was part of a
combined celebration and demonstration organized June:24
‘and 25. Marchers congregated at the Songhees. Band reserve.
The event also marked the fifth anniversary of the federal
government's policy paper on Indian affairs, released by the .

PLACARDS DOT LARGE CROWD OF B.C.

. Liberals in June, 1969. The policy
formation of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs in the same
year at Kamloops, B.C., to unite efforts toward a compre-
hensive claim for aboriginal lands and rights. Although the
federal government has started to meet with indian
representatives to negotiate such claims, B.C. has refused to

take pat in any way.

YY paper “helped spur the

(Nesika photos)

Tar sands covered by Indian treaty

Indians of Alberta are preparing”
to ‘claim. treaty rights to the
Athabasca ‘tar sands, an Indian
leader revealed in an interview
with Canadian Press,

Harold Cardinal, president of the
Indian Association of Alberta

“(IAA), predicted the organization
will take legal action. within the
year to demand an adequate share
of ‘the resources for the Indians.

Cardinal said that the tar sands

area is covered. by Treaty No. 8,
which, the Northwest Territories
Supreme Court has ruled, does not
transfer. control of Indian land to
the Crown.

The ‘decision, handed down ‘ast

year by Mr. Justice William

Morrow is. being appealed. by the:

federal government.

“This. will probably be the most
explosive, most delicate subject we
will have on land claims. The

Morrow decision has already held
that treaty to be only one. of
friendship or peace, not a land-
surrender treaty,” said the IAA
president.

The tar sands area isin the midst

of a multi-billion-dollar industry to
extract oil foran already energy-
short world. The Indians want to
take part in the. development
through jobs, training and cash
payment.

het:
At the: meeting held in late May
are representatives from: the: -
Burns ©

Bands to set up task force

to negotiate changes in laws -

The B.C. Wild Life.Act should not
apply to. native people until
aboriginal claims are settled, six

Indian bands: in the Burns - ‘Lake | :
_ area resolved at a meeting. :

The. bands .also- passed’ a
resolution calling on their band
councils to set up a task force to
negotiate with the provincial and

_the federal governments to revise

the Wildlife Act and the Fisheries

Cheslatta, Lake Babine;
‘Lake, Omineca, Stuart- Trembleur
and- ‘Moreicetown Bands... Some
members of the B.C. Association of
Non-Status Indians were also
present.

MP Frank» Howard (NDP-
Skeena) and MLA Doug Kelly
(NDP-Omineca), who were also on

-hand, will take the matter up with.

the corresponding. government
level, according to a field worker of
the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

~The meeting arose from the case
of 64- -year-old Alexis Jack,- fined
$1,000 in early May for shooting a
caribou on his trapline.

It was reported at the inextiig.

that Jack, who speaks little

English, was living oh $48 monthly

assistance from the department of
Indian Affairs; he shot the caribou
for food. He was charged by a
conservation officer as he came
from the trapline with the meat.
The. fine is equivalent to Jack’s

entire earnings.

‘The Indians. ~ protest -that, if

concessions . cannot -be granted.

from encroachments by white
people on native people’s old
hunting territory, Indians should
have special fishing and hunting
privileges.

In Saskatchewan Chief David
Ahenakew, during an interview on
Moccasin Telegraph, emphasized
the need for. Indian conservation
officers.

Ahenakew, the head of the
Federation of Saskatchewan. In-
dians, was — discussing — re-
establishment of treaty rights of
hunting.

Among. the problems of re-
establishing such rights, he said,
are the ‘‘underhanded” methods
used by law enforcers to ap-
prehend Indian people, and: the
growing number of native people
who do abuse their hunting right by
selling meat:

Also, said the chief, there are
people to encourage -Indians to

hunt and‘sell meat: to them in and”

out of season.

Chief Ahenakew expressed
concern over’ the | “rapid
deterioration” of relations between

Indians and conservation officers,
and this suggests a need for native
conservation. officers.

- “The need for conservation
officers of our own-is increasing,”
said Chief Ahenakew. ‘They would
be able to educate the people on
treaty rights, on the meaning and
use of the treaty. They would also
be able to educate law enforcing

_ officials dealing with these cases

aS they come up.”

Native peoples’ orpanizatiang.
including the Saskatchewan
federation, are trying to have
provincial governments. to act
regarding. infringements. of
aboriginal ‘and treaty. rights by
laws enacted without consideration -
of the-Indian. position.

The exercise of hunting rights
within the framework’ of ‘the
treaties or law would eliminate
apprehending Indian people who
abuse their right.

“Few Indians abuse their treaty
rights,”: said Ahenakew.

However, Chief Ahenakew ~
warned that those who abuse their .
right must realize that it can lead
only to the loss of the right and stiff

reaction.
WANTED:
Recording Secretary

DUTIES:
The recording sureeaey will
(1) take, transcribe and pre-
pare minutes of meetings, -
conferences, etc.; (2) travel;
(3) handle travel and meeting
_ arrangements and reserva-
tions; (3) keep records of
resolutions, collect materials, :
- prepare copies needed, etc.;
and (5) perform any other
duties assigned from time to
time by the office manager.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must have several :
years’ experience, typing
speed of about 60 wpm or
more, shorthand of about
100 wpm. Knowledge of cor-
rect language usage and of
various office procedures
essential.
SALARY: ;
Negotiable. within.
$6,500-$8,500 depending on
“qualifications and experience.
APPLICATION: — : a
‘Write to Valerie Brant, Office: |
~ Manager, Union of  B:C.
indian Chiefs, 2140 W.°12th
Ave., Vancouver, B.C. V6K. |
2N2 ee

June, 1974

Page Three

FRONT LAWN OF PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS OCCUPIED

KWAWKEWLTH COLLEGE

For native fishermen

- ALERT BAY — The Nimpkish
Band Council, headed by Chief
Clarence Alfred, Jr.; has noted that
B.C. has no marine college ‘and

recently proposed one to the:

federal government.

The band council’s proposal for
Kwawewlth College includes
setting up the marine school in the
Alert Bay student residence
building, and placing the children
who are there among various
families in the band.

«The: proposal: does ‘not: limit the
marine college ‘to native’ fisher-

men, but the band hopes that the .

building of the former St.
Michael’s Residential School, now
being used as.a_ receiving home,
will be turned over by the depart-
ment of Indian affairs. —

The curriculum, according to the
proposal, will be determined by the
students; the band expects that
teachers and students will. have

interchanging roles in studies that -

will involve learning old and new

’ Skills. geet oy :
* The. proposal: lists’ some 19

./ needed courses, including boat
maintenance, ..navigation,,. scuba

. diving, .. marine biology,
identification. and .storage,.. and
some 12+ potential) courses on
practical sea farming.

The Nimpkish council claims
that present available instruction
does not include teaching repair of
fishing needs, and the course of-
fered in hydraulics does not
usually concern boats.

The band describes its proposal
as a move to create a facility that
would recognize’ Alert Bay’s

- position as a major centre of the
fishing industry, as well as to
diminish the inconvenience of
fishermen having to relocate their

Recreation grants

to two bands

VICTORIA — The Cape Mudge
and the Sooke Indian Bands were
two of six recipients of the latest
approved grants from under the
B.C. Community Recreational
Facilities Fund Act.

The Act provides assistance in
financing community recreational
facilities sponsored by a
municipality or by a non-profit
cultural, ethnic or religious group.

Recreation and Conservation
Minister Jack Radford has an-
nounced grants of $17,527.69 for the
Cape Mudge recreation centre, and
$2,500 for the Sooke Band sports
field

fish.

families or leave them behind to go
to the only marine school which is
in Terrace.

- Due to the length ‘of the: 10-month
course in engine ‘repair, for
example,
may suffer from lower income.

The band hopes that the school
would be financed jointly by« the
provincial and federal govern-

ment, and by fees to be paid by

students.

in addition, fishermen

The old Indian way to beat inflation  =83=«

By ALLEN C. BROOKS
Port Simpson, B. Cu

Up here in the north coast the
Indians have long ago discovered a
way to beat inflation.

So many people are complaining

of how much it costs fora small

box of ‘groceries. That small box
would cost about. $20 and usually
lasts one meal.

The way we Indians solve that
problem is we fix our own food. We
put up dried halibut, dried seaweed
(square or chopped); we smoke

fish, bottle it, bottle clams, smoke
beaver meat.

We can do lots of canning, salting
and drying.. We can also put up
bottled, smoked or salted venison,
bottled abalone, dried abalone and
salted fish...

Blueberries make a good
preserve. So do salmonberries and
huckleberries. Cranberries can
make good jello or sauce.

Then there’s the popular food —
oolichans. You can smoke it, sun-

: dry it, salt it or make grease out of

it.

We were never stuck.

Our grandmothers and grand:
fathers did it? They had plenty to
eat every winter. They’ve always
survived.

Since oil-is running low, why not
switch back to wood? It burns just
as good as oil.

I remember when I was young,
we hardly ever went to the store
except for minor things. So, if
youre unemployed and the going is
getting rough, try our way. It’s the
only and.best way.

To get your drivers certificate

take your application form to any
: - Motor Vehicle License Office for
processing. .

If you didn’t receive an appli-

cation form in the mail simply take
your drivers license to any Motor
Vehicle License Office and you'll
get your certificate.

Remember, beginning July 1st

you'll need both a drivers license

and a drivers certificate to drive in
B.C. So get your certificate now and

avoid any delays later on.

For additional information
call 665-2800. Please call. collect

outside Vancouver.

Qui

THE INSURANCE CORPORATION,

Page Four

N ES IK A

June, 1974

EDITORIAL REPRINT

NDP Indian games not cricket

. The Province, Vancouver
‘June 28, 1974
It is the rankest hypocrisy for the
B.C. government to say it has no
role to play in the settlement of
Indian land questions in the
province. It can confidently be
expected to have something to say

about the terms of settlement, if

and when they’re negotiated by the
federal government, should those
terms be inimical to what its
considers to be B.C.’s interests.

Human Resources Minister
Norm Levi is.condemned by his
own statements. He says the
provincial government believes
that under the laws of this country
.and in particular the. British North
‘America Act the issue must be
resolved by the federal govern-
ment. It would be highly improper
for B.C. to participate in those
discussions.

.. But after an Indian . demon-
“stration on the steps of the
Legislature this week,. he said he
wasn’t surprised by Indian com-
plaints. “They’ve had.a_ long-
standing grievance with the white
man; he said.
Is a Canadian less white when he’s
_@ British Columbian in dealing
with the problems of the Indians?
Can the white men of Ottawa settle
those problems without affecting
the white men in Victoria?

Obviously not. The settlement of

- Indian land claims may involve
. Crown land held by the provincial
government.

If the *B.C. government isn’t
playing political. football with the
issue, as NDP backbencher Frank
Calder says, it is certainly playing
cat.and mouse with it. After a

meeting last January with cabinet

ministers, the Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs had the impression that
“full: provincial participation
‘would ‘occur in the negotiations”
with the federal government. How
could it have been so wrong? .

Mr. Levi has agreed to meet with
the Indians on ‘other questions
such as taxing of reserve lands,
education, social services, hunting
and fishing rights, housing and
Indians in prison. That’s a
significant list of issues and
practically all of them can be
related to the Indian’s perception
of his position or lack of it in a
white-dominated society, in B.C. as
elsewhere.

Central to that perception of his -

role is the Indian’s concern with

the land question. Those other
problems Mr. Levi is prepared to
deal with can obviously be better
tackled when .the Indian knows
where he stands.

Harold Cardinal, president of the
Indian Association of -Alberta,

speaks of the Indian ‘‘vision of a

Canada where’ our people, our
children can grow ... of the role
this country can play in the world.”
Doesn’t Mr. Levi, concerned as he
is about the development of human
resources, believe that the B.C.
government has a responsibility in
helping the Indians realize their
vision?

Of course it may cost B.C. to deal
with the land question. If formulas
in other provinces are followed
here, a settlement could involve
millions of- acres and millions. of
dollars. The federal government
can hardly make such a settlement
without affecting the B.C.
government. So the effect of B.C.’s
reluctance to become involved is to
impede the aspirations of the In-
dians it professes to want to help.

Certainly the Indian question is

complicated: Certainly there are
risks in B.C.’s participation | in
federally-sponsored negotiations.
But there are also risks in non-
participation. One of them may be
the potential damage to the New
Democrats’ own . perception ' of
their role as the defenders of the

little people.

Seabird Indian Band
get two farm grants

- LANGLEY — The Seabird In-

dian Band will receive $72,458 from
the federal government, and
$14,050 from the B.C. First

Citizen’s Fund, through its Seabird .

Development company.

The grants are in aid of
development of several specialized
agricultural enterprises on the
reserve, located east. of Agassiz.

According to the B.C. agriculture
department, Seabird Develop-
ments will construct a 1,200-head
feedlot, develop a 60-cow. herd,
raise vegetable and horticulture
crops for the local market, and
develop needed land to support
livestock operations.

The project also will include a
training program for band
members to take complete charge
of the operation within a three-year

period.

Published 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
G. McKEVITT, GERARD PETERS — Reporters
LEONA FOLSTER — Art & Circulation
TERRI WILLIAMS — Research & Library

- Correspondents: Margaret Woods,

Terrace;

Edgar. Charlie, Ahousat; Phyllis Hanna, Port
Alberni; N. c. Derriksan, Westbank.

THE VOICE OF B.C. INDIANS |

~ Off-reserve, urban Indians left out.

Dear Editor:

As of December 31, 1973. there
. were 50,527 registered Indians in .

British Columbia. Of these 50,527

registered Indians, 33,184 live on
reserves throughout the province.

The remaining 17,013 registered
Indians live off their respective
reservations, presumably in ‘the

urban centres. throughout the.

province, and certainly a few out of
province, and even some out of the
country, more-notably in the U.S.
These and other
statistics can be gleaned from the

latest list of Indian Districts: and”

Bands issued by the DIA: The list
shows registered Indian mem-
bership by Band and’ residence,
distributed by Agency or District
within Regions.

What do these figures mean? The
figures can mean several different
things to several different people

with several different points of.

view.
To the off-reserve, urban Indian

‘who ‘is one, of the 17,013 Indians

| Resources minister

doesn’t even listen

Dear Sir: / /

With regard to your recent issue
of the Nesika please refer to the
article on Minister Bob Williams.
Why doesn’t he justify his
statements that Indian leaders
harass or intimidate him? I’m
wondering how we could “do such
things when he does NOT even
listen to what we have to say to
him.

With regard to “northwest

development at meetings held in.

various places this mass
development was rejected by the
majority of the people. I don’t
know how the minister could tour
the province and get the people’s
opinions while the plans fer nor-
thwest development is going
ahead.

To our. the

people mass

development will mean that: our

traplines will be affected and our
hunting and fishing. What- will
happen. when this-is destroyed?
Destroying our natural life style is

commonly referred to as progress

for the government. Why in the
world did he come around the

province to get the opinion of the.

people when he isn’t going to
listen?
I think that he should respect the
rights of the native people.
Ms. A. R. Williams
R.R. #1, Box 16
’ Moricetown, B.C.

revealing

ying away from the reserves, it
means that there are 17,013 Indians
who do not have a vote in the
election of Band Chiefs and
Councils. It means. that 17,013
Indians, therefore, do not have a

voice in the affairs of their Bands. .
It means that all of one-third of the °

total registered. Indian population

of B.C. do not have even the op-

portunity to voice a choice.as to the
future of their rights. Rights which
are based on their Indian heritage;

rights which are not removed.or. -

extinguished by simple absence
from reserves.

It means that only 33,184 Indians
had the opportunity to elect the
chiefs and councils who claim the
mandate of all the Indians of B.C.,

the mandate to determine the best :

possible settlement for all our
lands. Yet, 17,013 of us do not have
an opportunity to participate, to
contribute, as to how settlement
may be reached, nor as to who may
settle on our behalf; 17,013 Indians
have rights to the lands that the

' other 33,184 are using; 17,013 In-

dians have rights to the lands that
the other 33,184 are using; 17,013
Indians have rights to the funds
that the other 33,184 are spending;
17,013 - Indians have aboriginal
rights that the other 33,184 are
exercising.

_What do we get in return? Who
knows! As only one of the 17,013 off-

reserve Indians I can only ask —

give us an opportunity to help in -

the settlement of our land: To the
chiefs and councillors who were
elected by 33,184 of our brothers
and sisters, I ask — find a way to
use our rights, with our in-

volvement. Alvin Dixon

“and. crafts

Arts aii Gratis central market

QUEBEC CITY — A resolution
calling for establishing a central
marketing. service for Indian arts
in the B.C. Lower
Mainland area has been passed
unanimously at the conference of
the national advisory committee
here. :

The special resolution was

presented by the B.C. representa- .

tive of the arts and crafts
development program, Westbank
Band Chief N. C. Derriksan.

Also representing B.C. at the
conference is Mrs. Frieda Diésing,
who is famed for her carved
masks.

The resolution is considered a

major move for practising Indian
artists of B-C. to have a place to
market their work that will also be
a central point for all retailers to
buy Indian art.

A search is going on to ‘find
suitable quarters for the.
marketing centre.

By N.C. DERRIKSAN

Chief asks for help from friends

Dear Editor:
The Fort Nelson Indian Band

-would like to ask the people of Fort’

Nelson for help in a very important
and extremely frustrating matter.

Our people are trying to better
themselves and contribute to the
community as workers, citizens
and as a community; we are trying
to. hold jobs and -educate our
children, while keeping our
families and our Band together.

However, a-problem has grown
with alarming speed over the past

-few years — a problem which is

now a major concern to all of us —

“one which has reached disastrous

heights in the past few months.
This problem is outside influences
on the reserve — people from
outside of our community who
believe that our homesites are just
one large party hal, an open in-
vitation for parties, people who
bring liquor, crime and other bad

influences onto our reserve for’

“fun”
We welcome our friends, of
course — but these are our homes,

and over the past few months the
situation has given many dreadful
and sometimes horrendous results
to our people. These acts range
from our children being disturbed
at night, affecting their homework,
marks and school attendance; our
job holders are not getting
adequate rest; our women have
been beaten and hospitalized; and
more terrible still are the many
dreadful deaths recently —
drownings and two horrifying
deaths from burns received in
fires.

“We ask ail of our friends.to help

us in this project — to discourage’

any so-called “parties”? which you
hear mentioned, people planning to
go to the reserve, help us to keep
these “‘parties”’ downtown and not
on our ‘homesite. This will, in the
end, help our ‘entire community
and aid us to better ourselves and
enjoy our Band,

families and friends.

Chief Harry Dickie
Band Administrator

community,

June, 1974

NES TK A

Rags Five

Have you room

It’s short term help that these
little; ones. must’ have. Their
families are in.a temporary: crisis

‘situation and so they need a loving ~
{ home and. understanding ‘foster: -
parents to stand in for Mom and. :

Dad until things are all Hight again-
at home.

There are. June and. Jenin _
aged four and three. Daddy has
been i Ley to Cope with day care

Kirk is a lovable nine-year-old
| boy who needs a family that will be
| just for him.

Presently ina Treatment Centre,
Kirk is ready to take on family
living. He is a bright, creative child
who does well in school.

He is warm and loving, but a
little too sensitive and easily hurt.
He responds to soft-spoken gentle
handling but at the same time
needs firm, consistent limits and
structure because he has a ten-
dency to over-react to things that
happen around him. Kirk needs
parents who will care for him and

=
or sitters and feels he can relocate
his family within the next five

months in more pie

conditions. .
- Then. there is one- year- old. Alan.
His mother: is. struggling to com-

“ plete-a.course of training to update

her occupational skills. She cannot
afford the time to take her baby to
sitters and still keep up with her

studies. Alan needs . a temporary

Lovable little Kirk

give him the security he is looking
for. His ability to give back af-
fection can be rewarding and
heartwarming.

Because of Kirk’s special needs,
he must be the youngest in a family
by several years. A low- -keyed
family life with interests in
reading,-music and art would be
best for him. :

Only families in the Lower
Mainland can be considered.
Anyone who is -interested in
making a permanent commitment
to this little boy should phone :

Hannah Frankel or Pat Mephersan i

at 683-0281.

heart?

home until July:

18-month-old’ Bill’s smother is
undergoing psychiatric treatment
and he will need care for from
three to six months: until she is
better.

These are only a. few of the
children needing . temporary
homes. If your family is interested
in helping out please call Pat
McPherson at 683-0281.

_ least,

News Briefs

OTTAWA — George Manuel,
president of the National Indian
Brotherhood, has announced that
the brotherhood has _ been
recognized as a consultant by the
United Nations.

The brotherhood has become
thus the first native people’s
organization to be so recognized.

“For many. years the United
Nations had do-gooders
representing indigenous people.
This will be the first time we will
have a direct input to the United
Nations,” said the NIB president.

Society changes its name
VANCOUVER — In an apparent

move to appease a complaint, the.

“ Society Incorporated for the
Welfare of the Arts, Sciences and
Health — which billed itself
SIWASH, in short — has changed
its name to Endeavor for the
Benefit of the Arts, Sciences and
Health.

And for publicity purposes the
society will use Endeavor.

Sometime last year.the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs sent a written

New federal grant money _
allows RAVEN to continue

OTTAWA — Secretary of State
Hugh Faulkner has rescued the
Radio and Visual Education
Network (RAVEN) from silence
with an announced grant of $37,000
to allow operation up to October.

In Vancouver the regional
director, Max Beck, said that the
grant. represents a 50 per cent
increase of RAVEN funds. The
network receives an annual grant

of $50, 000.
RAVEN, operated from
Qualicum Beach, stopped

operations at the end of May due to
alleged termination of funding by
the department of. the secretary of
state, according to Mrs. Dianne
Recalma.

Regional director Beck, denying
this was so, said that funds for
RAVEN is not on a continuing

basis and an application had to be.

made every year for money.
‘Beck said that RAVEN’s latest
application was late and that he
had to call the network and ask for
the application. He agreed,
however, with Mrs. Recalma on

‘the vital importance of RAVEN as

a communications link among, at
about 65 remote Indian
communities.

STATE POLICY

For this reason, Beck said, he’

had made a recommendation to
| “have-funds to, RAVEN continued as
| in the past until native groups can
resolve a policy position by State
for the different communications
systems existing now.-

Mrs. Recalma raised .strong

| objections to the proposal to have a
“group organized from the Union of

B.C, Indian Chiefs, the Native
- Brotherhood of B.C., and the B.C.
Association of Non-Status Indians.
Because of this policy, said Mrs.
Recalma, the department ter-
_™mined funding of RAVEN.

She. compared. the - proposal -to.

form one communications group in’
B.C. to asking political parties to,

get together as one party. ‘It’s like
asking Trudeau to become a
Creditiste,” Mrs. Recalma. was
reported to have said.

Beck denied that this was the
implication of the government’s
proposal, but that rather the
government had looked critically
at the heavy capital investment it
would have to make for the number
of Indian groups who want to set up
their (own communications
systems.

Following the announcement of
department policy the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs (UBCIC)
drafted a brief outlining the
organization of ‘one com-

‘now recognized by United

protest agairist the society’s use of
the acronym of its former name
because the word ‘‘Siwash” is
considered derogatory 0 Indian
people. -

Transients may use Maht ‘Mahs

PORT ALBERNI — The West
Coast District Council of Indian
Chiefs has offered the Maht Mahs
residential school dormitory for
use by travelling young people.

-The chiefs said they felt that
opposition to using schools as youth
hostels was due to residents not

wanting travelling young people in -

the neighborhood.

Indian parents must decide
VANCOUVER — The Canadian
School Trustees Association has
recently adopted a_ policy
‘statement that Indian parents
must have the same rights as other
parents across Canada to. decide
about their children’s education.
The adoption of the policy
statement followed a speech by a
consultant with the Native Indian
Brotherhood, Verna Kirkness, that
federal administration of Indian

education has proven to be un-
satisfactory.

The CSTA. policy statement
supports a policy announcement by
Indian Affairs Minister Jean
Chretien of a plan to give full or
partial control over federal Indian
reserve schools.

-The federal government had
acted on a brief presented by the

_ National Indian Brotherhood, on
behalf of provincial and territorial
Indian organizations, for Indian
control of Indian education.

The CSTA statement further
urged the provincial governments
to enact legislation to permit In-
dian persons to sit on school boards
having to do with education of their
children.

Foreshore belongs to province

VICTORIA
Minister Bob Williams has _ in-
formed members of the legislature
that the government will not
concede to the claim of the
Musqueam Indian Band that the
band owns the foreshore of its
reserves.

Williams said that the province.

Resources.

owns the foreshore which is often
under water. Instead, the govern-
‘ment suggests leasing it to the
band at a rate less than the market
rate.

The Musqueam reserve near
UBC in Vancouver has foreshore
lying along the north arm of the
Fraser River. -

"Native lass is Miss Powell River

POWELL RIVER — 19-year-old
Jeannie Paul has been chosen Miss
Powell River of 1974.

Jeannie, a receptionist and
secretary in the Sliammon Indian
Band office, was also voted by her
fellow contestants as Miss
Congeniality.

The new Miss Powell River had
.taken part in the 1973 B.C. Indian
Princess Pageant. Of the pageant
here, she said: ‘It is much larger,
and we had more time to know
each other and to plan.”

Her first official act was to open
Sports Day at Edgehill School.

The panel of judges included
Mac Campbell, Mrs. C. E.
Williams, Mrs. W. Hoehn, Bud
Snow and Ron Long.

munications group in B.C., pat-
terned after the Alberta Com-
munications Society.
ALBERTA SOCIETY

The UBCIC paper, prepared by
Assistant Administrator Lou
Demerais, traced the growth of the
Alberta group (ANCS) from 1968,
when the Indian Association of
Alberta and the Alberta Metis
Association agreed to form, a
separate and independent group
for all communications needs of all
Indians of Alberta.

The new group was then funded
by State as a five-year pilot
project. Now stabilized, after the
first years that were apparently
troubled’ by politics, ANCS
publishes the weekly The: Native
People, produces some seven
hours of radio programs weekly,
produces and distributes video
material with.a core staff in Ed-
monton.

The UBCIC paper emphasized: -
_ “While fully supported by - both

major organizations, the society
has within its constitution and
bylaws, clauses which ensure that
neither IAA or AMA can have any
control over activities and
decisions. Members of the-sociéty
can belong to-either ... but it is a
condition in the constitution that
officers of any other native
organizations cannot be elected as
officers of ANCS.”’

The paper suggests that a society
for B.C. can be-set up by first

_forming a governing body made

up, say, of four directors from
UBCIC and from the. B.C.
Association of Non-Status Indians,
two from RAVEN, and one from
the Homemakers association. The
seven would elect their chairman.

The directors should have a term
of about two to three years, in
which time the society would have
become operational with an

acquired general membership:

RAVEN’S. ROLE UNCHANGED

Regarding RAVEN’s role in the
new ‘society, the UBCIC paper
noted: ‘“‘Under the over-all um-
brealla structure of the society,
RAVEN could continue to carry on

‘its -single-side band radio and

video-tape programs, leaving the
rest. of the society to look after the
other forms of communications.”

Under such an arrangement, it
was observed, RAVEN thus can
continue to hold and operate its
series of four radio frequencies.

The different B.C. native groups
have held some meetings among
themselves as well as meetings
with representatives of the state
department.

Nations

Native recording release

VANCOUVER — “I think I can
speak for all of us here at BCANSI
when I say that I hope this new
record will sell like a ‘House on
fire,’ said Fred House of his
recording of “Dear Mother of
Mine.”

The recording was written by
Fred and L. Gudmudson and
produced locally at Studio 3
Productions. The other side is
“Northern Memories” written by
Al Oster. ;

“A percentage of the profits
from sales will be going to the
Talent Development Fund,” said

House.

Fred’s interest in music goes
back to early childhood: “When I
was six years old, I remember my
dad would wake up early in the
morning and he’d turn on the radio

. and. I’d lie there and listen to

play.”

The talent fund, he hopes, will
help other native persons cut their
own records. (From the BCANSI
newsletter).

old ‘Popcorn’ and the music he’d —

’

Page Six

BOTH THE WEATHER AND THE CROWD probably made
Human Resources Minister Norm Levi wishing he were
somewhere else. After speaking to the crowd he had them

ARTHUR MANUEL, organizer of. B.C.
assembly in front of Parliament buildings in Victoria. Others in photo, above, are
left to right: Delbert Guerin: (behind mike), member of the Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs executive committee: James Deacey, UBCIC administrator; Philip Paul,

Indians’ demonstration,

Briefs from t

By PHYLLIS L. HANNA
Nesika Correspondent

TIMOTHY A. PAUL, Hesquiat
Band councillor, was enrolled in
the Life Skills Orientation Class for
the period March 4 to 17, 1974. The
reason for Tim registering for this
course was that he felt it would be
of great benefit to him and to the
Indian people since he is constantly
in contact with them, during
working hours and off.

* Oe OK

ANOTHER HESQUIAT Band
councillor, Charlie Lucas: and his
wife, Gertie, are the proud parents
of a.son, born December. 6, 1973.
They have chosen the names Aron
Keith Thomas. The boy is an ad-
dition to other Lucas children:

: Richard, Patsy,

and rope work.

Betty Mae,
Charles, Carol, eee and Ralph.

THE WORK Opportunity
Program is still under way, em-
ploying two workers, with the hope
of having another trainee in the
provincial museum who would
work along with ’Sam B.. Mickey.

Sam reports he has been very
well received on the program by
the museum people and is enjoying
his. work. He is working «on
Hesquiat’ material: basketry,
inventory of artifacts, laying out
mats for illustration purposes, and
preparing materials for shipment
back to their own museum.
Working along with Sam are a
couple of the band’s elders who are
helping to describe the ; Basketry

Rome oasis

addresses

NESIKA

wishing the minister wasn't there either. Reporter, right, is
understandably looking grim.

UBCIC Land Claims Centre director; actor Dan George, holding. placard; Fred

House, president,

B.C. Association of Non-Status Indians; Harold Cardinal,

president, tneltan Association of Alberta; and Lonnie Hindle, secretary-treasurer

of BCAN

i lat
HESQUIAT GARDENS, another
program, has been approved. This
is a very small agricultural
program and to comprise of
planting fruit trees and berry
bushes at Hesquiat.

AN APPLICATION has gone in

for the. 1974 Opportunities for

Youth program, titled ‘“Cla-huk-.

suc” — Hesquiat New Youth.
Young people will be involved in
the agricultural project, building
of smokehouses, archeology, odd
jobs on the cultural centre and in
the linguistics program.

Miss Dawna Ambers was into the

band office May.5 to confer with,

and obtain signatures. of, young
people who will take part in the
program.

(Nesika photos)

Indian Ban

LADIES OF THE band have
formed a group, calling them-
selves ‘‘The Hesquiat Ladies’
Group.” The group was formed in
February, and its aim is to raise
funds to travel with the basketball
team, the Hesquiat Braves.

Meetings are held on the first
Friday of each month. Heading the
group is Mrs. Regina Tom; Betty
Mae Lucas, financial secretary:
and Margaret Joseph, counsellor.
To date they have held a rummage
and bake sale at the friendship
centre.

* oR Ok

IN MEMORY of Harry Amos a
memorial service was held on
Easter Sunday in Tofino, B.C.

Harry was presumed drowned on
December 23, 1973. He is survived

June, 1974

-HOLLYWOOD ACTOR DAN GEORGE holds placard as he joins other Indians of
the province in protest against inertia of NOP government over tand claims.

"B.C. LAND CLAIMS

Political football
play by NDP

VICTORIA — The NDP
government ‘“‘deesn’t know what
the hell it is all about,” said MLA
Frank Calder (NDP-Atlin) on the
response to the demonstration of
B.C. Indians.

He accused the provincial
government of playing: ‘‘political
football” on ‘the. issue. of . land
claims, -saying Human Resources’.

. Minister Norman Levi was “‘out-of

line’ in pushing the issue as the.
sole responsibility . af the federal
government. .

.Thé. former minister witht
portfolio is also president of the
Nishga’ Tribal Council.

Calder revealed that the council
had started discussions with Ot-
tawa on the Nishgas’ claim over
‘4,600 square miles of the Nass
Valley in northwestern B.C.

_He said the provincial govern- ,
ment had no representation at that
meeting.

by his wife, Audrey; two

daughters, Deanna Michell and .

Sheila Mae; his father, Francis
Amos; his brothers, Leonard
(Rocky), John; Brian, francis Jr.,
and Reuben; and his sister,
Carolyn.

DEATH: Mrs. Caroline Sabbas
passed away on April 8, in Victoria. ‘
Mrs. Sabbas was born on May 19,
1917. She is survived by her

husband, Louis; daughters,
Matilda, Sarah, Rosemary and
Leona; sons Leo, Paul, Cecil,

Donald. Joseph, Terrance Gary,
Louis Francis, Alexander Eugene;
and by many grandchildren.

Interment was at Royal Oaks,
Victoria.

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