Periodical
Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 11 (January 1975)
- Title
- Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 11 (January 1975)
- Is Part Of
- 1.06-01.02 Nesika: The Voice of BC Indians
- 1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series
- Date
- January 1975
- volume
- 3
- issue
- 11
- Language
- english
- Identifier
- 1.06-01.02-04.01
- pages
- 12
- Contributor
- Gerad Peters
- George Wilson
- George W Bauer
- Oskaboose
- Nicholas Prince
- Simon Danes
- David Chestnut
- Phyllis Hanna
- Doug S
- ers
- Roger Adolph
- Steve Johnson
- G. McKevitt
- James Wilson
- Type
- periodical
- Transcription (Hover to view)
-
FREE TO ALL REGISTERED B.C. NATIVE INDIANS
OTHERS: $5.00 PER YEAR
Vol. 111, No. 11
THE VOICE OF B.C. INDIANS
Bo 48
(Chinook ‘meaning “US”)
JAN. 1975
POSTAGE PAID IN VANCOUVER — SECOND CLASS MAIL Reg. No. 3025
EIGHT OF NINE defendants i in the Cowichan fishing rights test case stand outside the
Duncan courthouse during a recess. The case will probably go to a higher court where
the defense counsel! hopes to prove the illegality of Fisheries Dept. officials action.
Committee Considering Direct Action
By GERARD PETERS
VANCOUVER (Staff) “—.' The
‘working committee on cut-off
~ dands is threatening direct action ~~). given back to the Indians. He
after provincial representatives
failed to meet Indian Affairs
Minister Judd Buchanan.
The proposed meeting on Jan. 9
failed to materialize after Bob
Williams was reportedly unable to
attend.
Earlier the same day Buchanan
met with representatives of the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
(UBCIC) to discuss the: cut-off
situation.
The meeting was in-camera but '
afterwards he told reporters that
“both the federal and provincial
- governments have to be involved in
any settlement.”
The cut-off lands are ap-
proximately 36,000 acres ~-which
were cut off from 23 bands in B.C.
as a_ result of the McKenna-
McBride Royal Commission of
1912-1916.
This federal-provincial
agreement on Indian lands was
termed by the Minister of Indian ~
said in Vancouver — Second Class Mail Reg. No. 3025
erable, please return to Union of B.C: indian Chiefs,
st 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., V6K 2N2, Canada
#
handed.’?.
Affairs some 60-odd years after the’
fact as “immoral” and
He said that. certain lands should: ;
said that the agreemént was
“certainly high-handed’’ because
the commission investigating
Indian lands did not even consult
them.’
| CUT-OFFS SEPARATE
It is considered a separate issue
from the general land claims by
the, UBCIC who agree that the
province must be involved in an
ultimate settlement.
Chief Joe Mathias of the working
committee on cut-off lands says
that there has been no response
from the provincial government on
moves to start negotiations on the
issue,
Buchanan said that though it was
not possible to return all of the cut-
off lands because some were in
private hands, much of it is still
provincial Crown land and could be
returned.
He previously urged B.C. to join
negotiations between the federal
government and Indian ‘groups
over the general claims question
but B.C. continues to refuse to
meet.
“Services’’ to Indian people are .
more important that : the set-
tlement of land claims according to
Attorney-General Alex Mac-
Donald.
“We are going full bore to help
the Indian population because they
have special problems. But not in
land claims. That is a federal
matter,” he said.
NO CONSULTATION
UBCIC land claims director, -
Philip Paul said later he was.
unimpressed with the MacLoaaid
statement.:
He said the province didn’t
follow the terms of reference of the -
Royal Commission. There was to!
have been a review of Indian lands
in consultation with the Indians,
Paul said, but this was not done.
Then. after the fact. the province
“*high-
Story on page 2 Left to right: Sam Jimmy, Joseph Daniel Jack, Gordon Leon
Goldsmith, Charles Rice, Harold Lewis Joe, Calvin Patrick Antoine, John Jimmy, and
Berard Joe. Wilburt Joseph Canute was not present.
—(G. McK evitt photo)
Frank nk Howard: Where are you?
.- By GERARD PETERS
VANCOUVER: (Staff).
Measured by the: response. from the
media, if Indians. were interested
in continuing publicity, there are
two sure ways of getting it.
They could either erect a
roadblock or the province could
announce the appointment ‘of
Frank Howard as special con-
sultant on Indian affairs in B.C.
Not since Ken Basil’s armed
blockade of Highway 12 or Jim
Stelkia’s roadblock in Osoyoos has
~ there been such a flood of material
in the media relating to Indians.
Nesika . subscribes to a news
clipping service and we get Indian-
content stories from the major
Levi,
newspapers in the province. The
response . to--the -Howard~ iG
pointment continues unabated.
All of this despite the near in-—
visibility of the central figure, Mr.
Howard who continues to reside in
Quebec and who “has work to doin
Ottawa.”
He has been criticized by the
UBCIC who have asked how he
could perform his new duties while
living in the: east.
This latter point led talk-show-
host Jack Webster to conclude a
recent program. with the wry
query, ‘‘Frank Howard, where are
you?”’
announced by the Honorable Norm
Minister .of Human
Resources: on Dec. 7 of last year.
-The appointment was to. be
“retroactive to Nov. ‘14 and carry a
salary of $30,910.
The response was immedia te. All
three opposition party leaders
were critical, citing political
patronage. To which Howard
responded, ‘‘it would be possible to.
consider it a political ap-
pointment”’ but ‘‘unkind’’ to do.so.
_It is generally conceded that
Frank Howard is a. good man,
complete with a history of sym-
pathy for Indian. concerns.
For his 17 years in Parliament he
was the NDP caucus critic on
The Howard: appointment was -
Indian matters.
He served as MLA for Skeena
(Continued on page 2)
The appointment of Frank
Howard as a Special Consultant
to the Indian People of British
Columbia .was done on a
unilateral basis by the present
B.C. Governemnt. The Native
Brotherhood. of B.C. or the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
were not consulted before this
appointment was made. Is this
| the beginning of another Indian
bureaucracy in B.C.?
The big sounds of pre-election
days thundered with great
promises for the Indian people
of B.C. We now realize dif-
ferently. The B.C. Government
is failing miserably. They have
not developed an Indian Policy
and we are beginning to. have
doubts about the ‘‘Peoples
Government.”
A - short
. time ago,
$100,000, 000.00 was ap-
propriated ._ by the B.C.”
Government for a housing
program and not one cent was
considered. for the Indians on
Chief Dissatisfied
spend our Indian-taxes and we
do have the provincial: fran-
chise. The provincial govern- —
ment is also harvesting natural
resources on our ancient tribal .
territories and we do not share
equal benefits. ° .
If Mr. Frank Howard i is to
hold his new position, his top job
for the Indians of B.C. should be
the immediate settlement of our
long- standing Indian land
claims and _ other |= social
disparities.
My people are becoming
more and more frustrated with
the B.C. Governments attitude
toward our many problems.
They can no longer stand on the
doorstep of the Parliament
Building and tell us that.we are
a federal responsibility. As a
people, we want to be included
in sharing all the benefits. The
days of the Blanket and Pipe
are gone and as of ‘this day
December 21, 1974 I declare my
people as the responsibility of
‘B.C. Government must become
Representative of the K’san and
ment. If the Provincial
Government fail. to recognize
our position in this respect then
we will walk out to the middle of
the floor of politics and choose a
government that will recognize
our claims and our rights. The
involved in our Indian Land
Claims and bring about. its’
immediate settlement.
Personally, Ihave had faith in
the party for forty years, having
been a member of the C.C.F.
and now the N.D.P. but it is
never too late to change, and if I
change a lot of my friends will
folow and we have strong
voting power in many of the
province’s ridings.
Signed:
' Joseph Reginald Daniels
Chief.
Also: Alternate to the District
SCOTTY A CAT
Scotty has lapsed into a more
Tranquil state as of late
She has overcome the fear
And has adjusted to
Our new home.
| had visioned
‘The end of her life in my grasp
Yet .
41 heid on to the beauty
Of her love for me
And we emerged from hell together
Our love for one another
Reflected itself
Along the borders of the intimate
And sacred bond
* Which still exists between us
And even now as she curls up near bal feet.
On a floor of dreams
Cushioned in foam.
| think of the years that have pasted”
Between us .
And | can only now (ie poe
And respect :
Her desire for chocolate bars
And Rolaids.
by D. Chestnut
NANAIMO
Bathtub capital of the world,
‘Pulp maker, stacker of wood, ,
Painter of sidewalks, and planter of palm trees;
Boring, boozing, brawling,
City of a thousand pubs,
They teil me you are greasy and 1 believe them, for | have
seen your 101 knights at the Newcastle, ee the
fine outstanding citizens. : .
And they tell me you are crooked and.l answer: Yes,
- For | have been to the Twin Theatres ain have gone free
with pockets empty.
And they tell me you are ental andl i my fap is on the
faces of the Tally-Ho patrons. | have seen the
marks of wayward knuckles, and having answered so, |-turn
once more to those who laugh at this my city, and |
laugh also and say to them: Come and show me another.
city that has its nose pinched with the smell of Harmac
-so humiliated to be polluting and perasitte and weak and
ignorant.
Flinging bodies from the High Rise aictigs the toil
of driving bumper to bumper; here is Nanaimo, the runt
of the litter, abandoned by the booming megalopoli.
Fierce as a puppy with tail wagging for play, cunning
as a tug captain pitted against the white caps.
Long-haired,
Loitering, —
Looting,
Scheming,’
Creating, destroying, re-creating.
Under the clouds, rain all over his head, ‘sneering with
no teeth.
Under the terrible cu urse of booze, sneering as a drunken
sailor sneers.
Sneering as a pusher sneers who has never been
busted.
, Bragging and sneering that in his wrist is the
needle and in his heart is the soul of the people.
Sneering!
Sneering-the boring, boozing, brawling, sneers of
youth, fully-clothed, frigid, proud to be the bathtub
capital,-pulp maker, stacker of wood, painter of
_ sidewalks, and planter of palm trees. .
a ; — by S. Danes
BY SIMON DANES
& DAVID. CHESTNUT
REACH FOR THE TOP
ea.
“When did the Depression begin and how?”
| asked a bull, a calf, a cow:
" “Who became the first Canadian-born Governor General?”
| asked the pig as he scampered by: —
"Which Canadian province joined Confederation i in 1874?”
gl asked the duck as she sat on her. eggs:
“Nhat | is the Indian name for Quebec?”
| asked the cat as she chased the mouse:
’ And | copied ail the answers too,
A meow, a quack, an oink, a moo.
: by S. Danes
| oA NATIVE OF HAZELTON
He was ‘born and raised ina smal village of Kitanmax,
“He spoke in.a Gitshian tongue
He was. educated in white man’s schools
His Indian.name was Umah-la-huih
And-he belongs to the frog clan.
He painted his carvings and beaded his moccasins
He prayed that his bow and arrow
Will provide his family and to share with others.
He planted his garden, smoked his fish, and harvested his crops;
And this represented abundance for his winter storage.
His possessions increased. before the white flakes came.
¥hen he would sing and dance to the legends,
With.the wolf as his symbol, .
The Killer Whale as lord-of the salmon
And the eagle meant power and might.
He would sing of deeds and glories won by his clan
The symbols of his tribe were carved on the totem pole.
Someday he will become a great chief
And agreat potlach he will hold, .
To bid other villages to come and share with them
~ Arich cultural inheritance and a proud
Tsimshian Nation united under the Great Spirit. -
By S. Danes
ee: eee |
' PROVINCIAL PARK NEEDED
CULTUS LAKE — Cultus Lake
Indian Festival organizers plan to -
keep pressing the provincial
~ government for use of Cultus Lake
Provincial Park for this year’s
-festival. “
Chief Richard Malloway,.
spokesman for the organizers,
noted: that provincial recreation
officers had: previously turned.
down the idea of using part of the
park for crowded ac-
commodations.
Cultus Lake Park Board:
_ (operator of Sunnyside. Beach
where the festival has been staged
for some years) has indicated
_ more willingness to accommodate
us than they did earlier, but we will
go back to them only as a last
resort. The provincial park
definitely has more space which
we need, Chief Malloway said.
He also added, that Chilliwack
Lake and Harrison both. alternate
locations suggested by provincial
officials are not suitable for
festival use. There is almost no
parking and no beach area at
Chilliwack and Harrison is too
heavily populated, he said.
Also according to Chief Ed Kelly
administrator of the Chilliwack
Area Indian Council, the sudden
‘high wind conditions at both
‘Harrison and Chilliwack Lakes,
and the fact that the Indians who
sponsor the festival are from the
Cultus Lake area are two other
factors in pressing for continued
use of Cultus.
KAMLOOPS AMALGAMATION
ISSUE
KAMLOOPS — Mrs. Mary
Leonard, sworn in Saturday,
January 18, as chief of the
Kamloops Indian Band, at a
-banquet and dance at the
residential school, said she would
firstly ask. municipal. affairs
minister James Lorimer, why he .
has not fulfilled his promise of
excluding parts of the reserve from
the. city of Kamloops.
She-said Lorimer agreed at a’
meeting with the band members
last October that parts of the
reserve would be excluded if the
city agreed, at which time he was
waiting for a letter from the city on
the matter.
The band has been asking
taxation rights and the removal of
city boundaries since portions of
the reserve were included in
Kamloops in 1973 when the city was
amalgamated with adjacent
municipalities.
The. band filed a suit against the
city in B.C. Supreme Court last
April, protesting the inclusion of
the bands industrial park. The
band claimed that under the
proposed amalgamation it was
losing tax revenue and gaining no
service in return.
- The city at the time was given
the right to tax non-Indian users of
_the reserve land. .
Former Kamloops mayor
Gordon Nicol said last April that he
supported the Indians efforts to
have the reserve lands removed
from the city boundaries.
The. new chief. said that during
her two-year term she is looking
forward to a new housing program
that came into effect this year.
Some of the others would include a
senior citizens home and to install
a water and sewage system on the
reserve.
BONAPART ELECTIONS
CACHE CREEK — District
superintendent of Indian affairs
Jack Homan, said he really has not
heard nothing more on the validity
of the recent election on the
Bonaparte Indian reserve some
two miles. north of Cache Creek.
NG ice I cr reer oo . po ogy
apparently the largest
‘copy of his (Mr. Basil’s) appeal
affidavit, but nothing more.
Mr. Homan said the. department
does not know where Mr. Basil is at
the present time.
He said he would be willing to
wait and see what Ottawa’s
decision on the same matter will
be...
Mr. Basil has Srotested the
election because he claims he was
not notified about the same,
resulting in his failure to get a
nomination for council.
Mr. Basil has said he believes the -
government tried to get _rid of him.
because of his militant stand on
Indian housing. He participated in
the blockade of Highway 12 north
of Cache Creek during the summer |.
months. °
Mr. Harry Rankin, Mr. Basil’s
lawyer, said the Indian Affairs
_ could either void the election and
hold a new one, or deny Mr. Basil’s
allegations and go to court.
Leroy Antoine began a two year
term as chief of the Bonaparte
Band December 9, 1974.
SUICIDES INCREASE
“DUNCAN — The Cowichan In-
dian Band Council is alarmed at
the unprecedented increase in -the
number of suicides and drug
overdoses on the reserve near
Duncan. :
‘In fact the council called and
held a meeting with represen-
tatives of various government
agencies, including the RCMP,
social clubs and the city of Duncan
to discuss the matter. -
In the past month that is.
December ’74, three suicides have
occurred on the reserve as well as
a number of drug overdoses.
Cowichan band. chief Dennis .
Alphonse said the result of the
meeting was the formation of a -
steering committee to see what
avenues can be found to alleviate
the growing problem.
The members will also: look -at
the idea of setting an Indian -
Friendship Centre similar to the
one that has been in operation for.
five years in Victoria.
The centre in Victoria, which | is
supported by both government and
community funding, has been quite
successful in setting up innovative
programs for native Indians.
A Friendship Centre according
to chief Alphonse, could solve some
of the problems that are being
faced by Indian people in that
community, who is also the
executive director of the Victoria
Centre.
The Cowichan Indian Reserve is
in the
province, with more than 1,300
members.
FUND DRIVE SHORT
VICTORIA — A large part of
greater Victoria businessmen have
more or less ignored a Saanich
Peninsula Indian campaign to
raise about $40,000 for. a com-
munity recreation centre.
Only. a handful of the more than
300 businesses already canvassed ©
through pamphlets in the mail
have responded.
The four bands have drafted
plans for a $250,000 gym and
recreational complex, to be built
onto the Tsartslip Indian day
school which serves about 100
Indian youngsters, from. kin-
dergarten to grade seven.
The federal Indian affairs
department has agreed to build a
gym, but its plans are too small to
meet community needs, an Indian
spokesman said.
To raise the balance the four.
bands through the Saanich Indian
school board launched the cam-
paign.
The band lacks a meeting place,
. indoor sports facilities, and a place
A DIPLOMA PROGRAM in CANADIAN STUDIES has been developed at Vancouver Community College,
Langara. GENE JOSEPH has successfully completed six courses required to receive this diploma. The
diploma will not be given out officially until May. Gene hopes to.go onto University of British Columbia to
major in Canadian History.
- towards the project, but with only
just over 100 families, the amount
_Will barely scratch the surface of
the money needed.
Undaunted by the slow response
te date, the native leaders are
_ certain donations to the Tsartslip
Indian Day School Board Gym-
-‘nasium Fund, through the Saanich
Indian School at. Box 115, Brent-
wood Bay, will realize the needed
money.
FRANK RE-ELECTED
COMOX ‘— Norman Frank was
re-elected last Dec. 23 as chief of
the Comox Indian Band.
Polling was held at the Band Hall
and some 83.3 per cent of the.
electorate turned out.
Frank is also hereditary chief of
the band and thus has double status
as chief.
Electoral officer Kerry Frank of
-the band said after the -election:
“We had hoped for close to 100
per cent turnout, however a few of
the older people: on the reserve
haven’t been feeling well and were
unable to come and cast their
vote.”’
GRANTS HELP
INDIAN INDUSTRY
VICTORIA — Four grants under
federal-provincial ARDA program
were announced here on Friday,
Jan. 10. The grants totalling’
$280,000, come under the program
designed to encourage develop-
ment of projects to employ native
Indians.
The largest grant $113,000 will go
to the Kelpac Industries Ltd., a
Kelp harvesting and processing
_ operation being set up in the Queen
Charlotte Islands. The money will
be used as working capital for the
‘plant and for the purchase of more
equipment.
_ A grant of $88,400 will go to the
Osoyoos Indian Band for
development and expansion of its
vineyard. The Sechelt Indian Band
will receive $52,100 to study the
feasibility of establishing a gravel
extraction and processing facility
_ News from Hesquiat
By PHYLLIS HANNA”
SIMON LUCAS NEW CHIEF
Despite the inclement. weather,
‘members ‘of: the Hesquiat - Band
turned out on Saturday afternoon,
January 11, 1975, to elect their new
Chief Councillor and Councillors
for the next two years. Elected.as
Chief Councillor was Simon “Si”
Peter Lucas, who will succeed
Leonard “Rocky” Amos. The four
councillors elected were: Joseph
“Joey’’ L. Tom Jr., Patrick “Pat”
Charleson, Cecil Sabbas, and
Wilson George.
In his acceptance speech, newly-
elected Chief Councillor, Si Lucas,
pledged to do his best for his people
and hoped it would be possible to
concentrate on the. matter of
relocation this year.
Councillors Tom; Charleson,
Sabbas and George, pledged their
support to the newly-elected Chief
Councillor and stated they would
do all possible for their people and
thanked the people for the con-
fidence placed in them. Following
the elections, dinner was served to
Band members and entertainment
was provided by some of the elder
Band members and the
youngsters.
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Plans are underway to celebrate
the 58th wedding anniversary of
Alex and Mary Amos on Saturday,
January 11th, 1975. Tentative plans
are to celebrate with an an-
niversary dinner, Indian dancing
and singing.
WEDDING CHARLIE-LUCAS
Father Sigismund Lajoie united
Stephen Lucas, son of Paul Lucas,
Senior and the late Daisy Lucas,
and Deborah Rose. Marie Charlie, ;
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin
Charlie, in marriage in a double
ring ceremony at 2:00 p.m.,
Saturday, December 14th, 1974, in
Notre Dame Church, Port Alberni,
B.C. The young. ‘couple were
escorted to the alter by their
parents. Sister Anita was the
organist for the ceremonv.
sister, Marilyn Keitlah from -
Ahousat who acted as Matron of
Honor; her two haif-sisters,. Janet:
“and’ Fern Marshall were’ Junior
‘Bridesmaids. Her attendants wore:
floor length white gowns with red
floral design and ribbons in their
hair. They carried red roses.
Ring bearer for the occasion was
the bride’s half brother, David
Marshall, who carried the wedding.
rings down the aisle on a white
cushion. Attending the groom as
Best Man was Paul Lucas, Jr.,
brother. of the groom. Brother
Brian Lucas and Peter Charlie, the
bride’s brother acted as ushers and
they all wore black tuxedoes.
The »Port Alberni Friendship
Centre was chosen for the wedding
reception. The wedding cake, a
three tier cake, baked by Leo
Wouters was centred at the head
table. Toasting the young couple
were Francis Charlie, great uncle
of the bride and Paul Lucas, Sr.
The bride gave her bouquet to
Eleanor Marshall.
There was a sit down turkey
dinner for the many guests at-
tending the wedding. Out of town
guests were Jack and Chief Mary
Johnson of the Nootka Band, Gold
River, B.C.; Hudson and Janet.
Webster, Harvey and. Rose
Charlie, Violet and Charlie Joseph,
Douglas Charlie, Rose and James
Swan, Greta Thomas and family,
Martin Charlie, Sr.-and Amenda
Charlie, the bride’s grandparents,
all from Victoria; Sam and Vi
Johnson, Gold River, and John and
Ada Williams, grandparents from
Gold River, Hippolite Ignace;
Hesquiat, -.Jean Charleson,
Ucluelet, . Felix -and Sarah
Charleson, Port Albion, Louis
Sabbas, Ucluelet.
_ During the reception Indian
dancing and singing was _per-
formed by members of the
Hesquiat and Ahousaht tribes. One
of the traditional dances, the Wolf
Dance, was performed by Paul
Lucas, Sr. Dancers were Bernice
and James Swan and daughters
Laid Gidlills.
A legal history of
the land claims
PARTI:
THE QUESTION OF
SOVEREIGNTY
- By DOUG SANDERS
Peter Williams of . Kitwancool
suggests.that Indian people should
not seek aboriginal title, but ab-
-solute title. Absolute title, he says,
would include political sovereignty
“as well as the ownership of, the
land. Jacob Kruger, the member of”
the Chief’s Council of the Union
from the Okanagan, has stated that
one goal of the land claim should be
the establishment. of an Indian
Government... After that govern-
ment is established, no changes
could occur in legislation affecting
Indians without the consent of the
Provincial Government, the
Federal Government and the In-
dian Government. George Manuel,
head of the National Indian
Brotherhood, talks about home
rule and responsible government
for Indian communities in his book
“The Fourth World’. He suggests .
that Indian Reserve communities -
should be given the same place in
the Canadian federal structure as a
province.
These three views are all con-
cerned with Indian political power:
The usual approach of the
Canadian Government is to say
that Indian» reserves “are like »
> municipalities. They are not like
provinces and. not like nations.
Land claims, the’ Government
says, have nothing to do with
sovereignty. But is that true? It is -
widely known that Indian Tribes in
the United States are described as
“sovereign”? by U.S. Courts. It is
also widely known that within the
Soviet Union and China there are
‘“‘autonomous republics” under the
control of indigenous minorities. If
such governmental structures are
possible in the United States, in the
Soviet Union and in China,-are they ~
not possible also in Canada?
In 1971 the National Indian
Brotherhood approved an official
statement on the meaning of
“Aboriginal Title’. It began by
saying that prior to colonial set-.
tlement in North America, Indian
tribes -had -full - political
sovereignty. The tribes had their
own legal and political systems
and had clearly defined national
boundaries. In terms of the Indian
legal systems, there was no doubt
that the tribes were severeign
nations. But the colonial legal
systems of the French and English
never fully accepted that fact.
ALLIES OR SUBJECTS
The European nations which sent
colonizers to North America were
frequently at war among them-
selves. When England and France
fought in what is now Canada, they
were concerned with having Indian
allies to help them in the fights.
For this reason, the English and
the French recognized certain
eastern Indian tribes as ‘“‘allies’’.
The Iroquois Confederacy still
bases its argument for political
sovereignty on the fact that they
were described as ‘‘allies’’ of the
’ English and not as ‘‘subjects”’.
Nova Scotia was recantured by
our protection . .
under the
English, which involves a denial of |
Indians. In an attempt to secure
Indian loyalty, they signed treaties
of “peace and friendship”, in
which the Indians accepted the
sovereignty of the English. In a
Similar way, the Maori people of
New. Zealand accepted . English
sovereignty by the Treaty of
Waitangi in 1840. The Nova Scotia 2
treaties are the only Canadian
treaties. which deal with the
question of political sovereignty.
When France was defeated and
Quebec came under English
control,’ Indians were again
described as “allies”. The Articles
of Capitulation of Montreal in 1760
stated that the “Indian allies” of .
the French were to be ‘‘maintained
in the lands they, occupy if they
wish to remain there... .”’
DENIAL OF SOVEREIGNTY
The first great English enact-
ment after the fall of Quebec was
the Royal Proclamation of 1763.
That document refers to the In-
dians as ‘“‘the several Nations or
Tribes of Indians with whom we
are connected, and who live under
.’ Indians are
“Nations”? and the Proclamation
says that treaties should be signed
with them to’ acquire land. The
Indian “Nations’’, however, are
“protection’’ of the
full sovereignty.
In 1774 the highest English court
decided that the native people in
countries colonized by England
were “British subjects’. From
that date on, in law, Indian people |
in Canada were regarded as being
“British subjects’’ and not aliens.
The United States; which was
separating from England at this
time, did not accept the idea that
Indians were citizens. It was a
‘basic part of United States law
‘until the 1920’s that Indians were
aliens and not citizens.
In 1823 the question came up in
Ontario whether English criminal
law. would apply to a murder
committed by one Indian on
another Indian. The murder took
place on a street in Amherstburg in
southwestern Ontario. The officials
asked ‘‘Whether the Indians were
ameanable by Law to Our Courts,
for Offences committed within Our
Territory, against each other.”
England advised that the Indians
were subject to English law and
the Indian was sentenced to
transportation. He was to be sent to
Australia as punishment! _ -
Sixty years later. the United
States Supreme Court decided the:
case of Crow Dog. They ruled that
U.S. criminal law did not apply to
the murder of one Indian by
another on a reservation. While
this might be seen as a victory for
Indian sovereignty, it led to special
federal criminal legislation to
ensure that all ‘‘major’’ crimes
were handled by U.S. law, not
Indian law.
LEGISLATED OUT
OF EXISTENCE
The first two colonial laws which
were made to apply to what is now -
British Columbia were enacted in
1803 and 1821. Both statutes gave
the courts of Upper Canada (On-.
d Spetidl Ddge
that Australia was
Fishing wier on the Cowichan river
statutes were repealed for the
mainland of British Columbia and
a colonial government established
there, The- 1858. statute described
British Columbia as having been
“wild and - unoccupied
territories...”’. What was’
England talking about? Did they
believe that the Indians had left the
“Indian Territories” after 1821.and
that land was now “unoccupied”? ©
Certainly. not. English law said
that.a colonial. power. could take
complete possession of unoccupied
land. England was playing a legal
word game. The same game led an
Australian judge.to state in 1971
“‘deserted’’’
when it was first discovered by the
English. The Australian judge
pointed out that this was not a
conclusion of fact.(for it was un-
true)’ but a conclusion of law
(which did not need to be true). If
Australia and British Columbia
were legally ‘‘unoccupied”’ than
the English could establish a
“‘settled .. colony’’ -~ without
recognizing any native rights.
The only time that Canadian
courts have examined the idea of
Indian sovereignty was in a case
from the Six Nations Reserve in
Ontario. Representatives of. the
Iroquois Confederacy argued
against the provisions of the Indian |
Act on the. basis that: the Six .
Nations were sovereign allies of
the English and Canadian laws did .
not apply to them. The Ontario °
High Court ruled in 1956 that when :
the Iroquois moved from what is
now the United States to what is -
now Canada they accepted the
protection of the Crown and in that
- way became British subjects. The
‘same argument was raised in a
court case in 1972, but was aban-
doned before the trial.
NEED FOR
SELF DETERMINATION
The government probably:
assumes that Indian sovereignty is
a dead. issue. I think the concept is
alive in two ways. The concept of
sovereignty is a useful way to re-
think the question about the powers
of band councils. When the United
States courts talk about Indian
sovereignty, they are talking about
the extent of the power of tribal
m
The Lytton reserves
from the beginning
“The following is the first in-
stallment of a three part short
history of the -reserves of the
Lytton band. It represents the kind
of material that the Land Claims
Centre is preparing for local land
‘claims workshops. Their function .
is to serve as introductions and it is
hoped that they will:stimulate local
interest and discussion on land
claims.
Early Reserves 1860-1875
The first reserves in the Lytton.
area were probably set up by
Governor James. Douglas in the
early 1860's. Currently the Land
Claims Centre does not have much
information on these early:
reserves. More data will become
available as archive sources in
Ottawa and Victoria are searched.
For now we can only tell the
general story of Douglas’ policy,
‘ with only a few details for Lytton. .
The Indian land policy of James:
Douglas, the first Governor of the.
Colony of British Columbia had two '
parts:
‘1. recognition of Native Title;
2. the making of large reserves.
Douglas’ policy was clearly
spelled out in 1861 when he in-
structed the Chief Commissioner of
Lands and Works to- Jay out
reserves to the extent ‘as they |
may...be pointed out by the |
Natives. themselves’. This was:
done in the early 1860’s for the |
Fraser Valley, the Okanagan, and '
the Kamloops area. Presumably, it .
was also done in the Fraser
Canyon, though we have no details
of reserves at Lytton.
The other part of the Douglas
policy was the recognition of
Native Title. To this end, Douglas
made treaties on Vancouver Island
and made promises to other groups
that their tribal lands would be
purchased. He made_ such
promises at Cowichan, Fraser
Valley and Mt. Currie. In 1862,
Douglas visited the Interior of
. missioner
‘ regarding the reserves of the area.
needs tobe gathered. Gértainly no
purchase of Native Title to the
tribal lands of the Thompson has
ever been made.
NON-RECOGNITION
Douglas’ promise was broken
because Joseph Trutch changed
the policy on Native Title. In 1865
he took over direction of the
colony’s Indian land policy and
refused to recognize Indian Title.
In 1871, when British Columbia
joined Canada and became a
province, Trutch, as Lieutenant-
Governor, continued this policy of
non-recognition. This has been the
position of the Province ever since.
The Douglas policy of making
large reserves was also changed
by Trutch. Beginning in 1865, he
ordered reductions to be made. in
_reserves. Some reserves were cut
down considerably. At this time,
we know little about the ap-
plication of this policy at Lytton,
but there are a few facts.
In 1865 Philip Nind, Gold Com-
at Lytton, wrote
His statement shows the hostile
attitudes of white administrators
towards Indian rights:
“The Indians do nothing more
with their land than cultivate a few
small patches of potatoes here and
there...and made claims to
| thousands of acres of good arable
and pasture land admirably
adapted for settlement’.
Clearly. the Thompsons were
expressing concern for their lands
and were protesting the white
intrusion into their area, which
increased dramatically in 1858
with the Fraser Gold Rush.
MINERS INTRUDE
The situation in 1858 in the
Fraser Canyon can be seen as
setting the tone of future
developments. Indians had
discovered the gold and con-
tributed greatly to the wealth
Siearee I: NES ereermns: aeuerasn |S SRaRER Te SERN ee, Ere OE i a
BD
Editor’s Note: The Calendar of
Senior Girls —
Events that follows is ° not
complete but is as up to date as
possible.
BASKETBALL
Junior Girls z
16 years old and under
Zone 2 — Mount
February 15, 16, 1975.
Contact — Lloyd Williams, Box’
-8, Mount Currie, B.C.. VON
2KO. Telephone — 894-6602.
Currie,
'. Zone 3 — Kamloops, March 8,
9, 1975.
‘Contact? — Interior Indian
Friendship Centre, 387 Fourth
Avenue, Kamloops, B.C.
Telephone — 372-7422,
17 years old and over
Zone 1 — Nanaimo, (dates not
set-in March).
Contact — Penny Seward, Box
667, Nanaimo, B.C, Telephone
_ 753-3481.
Zone 2 —.Vancouver, March 1,
2, 1975. |
Contact — Cliff Atleo, 8363
Laurel Street, Vancouver, B. C.
Telephone — 736-8721.
Zone 3 — Vernon, March 14,
15, 16, 1975.
Contact — Raymond Williams,
Box 1165, Vernon, — B.C.
Telephone — None.
Zone 4 — There are only two
teams in this zone, therefore,
there will be no zone play-offs.
Zone 5— Date and place not
set.as. yet.
Contact ~ Gerald Rios, Box
111, Kitimat, B.C. Telephone
—~ 632-3094.
Junior Boys —
16 years old and under
Zone 2 — .Mount Currie,
February 15, 16, 1975.
‘Contact — Lloyd Williams, Box
8, Mount Currie, B.C.
VON 2KO. Telephone © —
~ 894-6602 or 894-6394.
Zone 3 — So far, there are only
two teams in this zone,
therefore, ‘play-offs are not
necessary.
Zone 5’ — Place and date not
set as yet.
Contact — Gerald Amos, Box
111, Kitimat, B.C. Telephone
ft
I
‘
ne
tye
ior — 632-3094,
Sports - Recreation 632-3094
Deadlines important
‘This year we are being very |
strict and if the team’s roster is
later than the deadline date then
the team will not be qualified to
con Stal
HOCKEY
Senior Men —
Intermediate Boys fae
17 to 20 years old
Zone 1 — Port Alberni, March
15, 16, 1975.
Contact — Simon Lucas, West
Zone 5 —
February 25-March 1, 1975.
Contact — John Lambie, 1130
Prince Rupert,
By ROGER ADOLPH
We are now approaching what
-has been the highlight in B.C.
Prince Rupert Blvd., Prince
_fative sports: the zone playoffs - participate. Coast District Council R.R. Rupert, B.C. Telephone iG years old and over
and provincial playoffs. Unlike last “ Once rosters are in, teams will No. 3, Port Alberni. B.C. 624-4047. ‘aay
year the provincial finals will not not be allowed to pick up new Telepho 723-8165 _ Zone 1 ~ nil.
’ all be held.in one central place in a players from’ the deadline on. BIEN = “8165. . z 2 — nil
large tournament but will be “Included in the provincial -Senior Men — ae ale
spread out through: the province
1 playoffs this year will be various
and the upcoming months.
Zone 2 — Vancouver, March. 1,
extracurricular activities. These 2, 1975. 21 years old and over Zone 3 — Kamloops, March 7,
In basketball this year. the will include Indian dancing, arts . Contact — Cliff Atleo, 8363 Zone 1 — Port Alberni, March 8, 9, 1975.
provincial championships of the and crafts displays, social dances Pe on “Va eae BC 22, 23, 1975. Contact — Clarence Manuel,
Intermediate Boys (17-20 years,) and student marching bands. a AUPRT Street, Vantcouving BEC. x Contact — Simon Lucas, West Box. 22, Chase, B.C. Telephone
Senior ‘Men (21: and over.) and All tears will be responsible for ©. “Telephnene — 736-8721. : CG i, RAR. — 679-3175.
Senior Women (17 and over;) will their ..own.. accommodation and: Coast District Counci
No, 3, Port: Alberni, B.C.
' Telephone — 723-8165.
travel expenses to: and from. the
provincial playoffs.
We have made an evaluation of
all be held at the Prince George
1 Zone : 3 = “Ch Ch M
Senior Secondary School on April 2- " oe acy 1
D
Zone 4A — Williams Lake,
2, 1975.
March 15, 16, 1975.
De Junior Boys and Girls finals. all our zone and provincial tour- Contact — Felix Moses, Box “ Contact — Joan Jack, Box
(16 years and under) will be held at naments and we have made our 188, Merritt, B.C. Telephone — Bap VanGeapen. Maren 1, 4027, Williams Lake, B.C.
_ the Duncan Senior Secondary. The ' aim this year to upgrade them. . 378-5101. a. “Telephone — 392-2886.:
date for these has not been set yet. This will involve more efficient Contact — Cliff Atleo, 8363
: _ organization, such that the quality : Cate Laurel Street, Vancouver, B.C.
datie ee Aeris Orne of the tournaments can offer an Zone 4 — Prince George Telephone — 736-8721. gone “AE == Fort it: danies,
example to the individual athletes,
’ socially,
‘Vernon Civic Centre. College, March 1, 2, 1975. March 22, 23, 1975, :
athletically and in
I would like to remind teams
participating in the various zone
playoffs that deadline dates for the
submission of their team rosters is
one month prior to the playoffs.
sportsmanship.
I hope that all people will get out -
and support their teams at the zone
playoffs and at the provincial
championships.
Contact — Gordon Sebastian,
1990 Renwick Crescent, Prince
George, B.C. Telephone —
563-8145.
yom
stickers,
Send suggestions to: Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
HELP!
The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
urgently needs slogans for bumper
buttons and banners for
distribution at its General Assembly
in April of this year in
Chilliwack, B.C.
'
“ala Me Valarie Rrant
Zone 3 — Vernon, March 14,
15, 16, 1975. :
Contact — Felix Moses, Box
188, Merritt, B.C.
378-5101.
‘Zone 4 — Prince George ©
College, March 1, 2, 1975.
Contact — Gordon Sebastion,
1990 Renwick Crescent, Prince
George, B.C. Telephone —
563-8145.
Zone 5 — Prince Rupert,
February 25-March 1, 1975.
Contact — John Lambie, 1130
Prince Rupert Blvd., Prince
~
Contact — Cecil Martin, Box
427, Fort St. James, B.C.
Telephone — 996-8629.
Zone 5 — There are only two
teams in this zone, therefore,
no play-offs required.
Please Note — Zone 4: has been
divided in two, because of the
large number of hockey teams
with this zone.
CORRESPONDENTS NEEDED
Where have our correspondents
disappeared to? Our
cartoonists? Our men and
women of wit and wisdom? We
know you're out there.
Rupert, B.C. Telephone — — NESIKA needs you!
624-4047, cca ng
CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM
Nesika
Union of B.C. ‘Indian Chiefs,
2140 W. 72th Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C. V6J1£1
_ PLEASE CHANGE MY ADDRESS TO:
(City or Town) (Province, State; Country Postal Code)
Signature ............0005
By STEVE JOHNSON
On October 5, 1974, the Chiefs’
Council of the Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs. provided a mandate for a’
full investigation of the Master
Tuition Agreement (MTA) in
British. Columbia. This decision
was reached following. the
presentation of a preliminary
Brief, ‘‘The Master Tuition
Agreement in British Columbia’’,
by the Union’s Education Coor-
dinator. ‘The preliminary _ brief
recommended that the Union in-
vestigate:
1, the MTA and its implications
for Indian control of Indian
education specifically, and the
education. of Indian people
generally; and —
2. the specific wishes and
feelings of Indian parents,
band councils, and district
councils regarding the MTA in
light of the information
resulting from’ the research.
The investigation committee
which was struck is comprised of
Steven Johnson, Edueation
Coordinator, .UBCIC; Robert
Sterling, B.C. Native Indian
Teachers’ Association; and three
Chiefs’ Council representatives:
‘Bill Wilson, George Watts and
Cecil Reid. ‘This committee was
charged with responsibility for
implementing the investigation
and preparing a report on the
results of the research. The three
Chiefs’ Council representatives on
the committee will be responsible
for suggesting specific recom-
mendations on. the basis _ of this
report.
The MTA is essentially a con-
tractual transaction — the federal
government (DIA) buys a service,
i.e., the education of status Indian
people in public schools, from the
provincial government. (Depart-
ment of Education). This transfer
of funds is necessary because the
federal government -retains the
responsibility for the education of
status Indian people. What we are
investigating is the method of
transferring these funds.
In Canada there are presently
two methods being utilized for this
purpose:
1. Master. Tuition Agreements
which involve the.centralized
transfer of funds from the
federal. government to the
provincial government, for an
entire province; and
2. Local Tuition Agreements
which jnvolve the transfer of
funds from a DIA District ora
Band (where Bands have
assumed administrative
control over . education
program funds).and a local
» school district, for that school
district alone. Master Tuition
Agreements are presently
utilized in three provinces:
British Columbia, Manitoba,
_and New. Brunswick; while
local Tuition. Agreements are ,
utilized: in all others. Under
both types of tuition
agreements the federal
government assumes | no
control over the operation of
provincial school districts,
and is not involved in
evaluating either the quality
or effectiveness of the
education provided to Indian
students. ;
A full investigation of the MTA is
people of British Columbia. are not
parties to the MTA, nor were they
involved in the drafting of its
content in 1969. According to the
‘Indian Control of Indian
Education’”’ policy paper:
“Master Agreements. bet-
- ween federal and provincial
governments violate the
principle of Local Control and
Parental Responsibility if
these agreements are made
without consulting and in-
volving the. Indian people
whose children are affected
(pp. 5-6).”
In Manitoba, the Manitoba In-
dian Brotherhood is a party to their
MTA, and was involved in
developing its content. In New
Brunswick, the Indian people are.
not parties, but they were directly
involved. in establishing the
agreements’ content.
Furthermore, various in-
dividuals, ’ Bands, . and
organizations have expressed
concern that the MTA. does. not
provide for the Indian Peoples’ on-
going involvement in determining
the content and administration of
the MTA. The ‘Indian Control of
“Indian Education’ policy paper
states that:
“The Indian people con-
cerned... .must review all .
existing agreements for the
purpose of making specific
recommendations for their
revision, termination | or
continuance (p. 5).”’
In its present form, it appears
that the MTA effectively limits the
implementation of Indian control
of Indian education. Basically, we
are asking the question: Is the
status Indian people of ‘British
Columbia?
The investigation of the MTA is
now under way and the committee
hopes to have a completed report
ready for presentation to the
Annual Conference in April. The
major areas being researched are:
1. the legitimacy of the MTA as
it now stands. in light of
‘Indian Control .of Indian
Education’’ policy;
2. the financial responsibility
for specific education. ser-
vices (e.g., counselling,
transportation, etc:);
3. the delivery, effectiveness,
and evaluation of education
services;
4. the ‘on-reserve or Crown
land only’ clause which
limits federal responsibility
by the two governments to
reach an agreement . over
mutually acceptable . costs;
(Last year a consensus was
not reached until late Sep-
tember and the result was a
“holding back”’ of education
funds in other budget areas
by the D.LA. to ensure they
would be able to meet their
obligation to the province.
Bands. adminstering
education programs, . and
. students seeking support for
10.
post secondary =:and
vocational. programs | were
adversely affected by these
‘thold backs’’-)
. the affect of the MTA. on
Bands. and/on Districts
assuming control over. their
education;
to status Indians in this the MTA in relation to capital
situation only; (joint) agreements between
5. the ‘‘average tuition’’ for- the D.I.A. and “school
mula for: payment, which. districts;
does not accurately reflect 11. the legal basis for Jecal: level
geographical variations in negotiation between Bands
actual costs or the difference and/or Districts and school
in cost between elementary districts regarding. the
and secondary | education; education provided Indian
6. accountability for the quality people and parental: in-
of services, the delivery of | volvement in the education
' services, and the utilization process;
of funds transferred to the 12. the Public Schools Act and
province on behalf of Indian B.C. ~School Trustees’
people; Association policy in relation
_7. the use of a nominal roll in to the MTA and the “Indian
October. as the basis for -Control of Indian Education’’
calculating -the -cost of policy paper; and. eo
educating. status Indian 13. alternative arrangements,
people (e.g., how many of our both Local ~- Tuition
students leave school after
. October while the province is
paid for the entire school
year?);
Agreements and Master
Tuition Agreements to which
Indian: people are parties, as
they now exist in other
(Continued on page ee
imperative. The nee Indian _
MTA in the best interests of the - .
8. the negotiation process used
JOB OPPORTUNITIES |
WILLIAMS. LAKE DISTRICT ©
| esac RESOURCES
CO-ORDINATOR
We plan. -to ‘hire an Indian person. to assist the
Co-ordinator with his. tasks and to’ acquire ‘training and
experience that would" prepare to assume the Co-ordinator’ s
position in two years’ time. .
. Duties’ which’. the Assistant will
Co-ordinator are:
1)— organize cultural programs
- accumulate material for the Resources Centre and
Repository
2)—assist ' teachers: with organizing their
‘producing material, and IncOrpOraHng culture content
into their-courses
* —research other programs and visit institutions with similat
goals ‘
~ solicit funds for further cultural projects
share. with the
— to assist-students, staff, band leaders, tothe users Sof
the Resources Centre in developing their skills in
‘handling informational resources
— provide technical assistance where required.
The one year training period will allow the Assistant
Co-ordinator ample time for on-thejob-training, travel to
other Indian culture programs and familiarization with a wide
range of resources. Formal training will include attendance at
courses and workshops on specific skills: library, audio-visual,
research techniques, teaching methods.and curriculum design,
etc..One valuable training experience could be attendance at
the Navaho Summer Linguistic Institute. Some knowledge of
: ‘Shuswap, Chilcotin or Carriere is desirable but not essential.
ACCOUNTANT
This is professional accounting work of considerable
_ complexity and scope involving responsibility for a wide
_ variety. of accounting activities, and the development of
accounting systems and controls necessary to meet the needs
of the Indian Bands in the Williams Lake District, and the
Fish Lake Cultural Education Centre. .
Duties will include the preparation of financial
statements and the maintenance of financial records and
accounts in.a manner consistant with established accounting
principles and techniques.
Applicants should have. high school graduation or the
equivalent and possess a recognized professional. certificate
(CG.A., C.A., R.LA. or knowledge and experience of the
Rainbow ‘Accounting System) ‘in the field of accounting.
Applicants should have considerable accounting experience
ee tg une ommtiiemen: aemeitok? <ctinds ham
instruction, 2
Suggested duties of the
‘Community Development Worker |
Two workers — one short-term, one permanent.
The worker will be responsible to ‘the people of the.
bands he serves through the Band and District Council.
The duties will include:
_ 1D) create or develop an existing group into an action-oriented
group within the community to identify problems and
priorities;
2) provide knowledge and stimilation to aid these groups in
establishing common objectives to deal with the problems;
3).assist community groups (Councils, committee) to
. co-ordinate and .evaluate existing services at the Band
~. devel;
4) help the group to bring services into the community which
_are presently unavailable but needed;
5) act asa facilitator for change at the Band. level- in
accordance with the pace, method: and general direction
given by the Band through its authorized: groups;
6) act as‘a resource person in an advisory and informative
capacity with regard to.Band programs and general Band
Administration; . /
7) work in close co-operation and co-ordination with other
resource persons and agencies available to the Bands as ~
part of an overall team seeking self-determination and
independence through total community development with
the people of each band;
8) make regular verbal and/or written: reports to Band and
District Council;
9) perform other related duties.
FISH LAKE
CULTURAL EDUCATION CENTRE
RECREATION WORKER
Duties of Recreation Worker:
_1) to organize and plan. all recreational activities at the Fish
Lake Cultural Education Centre;
2) to provide guidance and. counselling to the students i in the
- use of their free time;
- 3) to research traditional Indian pasttimes. and work with
. Resources Centre Co-ordinator to integrate cultural
activities in the courses;
- . 4) to assist surrounding reserves in organizing training courses
in all recreational activities; :
5) to assist recreational leaders in organizing inter-reserve
competition;
7) to train Indians in the rules and’ officiating of all sports —
games.
Send written applications to: Mr. Irvine Harry or Dave Ross,
Fish Lake Cultural i
es .. ge... weg
_—plan and carry ‘out: presentations. (slide-tape
ineieie |
PRODUCTION WORKER
—learn the operation: of audio-visual equipment in the -
Resources Centre (projectors, darkroom, soundroom,
video, graphics, etc.) °
— learn technical skills for producing informational material
{tape editing, layout for printing, etc.) .
~help set up and ‘maintain audio-visual programs at Fish -
Lake and in’ the communities of: the District (taping,
photography, printing, etc.) .
shows,
photographic displays, video-tapes, publications) /
On the job training would take place at the Fish Lake
Centre and during visits to other centres. Some background
in one or more of the areas above is preferred.
PACIFIC ASSOCIATION OF
COMMUNICATION IN
“FRIENDSHIP INDIAN CENTRES
946 Brunette Avenue
Coquitlam, B.C.
V3K 1C9
_ Needs a
Book-keeper/Secretary
PERMANENT PART-TIME BASIS 5 DAYS PER WEEK,
‘6 HR./DAY (POSSIBLY INCREASING TO
FULL TIME IN NEAR FUTURE)
LOCATION:
As above (Lougheed Highway at Brunette)
DUTIES: ~Under supervision of the director,
: —Keeps books and records of the
association ~
—Checks accounts and prepares financial .
-statements for scrutiny by board of ©
directors.. ~ / :
Typing and general office duties.
EDUCATION &
EXPERIENCE —Good bookkeeping experience essential
~Some. Knowledge of preparing and
writing letters to government officials
’ —Knowledge in preparation of budgets
—Typing 50 wpm (knowledge of
shorthand an advantage)
pleted. The comprehensive Central
' Carrier Language Dictionary is
now in print and the first copies
have already been distributed.
The Carrier Language. Dic-
tionary is the work of a great
number of people. A- core com-
mittee consisting of Mrs. Fran-
cesca_ Antoine, . Catherine - Bird,
Agnes Isaac, Nellie Prince,. Sally
Sam and Bettsy Leon worked with
Dick Walker and David Wilkinson.
of the. Summer School of
Linguistics in. contacting people
and gathering the information
. contained. in. the comprehensive
dictionary.
-Funds were obtained in many. °
different ways. A-Canada Council
Grant was channelled through the .
College of New Caledonia, The B.C. : Dictionary and related material
First Citizens Fund was tapped for
aid, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs -
also: Supported the project.
_ promote better understanding of.
ae Indian Culture. The people in- .
- volved feel this is better done by
having other people SpepaIE the
Carrier Language.
‘Catherine Bird said it ‘all very |
eloquently. “1 hope we will all be
able to sit-down and speak one
tongue and be comfortable while
we do so.”’ Mrs. Bird made ‘her
speech in the Carrier Language.
Many years have gone by since
the -project was first conceived.
During that time’ the enthusiasm
_waxed and waned like the seasons.
The biggest overall problem was a
lack of money to get things like
paper and the printing. Un until:
had taken 12 years to complete. :
It was at this point that: the
' College of New Caledonia became
interested. The material was
transferred to the College where
copies were made which then
would guarantee the continuance
of the project should disaster befall
the originals.. Around. the: same
time an application was made
through the College for a research
grant from the’ Canada Council.
This was obtained and for almost
the first time in the entire history.
of the project, some monies were
available for materials and a great
boost was given to the morale of -
the people who had worked so hard °
_and long.
‘Chief Peter Prince said the
will help to give the Indian culture
back to the Indian people. He said,
The whole idea of the Dictionary - “Other people and the Indians
and. other books produced by the |
Carrier Linguistic Committee is to ”
themselves will now realize the
Carrier Indians do have a history
they-can be proud of. There will be.
a big change in our people. now.
Better education standards are
now possible because of this
Jowering of the language barrier.”
Prince also said, “The Carrier
‘people did have an identity. but
. they lost it. This dictionary and the
work «completed: will help the
Carrier Indians. regain that
identity. I have already noticed a
big improvement in our young
people over the last five. years.
With this dictionary i in school, Iam
sure there will be an even bigger
improvement.”
The 397 page dictionary is the.
key. book in a complete learning
_ word, ‘“‘Ihuti”’ ‘means,
er ELLE eS A ARN Ae ee eee
alphabet, two primers, a gram-
matical. background text and a
small story book have already
been produced and are being used
to teach students the basic Carrier. .
Language.
The Dictionary expands this
basic concept into day to day use.
The reference work does not only
give word definitions and English-
Carrier translations, it also
_ provides examples of the word or
phrase being used. in actual.
situations.
The Carrier Language is ex-
_ tremely complex. Words are made
up to.express whole ideas rather
than just objects. For example the
“The road
passes ‘through.”’ The Dictionary
. puts down this meaning then uses
the sentence, ‘“‘Syun K’ut.’et
’oya’ihuti’’, which means, ‘‘The
road passes through my land.”
Plans are underway by School
District 56 for the inclusion of
Carrier Language studies in the
public schools of the District.
‘However, the Department of
Education, whilein sympathy with
the idea, has not. made the
necessary funds available. yet :to
get the programme: on the road. _
Studies of.the language are being -.
done in..the .various Catholic
Schools in the District. The Dic-
tionary will bea big boon to these
studies according to the teachers of
the courses. Both white and native
children are involved in the classes
‘with a-very high. interest being
shown by all participants.
- |From.the Vanderhoof Nechako
Chronicle. ]
~ Indian language project works well
“British Columbia. Indian
/ Language Project” is the name.
» given’ by Native-Indians working
on this. language with help from
Randy. Bouchard of Victoria. This:
work has been done on independent
basis, free of institutional or
political ties.
-In.. April of 1972, ‘‘British
Columbia Indian ‘Language
Project” became an Incorporated
Society within the term of the
British Columbia Societies Act.
This Project was registered with
the Federal Government.
The Board of Trustees of
B.C.LL.P. consists of five older,
knowledgeable. native Indian
people from various areas . of
British Columbia. The direction
and nature of the work undertaken
by B.C.I.L.P. is determined
’ primarily by. the wishes of the
older Indian people in each of the.
Indian. communities involved.
Although ‘the’ B.C.I.L.P: ‘is
concerned with the preservation of
‘the languages of all B.C.’s ap-
proximately 30 different. Indian
groups, the area of concentration,
_ So far, has been with that group of.
languages collectively referred to
‘as Salish. In British Columbia,
there are 10 different Salish
languages.
It is through the “‘Indian
Language Specialists” that most of
_ the work of the B.C.1.L.P. is ac-
complished. Indian Language
Specialists are native Indian
people, usually middle-aged or
older, who are trained in
methodologies of taping, tran-
‘Slating, and transcribing linguistic
and ethnographic materials
pertaining to their own particular
groups.
Most of these Indian Language —
Specialists . are . trained
methodologies: of “teaching
own languages ; at the present time’
B.C.LL.P. is involved with «the
teaching of six different languages
in B.C.
During the past five years,
B.C.LL.P: has built up an ex-
tensive collection of taped and
written materials pertaining to
half of the Indian languages of —
‘British Columbia. The majority of
these materials arefrom the Salish |
linguistic. territories of B.C.
At present, the B.C.I.L.P.
collection consists of about 350
tapes and 11,000 accompanying
pages of word lists, legends,
stories, language lessons, and
historical and ethnographic ac-
counts. Almost all the tapes are
SPENAMA MAE LELA AD igy VAUD EE UW adds aS
they had done previously.
To protect themselves, Indians
tried to prevent. miners from ex-
tracting any gold at all, or tried to
impose taxes on those working.
ground claimed by Indians. They
also tried to prohibit entry to some
rivers. The Thompsons also in-
sisted that the wholesale gold -
extraction ruined the salmon
fishery and protested the miners’
interference with Indian land
holdings, village sites, fishing
stations, cultivated areas and
graveyards.
These. pressures could only in-
crease as the 1860’s wore on. For
though most of the miners had
gone north to search for more gold,
the main route to the interior was
pushed through the Fraser Canyon
in 1862 and white settlers had
turned up in significant numbers.
By 1868 the situation was serious
-and Reverend J. B. Good, the
missionary at Lytton wrote:
“All available lands are eagerly
taken up where water can be used
for irrigation .:.it would be ad-
visable that in.the Spring the In-
. dians should have their small plots
of land secured to.them and sur-
veyed off: .:.together ... with
water where required’.
Joseph Trutch, by now engaged
in the policy of reducing reserves,
replied:
. it is impractical to effect
any settlement of these reserves at
present... the matter is deferred
until a> more favourable op-
portunity’’.
Trutch’s ‘‘more favourable
opportunity’” would seem to be ©
after whites’ had. taken ‘the best
land and water, and where. the.
Indians. could be pushed: into ‘the
- rockiest, driest benchlands..
This then i is the situation prior to
.. 1871; it is a situation of increasing
~ white pressures, non-recognition of
a
BOB MANUEL (CDW. Proaram. coordinator) makec a nnint while fallan, IIRCIC ctaffarc Ctaun Inhmenn
“Indian land claims, and’ insecurity.
of the Indian’s position.
[To be continued]
work of B.C.I.L-P.
made in the original Indian
Languages; they are then tran-
slated into English, and are also
transcribed in the ~ original
language.
In addition to these materials
_collected and developed by the
Project, a Resource Library has
also been built up. It consists of 800 |
manuscripts, both published and
' unpublished, pertaining to all of
the. Native Indian Peoples of
British Columbia.
B.C.LL.P. is deeply concerned
with providing answers and
reaction, to the Indian people in
each of the areas where work. is
being done. Particular copies of all
tapes made, and of all the written
translation and transcription
associated with each tape, are
given to the Indian person who
provided the original information,
aa to the Indian person who taped
or translated that information.
Copies of taped and written
material are also given to the Band
Council in each of the Indian
communities involved. Copies of
taped and written materials
considered to be a “personal’’
nature by those who provided such
original information are given to
no one, without the express consent
of the person who originally
provided that information.
~ It is the unanimous feeling of
those people associated with the
that the
ultimate aim of this research is to
produce meaningful materials that
can be used in both Provincial and
Federal. Schools, particularly in
elementary grades, for the benefit
of Indian. and non-Indian people.
This is demonstrated not only in
the introduction of
Language courses, with the
assistance of B.C.LL.P., but also in
at.
assisted
_Sovereign,
Indian -
Saskatchewan, etc.). .
The MTA Committee is being
in this endeavour by
Bands and/or Districts throughout
B.C., as-well-as consultants from
the National Indian Brotherhood,
other provincial Indian
associations, the government
departments concerned, and other
organizations such as the B.C.
Native Indian Teachers’
Association and the B.C. School
Trustees’ Association. A . major
concern of the committee is
provision for and encouragement -
of local input and involvement in
this investigation.
The MTA Committee, invites all:
those interested in obtaining more:
information about: the MTA or in
becoming involved in ‘this in-
vestigation to contact:
Steven Johnson,
. Education Coordinator,
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs,
2140 West 12th Avenue;
VANCOUVER, B.C. V6K 2N2
or any of ‘the other MTA ‘Com-. -
mittee members.
Land claims
(Continued from page 7)
sover eignty, it is saying the same
things as when it talks about: the
sovereignty of the State of Arizona.
When George Manuel suggests that
Indian Reserves should: be like
provinces, he is talking in the same
way that U.S. courts ath
courts talk...
There is a second way in which
the idea of sovereignty is. useful,
When the Canadian government
Says that ‘Indians: are not
it is saying that the
history of Indian-white relations in ..
this country is simply a domestic
matter, an internal matter. That is
only true if you accept the basic
notions of colonialism. The concept
that. Canada has a trust respon-
- sibility to Indian People is a notion
rooted in International Law. The
fact that the courts and parliament
deny Indian sovereignty is not very
strange when it is pointed out that
the courts and parliament were
established here by the colonists,
not by the Indians. By Indian
standards ‘‘Canadian history”’ is a
history of international contact.
Other nations came here and, after
- being allowed to move into a spare
room, declared that they owned the
whole house. .
The Indian view has led Indian
people to seek an international
forum in which to speak, to seek
international standards by which
to hold-Canada responsible for it’s
actions. This concept has led the
American Indian Movement to
hold an International Treaty
Conference and’ to establish an
‘International Treaty Office near
the United Nations in New York. It
has. also led the National Indian
Brotherhoed to apply for and get
recognition by the United Nations
as an international voice for in-
digenous peoples. The National
Indian Brotherhood is planning a
world conference of indigenous
peoples in Canada in 1975. This
shows the continuing commitment
of the National Indian Brotherhood
to the idea that Indian-White
relations in Canada are not just
internal, domestic matters. ,
No Canadian court, no Canadian.
government will say that Indian
tribes are presently fully sovereign
nations. Yet Canadian govern-
ments may be convinced that
Indians should have “sovereignty”
— or “self-determination’’ — on
their own lands. And Canadian
governments may yet come to see
that their idea that Indian-White
relations in Canada are purely
internal, domestic matters’ is
rather silly and_ self-conscious.
Canada has yet to come to terms
with its colonial history and with. -
its relationshin to the Americas.
PLC SCULLY Vel ALiiis, 2h UE) Orly hae
7th Avenue, the Owl House has a
staff of 12, which includes three
counsellors. and six housemothers.
Although their main objective is
to help Native people, they will
accept referrals from other
organizations; no one will be
turned away. Top priority will be
given to families and single
parents.
The organization has recently
received an LIP grant, and are
seeking more funding. They will
also receive money for individual
accommodation costs from the
Vancouver Resource Board.
Counsellors will be on hand :to
give advice, help people. find
permanent lodging and. jobs, and
. help people find their way to other
community service organizations,
such. as the B.C. Non-Status In-
dians Outreach job training and
placement service.
Owl House co-ordinator Violet
Fineday can be reached at 255-
1003.
BELOW — Two lovely Navajo
maidens in the Brigham Young
University Program .Bureau
“Lamanite - Generation”. -Mary
Sandoval (left) and Millie Cody
(right) pose with Roger Horsen (a
Navajo) on the steps of the U.S.
€apital’ in: Washington D.C. The
“Lamanite Generation,” drawing
top Indian talent from over 600
BYU Indian students representing
over sixty tribes, will appear at
JOHN OLIVER SECONDARY -
SCHOOL AUDITORIUM on
THURSDAY and FRIDAY,
FEBRUARY 13th and 14th at 8
P.M. ADMISSION: Adults $3.00,
Students $2.00, children 5. and
under are admitted FREE.
call.
ar Be g
foster care
Thelma Marchand and Ernie
Crey have been hired as Child. .
Placement Workers by the Union
of B.C. Indian Chiefs.
In this capacity they will be
working with the 25 bands in the
Thompson River district. It will be
their responsibility to find Indian
Adoptive and Foster Homes.
Ernie and Thelma are part of a -
pilot project which began in. mid-
September. They will be expected
to do preventive work — that is;-to
work: closely and.. cooperatively
with Band: Welfare Aides, Social
Workers of ‘the Department. of
Human -Resources : and. Band
Councils inan attempt to keep
families together..When families‘
do break down they: will attempt to
see that the children taken into
Temporary or Permanent -care
remain within. their own .com-
munities with relatives or friends
of their families.
If you.are interested in adopting
or fostering and. would like. more
information, feel free to contact
either Ernie or. Thelma fispigh
your. Band Welfare Aide, Chief,
Band Council or write directly to
Ernie ‘and Thelma: at "432-1800
Tranquille Highway, Kamloops,
V2B 3L9. The Union of B.C. Indian .
Chiefs has arranged office space
for them in the: Department. of
' Human Resources located in the
Brock Shopping Centre. The
telephone number ‘is 376-6242, local
53. If they are not in, leave a
message and ey will return: your
~ Home-School. Co- ordinators complete course
. oR GROUP ‘OF: TEN: native : fridian Home 2
: : school ‘co-ordinators . from all-over British™ -
“Columbia ‘has- just completed: an intensive
‘two, week course, at Malaspina College jin
Nanaimo. The course, the second to be
arranged by .the college this ‘year, was
betel work closely with individual childeeni.
“Those attending the.course were back row,
from left: Myrtle Campbell, Hazleton; Irma
Bos, Port Alberni; Pearl Keenan, Surrey;
Rena Bolton, Terrace; Margo Sam, Fort St.
James; Morris Williams, Burns Lake; Front
organized by Study Skills instructor Andy
* Martin‘ (right) ‘in consultation with the B.C.
Association of Non-Status: Indians. “The
provide -a direct
communication between home and. school
co-ordinators
Row, from left, Raphael Quaw, Vanderhoof;
Pete Martin, Bella. Bella;. Conrad... King,
Dawson ‘Creek; Mary Low: Jarvis; ‘Fort St
‘Tine | of “John. —
_ Malaspina -College:Photo
Pda
Ww
4.
5.
THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
~ FACULTY OF EDUCATION .
- Requests Applications for
, Position in’ Native Education
Desirable backeround includes qualification and experience in working
with native ‘students and demonstrated teaching excellence. Native
person preferred.
. Candidates should be prepared to offer leadership in building a teacher
education program for teachers of native students and to offer courses
. in, curriculum and instruction appropriate to the needs of teachers of
native students. They should also be prepared to supervise student
- teachers. |
. Current (1974-75) salary scale floors: Assistant — $13,345; Associate —
$17,595; Full Professor — $23,325. Rank and salary dependent upon
qualifications and experience.
Letter of application, full curriculum vita and names of three references
to be sent to R. N. Anderson, Dean of Education, University of —
Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta. :
Effective date of appointment: July 1, 1975.
FIELD
WORKERS
NEEDED
To ALL Band Members of:
Upper Nicola Reserve
Lower Nicola Reserve |
Coldwater Reserve
Shackan Reserve
Nooaitch Reserve
3 FIELD WORKERS:
Nicola and Coldwater.
1 ADMINISTRATOR:
‘Reserves.
“One each for Upper Nicola, Lower
To supervise the above shinee Field
Workers and act as the Field Worker
for Nooaitch and Shackan - Indian
JOB OPPORTUNITIES |
DESCRIPTION -
1) FIELD WORKERS:
a) esr annual budgets.
1) Band revenue and Capital.
2) Department of Indian Affairs Appropriation _ Oo & M and
Capital.
b) Supervise the expenditures of these budgets. -
c) Prepare projects as directed by Band Councils. ~
d) Supervise these projects and their employees. :
e) Acts as a source of information. for Band Members — ranging from
the Indian Act to Economic Development.
f) Prepares and carries out the policies and by-laws of Bands under the
direction of Band Councils.
'2) ADMINISTRATOR:
above.
_g) Under the Direction of the Band Councils, prepares. and carries out
the general day-to-day business of the Band.
N ICOLA VALLEY INDIAN ADMINISTRATION |
ACCOUNTANT
Interesting, challenging position for experienced accountant, working as a
a) For the two Bands earlier mentioned, performs the same duties as
b) Co-ordinates the activities of the Field Workers and various. other
program staff of the Nicola Valley Indian Administration.
c) Ensures that each program area maintains adequate budget
projections and controls.
financial manager and planner for five Indian Bands.
The job involves budgeting, providing financial advice to an Administrator,
and five Bands, prepare monthly financial reports, perform and supervise
all accounting functions.
Preference will be given to a person with a C.A., or R.I.A. or an accounting ~
background with considerable experience and knowledge. Experience in
municipal management, agriculture and forestry an asset.
SALARY — commensurate with experience.
Submit complete resume and references with letter of application before
February 14, 1975 to:
Personnel Chairman,
” Nicola Valley
Indian Administration,
Box 188,
Merritt, B.C.
VOK 2B0
By JAMES WILSON
Of course, the system of social
controls did not work perfectly.
Indian society, like any other, was
a human compromise between the
individual and the group, between
principle and expediency, between
high cultural ideals and the limited
capacity of most men and women
to live up to them all the time. The
taboo against killing did not
prevent. inter-tribal fighting; the
“young men of a band, anxious to
prove their courage, often un-
dertook raids against other tribes
even when their own elders thought
the enterprise wrong or unwise and
counselled against it; and there
was a certain amount of more
serious warfare, particularly
among the notoriously ferocious
Iroquois and their neighbours.
Within each society there was a
strong taboo against physical
violence and overt hostility, and
against the kind of aggressive and
disruptive behaviour that. might
cause friction; and the Indians,
shrinking from displays of serious
feeling that might. lead to a con-
flict, seldom showed any emotions
in public except laughter.
This effectively reduced social
tension, but it could not altogether
do away with the resentments and
- jJealousies that inevitably arise
when a number of people live
together, and redress or. revenge
was sometimes sought through the
surrepitious practice of black
magic, which was probably fairly
widespread and very much feared.
The most usual aim of withcraft
was to make the victim ill, and
disease. was also sometimes in-
terpreted as was a punishment by
the supernatural the medicine man
‘could cure it by drawing from his
patient a confession of wrong-
doing, but if it. stemmed from
human malice the shaman might
himself secretly be the agent or the ©
cause of the complaint and he was
therefore regarded with some
suspicion and caution as well as
respect. The shaman who abused
his gifts from evil motives like
personal gain and revenge and.
practised black magic would
rapidly bankrupt his own powers
and face severe punishment from
both the human and the spirit |
worlds.
Despite these tensions, however,
by and large Indian society fune-
tioned well on every level of human
existence; it secured the physical
survival of its members in difficult
conditions, provided a rich culture
‘that gave meaning and identity to
the individual, and enabled its
people to live harmoniously and
peaceably together.
IT WORKED
' This one simple fact — that.
Indian society worked — seems
constantly to have eluded the
European. In the beginning it was
an understandable mistake. The
white man, with no experience of
cultures other than his own and no
idea of cultural evolution, ob-
viously found a .society lacking
permanent architecture and large
settlements, : without. the
European’s notion of - land-
ownership and with a sense of time
based .on seasons and empty
stomachs rather than on industry
and commerce, difficult to com-
prehend and take seriously.
It was natural that they should fit
the Indians into the only concepts
they already had and either
dismiss them as reckless, disor-
derly, heathen brutes or, more
rarely, exalt them as. noble
savages living in some _ idyllic
Golden Age. It is less excusable
. that the white man has never
replaced these early prejudices
with an accurate view of the Indian
as a human being with a different .
harkorningd hut hac: maralw
native people into the second half
of the twentieth century.
Part of the problem lies in the
European’s classical mental at-
titudes, which are very alien to the
Indian, and. which lead the white
man to take a logical, casual,
categorical view of the world.
Anthropology, for instance, which
alone of the professions has. been
concerned with attempting a
methodical study of the Indians,
has tended to miss the essence of
native society by using a critical
approach that reduces it to its
component parts and re-assembles
the pieces to suit . particular.
academic theories.
The results of this are, of course,
distorting, lacking in the kind of
insight that enables one person
truly to understand another, and
completely unrecognizable to the
Indian himself. As Vine Deloria’
Jr., aSioux from the United States,
has written: - ‘Indians
are...certain that Columbus
brought anthropologiests on his
ships when he came to the New
World. How else could he have
made so many wrong deductions
about where he was?’
Cultural. differences, however,
great as they are, represent only
one element in the long misun-
derstanding between white man
and red. The Europeans have
perpetuated their false pictures of
the Indian not simply because they
did not know better but because
they did not want to know better.
They have had to rely on fallacious
and bigoted assumptions. about
native people in order to justify the
ruthless treatment of the Indians
which, at every stage: of colonial
history, has been essential to the
attainment of white aims, and
which is responsible for. the
situation of the Canadian native.
today.
MORE EXPLORERS
In 1497 Cabot sailed along the
coast of Newfoundland and
claimed the area for Henry VII of
England. Henry, whose eye for a
quick profit was unimpressed by
accounts of his cold and foggy new
possession, decided to invest no
further money in its exploration or
settlement, but during the- next
century voyages to Canada were
undertaken. by a number of
Europeans, most notably by the
_Frenchman Jacques Cartier, who
in 1535 ascended the St. Lawrence
as far’as Hochelaga,
Montreal now stands.
During the first part of the 16th
century French and English
fishing vessels worked off
Canada’s Atlantic coast and built
temporary fish-drying stations on
the shore, and. the ships’ captains.
and crews traded on an informal
basis with the natives for furs. As
early as 1534, Cartier reports
encountering Indians, probably
Micmacs, who ‘made signs to us to
come on shore, holding up to us
some furs on sticks’, and when he
met them they ‘bartered all. they
had to such an extent that all went
back naked without anything on
them’.
In the second half of the 16th
century a. growing demand in
Europe for beaver-pelts to be used
in hat-making made the ‘peltry-
trade’ more important. Monopolies
were established to. exploit the ©
commercial - possibilities. of fur-
trading, and the first permanent
white settlement in Canada,
founded by Champlain at Quebec
in 1608, was sponsored by a French
monopolist as an economic. ven-
ture.
In Cartier’s time the Iroquois
had occupied the St. Lawrence
Valley, but by the beginning of the
‘17th century they had been driven
from this a area a by Algonkins | and
where -
“traded with him and acted as
guides; and in return Champlain
gave them military assistance
against their traditional. enemies
the Iroquois, whose’ containment
was essential to the smooth con-
duct of trade.
~ In1615 the arrival of four Recolet:
missionaries, reinforced ten years
later by Jesuits, complicated the
simple pattern of Indian/white
relations and introduced.a conflict |
into European policy which was
never to be fully resolved. The
missionaries, burning - with
Counter-Reformation zeal, wanted
to settle the nomadic Indians in
. Villages, teach them agriculture
and protect them in their in-
nocence from alcohol and_ other
destructive European goods so that
they might easily be converted to
Catholicsm.
Some of the Jesuits wanted to
create religious utopias, com-
munities which combined the
purity and simplicity of the In-
dians’ traditional way of life witha
joyful acceptance of the Christian
faith, and to this end- they were
granted tracts of land on which to
establish their villages.
The traders, on the other hand,
fired by the commercial revolution
in Europe, had no interest in souls
and sought to keep the Indians
’ hunting for furs and to increase
their dependence on European
commodities so that.they should be
committed to trade. A third
element in the formulation of
colonial. policy was the. rivalry
between Britain and France, made
more bitter by the religious con-
flict in 17th century Europe.
Most of England’s North
American settlements were to the
south, in what is now the United
States, but this did not prevent. the
British competing for political and
commercial supremacy in Canada.
Between 1628 and 1756 when :the
Seven Years’ War broke out, all or
part of. France’s. North American
possessions changed hand twelve
times through war and treaty.
EFFECTS OF TRADE
These three considerations —
economic, military and religious —
dominated white/Indian relations
until the end of the 18th century.
During this period only a small -
proportion of Canada’s Indians —
the Algonkians and Iroquoians-
round the New France Colony
based on Quebec and the maritime
‘Algonkian people near the smaller
French settlement of Acadia (later
renamed Nova Scotia by the
British) — had any prolonged
direct dealings with the white man,
but the effects of the European
presence spread much further.
The reason for this was
primarily economic: While it is not
clear exactly how the Indians
viewed the white man himself —
they seem to have accepted him
with the practical philosophy that
they applied to all
phenomena they rapidly
recognized the superiority of
European iron weapons and im- .
plements over their own artifacts
of wood, stone or bone. Stone
hatchets and bone-tipped spears
are a poor match against muskets,
iron axes, knives and arrowheads,
and as one tribe became armed
with trade goods, so others needed
the same kind of equipment in
order to defend and feed them-
selves.
Indians near white settlements
acted as middlemen with more
remote: tribes, and. the trading
process extended into areas where
no European had ever been.” The
fur trade was a model of mer-.
cantile exploitation: the white man
exchanged a range of finished
products for raw materials that
were worth many times what he
gave for them, and the Indians had
strange -
weapons and came to rely entirely
on those of the. white man. The
nomadic bands were transformed
from hunters for use, whose sur-
vival depended on a co-operative
enterprise to catch big game, into
hunters and trappers of small
animals for trade, who could work
most effectively in family groups,
and their social structure was thus
radically changed. The Iroquois,
being. farmers, had less access to
fur-bearing animals ‘than the
Algonkians, and were therefore
forced to intimidate their weaker
neighbours in order to gain enough
goods to trade with the white man.
This process was intensified by
pressure on land from. the New
England settlers, and by the rapid
decline in the population of the
beaver, which, with the advent of
more efficient weapons and the
insatiable demand for pelts, was
drastically over-hunted. In | the
1640’s_ Iroquois war-parties
destroyed the Huron and Neutral
confederacies and then went on to
subjugate lesser tribes in the at-
tempt to achieve a monopoly in the
dwindling fur trade in the South
East.
At the same time white traders
were exploring further inland in
the search for new sources of pelts.
In 1670 the Hudson’s Bay Company
was chartered and given rights
over a huge area of the North and
West, and in 1691, Kelsey, one of
‘the company’s employees, reached
the Rocky Mountains.
UNGRATEFUL COWARDS
The white attitude towards the
Indians in this period was
generally contemptuous
disparaging. The Iroquois, whose
social. system, communities,
agricultural way of life and
‘democratic .coristitution’’ were: to
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some extent familiar to the
European, were regarded with
fear and some respect, but the -
other Indians, according to one
early Jesuit, were ‘to be set down
as cowardly, ungrateful and
voluptuous’ and incapable of
‘refined feelings’.
The French colonists assumed
that the Indians with whom they
came into contact automatically
became subjects of the French
Crown, and that their land could be
taken without: any compensation.
The ultimate justification for this
was religious, and it was explicitly,-
if cumbersomely, stated by Mar
Lescarbot, in 1618: ‘And therefore,
as God the Creator has given the
earth to man to possess.it, it is very
certain that the first title. of
possession should appertain to the
children who obey their father and
recognize him, and who are, as it
were, the eldest children in the
house of God, as are the Christians,
to whom pertaineth the division of
the earth rather. than to the
disobedient children, who have
been driven from the house, ‘as
unworthy of the heritage and of
that which dependeth
thereon... The earth pertaining,
then,.by divine right to the children
of God, there is here no question of
applying the law and policy of
Nations, by which it would not be
permissable to claim the territory —
of another.’
There was therefore little moral —
objection to robbing and exploiting
the Indians, although the best
authorities: did draw the line at
killing them without good cause.
Lescarbot himself says: ‘I would
not. have these tribes ex-
terminated, as the Spaniard has
those of the West Indies.’
(Continued Next Issue).
NESIKA
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Part of Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 11 (January 1975)