Periodical
Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 12 (February 1975)
- Title
- Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 12 (February 1975)
- Is Part Of
- 1.06-01.02 Nesika: The Voice of BC Indians
- 1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series
- Date
- February 1975
- volume
- 3
- issue
- 12
- Language
- english
- Identifier
- 1.06-01.02-04.02
- pages
- 16
- Contributor
- Randy Ginger
- Gerad Peters
- Nicholas Prince
- Leo Paul
- George Manuel
- Bob Manuel
- Ron m Coombes
- Doug S
- ers
- Fred Cawsey
- James Wilson
- G McEvitt
- Phyllis Hanna
- Type
- periodical
- Transcription (Hover to view)
-
Published by
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS.
2140 W. 12th Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C. V6K 2N2
Telephone 736-6751 .
FREE TO ALL REGISTERED B.C. NATIVE INDIANS
OTHERS: $5.00 PER YEAR -
(Chinook ‘meaning “US”)
THE VOICE OF B. C. orANS | FEB, 1975
“POSTAGE PAID IN VANCOUVER — SECOND CLASS MAIL Reg. No, 3025
TLL We RESIST THE ENSLAVE
OF WWE WHITE MANS MATERIALISTIC:
WAG OF LIFE & ” -
Conferences, conferences —two major conferences have been ‘set for .the
month of April, the B.C. Land Claims Conference now is confirmed. for the three-days
of April. 2-4, and the General Assembly. is. slated for. April 22-24 inclusive. . The
conference dates were announced ‘at the ‘regular Chief's. Council meeting; which was
held at the UBCIC offices, February.6-9. Chilliwack, from the East Fraser District, will
host. ‘this. year’s 7th annual conference,
: conference scheduled: for Terrace, B.C.
in. Chilliwack; “eight of the fifteen positions ‘for district representation Will”
become vacant this year under the current’ UBCIC constitution.. The’ vacant chief
council seats are from the East Frazer District, North Coast District, Kwawkwelth
District, .Kootenay-Okanagan District,
District. The Rest district Frazer East, will be responsible for the regu routine of
while the equally important Land Claims:
aad “publi.” ‘because, ‘as ‘one. Of ‘the: organizers. put ft,
Babine District. and- the Thompson-Nicola
accommodating the 7th annual conference and selecting a chairman for the event. .
Meanwhile, the: Land. Claims conference planned for Terrace has somewhat
altered. its theme for that conference in an attempt to achieve greater unity among the
Indian people of British Columbia. “Land Claims vs Northwest Development” was the
proposed. poying. theme, but,
gthe bn
to. avoid a
ft was later: changed . to. bane Claims”
of this province.
aims: ‘conference. ‘will’ bie dosed to the media
“this is where the action is”
meaning. the presence of Northwest Development in that area. The two. conferences are
- Separate because, the Annual Conference has a general content, while, the Land Claims
Meals spacitigally with Land: Claims.
Province to meet
Land claims: a unifying force
VANCOUVER (Staff) — The settlement purely on:the basis of a how can other Indian organizations
process of settling the land claims
may in the end turn out to be just as
important and valuable as the
actual settlement itself in the
opinion of Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs’ Land Claims. Research
~ Director, Philip Paul.
In a statement presented to the ~
Chiefs’ Council on February 8,
Paul said that he felt the process of
settling the claimis is becoming a
unifying force that could be the
basis of a cultural resurgence for
Indian people.
The statement reads in part:
“... if we look at land claims
n Chiets,
21.40 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C.) V6K 2N2, Canada
Postage paid in Vancouver — Second Class Mail Reg. No. 3025
If undeliverable, please return to Union of B.C. India
real ‘estate. proposition there. is
really no need to consult too many
people, just prepare a position
through’ computers .and expert
academics and negotiate with the
Governments for the. best deal.
. MUCH MORE .
“However, I believe land claims
settlement is much more than that.
The pursuit and process of land
claims settlement is equally im-
portant'as the settlement itself.
The fact that we have non-status
Indians, registered Indians, urban.
Indians, Treaty Indians and_ the
like is clear indication that we have
been forced through a ‘cultural
wringer’. We have also been forced.
to depend on the Federal Govern-
ment to an extent that is’ not
healthy and the Federal Govern-
ment has used this dependency to
design our future for us, and to
alienate us more from our culture
and our heritage. We have been
brainwashed over many years to
believe that. we are less in every
context than white people.”
The major challenge ahead, Paul
says, is the provision of strong
leadership who are willing to make
clear decisions on directing ‘the
land claims settlement. These
. decisions, he said, on the basis: of
the desires of the Indian people
alone and cannot be influenced by
the political or personal af-
fectations of the individual leaders.
SETTLE FOR WHO?
Paul said that he recognizes that
one of the major questions
regarding the land claims still
unanswered is whom should be
included, and to what extent and
participate in the negotiations.
Although the main responsibility
of settling the claim rests with the
UBCIC, all organizations must be
involved ‘one.way or another: “‘The
motion that was passed at the last
Annual Conference which included
these organizations’ on __ the
Negotiation Team recognized the
right of these organizations te
participate. It never gave them
the mandate that the Union was
charged with since its inception at
Kamloops in 1969. We have a
responsibility to our membership
“within the Union to complete the
job we were charged with and to
offer the strong leadership that is
needed to make the decisions that
need to be made and be sensitive to
the special interests that. other
organizations. have without being:
influenced into a position of in-
decision by criticism that in reality
oftentimes has no foundation in
’ fact.”
MUST CO-OPERATE
. He. goes on to say: ‘“‘We can’t do
this without talking honestly and
frankly with their elected people
and indicating our willingness to
co-operate in the best interests of
all Indian people in B.C., be it -for
land claims or other matters. of
mutual concern and interest.”
Paul concluded his statement by ;
saying: “In a capsule form, land
‘claims settlement must begin the
resolution of all the complex
problems that face Indian people
today. and set up the relevant
machinery to allow Indian people
to solidify their cultural position in
20th century Canada.
Continued on page 3
cut-off committee
VICTORIA. (Staff) The
provincial government.has agreed
to meet with representatives of
those 23 bands affected by the
McKenna-McBride cut-off lands.
‘On March 4th here the UBCIC’s
executive council and the Cut-Off
‘committee will meet. provincial
secretary Ernie Hall and cabinet
ministers Norm Levi,
Lee, Bill Hartley, Alex MacDonald
and. Bob Williams.
Cut-off committee ehstinian:
Adam Eneas has said that two
telegrams had been sent to Vic-
toria requesting an unofficial and
informal meeting with the
government over the cutt-off issue.
This he said was a last ditch
effort to get some feedback about
‘deter us or slow us,”
Graham .
the province’s stand before the
announced deadline of the end of
‘February when more direct action
‘had been planned. .
He cautions that this will not
change plans or- preparations that
have been made. The agreement to
meet is just that. “No way. will it
he-says.
“We'll advise them of where
we're at.” ~ e
The proposed Capilano meeting
of the 23 bands which was
originally slated for the 3rd and 4th
of March will be delayed a week so
as not to conflict with the Victoria
meet. Eneas has said he is hopeful ._
that the 23 bands will then agree to’
a common objective and make
- strong commitments to resolve the
i cut- = issue,
Big conference: little people
By RANDY GINGER and GERARD PETERS
EDMONTON (Staff) — Was it
really absurd? Were there. too
many chiefs and not enough In-
dians?
The Edmonton Plaza Hotel and
the B.C. Penitentiary in New
Westminster have huge, massive
front doors. There the similarity
ends 7 ‘ ;
The former was the site of a
recent conference grandly titled
“National ‘Conference on Native
’ Peoples and the Criminal Justice
System.”
- The latter contains 193 native
peoples who have had a first hand
view of the criminal “justice
system. Forty one’percent of the
inmates of this maximum security
prison are Indian. Not one attended
the conference.
Thirteen inmates from various
other Canadian penal institutions
attended. Other delegates included
_ cabinet ministers from the federal
government, the provinces, both
territories as well as represen-
tation from the National Indian
Brotherhood and its member
organizations. |
The conference-goer, after
passing through the. massive front
doors finds himself in lobby that’s
been converted into a plush
cocktail lounge. There are orange —
trees, sunken chairs and comely
Continued on page 2
NES 1K A
Page Three
. February, 1975
Published monthly by the |
- Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
- 2140 12th Avenue W., Vancouver, B.C. V6K 2N2|
Teleptione ~ 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: G. McCKEVITT-—Acting Editor’
- GERARD PETERS—Reporter
JOY HALL. — Circulation & Reporter
LEO PAUL — Reporter -
' Correspondents: Margaret Woods, Terrace;
Edgar Charlie, Ahousat; Phyllis Hanna, Port
H Alberni; N. Ge Derriksan, Westbank.
Editorial
...no ixibe has a right to sell; even to
_each other much less to strangers, who
demand all, and will take no less, sell a _
country! Why not sell the air, the clouds, °
and the Breal, sea, as well as the earth?”
. Tecumseh, ‘1810
6
By Ronald Ignace
The. Federal Government has unilaterally stated we must
settle our land claims with cash. It has even financed middlemen
to be certain of a settlement on their ‘White Paper Policy”
terms: Read the stolen documents in which it states that Indians
‘“must be led to feel a sense of accomplishment’’ before a sellout
is reached. In other words we must be led around with a carrot
like a mule. The Feds do not-have our interests.in mind.
We laugh. at Manhattan Island being sold for trinkets; don’t
laugh at that land claims settlement! The real joke is that no
people can possibly sell out their nationhood for any amount of
money. Look at the James Bay settlement, the grass roots will
later rebel at that deal. The government on the side of big in-
dustry railroaded the Indian leaders to sell out their sovereignty,
their sacred right to an independent historical development for a
few cents an acre (33c) — trinkets! No amount of money can buy
a people’s sovereignty!
We want an. alternative referendum put to the people; fairly;
openly and justly. The question posed to Indians should be: De' we
_ want aland claims sellout, or, do we want the right, as laid out in
the United Nations Charter, to our national self-determination,
where we Indians do not sell but keep and develop our own
national natural resources for our own use and not that of big
business. We can then control and develop our own economics as
we see fit without any ties.to this government or-any other like it.
The U.N. Charter states that a nation is a geopolitical area
where-a people reside who have.a similar historic and cultural
background and also they constitute a majority in that geo-
political area. Indians in the North fit this description. That is in
the Northern half of Canada! Why have they not been given the
democratic right to choose how they want to settle their land
(problem) theft by big industry. I may be considered radical but
Tam realistic and rational; I may be considered radical but I am
’ phrases,
KNOCK
KNOCK
Who’s There?
By GERARD PETERS
Land Claims! Last summer
aboard the Sunshine Coast ferry I
bumped into Derwyn Owen who
now works for. the Sechelt-band.as
a consultant in economic
development.
He had a glitter in his eye and a
near smirk on his lips. “Bring your
coffee over,” he said, ‘‘I want to
bounce something off you.”
With no excape, except perhaps
a fairly long swim (I’d just had
lunch) I decided to humour him.
He read from a. thick, official
looking volume; I admit I wasn’t
listening very well...”
. ought to-be avoided. ..”’ and
‘“*(a) the apparent attraction of a
‘final -settlement’’ of claims,
which fails to make provision for
changing needs in the future.”
Big deal, more land‘claims. . .
(d) the possibility of. overlooking
the long-term interests of those
who. still live largely in a. sub-
sistence’ economy, perhaps by
assuming their needs can all be
met by welfare payments... .”’
Right..I’dheard all of this before.
But Derwyn kept atit. ..”’ (j) the
great harm that can.be done if
benefits are extended to some
”
native people and not others —
whether by reasons of degree of
native blood or of historical or
geographic factors — particularly
if decisions asto entitlement within
a community are.made_ outside
that community.’ -_~
“Okay,” he sat back, ‘aint do
you think of it?”
Geez, he was damn near grin-.
ning while I was getting sea-sick:
“Ubhh . . .’" I tried to sound ‘in-
telligent, tried to remember. the
the. stock . answers.
“Yeah, right. It’s good, I ‘liked
it...” Real lame.
Tcaught a glimpse of the cover. I
“think now he was probably giving
demanding that democracy prevail and not dictatorship; I may ~
be considered radical but Iam going by the U.N. Charter.
Chiefs, members of Indian organizations and individuals with
responsibilities to Indiamsdemand that democracy be practiced.
‘Discuss and present the ideas in this editorial with your band
members and other related and concerned people. Also demand
that Northern Development be stopped because it will jeopardize
our position as sovereign peoples. Organize against Northern
Development. We must question why the government ‘is rail-
roading us. Government offers no alternative. Why?
We Indians must not and cannot afford to be led astray by
carrots on a stick! We must oppose railroading deals by anyone!
me ahint. Like a dimwit I stared at
the kangaroo on.the cover.
“Tt’s called the ‘‘Aboriginal
Lands. Rights Commission’s
Report. . . ” WHAT'S IN A
NAME??? “‘.. . published by the”
Australian government. mm
Wayward isomer
By GERARD PETERS ~
MISSION: CITY (Staff) — For
years the Head of the Lake area
council have sought in. vain for
lands on which to build homes.
Their members: today live, for
the most part in crowded, decrepit
motels,in and around Mission.
Mission derives -its name
because long-ago Indians used to
stop here on their canoe trips up
and down the Fraser River. It was
here that the Obl- té missionaries
chose to set up a t ase from which
to. educate the Indians.
. Here, too, the base was laid for
an accummulated, tax-free. for-
tune. Most of. the original Oblate
lands are now in the hands of the
Dunhill Development Corporation.
And while the Oblates live in-
grand splendour in their house,
“The Crescent’ in Vancouver, the
Indians continue to-seek lands on
which they can build theirs.
Unifying force
Continued from page 1
“Tt has taken me. some time to
develop the position that I have
related to youin this report but it is
now time that we state what land
‘claims really means to us as in-
dividual leaders, if we are going to
develop a basic philosophy that is’
representative of all of us.
“Tf we don’t stand up and offer
the leadership that is needed now, I
hope we have the realism to stand
aside and let somebody else do the
job.”
. pitfalls |
-and sustained. yield’ units
Whiteman’s powerful
- Letter, to the editor
NDP - — Weak-kneed patsies?
Dear Sir:
There still seems to be a
misunderstanding as to why I write
o about our fight. with the Govern-
ments for our land claims.
I- would like to make myself
clear. First, the people of British
Columbia must understand the fact
that the reason why the NDP
provincial government has refused
to deal with the Indian land claims
is that the big industries are the
ones that we are up against, not
Premier Barrett. He is only the
socialist puppet who is
manipulated by thé industrial
giants in this province and the little
people are the ones that are being
hurt.
If one bothers to look at the map
of the province of British
Columbia, you will see that the
province and every square mile of
it, is covered by tree farm licenses
(the
Indian. Land Claims are unim-
portant) and who do you think is-in
control? my
Thave been a firm believer in the
NDP Government through the
years but now?
My ethnic background is
rebelling against the system and I ~
am sure that the majority of the
Indian people are beginning to see
just what we are up against!
.Being one member of the
minority group does net faze me
but a heritage which is rightfully
mine, I must fight for.
I have covered. 4 lot of territory
in B:C. and across Canada and I
have seen Indian problems..and
believe me these problems were
not of their-own making.
Have a good look around you and
see the land and the environment.
Do you: know that at one time this
was the livelihood of the Indian?
These lands are still beneficial to
the Indian and we are worried not
for us “now -but ‘forthe future
generations of not only our. people
- but all who care about the land.
people have lived through a
transition that they did not want.
and-they woke up to realize that the
changes in the attitudes of man and ~
the environment. is not- what we
expected.
Let’s just say that we have come
to our sense but the question still
_ remains are we too late?
My own realization is that we are
still the children of nature and we
cannot be assimilated into a
society that will not give us justice
_or equality, so where do we go from
here? :
We have been passed from one
government to. another and we
have been used-as pawns. between
different’ religions and . the
education systems and I> don’t
believe that anyone should blame
us for speaking out and putting in a
claim for what is rightfully ours by
ownership. White man has only
been here for the past two hundred
_ years, we have lived upon this land
for thousands. of years.
We cannot say that all of us will
take advantage of what ‘we now
have, but one must realize that in
not listening, the government does
not give us much choice but to use
their own politics against them, we
are patient people but our patience
has run out and it is now time for
action. :
The provincial: government will
not sit down and negotiate until the .
industries give the word and I have
come to realize that the NDP
politicians in this, province don’t
have the guts or gumption to buck
the industries, for a. government
we do have a bunch. of weak-kneed
patsies.
Maybe the public knows that
underneath all the talks about their
looking after the little people, they
have the attitude that until we get
what we want out of the province,
to hell with everybody - else,
especially the Indian! .
We become. bitter at times. but
; “then who wouldn’t??
—Nicholas Prince, C.D.W.
Union of B.C. Chiefs
The majority of the Indian
More from Oskaboose
“The Welcome”
By OSKABOOSE
Last month we ran ‘‘the
Oskaboose quiz.’’ We got response
from, among others, the American
Indian Press and John..Makin of
radio CKDA in Victoria.
Mackin said, “‘Oskaboose is a
guy I would. very much -like to
meet, for he has not only a keen
sense of social justice but a rich
sense of humour — qualities which
do not necessarily go hand in hand
these days.” /
‘Oskaboose does it again — this
time it’s titled “THE WELCOME.”
If you’re a product. of residential
school you’ll see. ]
“T saw it coming, but I really
couldn’t believe it was happening.
The Blackrobe’s open hand came
up, drifted through a lazy semi- °
cirele, and exploded: violently. in
my face. The blow slammed me,
dazed. and shaken, into the.rough
- cloister wall and blood spurted
from my nose and mouth.
“Hindian lankquitch iss ver-
botten; you will not speek hitt
again.”
Far off in the swirling mists of
pain and confusion a door slams, a
lock turns. | am alone in a dark
empty room.
In the fall of 1946, accompanied
by my father and armed with a
burning desire for knowledge, I
approached the outer gates of the
Garnier Residential School. for
Indians.
Behind these great walls were
the- endless rows of books, the
Whiteman’s talking leaves, the
essence of his magic.
Behind these great walls were
the Jesuits, the Blackrobe priests
who held -the keys to the
medicine.
Scon I was to become a part-of it.
Father said, that he must leave
me now. He knelt and held me
close for a long while. I remember
Father would always smell so good
when he held me like this. His
rough warm clothing always
seemed to capture and hold the
subtle scents of cut tobacco,
campfires, and of the wild lonely
places, and he would always laugh
so hard.when I told him so.
This time he didn’t laugh, but
stood hurriedly, and busied himself
rummaging through his pockets
for the note I was to hand to the
head priest.
“You be a good boy now,” the
gentle Ojibway syllables caressed
my ears for the last time. “The
Whitemen have a strong medicine
here and you must learn it and
bring it back to the People.”
Father turned then walked
away. I stayed, filled with an-
ticipation and perhaps a little fear,
to ring the great bell for admission
into this strange and wonderous
place. The echoes had hardly died
away when a tall greyhaired man,
garbed in the long flowing robes of
the. Jesuit Order, glided down a
huge staircase and strode powgleds
me.
Surely someone of such noble
bearing must be the head priest,
perhaps even a chief. It was good.
It was fitting that a chief should be ©
there to greet a chief’s son.
Not wishing to show my own
small fears, nor to appear overly
eager to meet him, I moved slowly
forward, and in my most solemn
voice extended the traditional
Ojibway greeting for strangers.
I saw the Blackrobe’s open hand
come up...
Me
Billy Jack: This rebel had a cause
Taylor, Teresa Laughlin and
Victor Izay. Written by Frank and
Teresa Christina. Classified for
mature audiences with frequent
violence and brutality. a
The film, The. Trial of Billy Jack,
- with Tom Laughlin playing the role
of Billy Jack, is a new adventure
for Billy Jack in. 1974. In story
terms, Billy Jack, sometimes
referred to as the Indian version of
superman, is a part Navajo, Viet
Nam veteran and West Point
graduate. His military career was
terminated after he insisted on
reporting. Viet Namese civilian
~ massacres. .
Billy Jack’s 1974 adventure was
well recieved by the North
American. native audience,
however, the audience has not
stopped there, because Billy Jack °
is-among the top 25 all-time morey-
making movies. To put it in other
words, it made a killing, finan--
cially. In Billy Jack he is living. in
the Arizona desert, where B.J.’s
lover Jean Roberts. (Delores
Taylor) runs a Freedom School on
Indian land. What - seemed
inevitable was the school’s conflict
with the local. power. structure, |
while B.J. finds himself protecting
Jean’s Freedom School and the
local Indians.
In. the course of ‘their conflict
with a powerful local rancher,
Jean is raped by the rancher’s'son
and in anger B.J. kills him. B.J. is
then forced to surrender. tothe
-authorities and to serve time in the
state prison.
The Trial of Billy Jack uses his
convictions and incarceration as
an issue throughout the film. Omhis
release B.J. finds the school
thriving, but with an ever greater
feeling of helplessness, because, it
is involved in a, mortal struggle
with even more powerful enemies
in the system. These~ people. are
from the political and corporate
elites and usually involved. with
decision making. For his part B.J.
involves himself in a search for his
own spiritual needs.
In Billy Jack, the message is that
violence is bad, but that greed,
hatred and corruption creates an
atmosphere of. inevitable conflict.
* The Trial of Billy Jack-moves to a -
higher plain, here violence is
always condemned, a temporary
solution: ‘that’. causes
problems than. it- prevents each
time. It: was Poesner, the local
greedy banker, who had ap-
parently leased the reservation’s
mineral rights. without ‘any con-
sultations whatsoever. :
Mr. Poesner’s group tour, party
and hunt is interrupted by B.J. and
the local Indians and an expose is
made by the school’s.TV station on
the corporate and political figures :
involved in-that party.
To the critics and academics,
The Trial of Billy Jack is a failure
in cinematic terms. ‘The film is an-
example of committment and
dedication outstripping the film-
maker’s ability to handle his
more.
material artfully. Laughlin’s
feelings are projected in his
magnificient shots . of .. the
monument Valley and the Grand
Canyon locations, rough, rugged
and yet the peacefullness is felt.
In his spiritual search B.J. goes -
out into the mountains for prayer,
fasting and purification under the
guidance of a regular medicinman.
The testing period that followed
saw B.J. finally having. contact
with the ‘spiritual world. He
realizes that itis easier to be
violent than to be loving.
B.J. feels guilty every time he
Jets his hands and feet do. the
talking, although part of this guilt
has to do with his love for Jean, a
staunch advocate of non-violence.
Laughlin’s film condemns. war
crimes, campus massacres, child
abuse, ‘police brutality, middle
class mentality, oil. politics and
negliected Indian rights. In a
vision B.J. is shown . that
Christianity. and so-called
democracy have a secret shadow .
.. greed and power. A great part of
the political corruption that exists
is a result of the inadequacies
within the political system. :
The ‘Freedom
educational. centre offers
everything ~ from yoga to
wiretapping. The student operated
TV station assumes Nader-like
investigations on local business.
rip-offs, and this only results in an
outright backlash. The in- |
vestigative process is eventually
traced: to. international _ politics
such as the energy crisis, nuclear
weapons, Vietnam _ and
Water gate.
school as an
Billy Jack does have some In-
dian flavour with a. number of
Indians playing minor roles. Gus
‘Mountain, is the main activist and
Sasheen Littlefeather plays. the
Indian lawyer: The movie is at
least up to-date on some. of the
‘major issues that are being faced
and. recognized. by the Indian
people of North America.
Mr. Fisher opens his mouth .
-|Editor’s note: If nothing
else. the . following article
from the Vancouver.Sun at
least proved | “to be
provocative. Along with it we
offer a rebuttal by National
Indian. Brotherhood
President George. Manuel.
Manuel’s article was in- —
cluded .in a- subsequent
column by Fisher. ]
By DOUGLAS FISHER
OTTAWA — There are just over -
a quarter of a million registered or
“status’’ Indians in Canada. That
is, only one Canadian out of every
-90 Canadians has this distinction. It
is a distinction that many would
call a burden, others our national
shame, others a deserved
privilege. :
In any case, in the past decade,
all of us have become more con-
scious of our Indian problems and
those associated ‘with it — for
example, the sorry lot of so many
non-status Indians and Metis, often
said to number another 300,000 or
more.
The subject of our native peoples
is so sensitive that anyone who
takes a critical line about their
behavior or their attitudes is im-
mediately suspect as a Canadian
. “red-neck’’. More of us will simply
-country shave no more and no less
than any.-other Canadians asa.
‘principle of citizenship and asa
basic right?”
He also states: ‘Special wight
(for Indians) forever and ever is
divisive.”
He further argues. “We are
enshrining in. perpetuity a unique
kind of citizenship based on (In-
dian) blood,” and that ‘‘something
of an aristocratic principle (is) at
work.”
He insinuates. but never. states
flat-out this should not be. Perhaps
he refrains from this flat-out
have to take the risk of such labels.
Certainly, we must get the
politicians and the parties to
review the situation because it is
getting out of hand’ on several
fronts.
In crude terms, we have debened
the stage where our 250,000. In--
dians, one-ninetieth of the ‘present
population, is getting one twenty-
fourth of . all federal spending
through particular. programs.
There is a sharp trend upwards
here and. not a relatively stable
spending situation. If the trend
should continue another decade, as
I put the line ona rough.graph, one-
tenth of the whole federal budget
- would be going on Indian programs,
in 1984. As it is, today. something
close to $4,000 per Indian capita is
being expended on Indian
programs.
Although the Indians are scat-
tered in. more than 500: bands
across mest of the provinces and in
the territories, and although they
have no common. . and distinct
language of their own, the
militants have given. the broad
impression, particularly to big city
people who are naturally sym-
pathetic to the Indian. assertions
about betrayal and exploitation,
that
‘certainly not Indian, it is English-
French, or French-English.
Indians have. never. been
aristocrats in ‘this’ continent. In-
dians have long been and continue
to be a downtrodden: minority: Only
since the 1940s have we even been
considered human.
To justify taking over our land
the Europeans portrayed us as
savages.
Since we savages have learned to
use the Europeans’ own. social
institutions to maintain our
aboriginal rights, and to insist the
Europeans adhere their own moral
preachments in their treatment of
us, we find it a-bitter ‘irony the
“prison and. jail- population;
something majestic is.
‘aristocracy in Canada — buteit is -
~ penal
Editorial
emerging that might be known as a
national Indian movement.
Would that it were that ‘simple: .
Many Canadian are - vaguely
aware that Indians and Metis form
an inordinately. large part. of our
that
drunkenness . and. violent deaths,
(accidental and ~ murderous)
“prevail more’ strongly. among
Indian groups than. elsewhere in
Canada; that an inordinately high
proportion of Indians are both
undergoing medical treatment and
contributing much more than their
‘share to the totals of unemployed.
- AS Jean Marchand would put it,
we have a mess on our, hands.
Social and welfare difficulties
galore . ... educational difficulties
in extreme .. ..
are getting out of hand even for a
very affluent country.
But. it is the James. Bay set-
tlement, in itself and as.a ‘model for
future Indian claims.in Yukon, the
Northwest Territories and B.C.,
that seems: certain to make. dif-
* ficulties for future generations of
Canadians.
The settlement wil, give broad
rights. in perpetuity. to a blood-
group of our fellow citizens —
rights. that. pertain. over huge
reaches of land. Indeed, if similar
Reaction
Europeans now wish to. elevate %
from being savages to ping
aristocrats.
--Some aristocrats. :
Indians suffer, the highest
unemployment rates. in this
country. Indians -have the shortest
life expectancy, the poorest
education, the poorest health, the
greatest proportion of numbers in
institutions. “‘social and
welfare difficulties galore... ”’ in
Fisher’s words. .
Recently. the U.S. representative
to the United Nations spoke of the
“tyranny of the majority.” In
Fisher’s own words this tyranny
has “‘alienated from (the Indians)
the whole domain.”
This is a polite phrase meaning:
“We have (stolen, or swindled, or
. and the costs of it all °
settlements ensue in the
Mackenzie Valley and Northern
B.C., aside from the spur it will be
to Indian demands in other parts of
Canada, it will mean that govern-
ments and law are. creating: per-.
petual enclaves. and bases for
groups which will more than rival
some of our provinces in size.
I can. imagine many responding
‘to the previous paragraph with
outrage. Haven’t our practices
condemned most Indians for years
to reservations? Isn’t it time we
gave these poor people whom our
society alienated from the whole
dornain a century and more ago
“some decent recompense?
My answer to such vehement
rhetorical questions is that at least
“we should realize what we are
doing: We are enshrining “in
perpatuity a unique: kind: of
citizenship based on blood. If you~
want, there is something of .an
aristocratic principle at work.
I ask the question:: Shouldn’t we
all, inclucing the Indians, consider
that all of us within the bounds. of
this country have no more and no-
less than any other Canadians as a
principle of citizenship and as a
basic right? Special rights forever
and ever is divisive. It almost
~ guarantees that the contribution of
n
usurped) from the indie a whole™
continent.’
‘ Since our ‘whole
“domain” ‘has been. “‘alienated”’
Fisher says we should not now |
have or maintain any special
rights.
MISSES SIMPLEST FACT
Here is how the argument’
becomes tinged by the tyranny of
madness.
It is sheer madness to state there
should be no special place for the
Indians in their own “‘domain,”’ but
the majority -will maintain a
special place for the English and
French. If special rights for In-
dians are divisive, then surely
special rights for English and
French also are divisive. If we do
away with the ‘Indian fact’ let us
also do away with the “French
Indian Canadians -to our society
and economy will: never become a
coherent part of the whole.
I know it may be too much for the
imagination but surely the way we
are going with the Indians, means
that by 2,000 or 2,050 or 2,100 AD
succeeding generations of our
countrymen Will have to: struggle.
with the so-called Indian problem.
I myself cannot see why the great-
great-grandchildren of the Indian
lads I grew up with should have a
unique ‘status in contrast to my
great-great-grandchildren..
‘This claim in blood, founded on .
‘status’ or on being a registered
Indian, not only reminds me of the
once entrenched rights of the
aristocracies of Europe, it is often
as phoney as a $3 bill. It is this,
simply becatise thousands and
thousands of Canadians have as
_ good or better a claim: in blood -
lines to being, Indian as those who
have the “‘status.” Because of post .
bureaucratic nonsense and
thousands of intermarriages with —
whites, especially by Indian
women, a host of Metis or their
parents or ancestors have been
stricken from the official lists.
If common sense doesn’t ‘soon
begin to work in our Indian
policies, future generations of
Canadians will curse us..
fact” and the. English ‘fact’’ in
Canada’s so-called, mosaic,
Our claim as Indians to scat
status is. founded’ on aboriginal
rights, the right of first inhabitant,
and has: been ‘recognized in the
constitution of Canada.
If Mr. Fisher cannot understand
why we wish to maintain our
unique status he simply does«not —
.comprehend the simplest fact of
Canadian history: my ancestors
are indigenous, his are immigrant. ..
He also forgets the immigrants
from France and. England have
“entrenched” special rights for
themselves. in this continent: and
preserve and. guard these “‘rights””
rigidly over the rights of other
Continued on page §
By BOB MANUEL
The Chiefs Council of the
U.B.C.1.C. at their last meeting
‘adopted a set of. guidelines and
method of operating its Com-
munity Development Program.
The guidelines will permit the
organization to carry out: more
effectively Community
Development services to our
people. Basically, the guidelines
outline the roles and respon-
sibilities of Chiefs Council, District’
Councils, Band Councila, Ad-
ministration staff and Field staff.
The program as it presently
exists operates from the follewine
“basic principles:
1. Education — Working with
bands to assist them take over the
administration of the education of
their children.
2.. Economic Development —
Working with individuals and
bands improve their economic
situation through providing in-
formation, helping “develop plans.
and securing the necessary
resources for such things «as
ranching, farming, logging
operations, trapping, ete. :
3. Land Claims — Working with
bands to promote an interest in
land claims, help organize
research and working committees
for the purpose of preparing ‘well
documented positions.
4. Social Services — Providing”
information and advice on methods
of dealing with alcohol problems. .
and informing individuals and
bands on resources that deal with
the specific problems.
5. Legal Services — Working’
with the individuals. through
assisting them locate and obtain’
legal assistance ‘and advice.
These are the types of activities
the program. has been. involved
with; others are in the area of
culture, recreation, health and
é housing.
The services of the community
development program are carried |
out by the following people:
OFFICE STAFF
Robert Manuel, co-ordinator;
Maxine Pape, Administrative
Assistant; Linda Mealey,
Secretary and Leon . Leween,-
’ Provincial Fieldworker.
: FIELD STAFF
Williams Lake District —
Brenden Kennedy, R.R. 45,
Quesnel, B.C., Phone: Message
through 992-7046 (radio stn.) —
Nazko Band; Ron Mills, P.O. Box
4181, Williams Lake, B.C., Phone:
Message through local radio stn. —
Chileotin Forest; Clarke Davis,
Anahim’ Indian Band, Alexis
Creek, B.C.
West Coast District — Simon
Lucas, 111 Anderson South, Port
Alberni, B.C., Phone: 723-6031;
Lillian Howard, R.R. #3, Mission
Road, Port Alberni, B.C., Phone:
724-1335; Nelson Keitlah, 622 First
Avenue E, Port Alberni, B.C.,
Phone: 723-8165.
Bella Coola District — (No
fieldworker).
Lakes District — Nick Prince, .
4337 First Avenue; Prince George,
“SILENCE”
By RON M. COOMBES
Seabirds flying high .
- Flowers: of beautiful hue
A mountain peak so high
‘Why is this pleasure due
To one microscope eye
We call the sky,
Does it see the individual pain
. Or hear a cry for help in vain
Only to echo again and again
What secrets are kept from. me,
from you
By this big, optical eye, so blue,
Does the coming of the rain
Tell us. secrets rivers know
Or shall they remain
Only a silent echo
For the sky to bestow
Westwind whisper with a sigh
The secrets of the sky
Before the‘clouds come by
And all its secrets die!
B.C., Phone: 562-6995; Bob Parris,
1732 Gorse Street,.Prince George,
B.C., Phone: 692-7085.
Lillooet-Lytton District — Ed
Thevarge, Sr., General Delivery,
D’Arcy, B.C., Phone: D’Arcy 2-L;
Arnold Ritchie, P.O. Box 129,
. Mount Currie, B.C., Phone: 894-
6394.
Fort St. John District — Angus
Dickie, P.O. Box.1140, Fort Nelson,
B.C., Phone:. 775-2208.
Communi y_Developmen
Chiefs’ Council passes
West Fraser District —
fieldworker). ;
East Fraser District —. Wayne
Bobb, P.O: Box 320, Agassiz, B.C.,
Phone: 796-2748.
North Coast District — Alice
Nast, '705—5th Avenue East, Prince
(No
Rupert, B.C., Phone: 624-3509; Ron -
Brown, P.O. Box 241, Masset,
Queen Charlotte Is., B.C., Phone
624-3368.
Kwawkewlth District — Irene
~ Joseph,
Hazelton, B.C., Phone: . 842-5312. .
"rogram
CD resolution
Wilson, 1670-A Spit Road, Camp-
bell River; B.C., Phone: 287-4551.
Kootenay-Okanagan District —
Patrick Gravelle, St. Mary’s Band,
P.O. Box, Box 845, Cranbrook,
B.C., Phone: 426-5717;. Jacob
Kruger, R.R. #2, Green Mountain
Road, Penticton, B.C., Phone: 492-
7728.
Babine District»
P.O. Box. 63, New
—. Bertha:
Terrace District — (No field-
worker).
South Island District — Andy
Thomas, 1109 Admirals Road,
Victoria, B.C.; Phone: 652-2913.
Thompson-Nicola District —
Tom Piccirillo, General Delivery,
Celista, B.C.; Phone: 955-2585; Tim
Spinks, General Delivery, Lytton,
B.C., Phone: 455-2354,
Please feel free to contact these
people at any time.
Continued from page 4
immigrants and- the indigenous
minority.»
Succeeding federal governments
have often stated that doing away
with “special status for Indians’’
would solve. the problems of In-
dians.
Yet “‘the sorry lot of so many.
-non-status Indians and Metis’’.as
mentioned by Fisher, offers living,
breathing, walking proof, that so-
called “equality :of citizenship” -
under -provincial’’ jurisdiction is
simply a cruel. hoax and mirage.
If anything, the conditions’ of -
non-status Indians and Metis, who
are under provincial responsibility
and thus ‘presumably, accorded
“equal citizenship,’ is even. worse
than. the conditions of. status In-
dians. The Indians, at. least, are
guaranteed some. services and
attention by the federal- govern-
ment and a “special place’’ by the
BNA act.
In. relation. to those services
provided Indians by ‘the federal
government, Mr: .Fisher’s. arith-
‘metic needs correcting. His figures
sound suspiciously like those used
by a mythical.Department of ie
‘dian Affairs public relations crew.
assistance.
Simple calculation tells’ us that if
$4,000 per Indian: capita ‘‘being
expended on Indian programs for
250,000 -Indians’” (as stated in
-Fisher’s article) this would total $1
billion per year. In fact. this actual
budget for the Department of
. Indian Affairs is $360 million. Of
-this amount $180 million,:at least a.
half,“ goes for administration and
: operations.
Only $90 million goes ‘directly to
Indian bands.and Indian reserves,
in the form’ of grants, loans and
“programs.
This $90 million divided among
250,000 Indians equals only $360 per
Indian.
‘WHITE’ BACKLASH’
-Contrast this’ with. the $725
million spent for the 110,000 people
in Prince Edward Island, as
reported by Statistics’ Canada for
1972.: This ‘amounts: to $6,500 per
islander.
The expenditures. of the
Canadian. International
Development.’ Agency are more
than $750’ million: this. “year | for
overseas
We. ‘Indian. “people. do not
development!
“Equality of Citizenship” a hoax
-begrudge-_ these programs’ and
expenditures. But we .are., most
concerned: that all our’ former
wealth is being accrued. and
distributed from our ‘‘domain’’-for
- the benefits of others while we are
‘now forced to scratch and beg for
our very existence in the shadow of
the. dominant’ society, whose” af-
fluence has been derived at our
expense.
We hear lately -of. the “white.
backlash’’: against Indians. as a
result of the. Indians’ ‘small suc-~
cesses in their ‘aboriginal claims..
Fisher states “The settlements
will give (Indians) broad rights :. .
over huge reaches of land .
which will more than rival some of
our provinces in size,’
The fact is the Indians and. Inuit
in James Bay are being offered
reserve lands totalling 4,000 square
miles. or two ‘square miles. per
family of five. For this they are
relinquishing their rights to more
than 400,000 square miles of land,
in some portions of which they will
be allowed’ to hunt and:fish so long
as this does not interfere. with
Selene 2
“The James Bay detticnrenit’ is no
model: It is merely a continuation
‘of the old-time treaty negotiations.
A close study reveals the old chiefs
may have even struck a better’
bargain. The one -who. will benefit
most from the James Bay. set-
tlement is the aristocracy of the
money barons .and real estate
developers:
‘We have a-real fear that Mr.
‘Fisher’s article may be just
another spark to fan the flames of
that so-called ‘‘backlash.”” He may
be sounding the clarion call for
“tredskins.””
‘HATE-THE-INDIAN’ CAMPAIGN
We fear his article may bea part
of a “hate-the-Indian” campaign,
just at a time when we Indians
were beginning to see some hope in
overcoming the serious problems
faced by our people in this. country.
- My -personal. advice..to Doug
Fisher. is: go cure your. myopia,
correct your arithmetic, study
elementary Canadian history, and
it may help you to see why your
great-great granchildren will still
be living with. the unique Indian
status. of. my great-great grand-
children.”
‘British Columbia
An Information Service.
vermment News.
The British Columbia Government News is an information service
designed to make the same information provided to the news media, -
available to every citizen.
Send this coupon today and we’ ‘ll put your name on our free cain
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|
~ Canada Manpower. can hele you | ina lot of ways, with:
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Let's work together.
February, 1975 NES IKA Page Seven
A continuing series
Land claims -
UA legal history of
the land clai
‘ By DOUG SANDERS
ALEGAL HISTORY OF. THE
- LAND: CLAIMS’
Part 2: The Royal Proclamation
Of 1763.. :
The years between 1760 and. 1800
were years of rapid. change in
eastern. North America. In 1760 the
French were. defeated. and: the
English. took control of Quebec; In.
1763 Chief: Pontiae and his ‘allies
- laid seige to the English fort: at.
“Detroit. That Indian. military.
action highlighted. the Indian op
“ pesition.to further European: j
settlement:in, North Americ:
in 1763: King George the: thee 4
ihe “Royal Procfamation
shing, English: ‘governt ent... P
and. protecting Indian’ : ¢
its-in the areas’ west..of. part of the
~ European’ settlement: In.1774 the
Quebec Act incorporated Ontario
and. Michigan into Quebec. The
Ameriean.. Revolution began. in .
New . England and? in 1776. the
Declaration of Independence ‘was °
_ issued...In 1783.the Treaty of Paris
was. signed: between the United
_ States -and. England“ending |: the .
~ American Revolution. In'1791 the
Constitutional. Act. was. passed
creating the province of Ontario. as
‘a- colony separate from Quebec.
“Ttwas--during = these. turbulent
years that:the Royal Proclamation...
of 1763 was enacted. It is the first
written. constitutional document
for British North America. The.
main reason for the Proclamation .
was. the question of relations.
between the. English and the In-
dians. Indian tribes along the Ohio
and Mississipi river valleys were
actively opposing the western
movement of: European settlers.. .
Something -had: to be done to
calm: the frontier. The Indians
could not’be kept in line by military
force, for the English soon had. to
- deal with the American. ‘Revolution:
in New aes
o. The reas reserved to the it
” “dians wére to be the areas (a) west:
of the ‘existing colonies, such. as
~-Quebéc, and. (b). west of the-heads
of the rivers. flowing into the.
Atlantic from the west and: north:
west. That meant that the areas of
Canada reserved to the Indians by
the. Proclamation. included
southern. Ontario.. Northern On-
tario and most of the. prairie
‘provinces. were part of Rupert’s
os
; recognition of Indian Manis did:no
Ther: was a a plan to: the
ine””. a ». Grounds.””
"The aréas west of the line w ene to recognizes that the Indians already
-be-preserved to the Indians’ “as
~ their hunting-grounds’*, European.
“settlers were forbidden to locate in
the Indian: territories. Instead ie :
» rights only exist et they’< are wi " rite
developed’ the’ i e at Indian.
rights only existed Seccaes of the r
Royal’: Proclamation of: 1763. for’.
“represents the:
Land, ‘the area granted to thie
Hudson's Bay Company, by Royal
Charter. in 1670. There is still.
controversy . whether’ the Royal.
Proclamation applied to Rupert’s
Land. : :
The Royal: Proclamation di
basie things in relation to: Indi:
land ‘rights. The Proclamati
created’.a’ Crown monopoly. ‘No
private person.could buy land from
the Indians, only, the Crown.
Secondly, the Proclamatio:
‘Spelled: out how the Crowns
are ai he pa the Ind!
come without a struggle: If it
-was. the highest dena court”
‘Canada, said that Indian.
“Ro al Proclamation..
“could: only be a ributed”’
“Indian. people. in
folumbia began arguing inthe late \
not been for the Indian. political. abou
‘and military. -activity. on. ‘the ~ dis
frontier the Indian portions. of the . Gov
Royal Proclamation: would never,
have been enacted.
‘government recognized Indian:
land rights: and- followed... the
provisions of the Royal. Proclama- a
no Englishman had.‘ ‘discovered’.
.. British’ Columbia by 1768, the
After 1763; European settlement ue Pr
‘began. in. southern Ontario. The. a
-tion of 1763, In the years, between: .. p, ;
1763 and:1867, two-or three hundred .
separate treaties and’ surrenders ::
were entered into: in seuthern :
Ontario purchasing: Indian. land.
These documents are. reprinted i in.
the three volume’ set
Treaties and Surrenders” which
was reprinted. in the © Coles
Canadiana Collection.
TERMS VAGUE
The Royal Proclamation did‘ not
say it. was creating any Indian’
‘rights. It begins by saying that. it is”
just and reasonable” that. the
Indians ‘‘not be molested’ or:
disturbed in they ‘possession of such
‘parts: of our dominions and
territories as, ‘not “having been” ©
_ discussions about the Procla: ae,
tion during — the hea!
ceded'to us, are reserved tothem,
‘or any’ of them, as their hunting
have these lands
grounds. It® is
ieir. hunting
recognizing:
what. already exists in fact. But.
white people: keep. -thinkii
‘down. in: English.
Soin the:yee
Government officials: who tried to:
explain why there: were treaties in é
Ontario but not-in Quebec or Nova
Scotia, said. that-.the Royal
Proclamation had not ‘applied in:
Quebec or Nova Scotia. In 1888 the
Judicial Committee of the Privy
Council, the English: court. which
Deocknation was: “not: the
“elusive source of Indian title: The:
- three judges who ruled in favour of
“Indian.
Th 1 :
e. Preelamatio. Manuel:
Pro¢lamation was part of the
% ‘argument being put forward by the
James Bay Cree and Inuit. t of th the:
the Nishgas gave. four séparate
reaons’ why, the Royal. Proclama-
tion question was not a barrier to
the’ Indian ‘claim. :
STILL GOING ON. ;
But the lawyers. and the: courts
are still talking about the Royal
Proclamation. In the British
Columbia Court of. Appeal. in-
tailed:
January there. were det
re.
cases. . The Roy
first. major
acknowledgement by: whites'i in the
Jand now known as Canada, that
the native people were ‘the lan-:
diords.. The Europeans were: im-
Migrants who had to acknowledge
the prior ownership Bente of the
native people.
‘New land claims film released
“The Land is the Culture”
By FRED CAWSEY
Editor’s Note — Fred Cawsey,
Keith Bradbury. and Gundar
“Lipsbergs have just spent six
months making a 30-minute color
film about B.C. Indian land claims
for the Union-of B.C. Indian Chiefs.
- Copies of the film, titled ““The Land
-. Is The Culture’, should be reaching’
reserves now. The U.B.C.LC. is
sending prints of the film to every
Indian district office in the
province so everyone who wants to
can see it. After Indian people have
seen the film it will be released for
public viewing on television.
“The land is the basis of Indian
culture. The land is the culture,
and ‘without it we cannot survive as’
a people.”
That is perhaps the single most
important statement in.the land
claims film. ‘The Land. Is The
Culture’ is the title of the film
because it underlines the fact that
the land claims struggle for B.C.
Indians is not just one. of
geographical space but of cultural
survival,
Asa people, Indians. only: began
to have. serious. problems when
their. land. was taken from them.
Indian ‘culture rooted in deep
respect: and love for the land and:
all living things, only suffered'after
white’ people, with their ideas of
private-property and the buying
and selling of land as.a commodity,
took all the land and made Indians
Continued on Page 14
(THIS LAND
AS MY LAND |
THE VAWCCUVER
", ISLANDS
“TAK OK. LETS
\swG, Same THING
Resi
~ 1875. The Provincial an
= fom he Desig
PART ft i
INDIAN RESERVE
COMMISSION -
1875-1910
‘Land pressure and_di
attempts by. the Thompson to
organize themselves. -.
“The problem of size and location
_ of Indian reserves was also part of
-a- dispute between the Federal and
Provincial. governments.
The
Federal government wished. to
“have an Indian. land - policy’ in
British Columbia similar to:
- Governor ‘Douglas’ former policy
eed recognition of Native Title and.
larger. reserves. The Province
_ Wished to continue ‘Trutch’ s poliey
of small.
Eta of ‘Nativ
governments agreed t to: review the
_otfeserve situation: in: areas © that
_ already had. reserves cand to. allot
“reserves. in. areas, that had none.
sattempts of the. Provineé. ‘to
sabotage the work of the Indian
“Reserve Commission, from 1876, to
1880 increased Indian protests. In.
“1874 there were discussions and.
“meetings at Lytton’ about the
formation of a Thompson Union to
press land claims. Again in 1879
there: was a meeting at. Lytton
which set up.a committee, headed
by Chief_ Michael of Spuzzum, to
organize’ their communities.
Throughout the 1870’s, there was
much talk about.an Indian war in
the Interior which included
Kamloops, Nicola, the Okanagan
_ and presumably the Lytton area. I.
- W. Powell,. Indian Superintendent,
warned the Province:
“If there has not been an Indian |
war, it is not because there has
been no injustice to the. In-
. dians, but because the Indians
have not been sufficiently
united”.
The injustices i in the Lytton area
can be seen in the fact that by. 1875
there were only 5 small reserves:
1. 14.acres.. .. left bank-of the
Thompson at the junction of the
Fraser.
/ The trends of the. Bes con:
ftirlued in the 1870's and: 18
against Indians led to protest and
“Canyon,
2012. acres . _ southeast “a
Lytton: von ’
-. 3. 18-acres . “lett bank of. the
Fraser, 2. miles ‘above Lytton..
4.111 aeres ... . right; bank. of
the Fraser, 20 miles above Lytton,
= -(Nickelpalm).”
5. 297 acres .. . right -bank ‘of
Fraser, 5 miles above... Lytton
(Stryem).
HOM. Ball, Stipendary
Magistrate at Lytton in this period,
supported J. B..Good’s description. .
ofthe critical situation and: the
injustice done to Iridian lands. by
white encroachment. More details.
of. these years can be obtained’
- from. the Provincial Archives.
This then is‘ the. situation when
the. Indian Reserve Commission
first visited Lytton in June 1878:...
Gilbert Sproat, the Indian.Reserve...
Commissioner,. allotted. about, 25
reserves, but presently: we have.
little information, about.his work or.
the: positions ‘of the Indians: ©
Most of: Sproat’s” -allotinents..-
elsewhere. in. British’ Columbia. :
were protested by the Provinciab’
Government: In some: cases*.the:
B.C: Department: of lands: and
» Works: disallowed «a. reserve. or
a refused to. confirm: it, Apparently,
i indian’ Reserve No. 28. and. this. -
process: might ‘éxplain. some:of the
missing reserves. that Elders talk 2
-.. about:.
Sproat: set tp the Lytton reserves
on the. basis of two essentials:
fishing. and water. rights: Sproat
stated that non-interference with
the.salmon fishery of the Thomp-
.son people was necessary as it was -
the staple of the diet. Some of the
small, “rocky reserves were
allotted on the understanding that
these were fishing stations. Then
later, when pollution and govern-
ment. regulation reduced the
fishery, the function of the reserve.
is destroyed and the economic base
of the village is undercut.
The issue of water. rights was
already important by. the .1870’s
and as Sproat.set up reserves, he
also allotted water rights. The
Province refused to recognize
these Indian. water records and
discriminated against: Indians
when issuing records. Early iin the
1880’s' Powell, the Indian
Superintendent, requested. the
Province specific amounts of
water for Bands of the Fraser
including Lytton, Spuz-
Continued on Page 14
Page Eight
PART IV
By JAMES WILSON
In practice the Indians were
protected from the full im-
plications of these views for the
first two centuries of colonial
history. The white- population of.
New France was small only
in 1713 — and the colonists did not
need a great deal of land:
moreover, the French, unlike the
British, tended to live on elose and
friendly terms with the Indians and
to inter-marry with them, and for
much. of the time there was no
obvious conflict between the two
races.” 5
_ . While the fur trade remained
important the Indian might be.
made dependent upon the white
man, but he was unlikely to be
evicted or destroyed, and while the
French and. British continued to
_ fight among themselves both sides
“had much to gain by courting the
*‘goodwill.and support of the native
Although Britain .and
France both officially regarded the
Indians: as. subjects of their
respective Crowns, it became
expedient, if asking for military
assistance, to treat them as free
- allies, and: in this way many of the
tribes. managed to remain fairly
~ independent. :
The military situation ‘was a
major factor in the clarification of
policy and improvement ‘in .ad-
ministration. which took place
throughout . Britain’s ‘North
. American possessions in the 1750’s
and 1760's; the government was
frightened that repeated en-
croachments on Indian territory by
New England colonists might
. Spark an uprising and weaken the
English position vis-avis France.
BIRTH OF DIA
In order to try and deal with the
sources of Indian discontent, a
The
centralized Indian administration
was created, with two secretaries,
one for the northern and the other,
for Southern tribes, to supervise its.
operations. Firm boundaries were
@!° be fixed between -Indian and
18,119
‘colonial lands, and land-purchase
procedure established whereby
only the government could buy
territory from the Indians and a
fair pricé and just dealings could
be. insured. The need for some
formal declaration and en-
forcement of these principles was
increased by the fall of New .
France to the English in.1760, and
by the serious uprising three years |
later, led by Pontiac, an Ottawa
chief, of Indians who wanted to re-
instate the French as a: defence
against British and. colonial en-
croachments. : .
In 1763, therefore, a
Proclamation was. issued by ‘the
king. which confirmed that the
Indians had ‘a. legal title to the
lands they occupied which. could
only be ‘extinguished’ by a treaty
with -the Crown. In addition, the
area West of the Appalachians and
the Great Lakes region were set,
aside as ‘Indian territory’ where no
white settlements’ were allowed,
while most of the Western part. of
the continent was not considered to
be a British possession and there
was therefore no question of it
being colonized by the English. “
Future settlement was to be
concentrated mainly in Quebec
and. Nova Scotia, and. colonial
‘governors were given instructions
to evict white trespassers on In-
dian land. Despite the liberal tone |
and estimable, intentions of this
policy, however, the Proclamation
ushered in the century of greatest
white expansion in North America. .
With the conclusion of hostilities
NE S$ 1K A
between France and Britain the
Indians became militarily. of less
account, and their discontent
therefore posed less of a threat to
European security. This fact
removed a.major obstacle to the
illegal seizure of Indian land;
George Washington, for instance,
mapped out an area. of Indian
territory for himself on. the
assumption that the Proclamation
of 1763 was merely “a temporary
expedient to quiét the minds of the ©
Indians’. .
By 1773 Lord Dartmouth;
Secretary for the Colonies, .con-
ceded that ‘there is no longer any
hope’ of perfecting that plan of
Policy in respect to the interior
country, which was in com-
templation when the Proclamation
of 1763 was issued’. Three years
later, partly in-order to throw off
the restrictions on expansion which ~
the Imperial government had tried
to impose, Britain’s thirteen
original American colonies formed
themselves into the United: States
and rebelled. With the defeat of the
British in 1783 the military power
and significance of the Indians was
effectively broken. Relieved for
the first. time from internecine
squabbling the. Europeans in both ’
the’ United States: and Canada
found that the way was now open to.
territorial consolidation and the
total subjugation of the native.
‘FUR TRADE GROWS
After 1783 a number of important
changes took place in Canada
which radically affected the fate of
‘the Indian. In the North-and West
the fur trade was being carried into
more and more remote and
inhospitable regions and deter-
mining the way. that. the most
isolation tribes would live until the
‘middle of the twentieth century.
_ New education counsellor
works toward reserve school —
The education counsellor for the
Penticton Indian band hopes his
work will Jead eventually to re-
establishment of a school on the
reserve.
Stewart. Phillip, who co-
ordinates the education program
for the Penticton. and Westbank
bands, said he and other band
members would like to see Grades
1to 10 offered for Indian children in
their own community. /
The local band. was the first in
Canada to receive an education
portfolio from the department .of
Indian Affairs last January, and
the Westbank band was also given
permission to direct its own
educational affairs.
Mr. Phillip took over the-job. of
education. counsellor. from Don
Jenkins last summer.
A school run by the band would
offer courses considered essential.
by the department of education, so
that students would be able to
transfer to a school across the
river for Grades 11 and 12.
Other than that, courses in In-
dian culture and language would’
be emphasized to help the
youngsters become aware of their
background and to’ establish their
identities.
MAKE SECURE
“If you know who. you are,
nothing shakes you:’’ People
secure in themselves do not strike
out when they are threatened, and
are not hurt by discrimination, Mr.
Phillip said. _
White schools do not meet the
needs of Indian students because
values of white society, which are
dot suitable in an Indian com-
munity, are promoted, he said.
Indian people are content with
sssentials' in life, whereas the
white society scrambles to acquire
nore material possessions for
status. .
An Indian is content with just
hhree buttons on a four button coat
~as long as it keeps him warm —
but a white person must have the
fourth button, said Mr. Phillip.
Solidarity among the Indian
people is important for their well- .
being, and a community school
would “encourage such a feeling:
NEED RESPECT
“We have to become. aware of
social customs and respect for one
another. As Indians we have a
great responsibility to each other.
In the white world it’s not as close
because it’s not really necessary.
Here the family unit is really
strong.” me . .
The Indian school concept is just
in an early stage, but Mr. Phillip
hopés ‘programs currently under
way will lead to-its establishment.
A former reserve school- was .
closed about 15 years ago. —
Part of Mr.’.Phillip’s job.-is
counselling. students attending
schools in town. His approach is
casual; he often invites them-along .
as he takes:trips on business for the
bands. “I sort of truck around with
them,”’ ‘he said. /
While he encourages students to
go to school, he said he has second .
“thoughts about sending them ‘to
school in town. :
“We feel that’s the only existing
thing we have, and we have to use
- it until we get our own system. So
we feel obliged to chase the’ kids
across the bridge every morning.. . )
igs “band members as an a dult
‘education program.
“For instance, if we hear a kid is
going to drop out of school, we berid
over backwards to try to keep him
in. ” #
PARENTS IMPORTANT
Parental attitude is important in.
keeping a student in school, and in
homes where parents have
unhappy memories of Indian
residential ‘schools, the youngster
might receive little. en--
couragement to attend.
Over-crowded conditions ~ in
reserve homes can make it dif-.
ficult for even ‘an ’ enthusiastic
student to study. © ; ne
Another factor discouraging
native students -from finishing
school is the lack of work op-
portunities at home, said Mr.
Phillip.
The Indian: people are tied to
their land, and many would rather
not. work away from. the. area.
“There are quite a few skilled
workers in the band who use their
talents only when there is work to
be done around the reserve, said
Mr. Phillip. 4
“Increased work opportunities |
on the reserve accompanying
increased. development will -give
Indian students ‘an incentive to.
finish school.’’
~ Educational matters on the two
reserves. are handled. by education. -
committees, which ‘meet
frequently with Mr.: Phillip. Their
proposals have to be
the band councils. - °
COURSE PLANNED
Programs offered on this.reserve
include a playschool, which is
currently threatened because of
lack of funding, an informal
evening. tutoring service. for
“students and a_ travel. program
wherein students visit centres of
Indian culture and education.
- A course in language, history
~and social. customs of the local
Indian people is being planned for
At 25 Mr. Phillip knows both the
white and Indian’ lifestyles and
prefers the native way of life... ~
He was raised white in a, foster
home in Quesnel after. he was
apprehended as a child by social
assistance. authorities. .
After he grew up, his first jobs
were in sawmills, but he decided he
wanted to work with people. A .
Local Initiatives. Program project
in Vancouver gave him the op-
portunity to counsel
reserve,
‘independent of us,
approved by
Indian —
~ children before ‘he returned to the
loss of freedom
A letter written in 1822 by a
Hudson’s Bay agent at Fort Garry.-
illustrates the kind of relationships
and attitudes that the fur trade~
fostered: ‘‘... have made it my
study to examine the nature and
character of Indians and however
repugnant. it may be to our
feelings, I am convinced they must
be ruled with a rod of Iron to bring
and keep them in a proper state of
subordination, and the most cer-
tain way to effect this is by letting
‘them feel their dependence: upon
us’...In the woods and northern
barren grounds this measure ought
to be pursued rigidly next year if
they do not improve, and no credit,
hot so much as a load of am-
munition, given them until they
exhibit an inclination to renew
their habits of industry. .
In. the plains,’ however _ this
system will not do, as they can live
and © by
withholding ammunition, tobacco
and spirits, the Staple articles of
Trade, for one--year, they will
recover the use of their Bows and
spears, and lose sight of their.
smoking and drinking habits; it
will therefore be necessary. to
bring those Tribes round by mild
and cautious measures which may
soon be effected.’’ In the southern
part.of the country, however, the
‘Indians were facing a different
kind of treatment at the hands ‘of
the white man. With the arrival in
Canada of the United. Empire
Loyalists from the United States,
followed by Scottish settlers and
other immigrants from Europe,
the Canadian population began to
swell, and there was increasing .
pressure.on land.
In 1790 the population of Canada,
excluding the. Maritimes, was
161,311; by 1851 this figure had
increased to 1,842,265 and a new
territory, Assiniboia, was being
settled to the West of Upper.
Canada, in what is now Manitoba.
ara ih :
If your reserve or organization is planning
_a hockey tournament,
happenings; or if something has happened
that you would like to publicize, fill up this
coupon and send to:
THE EDITOR NESIKA
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN. CHIEFS
2140 — 12th Ave. W.
VANCOUVER 9, B.C.
Name of Reserve and its location
Name of Person Submitting
telephone number for contact:
February, 1 975
The populations of the other
provinces were rising as quickly:
New Brunswick, for instance, had
35,000 white inhabitants in 1806,
and 193,800 by 1851. ~
In the .1840’s the colonization of
British Columbia, which was only
‘accessible from the Pacific Ocean,
began in earnest. The West Coast -
chiefdoms, who had had little
contact with the white man, sud-
denly had to make way for an in- ~
flux of settlers. Again, a con-
temporary document. reveals the
white attitude towards the Indian,
and, in this case, the Indian at-
titude towards the white man.
This is the account, recorded by
an early British Columbia settler,
Gilbert Sproat, of a conversation
between himself and a local chief:
. “We see. your ships, and hear.
things that make our hearts grow
faint. They say that more. King-
George-men will soon be here, and
will take our land, our firewood,
our fishing-grounds; that we shall
be placed on a little spot, and shall
have to do everything according to
the fancies of the King-George-
men.”
‘Do you believe all-this?’
‘We waht your information,’ said
the speaker.
‘Then’, answered I, it is true that ©
more King-George-men (as they
call the English) are coming: they
will soon be. here; but your ‘land
will be bought at a fair price.’
“We do not wish to sell our land
nor our water; let your friends stay
in their country.” To which T
rejoined: ‘My great chief, the high
chief of. the. King-George-men,
seeing that you do not work your
Jand, orders that you shall sell it. It.
is of no use to you. The trees you do
not need; you will fish-and hunt as
you do. now, and collect firewood,
planks for your houses, and cedar
for your canoes. The white man
© Continued on page i
AN EVENT? 7
dance, or any other
this Coupon, address or
Page Ten
video ape. camera grinds on:
is an enthusiastic
is the eneliseeen _ of
NE S I K A
~ Skilful_living
the UBCIC Land Claims Research The centre and.its Life Skills hindering his students. back in.
building... - program is just a year orsooldbut Victoria.
Life and Skills, ina capsule, is a Terry’s association with Life His feelings proved to be well
course.involved in the teaching of — Skills, itself, goes back to what was founded.
Divided. i as Terry likes to put ‘probably its. first introduction to The impact of the course whieh
British: Columbia. he and instructor, Len Weaver set’
In.1971, Philip Paul, at that time up at Camosun in cooperation with
the director of the Native Indian. NewStart, was felt immediately
Program. at. Camosun College. in. . and over ‘the following four years
Victoria, was starting to.encounter . ‘the’. drop- -out rate “in the. Native.
a problem that was.‘ seriously: Studies Program: was reduced by.
inhibiting the effectiveness f, the n
He w: ‘discovering tha “it was ieviolved | in the.cor
one: thing: to. provide ‘c ourses. oo year at the. polleg T
activities specifica of
ati
and faced the “ exasperation of.
'. finding. employment and coping,
with the city. :
This was all in the \
mind when, while in Prince oe
h Semi a
programs ©
re ‘people living on the.
; e
pioneer in, the Life Skill progra |. students and staff was tha
» Although the original ideas ‘and - students were just a small portion
-. eoneept was developed by a pair of of Indian. people who rieeded help -
psychologists. i in New York, no ane-: with coping with city life. It was
up till then (1968) had seriously — felt generally that there. existed a
attempted to put a--concrete.. large difference between ° what
teaching course togethér. Under ’ réserve people planning to move
the management of a man-named - jnto'the city expected to find there
‘and what: really was the case. Life
writers; coaches and: researchers... Skil]s they felt’ was a. way--of
produced the first set'of lessons. equipping these people’ with
The course was then put «into use- knowledge and skills necessary to.
) and. subsequently, soe deal. with urban life as well: as:
refined: and developed: :
- fusing rangition period.
overcome the difficult -and- con-.. he
a
February, 1 975
- Life Skills provides you with alternatives
By G. MCKEVITT:
VICTORIA
MacNamara
Education Centre and its major life
skills program.
First, though, a little more about
the philosophy of the Life Skills
course itself.
DIFFERENT CHOICES
According to Terry MacNamara,
one of the. main. things a person
“discovers through life skills:is that
“there is a choice of many different
s or attitudes he or she can
: dealing with both riew. and
“long standing problems.
“So. many people,”. he said,
tend to react the same way to. all
‘Situations. You might:
t
COMMUNICATION
“Another strong ‘emphasis of:
‘suills, and related to this, is to
‘teach people how to. communicate.
People: tend to. put’ up. barriers
‘around themselves: to keep: other
people away, They tend to'relate to
people in set ways that treat them :
la:
Life Skills teachés you to look ak
- other people. and- yourself. ina.)
_ different light that, again, _Bives a.
-you. choice, Terry said.
To. perform these miracles ‘the
course relies to a large’ extent on
video-tape:. equip: :
_ learning device called: role playing:
Rele-.playing is: basically play
acting: The people invelved create
an idea. for: a situation: and’ then
‘spontaneously.act it out before the
video-tape camera and the rest of
Tass. ane situation can be total :
: ‘ai e
faing’ so they. learn to un-
els lik
“der tand: what it f
the pressure of the rol playing ”
_._ itself plus the audience of ie ‘
lassmates.
: CANDID CAMERA
The Video- -tape equipment
enables people involved-in the role-
playing situation along. with: the
rest of the class to ‘sit down af-
terwards and watch themselves
cand relate their behavior to-the
theoretical side of the course.
It gives the people their first real
chance, in many cases, to see
themselves, with their man-
nerisms and habits, exactly as
others ‘see them.
A good example to demonstrate
the effect role playing can have
would be to take the mother and
teenage son mentioned earlier and
have. them switch roles. The
mother would soon lean about-the
- humiliation her. son: was ex-
periencing under her wrath and the
son - would discover the frustration’
she felt. in trying to communicate
with him. —
The course, essentially is divided’,
into: two types of learning, each
Continued on page 1i
Februcry, 1975
NES IKA
Page Eleven
Continued from page 10
augmenting and intertwined with
the other. ‘
On the one hand there is the
theoretical side which. includes
among other things, discussions by _
instructor on the various aspects of
life skills and its relationship to
everyday life, field trips and
classroom lectures from outside
sources.. /
On the other hand there is put-
ting. the theories to practise
through role playing, discussion,
. interpersonal contact as well as
other involving types of éxercises
and experiences.
IMPORTANT ELRNe
There is one other vital key to the
course and-that is the life skills
coach. He, in many ways, has to be
a very. “special person — sensitive
' enough to be responsive and un-
. derstanding of the many types of
personalities that. will be involved
in the’ course and yet sure and
strong willed enough to give
positive and meaningful direction’
as well.
It-is‘the bealeling of coaches that.
Terry and the Centre are primarily
involved in now.*
The first’ four month coach
training program is now underway
with twelve people mainly from
Vancouver Island’-and the lower -
mainland involved.
- This is the first of what will be a
continuing series: of courses to
produce’ coaches :*to - work
throughout the Province:
But Terry says he is not in a.
hurry: “The primary concern: for
us is: quality not quantity.”
The centre is funded_at present.
by bands in the vicinity of Victoria.
and therefore is most responsible
to. them however they will continue
to expand the program through the
training of. coaches to. encompass
all areas of B.C.
. LARGER AREA
Terry has already.taken the first
step..in this. direction. by.
familiarizing. people with the
_ program through.the conducting of ,
life skills workshops in.many. parts.
of the province and. with various:
Loss of freedom
* Continued from page 8
will give you work, and buy your
fish and oil.’
‘Ah, but we don’t care to do as
the white men wish.’
‘Whether or not,’ said I, -‘the
white men, will come. All your
people know that. they are your
superiors; they make things which
you: value...
muskets, blankets or bread. The
white men will teach your children
to read printing, and to be like
themselves.’
‘We do not want the white man.
He steals what we have. We want
to live as we are.”
NEW ATTITUDE
This conversation reflects the
changes in attitude that took place
during the nineteenth century.
During the 18th. century the myth
of the ‘Noble Savage’ had
prevailed, and the typical colonial
policy-maker of the period had
been a_ tolerant, pragmatic
patrician statesman of the
Englightenment, living in London
and remote from thé reality of the
frontier, viewing the natives half
with amusement, half with ad-
miration, and believing that when
they were not being of practical
use to the government they should
be left alone. In contrast, . the
nineteenth ‘century attitude was
profoundly paradoxical, being both
more ruthlessly expedient and
more idealistically concerned.
The Romantic reaction to the-
- Age of Reason, the Evangelical
movement with its passion for soul-
saving, thé’ spread of Darwin’s
evolutionary theories about the
Survival of the Fittest, the con-
fident imperialist’s belief in
Progress, all contributed to the
nineteenth century atmosphere in
which the ‘final. solution’ to the
‘Indian Problem’ was conceived.
All the contradictory and con-
flicting aims and attitudes of 250
years of colonial history came
‘You -cannot’ make ©
Indian groups such as UBCIC land --
claims field workers and members
of the South Island. Tribal
federation.
To expand, however, the key is to
find capable people from all areas
who are interested in working with
Life Skills. :
Terry stressed that the main
quality a coach must have is a love
. and willingness to. work with
people. Academic background, he
said, was not that important.
Although the main program. to
date of the Victoria Indian Cultural
Education Centre had been the Life
Skills course, it is not its _only
concern.
Under ‘the direction of Dickson
Taylor the. Centre also has
programs dealing mainly with the
up-grading and supply
formation and education services
to Indian people.
These programs include Indian
Cultural Studies; Basic. In-
formation, a program for people ‘
who wish to return to school but
_ heed help in the basics such as -
reading or math before doing so; .
Native Indian Research. and
Resources and:a Printing Service
.for printing. up information. to
. distribute’ and “provide a printing
service for bands who might. need
it in their own work.
of in-°
‘George | of Chilliwack.
FROM. LEFT To RIGHT are George dios: of Cowichan, witty Seymour of Chemanus Bay : and Gerald.
programs.
NO, THESE coaching students are not vistchinag the Lawvlanes Welk
show. Video-tape. plays a key part in the Life Skills course because
it gives the people involved a chance to sit back and ‘see themselves
as others see them as well as to study impartially the various’ people
together in the settlement which
Canada imposed on its native
people in the second half of Vic-
toria’s reign.
The myth of the Noble Savage
persisted, and with it the old idea of
simple, pious Indian communities,
converted to Christianity but
protected from the worse effects of
white civilization; at the same
time. the other stereotype of the
native, the indolent, unreliable,
dirty heathen, re-emerged to ex-
cite. the fear, pity and contempt of
the sober, industrious Protestant
settlers who were pouring into
Canada.
There was a third,. specifically
Victorian, view of the Indian,
compounded of nineteenth century -
science and Old. Testament
religion: the idea of the ‘doomed
race’, condemned by History: and
the hand of God, which. would
become extinct by the inevitable -
process of . Natural Law. This
confronting notion removed from
the white man much of the moral
onus for the destruction of the
(Indian), and made the new settler
an agent of Destiny.
The deep contradictions between
these views were not, of course,
evident at the time. The assured
Victorian empire-builder had
neither the time nor the inclination
to examine .his motives and:
assumptions very closely. It was
easy to evict from-their lands a
people who were already con-
demned by Evolution; easy to
destroy a society whose’ heathen
beliefs threatened the souls of its .
members; easy even: to seén-
timentalize with a good conscience
about the simple life which must
inevitably. perish.
In 1851, for example, Henry
Lewis Morgan, who admired and
had. studied the Iroquois, wrote:
. the shades of evening are now
. gathering thickly over the scat-
tered remnants of this once
powerful League ... The Iroquois
will soon be lost as a people, in that
night of impenetrable darkness in
which so many Indian races have
been enshrouded. Already their
country. has been appropriated,
their. forests cleared, and their
trails: obliterated.-The residue of
this proud and gifted race, who still
linger around their. native seats,
are destined to fade away,. until
they become eradicated as an
Indian stock. We shall ere long look.
backward to the Iroquois, as a race
blotted. from existence; but to
remember them as a people whose
sachems had no cities,
religion had no temples,
whose government had
records.” sed
and
no
whose -
tn the eae Life Skalls. instructor Terry MacNamara looks: on. “After :
in the role >aeies situation interacting with each other.
The
play-back is augmented with discussion and comments by everyone
in the class.
CANADA EXPANDS
Against this background thefinal
assault on Canada’s remaining
free Indians, who occupied more
than half the country, began in the
1870’s. The. process was. hastened .
by a number of factors: In. 1867 the
British. North America Act,
making. Quebec, Ontario, New
Brunswick and Nova Scotia into.a
confederation,. virtually —in-
dependent of the United Kingdom,
came into force, and by 1880-all of.
Britain’s. North American posses~
sions except Newfoundland had
passed to Canada.
There was a strong nationalist.
and imperialist spirit in the new
country, and the ‘Canadian
parliament passed a series of Acts
extending its sovereignty over the
Northern and Western parts of the
land, much of which had
previously belonged in theory to
the Hudson’s Bay Company but in
practice to the Indians. The
‘colonization of British Columbia
gave impetus-to the movement to
build a railway linking Canada’s
Atlantic and Pacific coasts and to
‘settle white people along its route,
right the way across the.continent.
This in turn necessitated clearing
the Indians of what -are - now
Manitoba, Saskatchewan. and
plbertas Indians as whites. Alike Sg
had. learnt of the ferocious battle
for the Plains in the United States,
and both sides were wary of each
other. The government’s: anxiety-
was increased by the Red River
Rebellion of 1869 in which . the .
Metis, led by Louis Riel, rose’ to
demand recognition of their land
rights, and it was decided that
before white people started moving
into the West there should be a
clear settlement of the land. issue.
To this end. negotiations ..were
held with the Indians-of different
regions’ to arrange for: the
surrender of their traditional
hunting territories and their set-
tlement on reserves where they
could be isolated from white
communities. In return the Indians
were to receive plots of land —
usually 160 acres per family of five
— medical services, schooling,
agricultural equipment ‘and’ ad-
visers, and gifts and annuities:
under Treaty Number Two, for
example, chiefs were to be paid
$25.00 a year and other Indians $3 a
year. .
In June 1871. Lieutenant-
Governor Archibald began talks on ~
the first treaty, and he explained
the idea of the reserve system to
his audience of Swampy. Cree and
Ojibway in Southern Manitoba.
(Continued Next Issue)
x
Page Twelve |
N ES 1 KA
February, 1975
Education Centre announces more
on George Wilson Scholarship fund
VANCOUVER — The George
Wilson Scholarship being
established from out of the British
Columbia Native Indian Teachers’
Association, will be offered as a
source of funds for Native Indians
in British Columbia, who wish to
further their education for the
purpose of. serving Indian people,
specifically in the field of
education.
BCNITA membership has. ap-
proved a ‘membership fee of $10.00
per. year to be applied. to - this’
scholarship. They will now
welcome payment.of these fees in
exchange for BCNITA: mem-
bership for those who are involved
with Indian’ Education. -(Mem-
bership is a must for BCNITA
Members in order for expenses to
be paid. at any BCNITA Con-
ference! )
Donations from all points will
also be gratefully accepted for this
worthwhile tribute, all Indians and
Indian organizations are urged to-
rally together in making ‘this
scholarship a most successful
effort. alas
In March 1974 George Wilson,
Director of Indian Education for
the B.C. Department of Education,
invited twenty represéntatives of
provincial «schools * and
organizations. involved’ in Indian
education, to meet at the B.C.
Provincial Museum.to discuss the
programs in B.C. provincial
schools. A report on that seminar is
now available. The report is useful
as a guide to the variety of dif-
ferent approaches which are being
takenin Broeranns in native studies
in B.C.
A LSO AVAILABLE.
Another report available is THE
HOME SCHOOL COORDINATOR,
by Robert W. Sterling, Director. of
the. Indian Education. Resources «
Center, It is.a summary of all-the
different: ings that have hap-
pened in the programme and are
happening today. It is an excellent,
introduction tothe programme and.
the duties of being a home-school
coordinator.
MORE SCHOLARSHIPS
Parks Canada is offering ten
$1000.00 scholarships in 1975-76 to
status. native students. who are
studying or interested in the areas
of: 1) Forestry 2) Wildlife 3)
. Resource Management 4) Natural
Sciences, 5) Outdoor Recreation 6)
Environmental Studies 7). In-
terpretation and Extension 8)
Canadian Historical Archaeology
9) Restoration: Architecture. :
The awards are. .money’, ad-
ditional to the education allowance
students ‘get from: the Department
of Indian. Affairs or from their
bands. -That - is,
winner would. get a monthly
education’ allowance plus the
$1000.00 scholarship.
Tf yoware 1) in your last year of
secondary school,.or 2) planning on
attending college or . university
next. year, or 3), currently - at-
. tending college or university, and
are interested’ in studying or are
‘now studying in the areas. men-
tioned you may apply. Ap-
plications, two. letters of. recom-
mendation, and school transcripts
must be submitted to: Parks
Canada by March 3, 1975 (by
March 10 at the very latest): ~
Any questions -on. the: scholar-
ships and/or copies of the: ‘reports
mentioned are. available at the
Indian . Education. Resources
Center, Brock Hall.106, University
of British. Columbia, vancouver;
B.C : :
LIKE TO TRAVEL? —
. The Canada. World Youth
ener att) is now: nee for eee ;
a scholarship ©
between the ages of seventéen and
twenty (students and __non-
students) to work in community
development projects in. Fiji, the
Phillipines, Malaysia, Indonesia,
Honduras, Columbia, Costa Rica,
Mexico, Tunisia, Senegal, Ivory
_ Coast, and Gambia.
Participants spend four months
working in a group of sixteen
people (eight from. Canada “and
eight from a foreign country).ina
Canadian community and four
months in a foreign country. All
expenses are paid by the.Canada
World Youth Program, :
~The -program is an- excellent
opportunity for. young’ native ‘In-
dians to live in another country and
‘at the same time’ get community
development skills-which could. be
useful in: Canadian native com-
munities. '
Three hundred participants ‘from
across Canada will be selected for
the 1975-76 program. The program
co-ordinators realize that most of
their applications, will come from
students in urban universities, and
are attempting to ‘set up. the
selection procedures so that people
who live. outside cities and are not
students ‘will also have a. good
chance of being selected.. Ac-
cording to the Canada World Youth
Office, seven to nine of the 300
participants will be Indian.
Applications are available from
Canada’: Manpower ‘or. from:
Canada World Youth, 2524 Cypress
St., Vancouver, B.C, Ved 3N2. The
applications’ must be submitted by
March. 21, 1975. :
Canada World Youth’ is disp
looking for communities. in which
- to-work - during the four’ month
work: sessions. in Canada. Any
communities interested in having a
16 member. community. develop-
~ment:team should contact, Canada
World ‘Youth. ©
‘St. Mary’s
MISSION CITY (Staff) — The St:
Mary’s marching. band -is
renowned for their precision. and
excellence. Last winter ‘they
opened the ceremonies at the First
All-Native Winter Games. Along
‘with their gymnast ‘team they
awed -the spectators.
’ Last year, too,.they awed
spectators at the 'World’s Fair.
Recently, they've been performing
locally in Mission and at the
Matsqui. institution.
On March 2 they’ll vedio
before the T.V.-cameras on the
telethon.. The Saint Patrick’s Day
weekend will” see them off to
Seattle and back to Vancouver to.
Band has full s
‘ display their Stig’ April 19th will
see them again near Seattle: at
Westport.
And on May 3lst and June 1st
they’ll be performing with other
bands in the Native Indian Band
Tattoo. This year the tattoo will be
held in Dawson.Creek and Fort St.
John who will host bands from
Sechelt, Kamloops. and LeJac
residential schools as well as
performers from the Tillicum
Haus in.Nanaimo and the Kainai
band from Prince Rupert.
News from Hesquiat
By PHYLLIS HANNA
Following the Hesquiat. Band
elections, January 11, 1975, an
anniversary dinner party was held
honoring Alex and Mary Amos on
the occasion of their 58th wedding
anniversary.
Featured on the dinner’ menu
was bannock, fish soup, roast beef,
potato and green salads. During
the evening a huge anniversary
cake was cut by the couple and
shared with their many relatives
and friends
coffee and cookies. served later
during the evening.
Mary.-and Alex were wed
January 8th, 1917 on Nootka Island
and moved to Hesquiat, B.C. where
Alex was a ‘fisherman and they
raised their family of 15 children,
Francis, George, Moses, Matthew,
Andrew, John, Alex, Violet, Gertie,
Caroline, Patricia, Margie, Agnes,
Rosemary and Regina. All told
they have over 200 descendents.
In honour. of his parents,
Francis, their eldest living son,
sang .a ceremonial song relating
back to his great grandfather who
was falsely accused of murder and
sent to the gallows. The charge was
that he had murdered a. party
‘found on the beach, the result of a-
ship wreck. When on the gallows
the man chanted the song claiming
_ his innocence. Also in their honour,
descendents ‘of Alex .and Mary
performed traditional Hesquiat
songs and dances.
Mary’s brother, Moses Smiith,.
acted as Master of Ceremonies for.
the occasion, and: on. behalf of ‘his
family Moses donated $100.00 to the’
Indian Land Claims, Mr. and Mrs.
Amos: moved from Hesquiat and -
lived: in Port Alberni for a short
time and -are ‘now residing -in
“Victoria, B. c. Alex’s shared secret
of their many years together is that
of Sree — eee and work
in: attendance . and.
‘Jubilee Hospital;
together as a team. Mary has
always been active in her
traditional dances and is still an
‘excellent performer. Alex, also is
interested and active in his
traditional music and singing.
Hearty congratulations, Alex
and Mary Amos, and all best
wishes for many, many more years
of happiness together.
ADMINISTRATION
Band Manager, Francis Amos,
was very busy in January, working
with B. Efrat at the Provincial
Museum on a revenue project and
Land Claim meetings as well as the’
Capital Project underway all Hot
Springs Cove.
Everything is in deaSineks for
_the annual audit and arrangements
made for the auditors to come in
early in April to conduct the audit.
The Band Manager will be. ab-
sent for a while, on sick leave, as
he will be admitted to the Royal
Victoria, B.C.,
February 12th to undergo eye
surgery. Best wishes, Francis, for
a speedy recovery and return to
work.
‘The . Band. Secretary has
presented, on behalf of Rev. Edith
Lousie Rodin of Victoria, B.C.,
widow of the Rev. Dr. Bernard
Rodin, a ‘‘Pipe of Peace’ which
was given to him by Chief Oske-
non-Ton (Cherokee or Algonquin)
cousin of Chief. Poking-Fire of the
Cognawago Indian. Reservation __
near Montreal, Quebec.
» Rev. Dr. Rodin was the recipient
of the “Pipe of Peace” and made
blood brother to -Chief Oske-Non-
Ton who was-an opera singer and
educated in Toronto, Ontario by a
lady who was so impressed by his
fine voice. The pipe.is presently in
the Band. office. and will be
catalogued by the Cultural Com-
mittee vole’ for their, museum.
THE UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
-FACULTY OF EDUCATION
Requests Applications for
a Position in Native Education
. Desirable tacksiolad includes qualification and experience in working
with native students and. demonstrated teaching excellence. Native
pet
* person preferred.
wo!
DANCE
DATE: March 29, 1975
PLACE: Hope Community
Band Halli
_ TIME: 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
Dance to the music of the
Blue Smoke of Chilliwack.
All ‘age groups are cordially
munity Easter dance.
THE UNION OF B.
C. INDIAN CHIEFS —
Has a Opening fora,
Assistant Recording Secretary
Needed immediately
to . assist Recording Secretary in the
preparation of recording and transcribing Minutes of various
Committee meetings and all other related duties as designated by
the Recording Secretary.
Office Experience, Typing and Shorthand an asset. We are willing
to pay for training if necessary.
Send full particulars in your own handwriting by MARCH 31,
1975, to:
Recording Secretary,
- Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, |
< 2140 West 12th Avenue;
‘Vancouver, B.C. V6K.2N2
uw
6
wm
. 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; Assoiyes i
$17,595; Pull Professor — $23,325. Rank and salary dependent upon
qualificatons 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.
invited to the Hope com- |.
Anyone
Knowing the whereabouts
of MARLENA WELLS
formerly of Mt. Currie.
Please contact:
Department of
Human Resources
Box 1550, Squamish
or phone: 892-5201
NATIVE COURTWORKERS AND
COUNSELLING ASSOCIATION OF B.C.
Requires a Media Assistant
THE NATIVE ORGANIZATION NEEDS A MEDIA
ASSISTANT FOR MAKING SLIDE SHOW PRODUC-:
TIONS.
EQUIPMENT AND
SOME KNOWLEDGE OF AUDIO-VISUAL
IT’S USE NECESSARY. NATIVE
LANGUAGE AND. KNOWLEDGE OF CULTURE AN
ASSET.
PHONE — 687-0281
THE PROVINCIAL ASSOCIATION
~ OF FRIENDSHIP CENTRES.
Requires a
Administrative/Field Worker
— Trainee
QUALIFICATIONS:
—Some knowledge of administrative procedure,
—Ability to communicate with people,
—Preferably of native origin.
REQUIREMENTS:
—Be able to travel and be prepared to work evenings and
weekends,
—Be willing to work under the supervision of the Director,
—Reliable, trustworthy and interested in working with
native people,
—Should own reliable car.
Please submit complete resume of education and working
experience, letters of reference and salary expected together with
your application in writing, to:
PERSONNEL COMMITTEE,
PA.C.LFLC.;
Ste. 4-946 Brunette Avenue,
Coquitlam, B.C. V3K 1C9
Please submit your application before March 7, 1975;
February, 1975
$30,000 in furs shipped
from Carrier district
One of. the most impressive
shipments of fur ever to leave Fort
St. James was tallied. and
designated, when members of the
Carrier. Trappers. Association
shipped their ‘largest take since
September to fur brokers in
Montreal.
Formed in September of last
year with a $5,000 floating loan and
a Federal Manpower grant of
$51,823, the Carrier Trappers
. Association is. primarily a native
‘Indian operation, with Indian
trappers throughout the area in-
vited to. take out membership and
get a better price for their furs
than they might otherwise obtain
through the usual. channels.
Robert Antoine, Project
Manager for the Carrier Trapper’s
. Association,
organization is proving up very
~ well, and -hopes to expand its
service to cover the entire province |
in the future. It is: the first all-
Indian business venture of its type
undertaken in British Columbia.
Value of -the shipment was
tentatively. estimated at between
$25,000 and $30,000: with the bulk of
the. monies ear-marked for in-
dividual Indian trappers who. have
availed themselves of the service.
The furs are handled in Montreal
by the Hudsons. Bay Company,
acting as brokers, preliminary to | dat
placement of the pelts on markets
all over the world. ;
BETTER PRICE
~ At the moment there are close to
100 trappers.involved in the co-
operative fur.sales operation, with
pelts coming from the Fort St.
James, ]
derhoof areas.
Mr. Antoine said the plan has
proven worthwhile, not.only in the
area: of obtaining a good price for
the product, but also in the area of
encouraging a-return on the part of.
Indian people’ to ‘the ‘traditional
trapping profession.
HeéSaidthe advent of cannpiligéry
education amongst Indian. people
many years ago brought with it-a
' the Hudsons Bay Company
said: that the new.
Burns’ Lake and Van-
oriented’? means of earning a
living, and to a lifestyle that was
alien to. that traditionally enjoyed
by Indians.
Antoine said the new. in-
dependence being experienced as
an indirect result of the formation
of the Carrier Trappers Associa-
tion is encouraging Indian people
back to the traplines.
This shipment was the sixth _
‘since the inception of ‘the Carrier
Trappers Association in Sep-
tember and _ the largest to date.
Each member of the Association
is required to pay $6.00 per half-
year membership fee, plus a 7%
brokerage charge which goes to
in
Montreal, anda 5% handling
charge which goes to the Associa-
tion and. covers administration
expenses. _
‘ALSO TRAINING
Chiefs from. Bands throughout
the entire Lakes District area are
. members of the Board of Directors —
for the Carrier Association.
Special training. sessions are
conducted periodically throughout
the area so that trappers might
gain a better knowledge of han-
dling procedures and. produce high
quality pelts. Robert Antoine has |
conducted . several: such. training
programs throughout the region to
e.
A qualified trapper, and former
Chief of the Necoslie Band, Antoine
is very . enthusiastic. about the
program’..-and..sees. it: as a
forerunner of good things. to come
in. the area of economic
dependence for B.C. Indians.
He said, ‘‘We. are not interested
in handouts or grants, although it is
naturally true that we: must have
starting assistance. Eventually we
hope to operate free of assistance
from any Government body and be
totally. independent.”’
in-
This is.the first time that the =
ee : ye system that. is dedicated not to°
individual dignity or-rights but to «
Indian ‘people of the area have
embarked on.an independent. plan
to perpetuate and improve the
trapping industry, ‘with a- true
profit motive.as the basis of their
plan.
tendency to lean to “‘‘white
Abundant opportunity
awaits native youth
OTTAWA — An abundant field of
opportunity awaits Native youth in
B.C. according to Del Anaquod,
program worker ‘for. the . Native
Youth Program with. Native
Citizens, Secretary of State.
Native youth can participate in
individual and group student ex-
changes within Canada and foreign
countries, volunteer work overseas
or within their own local areas, as
well-as participate in recreation
and cultural events.
Anaquod said that many of these
activities have hot been adequately
advertised yet are available to any
ambitious youth or youths -who
wane = participate:
_ contact. © “with .-ether community
services from which: eenation
can be ‘drawn: ~
The Federal -Government-Secre-
tary of State — Native'Citizeéns has
money grants available to youth.
projects . that: fit the following
criteria:
— Participation-in the projects
must be open to youth of native
ancestry within the area or region
served by the project. or. activity
whether they are status Indians,
non-status Indians, Metis or.
Eskimo.
— Assurance must be given that
the project planning involve both
status and non‘status. groups.
— The funds are for projects and
activities and not for the purpose of
‘available..The band may be in«
the establishment of permanent
offices and staff, ete. -
— The department is to be
supplied with a report on -the
project or activity for which funds
have been provided.
- Department of Indian Attire
and Northern Development have
funding for certain projects but for
status. Indians -only.. Contact the
nearest D.E.A.N.D. office for more
information.
This department also has fun-
ding for group exchanges in other
regions. of Canada and to foreign
countries.
- Canada World Youth, is an eight
month work. project..in an. un-
derdeveloped country. This i is open
“they'll send. the informatian and :
application. forms. Addr ‘s is
: Montreal 129, Quebec,
Canada.
Student Gusteannde: Service
Program, is a format. mainly for
university and college students and
open to. all Canadians, but only
volunteer organizations may
apply. Students may either ap-
proach voluntary organizations in
their communities _ with
suggestions for projects which the
organization might undertake, or
may apply directly to those
organizations. whose projects have
already been funded. —
Lists of approved projects will be’
available at Secretary of State
regional offices. :
Opportunities for Youth
Program is funded by: the Federal
_ federal
provinces — and Indians. were
NES ItKA
By GERARD PETERS
VANCOUVER (Staff)
Although my interview with Bill
Wilson was originally to guage his
reaction to the Edmonton. -con-
ference on Indians and the justice
system. it quickly. developed. into
_something broader. and deeper.
Bill Wilson: was ‘the. second In-
dian to graduate from law school in .
the province.
“The thing they iiipelsdea upon
you in first year was that the most
important concept was property
and the protection of "property. A
first year law professor said, “‘Bill,
you. could probably be one of the
_ best students I’ve ever seen if
you'd just get this idea of human
dignity, human rights out, of your
mind. Because they don’t have
anything to do with the law. The
law is, involved in protecting
property interests and - monied
interests in the hands of a very
few.”
“T ‘haven’t articled and doubt
seriously. whether I ever.. will
because what it means to me would
be becoming involved in a system
that is dedicated to not doing
anything for Indians,
people.” .
After graduation from law school
he says, ‘‘There were these token
positions they were trying to make
available to me.. And I have no’
doubt that within 5 or 8 years of law
practise I would have become a
judge and part of the status quo. I
don’t think that’s right.”
“The legal system has, as its
initial premise that of maintaining
the status quo, with Indians being
on the lower rungs of society with _
poor people in general. They are
discriminated against and op-
pressed by the legal system, the
court system, the policing-system,
the lawyers, the judges and all
those. involved in the legal
process.’
“Indians are pawns in a- legal
monied interests.’
The . Edmonton ~ conference ‘he
says was a conference held by the
government and-_ the
invited. “‘It was-a very structured
kind of conference and the total
Indian. input was restricted.”
He says that the governments
should make a commitment to
involving Indians in all areas of the
criminal justice system. ‘“‘Not only
in just the programs as token of-
ficers but in the planning and
decisions that go into reforming .
the laws.”
Such a policy would require huge
sums of money being invested in
Indians. becoming involved in that
process and ‘“‘hopefully not huge
sums. of money. going out to
national and provincial organiza-
tions to hire lawyers to do work for
them.”
The commitment in terms of
dollars, he is dubious about. But if
monies: are: forthcoming ‘they
should be related more ‘closely to
people on the reserves and in the
communities.”’
The reason is, simple, “Tt is they
who are: suffering from the legal
System and theréfere will best.be
just how. y
shouldbe spent. "hey would best”
beable to suggest improvements
and alternatives to the system:
The-whole area of remolding the
law. and. the “grandiose gesture”
on the part of the governments. at-
this conference he: views with
-eynicism.
“We. shouldn't -be thinking that
Government, Secretary of State for
projects ‘either in social services,
recreation, culture, en-
vironmental, | research,’ in-
formation and other miscellaneous
programs. Last year they funded
4,350 projects involving more than.
36,000. young Canadians across
Canada. Again for. more in-
formation ‘contact the local
Secretary of State office for
regional information and ap-
plication forms. -
‘lands,
‘rights, the renegotiation of treaty
‘or «poor:
simply, because the governments,
in their wisdom, have decided now
to consult with the Indians . - ..that
anything is going to happen.”
He speaks of the ‘consultation
facade.”*
“Now that they’ve spoken to the
Indians they’re going to come up
with policies and they'll say, ‘‘Oh,
these were approved by the In-
ians.”’ ;
“The .entire purpose of the
conference may have been to
divert the energy.and attentions of
the Indians from issues ‘like the
land claims settlement, cut-off
the. guarantee of treaty
rights.”
“Those are the -absolute im-
portant things that Indians should
be thinking about and. devoting
their money, time and energy to.’’
Asked. whether any. good has
come from the'conference, he says,
* “We should know very soon. I think
probably within 3 to 6: months,
-whether the federal people have
any. commitment. If they don’t
provide the funds, then Indian
people should ‘realize. what’s
happened to. them... ..they’re
tokens again engaging in the
consultative facade.”’
He estimated that 50% of: the
Indians present’ were represén-
tative, including Inuits who needed
translators. Thé other half he
called ‘‘professional Indians.”
“A Jot of peoples’ sole existence
is going to conferences. If they get
their names in headlines, if they
get interviewed on T.V. then. it’s.
been a successful conference. But
these are all trappings, I think,
that divert from the real issues.”
“Indian conferences are usually
attended by professional Indians
who have.all the catch words and
phrases ‘and: have all the jargon
that sells to newspapers, reporters
and the governments rather. than
the kind. of people who are being
“oppressed:. :
Much ° of the Edmonton con:
“ference were “academic concepts
that. require a certain. kind of
vocabulary, a certain kind of ex-
pertise, an understanding ‘of the
legal system.”
“A convict there, Bob Woods
pointed it out to.us: “Listen,” he
said, “I have no idea what you
people. are talking about. I haven’t
had the formal education to un-
derstand.”
“And yet, Bob Woods is an ‘in-
mate who is obviously suffering
under the system that we were
talking about!”
“I think it’s unchangeable,” he
says, referring to the Criminal
Personality profile: Bill Wilson
Justice System. ‘‘The conference |
in Edmonton will ultimately prove |
out to be merely a token display of ©
Indian consultation.”’
He. gives examples of .the
“ridiculous kinds of. things’ that
the judicial system does: “Tom
Scallen stole 3-million doHars and
is about to be released after about
15 months in jail_— and yet we
incarcerate Indians for up to 3
years for petty-crimes.”..
By ALFRED ELI
“Some Indians in B.C. receive a
per capital ‘share of band funds
periodically, Recently a couple
failed to register their child’s birth
with the Department of Indian
Affairs. When the band funds. were
distributed, the couple did not get
their child’s share.
In a more dramatic Saupe: a
child nearly. died for want of an™
operation. The. parents had failed
to notify Indian. Affairs of their
baby’s birth and the baby wasn’t
covered under the B:C. Medical
plan. And the doctor would not
operate.
Another, almost comic, example
is a woman who didn’t register her
children as Indians. When she
married a non-Indian and. applied
BILL WILSON, among other
things says. that the legal system
is unchangeable... the
Edmonton conference was a
facade. :
“Token. penalties are given to
multinational, billion-dollar cor-
porations. They’re fined $5000 for
polluting waters.”
And he gives his views on Indian
newspapers: “‘For too bloody long
they’re just edited from their own
point of view. No Indian paper that
I know of except .perhaps the
Native Brotherhood’s paper is
independent enough that it can go
to the wall on these ‘basic issues.”
“We can’t say this because the
federal government might cut off
our funds. We might offend the
province or the rest of society in
general and there’d be a
backlash.” :
“What we get is political
statements ‘coached in terms of
just exactly what is salable to. the
powers that be.”’
‘“‘And what that reduces us to is
beggars in ‘our own land.”’
Chehalis hosts -
Easter soccer
tournament
. On The Easter weekend.Chehalis .
will be bustling with activity when
soccer teams from many locations
will come to play in the first Easter
Soccer Tournament in Chehalis. In
the past the tournament was held
_in Victoria which proved to be
difficult for the teams from the
~ mainland who had to travel early
in the morning of Good Friday to
be on the soccer field when
scheduled to play early, and on
many occasions had to wait long
hours to get the ferry to Swartz
Bay.
All teams, ladies and mens, are
invited to take part in the tour-
nament. °
For an entry form please write to
Chehalis Band, Box 40, Harrison
Mills. Include the names of the
team and. manager, the address
and telephone number and the.
number of forms needed.
‘for. enfranchisegnent. she "had: to -
wait months becawse. the depart- :
ment had to first register her kids
as Indians:
In registering your child, it is
most important to remember that
notifying Victoria.is not enough in
some cases. You must also notify
your district office of Indian Af-
fairs.
Send your child’s birth cer-
tificate to your Indian Affair’s
district office. (A baptismal cer-
tificate will not do.) Give the
names of both parents, your band
and band number, the child’s full
name, date and place of birth.
You'll be helping the Depart-
ment to-be more efficient and in
turn we can provide services
without unnecessary delay and
expense. .
. Page Thirteen |
Page Fourteen
STANDING WITH clasped hands,
registeration under the BC
Societies Act some 16 months ago,
the Mission Friendship Centre has
come along way. The centre which
is located at Mission City, about 45
“miles east of Vancouver onthe
Trans Canada Highway, employs
Lou Mowry as the executive
director, Karen Paisley,
programmes co-ordinator and a
receptionist book-keeper, Gloria
Peters. ,
_In addition the centre now em-'
ploys seven other people through a
LIP grant that was received in
December 1974. The LIP grant has
made it possible to hire one worker
for each of its programmes which
include recreation, court work,
‘home and school, alecohol.and drug
counselling plus two other cultural
Mission centre. co-workers Lew Mowry’ and Karen Paisley pose for
Nesika.. Centre has been in operation for about one and a. half years and has been steadily increasing its
services to Indians in the area. (G. Peters photo)
Friendship Centre expanding
workers. The current LIP grant
also made it possible to expand the
badly needed. social programs for .
the area, Mr. Mowry said.
ALWAYS A NEED
There. is a-need for -a.- social
worker ‘to go out.into the: ‘com-
-Munity, Mr. -Mowry-said, where so
many of .the problems that exist:
are a direct result of the excessive
and abusive use of liquor. When a
particular service is not available
through other sources, we always
try and extend the centres
available services, he said.
Commenting on the centres
source of funding Mr. Mowry said,
there is a need to continue the
current programs that are being
offered through this centre.
Executive director Mowry said
the Mission’ Friendship Centres
exsitence for a 12. month period to
Land claims film Continued from page 7
‘live on reserves. That is the basis
of the land claims film.
‘The Land Is The Culture’ is a
statement by Indian people to
Indian people (and-white people) of
the importance of the land claims
to Indian survival.
We travelled throughout B.C.
shooting the film and had the help
‘of many people. Among those who
contributed stories, ideas’ and
support are: George Manuel,
leader of the ..National Indian
Brotherhood; Simon Lucas and -
George Watts of Port Alberni; the
people of Hesquiat; Pearl Alfred of
Alert Bay; Elwood: Modeste of
Cowichan; Mary Lou Andrews of
Seabird Island; John and Mary
Williams of Mount Currie; Wes
Williams of Lytton; Vic. Adolph of
the Fountain Reserve; Bob Pasco
_ of Oregon Jack Reserve; Leslie
Edmonds of Ashcroft; Don Moses
of the Nicola Valley; Angus Dickie
of Fort Nelson; George Brown of
Burns Lake; Neil Sterritt of Ksan;
Bob Joseph of Campbell River.
Well-known artist Tony Hunt
helped: us film his potlatch in
Comox last fall. and Abel: Joe of
Cowichan sang several songs for
the film.
And much credit has io go to the
field. workers and staff of the
U.B.C.LC.. Land Claims Centre
who are putting the land claims
together under the direction of
Philip Paul, who narrates the film.
We filmed stories of land losses
and hunting and fishing conflicts,
and looked into the legal aspect of
the B.C. land claims. Many people,
for instance, don’t seem to realize
that the taking of Indian lands in
most of B.C. was illegal under a
law established in 1763.
As we travelled around the
province. we also saw and filmed
many people still living by. Indian
values despite enormous pressures
of the dominant white ° society
which has always tried to tell In-
dian people that their ways are
wrong. :
It became clear that while Indian .
culture has.suffered tremendously,
it has indeed survived and. is
flourishing in. some areas. Many
Indians are learning to.cope with.
today’s world. by: re-establishing
their own values, and those values
are being adopted more and more
by non-Indians as well.
We saw Indian hunters and-
fishermen sharing’ and working
together as they used to. Old people
teaching young people language,
ideas and crafts. People who still
treat the land as Mother Earth.
The strongest feeling that I came
away with is that if Indian people
are to regain control of their own
destinies, they will have to do it’
together, as they used to, sharing,
supporting each other, and
knowing once again that source of
strength that made Indian culture
so great.
October 1974 made eligible. to
recieve capital funding from: the
secretary of state and sources. Its
12° month existence qualified the
centre to be classified as a.“C”
centre bureaucratically speaking.
This classification is baséd on the
population and services: provided *
by each centre.
In April 1974, funds were made
available through HRDA to employ _
a programmes co-ordinator, but an
application to employ a. youth
worker was turned down despite
the need, Mr. Mowry said.
BUILDING SMALL
The centres present location at
7368 Scott Lane, Mission City, has
long been considered inadequate to
meet the physical needs of the
centres operations, Mr. Mowry
said. The centers new
classification which means greater
capital funding from the Secretary
of State’ and other sources. Mr.
Mowry hopes with the proposed
fiscal year looking very
favourable, that the new and
larger space required could be
rented or even bought. However,
with this years elections scheduled
for Sunday, April 13, the decision
regarding new facilities will
probably be. left to the new
executive elect. ,
For more information contact
either Lou Mowry or Karen
Paisley at 7368 Seott Lane, Phone
826-2913, Mission City, BC.
-veys,
« Reserve Commissioner or the B.C.
February, 1975
Lytton reserves Continued from page 7
zum, Boston Bar and Boothroyd.
Smythe, the Chief Commissioner of .
Lands and-Works for the Province,
did not respond to these requests
and refused to recognize water
records made by the Indian
Reserve Commissioner.
The water rights situation in
British Columbia is hopelessly
confused. There. was no clear
policy or procedure until after 1916,
and this is especially true of. the
areas that were in the Railway Belt
from 1884 to 1930. Railway Belt
lands, including the Lytton area,
came under Federal jurisdiction
during these years. This resulted in
a complicated situation which is
not yet clear. More research is
being done by. the Land Claims
Centre about the water rights issue
and how it was affected by the
Railway Belt and Provincial
regulation.
One thing is clear
discrimination against Indians.
The reports of Indian Agerits
throughout the years from 1881 to
1912. are full of references to the
problems Indians. faced in
irrigating ‘their lands. Many
irrigation projects were blocked by
Provincial regulation, non-Indian
refusal to co-operate, and in-
sufficient .assistance from the
Department of Indian Affairs. In
large part the history of Lytton
Band is a history of the struggle for
_water rights. The Land Claims
Centre can helf prepare this .
history:
Another problem the Indian
Reserve Commission dealt with
was “‘resurveys’’. Resurveys were
due to boundary disputes with non-
Indians and often resulted - in
smaller reserves: or. changed
locations. Some resurveys took
place. in Lytton in 1894 and 1901,
1904 and 1907.. Perhaps these are
the cause of land losses from
Lytton’s: reserves. These -resur-
whether by .the Indian
‘Lands,
‘Department .. of | are
available and ¢an be traced
through the years.
After Sproat’s, visit in 1878, the
Indian Reserve Commission
returned to Lytton twice in order to
‘make additional allotments. These
were made by Peter O’Reilly,
Indian Reserve. Commissioner in
the 1880’s and 1890’s, during his
visits of 1881 and 1886.
We need to gather more in-
formation about these. allotments
but some things are clear:
O’Reilly made some new
reserves and enlarged others,
including an addition to Botanie
Creek reserve. O’Reilly described
the Lytton reserves as “‘acres of
very worthless land’? and com-
mented that ‘‘it is to be regretted
that a larger area of agricultural
lands can not be devoted to their
use”. However, O’Reilly’s allot-
ments were often made in a rush
and without meaningful con-
sultations with the Band. In May
1886 many Indians were absent
during O’Reilly’s visit.
In 1914 Chief Fred Leelah of
Halhalaeden (Lytton Reserve No.
14) described the process of the
Indian Reserve Commission’s
VISITORS TO Mission Friendship Centre relax in informal surroundings. Centre programs respond to the
allotment of the Lytton reserves:
-‘Take for instance, this Reserve
of ours in Lytton, it is very
small. Years ago the Indians
lived there. Indians were born
here, and have lived on that
Reserve till the white men
came, .and now things have
been changed. The whites went
around taking up lands, and
taking up water, and the In-
dians were poor, and had to
take what was left on the edge
of the river. In the -later
years...a Government
Agent came along and...-
marked off an Indian Reserve,
and told the Indians that they
were to put in crops... but
there was very little of that
land that. was fit for
cultivation. The. rest. was
rocky, and sidehills. Then we
have other Reserves where the
land is very good; but then we
haven’t any water with which
to irrigate them. The Indians
are not lazy. We are willing to
‘work, and we would work these
lands, provided we had water
on them’”’.
Due to the intransigence of the
Province, discrimination by: non-
Indians, and the failure by. the
Department of Indian Affairs to
protect Indian rights, the Indians
of Lytton were faced with erosion
of their economy. Clearly the
reserve system as established in
these early years was inadequate
to meet the needs of the people.
After 1900 this resulted in Indian
attempts to. get the question of
Native. Title dealt with and in-
creasing demands for more land.
In 1907 A: W. Vowell the Indian
Superintendent described the land
situation as follows:
“Applications for increased
areas are. of - frequent. oc-
currence from Indians . who.
had reserves given them many
years ago and. who - until
comparatively: recently’ were:
quite satisfied. To any one
familiar with the changes
brought about.by the advanced
settlement .of the country the
Indians’ demands are not, at
all events in many instances,
unreasonable, In .the past,
when there was only. a white
settler scattered here and
there over this extensive
country, what is generally
known as the waste lands of the
Crown were open to all, white
and Indian alike; their herds
fed together over the plains -
and hills without let or hin-
drance, and consequently they
were never confined: to the
limits marked out for them by
the commission; now,
however, nearly all the land is
taken up and to a great extent
. fenced, and the aborigines
realize. that what at first
seemedsatisfactoryiis
altogether inadequate to’ meet
their necessities.
This is the situation at Lytton
when the McKenna-McBride
- Commission visited in 1914 and
meets with Lytton Band.
(Continued next issue)
needs defined in the Mission-Abbotsford area by people of. Indian heritage. Coffee’ s always on, they say;
and you're invited to phone them at 826-2913. (Photo G. Peters)
February,.. 1975
N —€ S I K
Page Fifteen
Detox Centre for Quesnel
Battling booze is tough. A:
proposal by the Native Friendship
Centre is going to make the road to
rehabilitation easier at Quesnel.
The centre has submitted a grant
application to the B.C. Drug and
Alcohol Commission asking for
funds to cover personnel costs
relating to an alcohol detoxication
program.
The program would start April 1.
Various. .resource personnel
including medical doctors, nurses, .
RCMP -and social service
representatives met at the centre
to discuss the proposed program.
They met. with centre officials,
reformed alcoholics and those still
seeking aid for alcoholism.
The proposal met. unanimous
approval. ‘It calls for a six month
project aimed at detoxicating
those with a drinking problem. At
the end of the six month period a
second. grant will be applied for.
The program will provide the
services of a full-time professional
counsellor and a full-time para-
professional counsellor. They will
be required ‘to oversee daily
programs, plan future sessions,
_ensure dietary programs are being
adhered .to: and kéep sectuds of
individual patients.
TWO KINDS ~
“Four in-patients “and. six out='
patients are provided for in the:
sgrant, -application.. Each patient.
¢ é “providing a_much ‘needed. service
would. undergo ‘a’ rehabilitation
program. of 28 days. The. out-
“patients . will..be provided free
transportation to. the centre where
they. would partake of the program
“of the program: until” owt grant
comes through,”. she said.-
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In-patients
will reside at the centre throughout
the entire 28 day period.
-During this period, patients are
to meet three times daily with
counsellors, partake in daily group
therapy sessions, divide into
groups to research and prepare
reports that would be submitted to
fellow patients, attend two Alcohol
Anonymous sessions. per week and
meet in daily sessions to discuss
matters on any topic. :
A proper diet will be structured .
for the patients to ‘ensure
necessary nutrition is. being
provided. ,
A’ complete physical examina-
tion. will. also be provided to pa-
‘tients at the beginning, middle and
end of their stay.
Patients may extent their 28-day
treatment if counsellors” and
resource personnel find the
situation warranted. :
Although funding has. not yet
been forwarded to the project, it is
already underway with the
rehabilitation of alcoholics:
INTERIM MONEY
Centre spokesperson Agnes
Bourque said four patients are -
presently being treated with about:
410 more on a. waiting list. -.
‘What we desperately need ‘is
finances to pay for operating costs
She said the program the Sere Oe
is
in Quesnel, but finances are needed
to pay for patient accomodation,
counselling services and supplies.
-— The Cariboo Observer.
Dentists Discriminate?
Citing. ‘‘discrimination” against
Prince, Rupert dentists; Don
Smith, chairman of. the North
Coast. District. Council
Simpson, charged that Indian
children are being turned away
and told-to. get dental care.on the
reserve. :
“Indian children are being sent
~~back.,to.the reserve when dental
care is required,’ he. explained,
“Things have changed in the last
six months to a year concerning
dental care for Indian children.”’
Mr. Smith pointed out that it has
“ become a ludicrous situation.
“Some. people have lived here for
20 years and are now being asked
to return to the reserve for dental
-help,’’
He ‘explained that any move that
would force children to come out of
school and be sent. back to the
reserve for dental care would be
. opposed from the beginning. “Kids
would quite possibly miss one and
perhaps two days of school just to
attend a dentist on the reserve.”’
DENTIST REPLIES
But in a telephone interview with
Dr: A. G. Gottschling, he stated
firmly: ‘‘There’s no discrim-
ination: Mr. Smith can’t substan-
tiate what he charges,” Dr. Gott-
schling explained. “‘There’s no dis- '
crimination: here, we serve all the ©
public.”
“Dr. Gottschling ‘said he talked
with Mr. Smith over the phone,
.. ‘But unfortunately, we. couldn’t
- resolve the difference. I indicated
to. Mr. Smith that indeed: Indians
are treated, and invited him to look
vat our “files: and examine the
statistics.
‘His charges are abolutely
ridiculous,’’. added Dr. Gott-
‘schling; “‘there’s no evidence
whatsoever to confirm’ his most
serious ‘statements.””’ When asked
about emergency care for Indian
children, Dr. Gottschling ‘stated,
“We're obliged to take care of
everyone, and that includes In-
dians.”’
-Mr..Smith said he has been in
-contact with the. Civil Liberties
Union in Kamloops and they will be
looking’. into this matter. ‘‘The
Human Rights Act ‘will be
examined by the Civil Liberties
Union and I will ramain in close
contact with them,” added Mr.
Smith.
Mr. Smith stated he believes the
in Port.
~ spotted at school crying because of
_ who deals with young. people every
By GERARD PETERS...’
NANAIMO. (Staff). —. Abraham
. Johnny is the oldest living member
en es . _ >... of the Nanaimo Indian band. He’s
dentists in Prince Rupert may be.” ynwell and recently he’s been in
operating out of a misconception of the hospital.
the facts. He added. that the In 1893 he -was born on a 5:acre
Department of National Health plot of land that has come to bear
and. Welfare has three ‘dentists his. name. “The Abraham Johnny
working out of Prince Rupert, but property’’ has long been a source
they cover such a large area, that . of grievance to the. Nanaimo band.
service to allIndians is difficult. The.-controversy is. older’ ‘than |
“Tt’s. too’ bad the buck is being Abraham, himself.
passed to these three gentlemen,” "This 5 acre plot has always been
concluded Mr. Smith.
CBC airs Great. Spirit
AGREES WITH CHARGES
“T myself say and believe that
Molly Thistle, a Prince Rupert
Home School Co-ordinator agrees
with the charges made by Don we were much better people before
the white man came here,
spiritually. Maybe we didn’t have
Smith. She believes this
‘“‘discrimination,’’ described by
cars or anything . .. but we were
rich - very rich people in
‘Mr. Smith, does exist.
spiritual life.”
“Both dentists have turned
numbers away,’’ she added,
“especially since early September These are the words of Ernest
when school started.”’ - Tootoosis, a religious leader of the
Central Saskatchewan Cree In-
dians. He will be the subject of a
Mrs. Thistle added that the
secretaries of both doctors have
Man Alive program on CBC-TV on
Monday, March 3 at 10:30 p.m.
told her it was too much paperwork
Ernest Tootoosis is a descendant
to take these kids in. ‘‘We have
quite a list who need dental help,
of the great Cree chief Pound-
maker. He is known and respected
and the help just isn’t available.”
Mrs. Thistle outlined the major
by other native people throughout
North America. After a year of
problems she sees in lack of proper
discussions and_ preparation, . he
dental care. ‘‘Young students
become shy because of their ap-
and his ‘people overcame their
reluctance and allowed a Man
pearance and it slows their: par-
Alive crew to film at some of the
ticipation at school. Their ac-
tivities at school suffer because of
this shyness to speak out. holy places of the Cree on and near
his. home on the Poundmaker_
Reserve, located 30 miles north of
-.I believe Don Smith, with his
remarks to the media, he is trying
North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
In the program, The Great
to bring this to the attention of the
Spirit, Ernest Tootoosis — shares
public,’’ explained the Home
School Co-ordinator.
Mrs. Thistle cited one example of ith viewers the sacred rituals,
: young Haan girl ee be her’ stories and songs. This remarkable
ront teeth removed and was’ documentary, shows the never-
before-filmed pipe ceremony to
Nanabush, a prayer ritual to the
messenger of the Great Spirit.
-On the site of the Sundance,
Tootoosis talks about his visions:
during the three day ceremony of ~
fasting, dancing and singing. The
day, I believe a-bad appearance Sundance is the most sacred
hurts them not only socially, but ceremony of the Plains Indians, so
educationally. It slows them Sacred that the Cree have never
down,” she emphasized. allowed. it to be recorded on film.
Mrs. Thistle said that since He also. tells the Cree story of
January some. students have. had “Creation, sings spiritual songs and
appointments, “but things. should explains his relationship to nature’
be better.’’ . and man’s dependence on she rest
“For off-reserve Indian’ young of ereahion,
‘For off- rv an ‘ The Great Spirit give: li
sters in schools — they’re right out r pirit gives-a glimpse
- of the traditional beliefs, wherein
of luck. What Prince Rupert needs Ernest Tootoosis says lies the very
is more dentists or a dental clinic.
future of his people.
what another student said to her
about her teeth. ‘“‘When I ap-
proached her,” “she was crying
and seemed "extremely hurt in-
side.”
“As a Home School Co-~ ordinator,
controversy, Now, becat se of cooperati
raham Johnn
considered. Indian land. _ by
Abraham and his family. In fact
however, the legal title is. we a
major corporation. ;
Today the machinery. isin
motion that will bow to Abraham’s
“stubborn insistence.
The impending solution «to the
ownership controversy is a
technically. involved. story.
» The:Nanaimo band council has
been. persistently determined to
resolve this problem.
Early last year they approached
Philip Paul, the director of Land
Claims with their problem. He’ in
turn got Land Management expert
Graham Allen involved. ;
‘What followed was the un-
tanglement of years of confusion.
An extensive brief ‘and. much
correspondence was initiated.
COOPERATION
MacMillan-Bloedel, -who
received title to the land as. part of
a deal with a fuel company in 1952
were most cooperative. They
agreed to sell the property to the
band. ™
Now Indian Affairs have agreed
to fund the purchase. And it will be
added to Nanaimo’s Indian reserve
number two.
The whole ‘process has been a
lesson in- cooperation....D.C.
Allardice, assistant manager’ of
MacMillan-Bloedel’s. property
division wrote to band council:
“Unreasonable demands which
have been made. by some. Indian
Bands have not tended to improve
social or business relationships.
We. need to strengthen. these
relationships and this can only: be
done in an atmosphere of mutual
respect.
“Lrealize we have a long. .way to
go.to gain this but the’ manner-in
which -this transaction was ac-
complished will, I trust, help in
some small way.”
The. band aimee in
correspondence with the regional
direetor of Indian Affairs, Larry
Wight said: “We are expecially
pleased by Mr. Allardice’s com-
ments as to the atmosphere
established during these
negotiations.
“Would you please pass on to
each and everyone of the District
and Regional staff involved in
these negotiations our sincere
appreciation for their excellent
work.
“By such cooperation, we are
virtually on the point of finalizing a
‘problem that has been —
since 1881.”
‘and. hereditary
‘information
A Sma = But i : ae Claim
A GOOD EXPERIENCE
In a’ communication:.with *
MacMillan-Bloedel the - “band
council wroteto Mr. Allardice: ‘In
turn, we have been impressed by
the generous and cooperative
attitude of your Company ;-this has
certainly been a valuable learning
experience for our Council.”
The problem began more than a
decade before Abraham’s: birth,
when a coal mining company of.
fered to exchange a 51 acre parcel
of their land for 51 acres of reserve
lands that were rich in coal.
“The band agreed, and in an-
-ticipation of the trade, seven
families moved onto the new Jand.
One of these was Johnny Lackyea,
father of Abraham.
In the meantime, the ‘coal
company started operations on the
reserve.
The exchange, however, was
turned down by Indian Affairs, and
as a consequence has never been
legalized.
So, although the exchange was
made in. full support of. both
groups, it was never really ap-
proved. Ahd Abraham’s family has
stayed. And there they’ll remain,
because the Indian Affairs regional
office is now finalizing the details
of the purchase and it’s addition to
Nanaimo. band lands. Abraham
was right.
Conflict of judicial
and hereditary laws
A conflict between judicial. law
native :faw,
especially in relation to traplines
and fishing holes, may be eased
through’ 'two. Gitksan-Carrier
Tribal Council resolutions. ..
The resolutions were passed at a
meeting January 23.
The conflict was explained in an
example from Ray Jones, council
chair person.
Traplines of a dead chief would
pass to his-successor by hereditary
law. The successor, though, ‘is not
necessarily of the dead chief’s
immediate family — to which the
estate would go by judicial Jaw.
The council resolved to consult
hereditary chiefs of the district in
matters relating to hereditary
inheritances in an attempt to avoid
the hereditary-judicial conflict.
The council also resolved to
make available upon request to the
Department of Fish and Wildlife
related to the
hereditary system.
Page Sixteen - MN ES IK A ' February, 1975
We iow where to look We ktiow who's hiring.We -
know what they're paying and how many jobs they have. —
We're your local Canada Manpower Centre. And
we work very hard to find jobs for everyone.
We also provide training and counselling services.
. Come in and talk to us, because it's hard to find
- ajob when you don't know what you want to do. Tell us
what you're looking for, and we'll do our best to- help
_ you.We want to. Because we're for you.
, EB ay Manpower . Main-d’ ceuvre
and Immigration —__- et Immigration
Robert Andras _ Robert Andras
, Minister ~ Ministre
Canada Manpower Centre
Canada Manpower.
Lets work together.
Part of Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 12 (February 1975)