Nesika: The Voice of B.C. Indians -- Vol. 3 No. 13 (May 1975)

Transcription (Hover to view)


Published by
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS

2140 W. 12th Avenue,
Vancouver, B.C. V6K 2N2
Telephone 736-6751

$5.00 PER YEAR





Vol. HI, No. 13

NESIKA

(Chinook meaning “US’’)

THE VOICE OF B.C. INDIANS

POSTAGE PAID IN VANCOUVER — SECOND CLASS MAIL Reg. No. 3023





DEMONSTRATORS ASSEMBLED outside the Land Claims offices
on May 1 before forming a potice-escorted motorcade to the
provinciat legislature.“Anybody who is not with us, is against us,”
Philip Paul, recently elected chairman of the UBCIC’s executive
committee told them. “We're no longer the executive of an
organization — we're the executive of an Indian movement.” This
movement, he said, ‘‘would shake the very bones of this country.” He
stressed that he and fellow committee members George Watts and Bill
Wilson were “of one mind.” While the demonstrators chanted,
drummed and listened to speeches outside the parliament buildings,

First
positive
response

By GERARD PETERS

In what has been described as
the first positive response from the
provincial government, a June
meeting has been proposed by the
Human Resources Minister.

In a letter to the Union of Chiefs’
executive committee, Norm Levi
says, “It is my hope that the
meeting in June will initiate a
series of meetings which will
enable us to develop adequate
techniques and procedures for the
discussions.”’

The communication has been
termed a very watered-down
response, but ‘‘clearly the province
has felt the political pressure of our
actions over the past four months.”’

The pur pose of the June meeting,
says Levi, will be to set up the
terms of reference for continuing
discussions; to provide an op-
portunity for an exchange and
initiation of information and to
agree on the mechanism required
to acquaint the general public with
the facts related to cutoff lands.

Levi said that all people in B.C.
have an interest in the lands ...

George Watts was telling the NDP caucus, ‘“You've hidden the whole
issue long enough by giving us handouts and making us feel like we're
a part of our country ... we won't have a true place in this country
until we control where we're going as a people... .” After the caucus
meeting Bill Wilson told the gathering: “Don’t think this is going to be
an easy fight because they have millions and millions and millions of
dollars in the federal and provincial coffers to try to seduce us down
the garden path to the welfare existence that we've lived in for 150
years.”” .
—(Text and photo by G. Peters)

From Chilliwack — Decisions for Change

By GERARD PETERS

CHILLIWACK — The 7th annual
Union of B.C. Chiefs general
assembly has brought more
change than any other.

The first motion carried, dealt
with the adoption of non-voting
delegates as chairpersons for the
conference. Though it might sound
chauvinistic to mention, Shirley
Leon was the first woman to chair
a major conference.

After the annual report of the

Union’s activities, Bill Wilson said
that Indians were being led around
by the nose by governments’
program funding. He said that the
Lakes District and others were
saying, “take your money back.”
This, he said, was what the Union
should be doing.

Wilson, later elected to the
executive committee of the Union,
days later told a meeting of former
Union staffers that a decision to
reject government dollars made in

Chilliwack was not a political ploy.

It was, he said, a move toward
independent Indian nations. He
stressed that the initiative must be
taken by the individual, and the
executive would not dictate. In-
dependence could not be achieved
while there was dependence on
government money.

An extraordinary resolution
submitted by the Fraser East
district made provision for the
election of the executive -com-
mittee at a general assembly.
Formerly, the executive members
were chosen by district repre-
r. sentatives from among them-
F. selves.

In another change, the chiefs’
council was expanded from 15 to
18.. Executive members cannot
now serve as district representa-
tives but have equal powers on
chiefs’ council.

A motion, earlier presented in
Terrace during the special land
claims assembly, was re-
introduced and carried. It was
resolved that the B.C. Special fund,
resulting in 1927 from efforts of the
Allied Tribes be channelled into the



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If undeliverable, please return to Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs,
2140 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., V6K 2N2, Canada
Postage paid in Vancouver — Second Cfass Mail Reg. No. 3025







pursuit of a land claims set-
tlement.-

A motion presented by Delbert
Guerin was carried. It provided
that the UBCIC inform the various
governments ‘‘of our Indian lands”’
that Indians would acquire food,
fish and wild game ‘‘without the
use of the non-Indian government
permit system.”’

A motion reading, ‘‘...the
various. religious churches, being
prominent contributors to our
present situation, should be
questioned by the UBCIC for a
concrete commitment and
statement of position regarding the
land claims question,’ was
unanimously carried. -

The motion was expanded on to
the effect that, the churches’
support be shown by providing
financial assistance to be used in
the resolution of the land claims
issue.

A motion presented by Simon
Lucas putting a figure of 10 billion
dollars on aclaim tabe made to the
province for natural resources that
have been exploited, generated
much discussion.

It was variously hit as being
premature, too low, arbitrary, and
others. George Watts pointed out
that, ‘‘What this motion is doing is

June 25th
is
Independence
Day









bringing about discussion that
should have happened five years
ago.”

The Indian Act was rejected as a

-criteria for the selection of the

executive members of the Union.
This opened the way for non-status
Indians (by the Indian Act
definition) to run for the executive
positions, so long as they were
descendents of the original
inhabitants of what is now B.C.

and must understand the issues
which will be discussed.

In an editorial (reprinted
elsewhere in full) the Vancouver
Province, however notes that, “. ..
Levi raises a red herring when he
asserts some difficulty in
acquainting the public with the
cutoff lands issue. The facts are
simple. The history of
discrimination against the Indians
is clear. The solutions virtually
present themselves.”’

In a communication to the 23
cutoff bands, the Cutoff Action
Committee has called for a
meeting to discuss with them, the
direction they should take in talks
with the government.

The bands’ representatives will
meet May 31 and June 1 in Pen-
ticton. It will be an outdoor get-
together, so camping gear is
essential.

The committee stresses that no
funds are available for travel and
other expenses. More information
may be obtained from Adam
Eneas at 492-8853.



$1,000 DONATION was made by Bob and Marge Cantryn to the land
claims fund. Mrs. Cantryn is at the left, Mr. Cantryn is obscured behind
Chief Cecil Mack of the Toguaht Band who holds the West Coast
talking stick. $1,000 donation was also made by Mr. and Mrs. Bill
Lightbown and their family. Other donations include one for $10,000
approved by the United Church. Former employees of the Union
offices donated a further $2,240. A resolution was adopted channelling
the B.C. Special ($100,000 provincial grant that is divided on a per
capita basis to bands) to the land claims fund. Some bands that gave
their share of the B.C. Special in Chilliwack are: the West Coast District
$6,734; Chemainus $1,050; Kuper Island $832 and Nanoose Bay $184.
We regret that this list is incomplete. ~—(G. McKevitt photo)

May, 19



Published monthly by the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs

Nesika has not failed to be affected by recent
changes. While we will continue to publish, we
must now rely on your support. Whereas we have
in the past distributed Nesika free to registered | {
Indians in B.C., we must now ask that you |
subscribe. The Nesika staff has been reduced to
two: Gerard Peters and Joy Hall.

We ask your continued support in the form of
submissions from the community level.

Until more settled times, we ask that you bear
with us; and we thank you for your continuing
support.

Please mail your $5.00 subscription to:

NESIKA,
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VICTORIA, B.C.

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NESIKA





To a singing baie:
(A Lesson From History)

By GERARD PETERS
Dear Mr. MacDonald:

Perhaps you wonder at how we've arrived at what the media calls
“militant May?’ A history lesson is in order.

In very recent history you’ve flippantly referred to “services” your
government has provided for Indian people. These services, you
proclaimed, were more important to Indians than their claims to
aboriginal rights.

You laughed publicly at Indian demands; and when Indians, protesting
your government’s inaction, demonstrated at the legislature in April —
all you gave them was a song.

On Day One in ‘militant May” Indians demonstrated again outside
your legislature. Meanwhile your government was giving their leaders
the runaround inside.

Your people changed the time and place of a scheduled meeting with
Indian leaders — but failed to notify them. What happened? Meaningful
talks were aborted. After a hurried presentation — the Indians were
thanked — and the NDP caucus members filed out. . . .

Read the ‘‘Debate on the Subject of Confederation With Canada.”’
You'll learn that, wonder of wonders, our great grandparents had a
champion in your legislature.

Henry Holbrook, in 1870, tried to introduce a resolution giving Indians
consideration in the event of confederation.

He predicted that Indians might be a “‘source of great trouble if they
are not considered as well as white men.’’ Now — substitute ‘militant
May” for “‘source of great trouble.”’

Holbrook was stopped. And to stop them, legislation in 1876
(Qualifications & Regulations of Voters Act) withheld the vote from
Indians.

Now, your government has just passed the Emergency Program Act.
Bill 61, you admit gives ‘unlimited powers .
visaged by cabinet.” Strange, isn’t it that unlimited powers to quell riots
and civil disobedience — should emerge in ‘militant May?”

Don’t we learn from history?

More history ... The debates quote a Holbrook associate, “Govern-
ments are made for the people and not the people for the governments.”

Now, this profound proclamation is made, while, according to the
debates, there were 6,500 adult white men and 65,000 Indians in the
colony. Indian input was nil. Perhaps, in 1870, Indians weren’t people?

Now, then, Mr. MacDonald, let’s play with history.

Had the vote not been withheld — couldn’t Indians a century ago have
been the povenmatentg

Don’t shudder .
“Protestant Ethic.”

Indians are now a minority in their land . . . but are ready, like never
before — to amend their place in the history books.

Henry Holbrook, for his vision, was outvoted 20 to 1. How would you
have voted, Mr. MacDonald?

. but picture the “Indian Way” overriding the



OLD MacDONALD . had a song....



. in an emergency as en--

From 1969 to 1975
The Movement is born

By GERARD PETERS

Old barriers have crumbled in recent weeks giving rise to the peopl
movement.

The special land claims assembly in Terrace recognized the eligibil
of non-status Indians for a land claims settlement so long as they were
least one-quarter blood descendents of the original inhabitants of wha’
now British Columbia.

In a dramatic move that was acclaimed by many as “reducing all
our people to thesame level,’’ delegates to the chiefs’ annual assembly
Chilliwack also voted to reject all forms of government funding.

From 1969, when the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs was formed to pr
for a land claims settlement, to 1975 when government funding v
rejected, the Union had accumulated a staff of nearly 90 and hac
working budget of more than one and one-half million dollars. Follow
the Chilliwack decision, all but a core staff of communications work
were laid off. /

Upwards of 50 million dollars annually have been rejected as a resul

. the decision, and the Indian energies are focusing on the land clai
issue.

This is evident from news reports of Indian actions during ‘‘milit
May.” Indians had occupied the Vernon offices of DIA and have b
successful in having it close permanently. The Kamloops DIA offi
continue to be picketed. There, too, closure of the offices is be
demanded because with the rejection of government money — they
serving no purpose and are costing tax dollars.

Phone contacts cannot be made with the Bella Coola DIA offices,
they reportedly continue to be occupied. And in Vancouver, member:

AIM speaker Larry Joseph, the American Indian Movement, in mid-May occupied the Indian Affz
Nitinaht Band, addresses the regional offices onthe 14th floor of the ‘Black Tower.”

assembly. In a turnaround from In other actions, the Stewart-Trembleur band continues the blockad
former general assemblies, the B.C. Railway and are pushing for talks with Premier Barrett wh

president of the BCR. In Port McNeil, Indians are charging a toll fc
bridge crossing. Westbank Indians have barricaded a lookout on a pul
highway. The Uchucklesaht people have blockaded logging roads on
west coast of Vancouver Island.

And, following a Chilliwack declaration that Indians have traditic
rights to hunt and fish, the attorney-general’s department has reporte
been flooded with cases involving Indians who have contravened
white man’s laws.

The decision to reject government money has not failed to bi
criticism from Indians. Most vocal are George Brown, president of
Burns Lake Native Development Corporation that is provinci.
financed and Doris Ronneburg who has resigned as head of BCAN!
health and welfare program.

Brown has criticized the non-status association as being riddled v
failure and disaster. He said that association executives draw fat sala:
that make them too comfortable. He predicted that new leadership we
emerge at the association’s general assembly in early June.

Fred House, BCANSI president, however predicted that the associa
would vote itself out of existence at the convention. He said that
chiefs’ decision to include non-status Indians in a land claims settler
cleared the way for ‘‘one powerful organization representing all |!
native people.

At presstime: Indications are that Indians will gather in late June
talks. A get-together from June 21 to 25, will be hosted by the Mc
Currie band, some 100 miles north of Vancouver.

Estimates reach as high as 30, of bands that will continue to acc
government grants. Interestingly enough, it’s the smaller,
economically secure bands who are behind the decision and the m
financially independent bands who are hesitant.

Since Chilliwack, the executive members have been travelling thro
the province explaining their interpretation of the decision to re
government dollars.

_ The Vancouver office of the UBCIC, which since late April have ser
as a communications centre will relocate to the Land Claims offic
Victoria at the end of May.

As we go to press, a sme army of volunteer workers have been typ
addressing, bundling and mailing information bulletins. Some are yot
long-haired, sporting beads and AIM-embroidered jackets. Others
older and more conservative. But all are part of ‘‘the Movement.”

non-delegates were permitted to
express their views.
—(G. McKevitt photo)

An honorable
pow-wow

An editorial reprint from the
Vancouver. Province.

The provincial government’s
decision to discuss the cutoff lands
issue is no small victory for B.C.
Indians. It implies that Victoria
has accepted the Indian claim in
principle and that it is prepared to
deal with it on a broad basis rather
than piecemeal.

“That’s as it should be. To deal
with individual band claims, or to
help the Indians by offering them
commercial opportunities like the
Babine Forest Products con-
sortium at Burns Lake, or simply
to encourage their independence in
other ways would tend to sidestep
the central issue. That is to deal
with the land claims question in a
fair and honorable way.

Nothing should be done to ob-
scure that issue. The provincial
and federal government in a
clearly dishonorable arrangement
took over 36,000 acres of Indian
land by companion pieces of
legislation in 1919 and 1920. This, to
the Indian, disenfranchised him as
much as taking his vote away
would have done. And the lands
were taken without the permission
of the Indians.

The act of taking them away
implied that they were in fact
Indian lands.. There should never.
have been any debate whatsoever,
about the right of ownership of
those acres.

Human Resources Minister
Norman Levi raises. a red herring
when he asserts some difficulty in
acquainting the public with the
cutoff lands issue. The facts are
simple. The history of
discrimination against the Indians
is clear. The solutions virtually
present themselves.

Since more than half of the cutoff
lands have never been put to any
commercial use and are under the
direct control of the Crown
provincial they can simply be
handed back. The Indians have
never claimed the return of land on'
which development has taken
place. They want compensation.

A compensation formula may
not be easy to work out. But it
would be fair to expect a
reasonable attitude on the part of.
the provincial government to be
met by an equally reasonable .
response from the Indians. The
most vital point seems already to
have been met — that the Indian
claim is right in principle and that
it should be dealt with on a broad
basis.



THEY'RE PRETTIER, and when they sang “This Land is Your |
... This Land is My Land” they got more of a positive reaction:
B.C. Indians than Attorney-General Alex MacDonald. They dic
song at the recent Chilliwack conference in their native west :

language. From feft to right are Jessie Lucas, Sandi Howard, |
Howard and Lil Howard, all from the west coast.

30

| Volunteer workers needed
for communications centre

The Union of B.C. Chiefs’ staff.
have been laid off. The office at
2140 West-12th now serves as the
communications centre for the
movement.

We must keep the local people

_ informed and we need your help.
Information bulletins, cassette
tapes and videotapes are being
circulated.

Help is most urgently needed in
putting out the weekly bulletins.
They must be typed, duplicated,
put together, stapled, addressed,
folded and mailed.

Many tasks are involved in
_ working toward a settlement of
jand. claims, and being in-
dependent of government monies.
We must take the initiative to help
each other out.

We need people with cars to
transport volunteer workers. We
need help answering the phone.

The busy day will be Tuesday,
when the bulletin must be out. If
you can, please help. Phone us at
736-6751 or drop in.



ADAM ENEAS escorts some of
the hotheads and radicals that
occupied the Vernon Indian
Affairs offices in April. The young
ladies were in their GOs and 70s.
Eneas’ grandmother Mrs. Angeline
Eneas spoke to the assembly. Her
words, as translated by Mrs.
Louise Gabriel were: “My dear
friends ... there are many of you
here ... the only way anything
can be done, is if we all work
together.” In early May, Adam
_ Eneas announced that the offices
would be closed permanently.
This followed a wire to Indian
Affairs Minister Judd Buchanan
asking for the closure.

—(G. McKevitt photo)

Independence Day

Bring your camping gear to
Mount Currie for Independence
Day celebrations from June 21st to
25th.

Mount Currie is 100 miles nor-
theast of Vancouver and may be
reached by Highway 99, Squamish
or by B:C. Rail. From the north,
there’s a gravel road from Lillooet.

June 25th is the anniversary of
the government’s white paper
policy and of Custer’s last stand.



ALL INDIAN
ROCK GROUP

‘SIWASH?’
Will play for
any occasion

Contact:
Len Campbell
985-3346
North Vancouver





There are four copies of the film ‘“The Land is The Culture,’’ in the

Greater Vancouver area. Vancouver has the largest Indian concentration ©

in B.C. — “‘the reserve in Vancouver.”
The film should be seen by our own people first: Copies are available
at these phone numbers: 736-6751; 985-7711 ; 736-8721 and 384-6313.
Videotapes of the debates and decisions made at the Chilliwack
conference can be obtained, along with the equipment to show them.
Phone 736-6751.
They may also be viewed at the Video Inn — 261 Powell St. in Van-
couver (phone 688-4336). ,
We hope you can offer your time — and we welcome your
suggestions. Please call us at 736-6751.
The following is a list of contact people who have the land claims film
and videotapes of the Chilliwack conference: :
Janice Mathias,
c/o Squamish Band Office,
P.O. Box 86131,
North Vancouver, B.C.
Telephone: 985-7711

Ron Hamilton,
C/o West Coast District Council,
R.R. #3, Mission Road,
Port Alberni B.C.
' Telephone: 723-8165

Mary Lou Andrews,
P.O. Box 128, Agassiz, B.C.
Telephone: 792-0513

Wes Williams,
P.O. Box 18, Lytton, B.C.
Telephone: 256-4513

Bob Pasco,
P.O. Box 283, Ashcroft, B.C.
Telephone: 453-9098

Ron Seymour,
P.O. Box 1726, Prince George, B.C.
Telephone: 963-7553

Charles Chapman,
P.O. Box 561, Oliver, B.C.
Telephone: 498-3408

Wilson Bob,
R.R. #1, Lantzville, B.C.
Telephone: 390-4512

Walter Taylor, :
782 Western Ave., Williams Lake, B.C.
Telephone: 392-2292

Brandon Kennedy,
1732 Gorse St., Prince George, B.C.
Telephone: 562-2072

Mary Louise Williams,

€/o Mount Currie Band Administration Office,
Mt. Currie, B.C. :

Jeanette Gauthier,

P.O. Box 995, Chetwynd, B.C.

East Fraser District,

C/o Coqualeetza, P.O. Box 370,
Sardis, B.C.

Telephone: 858-9431

Alic Nast,

705-5th Ave. E., Prince Rupert, B.C.
Telephone: 624-3509

Nick Gessler,

C/o Haida Museum, Masset, B.C.
Telephone:

John Macko,

C/o Kwawkewlth District Council,
1670A Spit Road, P.O. Box 1,
Campbell River, B.C.

Telephone: 287-4551

Ray Jones,

General Delivery, Kitsegukla Band,
Kitsegukla, B.C.

Telephone: 849-5637

Ben Bolton,

P.O. Box 634, Terrace, B.C. V8G 4B8
Telephone: 635-4367

Charlie Shaw,

P.O, Box 47, Kitimat, B.C.
Telephone: 623-7774

Cultural Centre,

C/o Land Claims Centre,
890B MacKenzie Ave.,
Victoria, B.C.

Telephone: 479-7166

Bob Manuel,

General Delivery, Chase, B.C.
Telephone: 679-3511

Angus Dickie,

Box 1140, Fort Nelson, B.C.
Telephone:







‘B.C. IS INDIAN LAND







FORMER UNION EMPLOYEE, Wes Williams gets youthful assistance.
Of the 34 Victoria staff and the 53 from the Vancouver office, only a
core of communications workers remain. Most former field workers
have, however, agreed to continue without pay. Many former
employees continue to help on a volunteer basis. Others have returned
home to work as organizers. The rejection of program funding has
rechannelled their thinking, so that now land claims is the central issue,
they say. The remaining employees will relocate to the land claims
centre in Victoria by end-May.

Right to determine
our own destinies

VANCOUVER (Staff) — Union of Chiefs’ executive member, George
Watts told the recent provincial NDP convention that Indians don’t want
the kind of government charity the province has been handing out in
projects like the Burns Lake sawmill and the Port Simpson cannery.

In a speech delivered to more than 600 delegates at the convention
Watts said that these projects were the same sort of handouts the federal
government has been giving Indians for years.

“‘We don’t want anything from the government,” said Watts, ‘“‘What we
want is the right to determine our own destinies.”

In a panel session, earlier, fellow executive member, Bill Wilson,
branded the NDP members as ‘‘white-assed liberals,” who talk about
helping the Indians but don’t do anything to allow them self-
determination.

The convention passed overwhelmingly a resolution urging the-
government to begin immediately to negotiate a land claims settlement.

After his speech, George Watts got a rousing standing ovation as he left
the platform. In his speech, he also noted he had been allowed to speak
only after the convention had passed the resolution and Indian people had
not been consulted in drawing it up.

That sort of attitude didn’t show any real sympathy with the Indians’
desires for self-determination, he said. He said, too, that Indians were
tired of hearing cabinet ministers tell them how much the NDP govern-
ment had done for them — all they have done was give handouts.





@ All rooms have bath and shower, Color TV and direct
diai telephone. ,

@ No extra charge for children under 12 sharing
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@ Hotel has dining room, lounge and pub.







PH. 604 - 683-4251 - 900 SEYMOUR ST.

Page Four

May, 197





HARRY DICK, 79-year-old Shuswap veteran of the First World War
sings to the assembly in Chilliwack. He spent two years on the
battlefront. He told of raising his hand, kissing the bible and being
made to swear that he would fight for God, King and Country. He
noted, ‘’This is still not my country.” With his storytelling, he stole the

entire conference. He wished he was young enough he said, he'd.

become chief and kick the Indian agent in the ass.
To his left is Joe Williams who fought in the Second war. Wounded
three times, he told of a hospital in Italy where a sergeant asked what
he -was fighting for. “My country,”’ he said. “Your country? The white
man took it.” On the right is chief Joe Manual.

—(G. McKevitt photo)

GENERAL
ASSEN

AIM SINGERS occupy the centre area in the Evergreen Hail in
Chilliwack during the Union of B.C. indian Chiefs’ 7th annual general
assembly, in late April. Earlier in the month, chiefs gathered in Terace
for a special land claims assembly. A resolution was passed that



proclaimed “B.C. is Indian land.” Descendents of the original
inhabitants of the land that is now known as British Columbia are
gathering in late June for more talks.



AVERAGE AGE of the Union’s executive committee has dropped from mid-forties to the early thirties an
is probably indicative of the changing times. Elected at the recent Chilliwack general assembly were chairmz
Philip Paul (at the mike), vice-chairman George Watts (centre) and secretary Bill Wilson. Previous executi'
members were elected by the 15 district representatives who form the chiefs’ council, from amor
themselves. This election, however, saw the executive elected from the floor at the general assembl:
Executive members are full members on chiefs’ council but cannot serve as district representatives.

—(G. McKevitt photc





JAMIE STERRITT is at the miki
In the left foreground is Adar
Eneas’ hat with Sterritt’s shoe
underneath. Said Sterritt, “That
a white man with the bullsh
kicked out of him.” Sterritt ha
introduced a motion which wz
overwhelmingly received the
would allow a non-status India
to run for the executive of th
Union of Chiefs. Himsel
non-status, Sterritt was nominate
for an executive position. |
defence of Sterritt’s motior
George Watts said, “If it s
happens that a non-status India
has it all together, he belongs o
the executive, as long as he’s a
Indian from B.C.” He pointed ou
One non-status indian fror
Alberta who, if he were aroun
today, belonged on the executiv
— Louis Riel.

—(G. McKevitt phota