UBCIC News -- Vol. 1, No. 2 (March 21, 1977)

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U.B.C.1I.C. NEWS VoL. onE Wo. Two MarcH 21, 1977



IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP ALL INDIAN CHIEFS. COUNCILLORS AND BAND
MEMBERS INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THE UNION
OFFICE, THE [lATIONAL INDIAN BROTHERHOOD AND THE DEPARTMENT OF
INDIAN AND NoRTHERN AFFAIRS, WE WILL BE SENDING OUT THIS WEEKLY
NEWSLETTER. ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE WELCOME,

ExecuTIVE: BoB MANUEL, STEVE PoINT, PHILIP PAUL

LIAISON OFFICER: BARBARA Vlyss
EpitoR: Rose WILLIAMS
SEND ALL ENQUIRIES AND MATERIAL TO THE UNION AT:

545 West FIFTH STREET. [loRTH Vancouver, B.C, (604) 986-2246
MAILING Appress: P.0, Box 86003, HortH Vancouver, B.C, V/7L 4J5



UNITED NATIVE CLUB



THE UNITED NATIVE CLUB OF ABBOTSFORD, B.C.- WILL BE HAVING A

MEETING IN THE OLD PRELEASE, ON Marcy 21, 1977. FRom 7:00 To
10:00 p., THE ORGANIZATION WILL HELP NATIVE OFFENDERS AND
OTHER INMATES AND THOSE WHO NEED SUPPORT ON THE STREETS. A
WALKATHON WILL BE ORGANIZED BY THE MEMBERS.

NIB EXECUTIVE TO MEET MONTHLY



THE NATIONAL INDIAN BROTHERHOOD HELD AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
MEETING ON FEBRUARY 28-lARCH 1, 1977 IN ToRONTO. THE RESOLU-
TION WAS PASSED THAT THE LXECUTIVE COUNCIL OF THE HATIONAL
INDIAN BROTHERHOOD WILL MEET EVERY FIRST “EDNESDAY AND THURSDAY

OF EACH MONTH. DIA HEADQUARTERS AGREED NOT TO SCHEDULE
MEETINGS FOR THOSE DAYS IN CASE THE NIB WANTED TO MEET WITH

THEM,

NESCOSLIE EDUCATION COMMITTEE



THE NescosLie EpucATION COMMITTEE ARE HAVING AN INDIAN AWARE-
NESS DAYS ON May 6-7, 1977 at THE St. JAMES SECONDARY SCHOOL,

METIS ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA



Too MANY CHIEFS AND NOT ENOUGH INDIANS: THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM
FOR ALBERTA PREMIER, PETER LOUGHEED AND LT, Gov. GENERAL STEIN-
HAUER, BOTH OF NATIVE ANCESTRY. STAN DANIELS. PRESIDENT OF THE
MeTIS ASSOCIATION OF ALBERTA. SAYS, "IT IS TIME FOR A PERSON
WHO HAS NATIVE BLOOD IN HIS VEINS TO TAKE OVER DIRECTION OF THE
NATIVE SECRETARIAT, FOR THIS REASON, I REQUEST THAT PREMIER
LOUGHEED PERSONALLY TAKE OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DIREC-
TION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIVE AFFAIRS IN ALBERTA.”

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW SEMINAR



THE NATIONAL INDIAN BROTHERHOOD WAS INVITED BY THE DEPARTMENT

OF INDIAN AFFAIRS TO ATTEND A FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT REVIEW
SEMINAR, MarcH 21-23, 1977 at DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS IN OTTAWA,
THEY ARE TO Discuss DEPARTMENT FINANCIAL SYSTEMS AND HOW IT CAN
BE REDESIGNED TO ALLOW INDIAN CHIEFS AND CoUNCIL MORE FLEXIBILITY
IN SELF-MANAGEMENT. THE REDESIGN MUST TAKE PLACE IN THE FRAME-
WORK OF ALSO MEETING REQUIREMENTS OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.

\ fie

FoLLOW UP REPORTS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE UNION OFFICE WHEN
THEY ARE RECEIVED FROM THE NATIONAL INDIAN BROTHERHOOD.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION: B.C, REGION



TH1s COMMISSION HOPES TO HAVE AN INTERIM REPORT READY BY

MarcH 31, 1977. THEIR OBJECTIVE 1S: “lO PRESENT A CURRENT
PICTURE OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITION OF B.C. INDIANS. To
ANALYZE THE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AFFAIRS AND
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHICH ARE INTENDED TO IMPROVE THEIR SITUA-
TION. TO SUMMARIZE THE LEGISLATIVE CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING INDIAN
PEOPLE, AND TO PREPARE RECOMMENDATIONS ON FURTHER ACTION TO BE
TAKEN TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.

UBCIC REPRESENTATIVES ARE: Don Moses, CH1eF Bop PASco AND
ANDREW CHARLES AND CONSULTANT GRAHAM ALLEN. JOHN WARREN REPRE-
sents DIA,

NIB COUNCIL OF ELDERS FORMED



THE NATIONAL INDIAN BROTHERHOOD HAS FORMED A COUNCIL OF ELDERS
To “ALLOW THE [IB To BENEFIT FROM THEIR WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE
OF THE “OLD PEOPLE”, JHE CoUNCIL OF ELDERS WILL ATTEND ALL
MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
CoUNCILLORS WILL HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK AT THOSE MEETINGS. IN
ADDITION, THEY WILL HOLD THEIR OWN REGULAR MEETINGS, AT LEAST
THREE TIMES A YEAR. OmeR PETERS OF ONTARIO WILL BE THE FIRST

CHAIRMAN OF THE COUNCIL. THEY WILL REVIEW LEGISLATION PASSED
BY THE ExEcUTIVE CoUNCIL AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

NEW BRUNSWICK INDIANS FIGHT TRANSFER OF HEALTH SERVICES 10
PROVINCE



PREMIER HATFIELD OF NEw BRUNSWICK TOLD INDIANS IN HIS PROVINCE
THAT THEY WERE “CITIZENS OF THE PROVINCE. THEREFORE. YOU ARE
ELIGIBLE FOR WHATEVER PROVINCIAL SERVICES ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO
CITIZENS.” ANTHONY Francis, UNIon oF N.B. Inprans, AND DAVE
AHENAKEW, FEDERATION OF SASKATCHEWAN INDIANS, DISAGREE WITH
TRANSFERRING RESPONSIBILITY FOR INDIANS TO PROVINCIAL GOVERN-
MENTS. BECAUSE OF THIS. THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ADOPTED A
RESOLUTION ASKING THE U.N,B.I. To PROCEED TO PREPARE A POSITION
PAPER FOR PRESENTATION TO Marc LALONDE, MINISTER OF NATIONAL
HEALTH AND WELFARE. THEY WILL STATE THAT:

1) THE HEALTH OF INDIAN PEOPLE IS A FEDERAL RESPONSIBILITY

2) PROPER MEDICAL SERVICES IS A RIGHT OF INDIAN PEOPLE

5) FEAR OF DESTRUCTION OF THE RIGHTS OF INDIAN PEOPLE

LEADS TO SOCIAL DETERIORATION, CONFUSION AND APATHY,

IF YOU HAVE SUBMISSIONS ON HEALTH SERVICES OR VIEWS YOU WOULD
LIKE SENT TO THE NIB, write To THE U,B.C.I.C.

VANCOUVER RESOURCES BOARD



A MEETING OF VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICE GROUPS WAS HELD ON MARCH 15,
1977 1n THE SauamisH BanD OFFICE. THEIR CONCERN WAS TO DISCUSS
PLACEMENT OF NATIVE CHILDREN INTO GROUP HOMES AND FOSTER HOMES,
THESE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH IDENTITY, COPING WITH URBAN

LIVING AND NEEDING OF SOMEONE TO CARE. A FILM WAS SHOWN
ABOUT A GROUP HOME ALREADY 3 YEARS IN OPERATION IN THUNDER
Bay, ONTARIO. THE HOME, RUN BY NATIVE STAFF. HELPS ORIENTATE
THE CHILDREN IN THEIR CULTURE. FOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION,
CALL GLEN NEWMAN, SQUAMISH BAND OFFICE: 985-771]

LEGAL SERVICES BULLETIN



THE LEGAL Services Commission oF B.C. WANTS TO HEAR PEOPLE’S
CONCERNS ABOUT LEGAL SERVICES IN GREATER VANCOUVER, COMMUNITY
HEARINGS WILL BE HELD DURING MARCH 1977 IN FIVE AREAS OF VAN-
COUVER: KITSALANO, VANCOUVER SouTH. VANCOUVER East. West END

AND DowNTOWN: AND IN BurRNABY. New WESTMINSTER AND THE [JoRTH
SHORE. THE TERMS OF INCORPORATION OF THE COMMISSION STATE

THAT IT IS TO SEE THAT “LEGAL SERVICES ARE EFFECTIVELY PROVIDED
TO, AND READILY OBTAINABLE BY THE PEOPLE OF B.C.,. WITH SPECIAL
EMPHASIS ON THOSE PEOPLE TO WHOM THOSE SERVICES ARE NOT PRESENTLY
AVAILABLE FOR FINANCIAL OR OTHER REASONS”,

UBCIC STATEMENT OF WITHDRAWAL OF BANDS



BoB MANUEL, CHAIRMAN OF THE ExecuTIVe CoMMITTEE OF THE UNION OF
B.C, INDIAN CHIEFS DENIED ALLEGATIONS BY THE ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
THAT THE UNION WILL SPLIT WHEN THEY HAVE THEIR ANNUAL MEETING
NEXT MONTH,

HE ADMITTED THAT THE UNION HAS BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY IN UNIFYING
THE ORGANIZATION SINCE IT REJECTED FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS IN
1974,

"RBuT WE HAVE GONE BACK TO TALKING TO THE PEOPLE ON THE RESERVES

"

AND IT 1S HERE THAT WE WILL FIND NEW STRENGTH. HE SAID,

A CHIEF HIMSELF. Mr. MANUEL SAID THAT THE MOTION TO REJECT FUNDS
WAS NEVER CLEARLY DEFINED. HE DESCRIBED IT AS A PROTEST AGAINST
“POLICY GUIDELINES BEING FORCED ON INDIAN PEOPLE BY THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT. THE ONLY WAY INDIAN PEOPLE CAN PROTECT THEIR RIGHTS
GUARANTEED BY THE BRITISH NorRTH AMERICA AcT AND THE INDIAN AcT IS
TO HAVE A STRONG PROVINCIAL ORGANIZATION, ~

THE Unron oF B,C, INDIAN CHIEFS ADMITS, HE SAID. THAT THEY MADE A
VERY SERIOUS ERROR IN REJECTING FEDERAL FUNDS “AS AN APPROACH TO
ACHIEVE INDIAN INDEPENDENCE OR AS A MEANS OF BRINGING THE LAND
CLAIMS ISSUE TO THE FOREFRONT.”

Mr. MANUEL CALLED FOR SUPPORT FROM INDIAN BANDS THROUGHOUT THE
PROVINCE TO UNIFY AND STRENGHTEN THE UNION‘’S POSITION,

“IT WOULD BE TOTALLY UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
OR EVEN THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TO DEAL WITH B.C,’s 193 BANDS

ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.” Mr. MANUEL. “QUR BIGGEST STRENGTH AND
POWER LIES IN HAVING AN EFFECTIVE ORGANIZATION WHICH TRULY REPRE-
SENTS THE VIEWS OF INDIAN PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE, JHE
GOVERNMENT WOULD PAY ATTENTION AND TOGETHER WE COULD ALL BENEFIT.”
HE SAID,

"Your CHIEFS ARE THE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES AND THEY MAKE UP
THE Union oF B.C. Inpian CHreFs. IT 1S FROM THE CHIEFS THAT WE

WILL AND DO TAKE OUR DIRECTION IN DEALING WITH FEDERAL AND

”

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS, HE SAID.

THe Unton oF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS WAS FORMED IN 1969 To FoRM A
UNIFIED VOICE UNANIMOUSLY REJECTING THE WHITE PAPER POLICY OF
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, “THAT FEDERAL POLICY INTENDED TO DO
AWAY WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR. INDIANS BY TRANSFERRING JURISDIC-
TION FOR THEM AND INDIAN LANDS TO THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT.
HE SAID.

"THE SECOND REASON FOR COMING TOGETHER WAS TO RESOLVE THE LAND
CLAIMS AND ABORIGINAL RIGHTS QUESTION,” Mr, Bop MANUEL SAID.

HE ADMITS THE ORGANIZATION DID NOT CLEARLY DEFINE THEIR GOALS
AND OBJECTIVES, “THE ORGANIZATION SINCE THEN HAS ZIG~ZAGGED IN
ALL DIRECTIONS WITH AS MANY PRIORITIES AS THERE WERE LEADERS,

WE CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THIS MISTAKE. IT 1S
IMPORTANT THAT OUR GOALS BE ESTABLISHED AND THAT THERE BE CLEAR
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BY ALL PARTICIPANTS,

“WHEN WE MEET IN APRIL, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DISCUSS ss.
THE ROLE OF THE PEOPLE, THE BANDS, THE DISTRICT/TRIBAL COUNCIL,
THE EXECUTIVE AND THE STAFF OF THE UNION OFFICE,’ Mr. BoB MANUEL
SAID,