Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Newsletter (February 1978)

Transcription (Hover to view)


CUNION OF B.C. INDIAN
CHIEFS

MAILING ADDRESS:

P.O. Box 86003

North Vancouver, B.C.
V7L 4J5

W. Telephone: (604) 986-2236

STREET ADDRESS:
303 East Esplanade Street
North Vancouver, B.C.
V7L > TAS
Telex: 04-352579 R

FEBRUARY





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ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN is needed for the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Resource Centre.
This Resource Centre houses a growing collection of research material as well as
Audio-Visual and Educational material relevant to the concerns of B.C. Indians.
This is an excellent opportunity to train in all aspects of information work.

DUTIES: The job would involve clerical duties such as typing, filing, indexing,
clipping newspapers, photocopying, preparing catalog cards, etc., as well as
dealing with the public both by phone and in person and doing research work.

The day to day operation of the Resource Centre is quite varied. The applicant
should be quite adaptable.

QUALIFICATIONS: Accurate typing and clerical abilities are essential. The
applicant should have a good knowledge of the current concerns of B.C. Indians
as well as a willingness to learn and keep up to date on issues. Previous
Library experience would be helpful, but is not essential.

SALARY IS NEGOTIABLE.

TO APPLY: Please send a letter (or resume) outlining previous experience and
qualifications for the job to:

Resource Centre

Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
P.Q. Box 86003

North Vancouver, B.C.

V7L 4J5

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JOBS FOR INDIANS: ALASKA HIGHWAY PIPELINE



Rumours about jobs for Indians on pipeline construction projects are many and are
diverse. Certainly a great many issues remain unclear. The companies involved
have made no promises about including Indian people - merely vague recommendations
such as that 20% of the local people should be hired.

In order to clear up alot of misunderstandings and to get definite answers to our
questions at an early stage, the Union is holding a couple of Workshops on this
Subject in March.

The first workshop will be held in Ft. St. John on March 6th & 7th, 1978, to talk
about the pipeline, its construction and the kinds of jobs available; why Indians
find so many barriers in employment in this field and what we can do about it.
Representatives from the company and Manpower, the Labour unions and the D.I.A. have
been invited for one session to speak on where they stand on this, what they have to
offer, and to answer any questions we might have. The Second workshop will be held
in se at the end of March (more details will be included in the next news-
letter).

ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN PIPELINE JOBS AND WANTING FURTHER
INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THE UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS OFFICE.





INDIAN GOVERNMENT WORKSHOPS







The Union of B. C. Chiess is sponsoring the first 0f four work-
Shops on Indian Government. The first one to be held 44 for
the Central Interior Region. Details aieas follows:

DATES: Saturday and Sunday, March 11, 12, 1978

LOCATION: Kamloops Indian Student Residence, Kamloops, B. C.

THEME : Indian Government

OBJECTIVES OF CONFERENCE:
- to provide an opportunity for your Regional



Vice-president to give a report to you on the
attributes of your Chief's organization (U.B.C.1.C.).

- the main focus though will be to report on
the activities of Indian Government portfolio
and enter into a discussion with Chiefs, Band
Councils and participants on the concept of
Indian Government.

PARTICIPATION:
We urge all Chiefs and Band Councils of the
Central Interior Region to attend and feel free
to bring along a delegation of members from your
band if at all feasible.

TENTATIVE DATES:

Coastal Region - Terrace - March 18 - 19/78
Northern Region - Pr. George - March28 -29
Southern Western Region - Duncan - April 1 - 2

FoR FURTHER INFORMATION PLS. CONTACT
B. Manuel or C. Gilbert







at 986-2236

WEST COAST OIL PORTS INQUIRY
THIRD PARTY INTERVENTIONS FUNDS (D.I.A.):

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs applied for monies to do research on Indian
Traplines in and around the Fort St. John District. This research is to be conducted
as the result of a request from the National Energy Board during its hearings on the
Silver Dahl and Grizzly-Bullmoose-Sunkunka Pipeline Certifications in November 1977.

The research will provide the National Energy Board with a base of information on
Indian Traplines, their routes, their knowledge of the wildlife and their future
as hunters and trappers. Also, information will be gathered as to the "global"
effects of resource development on Indian people.

LITIGATION (D.I.A.):
(je. court action)

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is developing a position concerning Litigation
monies. At present, funds may be available through the Dept. of Indian Affairs for
specific cases, an example of this, is the mercury poison case in the Treaty 3 area.

BESLSSSPSSEASLORHSSAASHSAASSHSAHSRHASSASHSHSAASHASSHASAHSHAASAHSSHAHSAASSAREHAGEAREGS

CANADIAN ARCTIC RESOURCES COMMITTEE (CARC) WORKSHOP:

A Canadian Arctic Resources Committee workshop is being held on Monday, February 20,
1978 through Wednesday, February 22, 1978 in Edmonton, Alberta.

The general theme of the CARC workshop is centered around development in the north
and the effects of such on the people and the environment north of 60 degrees.

The U.B.C.1.C. has accepted an invitation to attend. George Manuel will be chairing
an evening session on Tuesday the 21st at 8 p.m. This session will be for native

groups to make their presentations. Also in attendance from the U.B.C.1.C. will be:
Ernie Willie (Executive Director), Debbie Hoggan, Norman Froste, and Rick Salter (KOPI).

This is the second of such workshops on people, resources and the environment north
of 60 degrees. The workshop will be chaired by Dr. Andrew Thompson of West Coast
0il Ports Inquiry fame.

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THE NORTH-EAST COAL TRIP - Froste, Sinclair & Phaneuf:

Following the CARC workshop, Norman Froste, Jim Sinclair (Community Information
Research Group), and Richard Phaneuf (National Indian Brotherhood - Mercury Research)
will be making a field trip into the North-East to look as the coal development
picture. They will be working closely with and taking direction from the Indian
people in the Treaty 8 area of B.C. on this study trip. Consultation will take
place with the local people upon arrival in Fort St. John and this is scheduled for
the afternoon of Wednesday, the 22nd of February 1978.

——— Se ee eS Se SE eS eS SE Se Se Se Se SE eS SE SE SE SE SE SE Se eS Se SE Se ee SE SE eS Se Se Se SE SE Se SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SE SB BE EB SE SB SE SB SB SE SE SS SE SE eS SE SK Se eS SE Se SE EK SK Se Se Se Se Se ES =





TREATY & WORKSHOP:

On February 2nd and 3rd, a very successful workshop was conducted at the Fort St.
John Indian Friendship Centre in Fort St. John, B.C. The Workshop was co-ordinated
by the Union at the request of the Indian people in the north-east.

Resource people from the Union were: Mary Lou Andrew (Fieldworker), Steven Basil
(Audio-Visual Technician), and Louise Mandell (Lawyer). Professor Doug Sanders
and Professor Michael Jackson from the Faculty of Law at the University of British
Columbia gave of their legal expertise at this workshop. Other invited resource
people were Father Rene Fumoleau (Historian who authored a book on Treaty 8 + "As
Long As This Land Shall Last") and John Smith (Treaty 7 Resource person).

All aspects of Treaty 8 were discussed in some detail. Sanders, Jackson and
Mandell went over the legal - historical aspects of the Treaty; and Fumoleau added
his personal touch to the historical background gleaned from his years of research
on the subject.

The workshop was well attended by local people from the Treaty 8 area and from
reports brought back to the Union office, the response was an entirely positive one.
The local people maintained an active participation with many questions asked and
much discussion initiated.

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“ATTENTION |

THE FORT RUPERT BAND COUNCIL ARE ASKING ANY OF THEIR MEMBERS WHO
ARE NOW LIVING OFF THE RESERVE IF THEY WOULD SEND THEIR PRESENT
ADDRESS 10 THE BAND OFFICE AT:

FORT RUPERT BAND OFFICE

P.0. BOX 1440
PORT HARDY, B.C,
VON 2P0

THE BAND COUNCIL FEELS THAT THEY ARE LOSING TOUCH WITH THOSE
MEMBERS WHO ARE NOW LIVING OFF THE RESERVE AND THEY WOULD LIKE 10
KEEP IN CONTACT IF POSSIBLE.





WHAT IS HAPPENING ABOUT THE M.T.A.?

Since the first education workshop on the Master Tuition Agreement (M.T.A.)
which took place in Vancouver on January 16th - 19th, 1978, alot has happened.

All Chiefs and Band Councils have received a report on the first M.T.A.
workshop plus the names of the education resource people who attended it.

A handbook on understanding the Master Tuition Agreement has been finished,
and did that ever take alot of work: It was put together as a result of the four
day M.T.A. workshop in January. This handbook has been sent out to resource
people throughout the Province. If you would like a copy of this handbook, "Under-
Standing the Master Tuition Agreement", just write to Rosalee Tizya, Education
Co-Ordinator, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, P.O. Box 86003, North Vancouver, B.C.
V7L 4J5 or phone 986-2236.

There have already been M.T.A. workshops at Penticton and Bella Coola. These
workshops were well attended. People expressed a great deal of concern over the
education of their children, and how that education was affected by the M.T.A.

Here is a schedule of other M.T.A. Workshops:
MARCH 2nd & 3rd - WILLIAMS LAKE

MARCH 9th & 10th - TERRACE (yet to be confirmed)
MARCH 13th & 14th - SAANICH

MARCH 23rd & 24th - VERNON

MARCH 28th - 30th - SEABIRD ISLAND

It will be the Band members who will say what they want done about the M.T.A.
Then at the General Assembly of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs to be held in
Penticton on April 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st, 1978, the Chiefs will make a
decision concerning the M.T.A. on behalf of the member governments (Band Councils)
of the U.B.C.1.6.



Po Wy. 1 ea as Ee |

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Youth Development Portfolio is pleased to announce >
the opening of an essay writing contest for B.C.'s Indian Youth.



The Contest is directed towards young people under the age of 19 who are interested
in writing essays on Native issues.

The contest will be broken down into two (2) group catagories and each group
will be judged separately.

The groups and prizes will be as follows:

GROUP FIRST PRIZE SECOND PRIZE THIRD PRIZE
Elementary School $ 75.00 $ 50.00 $ 25.00
Jr. & Sr. High School $ 100.00 $ 75.00 $ 50.00

FIRST PRIZE ALSO INCLUDES AN ALL EXPENSE PAID TRIP TO THE CHIEFS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
WHICH IS BEING HELD IN PENTICTON, APRIL 18th - 21st, 1978.

Contestants are urged to write their essays on subjects that they personally feel
to be of importance to B.C.'s Indian people. GOOD LUCK!

KEKKEKE KKKKKEE







5 oy ae at . AND FROM ouR NEWSCLIPPING FILes .. ,

Zax THE PROVINCE, Saturday, Feb. 4, 1978







B.C. Indians become Canada’s iatest separatists as their leaders
announce they want their own land, their own government and their own
control of the hunting and fishing which is their traditional way of life.



Page4

B.C. Indians want own province,
own gov t, own life

B.C. Indians want their own people on
their own land with ali the rights of a sepa-
. rate province, the Union of B.C. Indian
’ Chiefs said Friday.

“We were here first,”’ said UBCIC presi-
dent George Manuel. ;

‘“‘We want the same authority as a provin-

cial government — and we’re entitled to it,
. under Section 91 of the British North
America Act that lumps us under federal
jurisdiction along with banking, military
and postal services and criminal law. For
municipal governments to try to dictate to
- usis totally unacceptable.”
- Fora start, the UBCIC said, Indian re-
‘ serve lands should be increased to the point
. where they could support the Indian people
‘ fully — even those who do not now live on
* reserves.

And, the chiefs said, Indians want unre-
stricted access to hunting and fishing, plus
the right to issue licences for hunting. trap-
ping and fishing by non-Indians.

The UBCIC claims to represent ‘nore
than 45,000 of the status Indians in }.C.
covered by federal Indian treaties. There
are another 5,000 or so, not covered py
treaty, whom the chiefs would like 'v take
into camp.

“Right now the federal government de-
cides which of these non-status Indians can
live on our reserves. We want that right,
_ says Manuel.

All of these demands are slated for the
agenda of a four-day conference to be held
April 18-21 in Penticton.

‘What we’re doing now is defining more |

particularly the aboriginal rights that have

been always dealt with in such general
terms,” says Manuel.

He says Canada’s estimated 300,000 In-
dians live in ‘have-not’ communities that
are as deserving of Ottawa’s enrichment
subsidies as Quebec and the Maritimes.
““We should get some of it — we were here
first,” is his view.

Prince Edward Island, with a population
of 110,000, was handed $720 million in 1970.
Indians, that year, got federal funds of $50
million — ‘‘and two-thirds of that was sap-
ped away by bureaucratic bodies before we
got our hands on it.

“Rather than go to the public for hand-
outs, we’re insisting on the means for self-
help. We want enough territory to enable us’
to sustain our people, territory that could

be lucratively productive in timber, fish,
game, tourism. :

“We want more involvement in wildlife
reproduction. Right now, industry is the
number one enemy in polluting our rivers
and reducing the salmon spawn — and get-
ting off scot free. And that’s got to stop.
With 57 per cent of our people unemployed
in the summer, and 90 per cent unemployed
in winter, the survival of fish and game asa
basic resource is vital.”’

There's no point in Indians having
aboriginal rights, says Manuel, if they’re
not backed up by political authority.

‘‘We don’t want the white man out. He’s
here to stay. But so are we. And we’re going
ahead with this whether the federal and
provincial governments like it or not.”’





20 The Citizen, Wednesday, a 8, 1978.

British Columbia Indians
will press for their
aboriginal rights, George
Manuel, president of the
North Vancouver-based
Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs, said Friday.

He issued the following
statement:

“The Union of B.C. In-
dian Chiefs defines
aboriginal rights to mean
that we collectively, as In-
dian people, have the right
within the framework of
the Canadian Constitution,
to govern, through our own
unique form of govern-
ment (Band Councils) an
expanded version of our In-
dian Reserve Lands, that
is sufficiently large enough
to provide for the essential
needs of all our people.

“The Union of B.C. In-
dian Chiefs recognizes that
some people regard Indian
Reserve Lands as un-
desirable and a negative
place to live: But the fact
remains that they (Indian

He Reserve Lands) are very

sacred and form the foun-

ee dation on which to build

eee and develop our aboriginal
rights.

“The Union of B.C. In-
dian Chiefs therefore
resolves and declares as
our working position as:

A) Indian Reserve Lands
THE x AN D are to be maintained
and protected never to
be alienated from our
I S people: and

B) Indian Reserve Lands

are to be expanded suf-

O "i | R ficiently to provide for

the economic,

) educational, social,

C A [ L i i [ R EK - cultural and spiritual
well-being of all Indian

People (including those
referred to as non-









—_—__——_— status).
— “The Union of B.C. In-
Oe Se eee dian Chiefs recognizes



soa there are some who regard
our legitimate Indian

Spee ee eee eR

Indians Will
Seek Rights

Government (Band Coun-
cils) with contempt, but
the fact remains that:

1( Our aboriginal rights
struggle is rooted back
before European inva-
sion at which time our
people recognized
Chiefs and Councils as
the legitimate gover-
ning authority, as our ,
unique form of govern-
ment.

Chiefs and Councils to
this day, have been
maintained by our peo-
ple as our own unique
governing authority,
distinct in Canada from
other forms of govern-
ment.

2

—

3

Chiefs and Councils are
one living evidence of
our unique way of life,
therefore, they form
part of the foundation
on which to build and
develop our aboriginal
rights.

When our people's
aboriginal rights are
finally realized, they
will have to be channell-
ed through a legitimate
governing authority of
our people.

“The Union of B.C. In-
dian Chiefs therefore
resolves and declares as
our position that:

1) Chiefs and Councils
must be maintained as
the recognized legal
governing authority of
our people.

Chiefs and Councils’
range of jurisdiction
must be broadened to
encompass all those |
areas of concern to our
people.

Chiefs and Councils’
authority must be ex-
panded to allow our
people's legitimate ,
governing authority to |
address their problems
adequately.”’

4

—

2

—

3

—

iti







SOVEREIGNTY THE GOAL

Indian Tig Q
By HOLLY HORW Ig

The head of the Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs said Friday that B.C. native people
have no wish to sell their aboriginal rights
but instead will work toward political
sovereignty with status equal to that of the
provincial government.

“We have no interest at all in selling our
aboriginal rights for dollars and cents,”
George Manuel said. “‘That idea scares the
heck out of me. What we want is a degree of
sovereignty with financial resources avail-
able to us on the basis of need.”’

Addressing a press conference at the
organization's headquarters in North Van-
couver, Manuel said that the proposal is not
new and does not necessarily replace In-

dian land claims. However he indicated the .

concept does qualify the land claim ques-
tion, making it ‘‘clearer, more specific, and
says exactly what native peoples are
after.”

Manuel said the mechanism for setting
up a legitimate Indian government is al-
ready provided for in the British North
America Act.

Section 91-28 of the act stipulates only
very broadly, Manuel said, that the federal
government has control ‘‘over Indians and
land reserved for Indians.”

“In a way we are designing a new Indian
Act,” Manuel's son Bob said later. ‘“‘We are
redefining what jurisdiction to transfer
from ourselves to the federal government,
the provincial government, and our own
tribal groups.

Manuel explained the key areas in which

. Such a government would concentrate are

the expansion of reserves, planning and
development of lands, fishing and hunting
regulations, including licensing, and con-
servation and ecological issues.

s ‘not for sale’

A native government would also have
some control over taxing its people, educa-
tion. social and cultural matters and the au-
thority to allow non-status Indians to be-
come band members.

Bob, chief of the Neskainlith Indian band
in the Shuswap Lake area, said an example
would be the expanded control of his band
over nearby forests. ‘‘We would want a
large enough area to provide jobs for our
people, offering some kind of self-sufficien-
cy.

“We're talking now about managing our
own reserves. We're investigating sustain-
ed yield methods and selective logging.

“‘We're learning your system.”

Manuel said the question of a unique
form of government to represent the inter-
ests of B.C. Indians will be high on the list of
priorities at a general assembly conference
sponsored by UBCIC and slated for April
18-21 in Peachland.

He said the goal of autonomy through a
recognized Indian government is a long-
term one to be accomplished through ne-
gotiation with all levels of government. The
union of chiefs is committed to the idea and
will pursue it ‘‘whether other people like it
or not.”

Most of the pieces are already in place to
make the idea work, Manuel said: The
band councils and chiefs have long been
recognized by native people as legitimate
authorities.





We would like to thank all those people who have submitted entries for our official

logo contest. As you know, the contest closed on February 15th.

L Ge-G-. 0

CONTE Sa



Preliminary

judging for the three best entries will be done before the General Assembly in

April 1978.

General Assembly for them to choose First, Second and Third prizes.

The three best entries will then be presented to the Chiefs at the

We would like to thank the following people for submitting their entries:

N. Ritchie and Dorinna Wilma Joe from Mount Currie;
Ronnie Combes from Chilliwack;
Allan Prince from Stuart Trembleur;
Gail Moody from Bella Coola;

Hope;

Dan Coon from Port Hardy;
Ben Pelky and Ann Pelky from Saanich;
Lyle Pius from Shelly;
Vernon Brown from Vancouver and the Grade

James

Emma Joe from

9 Class of Mt. Elizabeth Secondary School in Kitimat - Garry Wilson, Pat Stewart,
Ronald Winsor, Burton Amos, Lorraine Morrison, Jamie Ross, James Grant, Ray

Nelson, and the person that drew the "Eagle" design (you didn't put your name on thls



ASSEMBLY

‘ PEN TICT ON
APR 18 -21,1978 x

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UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS
10th ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY

AMATEUR TALENT NIGHT







Come and be part of the 10th Annual General Assembly of the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.

An Amateur Talent Night is being organized as part of the
entertainment planned in conjunction with the U.B.C.I.C. General
Assembly to be held April 18th - 21st, 1978 in the Peach Bowl Convention
Centre, Westminster Avenue & Power Street, Penticton, B.C.

The Talent Night, open to B.C. Indians of all ages, has been
scheduled for 8:00 p.m., Thursday, April 20th, 1978.

If you can sing, dance, tell jokes, play an instrument, perform
mime, read poetry or otherwise entertain, please participate.

A prize of $ 150.00 will be awarded to the most entertaining
performance; Second prize is $ 100.00; Third prize is $ 50.00 and 10
consolation prizes will also be awarded.

To register, please fill in the form at the bottom of this page
and mail to the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs office (P.0. Box 86003,
North Vancouver, B.C., V7L 4J5), as soon as possible. ENTRIES WILL BE
ACCEPTED UP UNTIL 4:00 p.m., APRIL 20th, 1978 at the Convention Centre.



KREEKEKEKKKEKEKKEKEKKRKKEEKEKKRERKREKKREREKEKKEK KEKE KEKE KRKEKKEKRRKKRKRRKRERKEKREKKREKRKEE

REGISTRATION FORM
U.B.C.I.C. 10th ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
AMATEUR TALENT NIGHT





NAME : | | AGE:



PHONE NUMBER:



ADDRESS:





TYPE OF ENTERTAINMENT:





NUMBER OF PERFORMERS: