UBCIC News (May 1978)

Transcription (Hover to view)


ubcic

INSIDE:

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1978

WESTCOAST TRANSMISSION LOOPING
HEARINGS

JOE DE LA CRUZ ADDRESS TO
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

FISHING QUOTAS
LILLIAN BROWN TO APPEAL

GENOCIDE IN NORTHEAST

and 1Gf6. mores: <655556 558 ea eG



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oes ee oe 2 oe me

MAY 1978

— :

LAND AND RESOURCE

We have observed that the Europeans have brought with them their animal compani-
ons. We know that they have brought to this continent; horses, cows, sheep,
goats, even rats and houseflies. We will concede that they should have respons-
ibility to care for all of their companions. We fully expect and require that
it be established that OUR companions, the salmon, deer, eagles, ravens, wolves,
bear, songbirds, and all plants, shall henceforth be know as the responsibility
of the Indian people of this land. These living creatures were established here
with us by our Creator.

We will now begin discussions as to the manner in which our responsibility wil]
now be discharged. The white people will no longer claim ownership over our
resources. They are not theirs. They did not come here with them. They are
not theirs. Their living resources are horses, cows, sheep, goats, rats and
houseflies. We will honor the law the Europeans make for them.

Let us talk simply. If Canadian interests are truly to protect and, to keep the
living creatures of this continent intact, we may seek advice and help to protect
them from all dangers. But after that, we require that white men leave them alone.
We must protect them as we must protect our lives. We will protect them, if nec-
essary with our lives.

If the white man wishes to deal fairly with us, let him recognize reason. Let him
not use his own weapons and power as argument. He has formed his law, his economy,
his social institutions, his government, into weapons against defenceless people.
Let him leave his weapons far away. Let him lay all those aside, let him come
with truth only. Then we can talk.

(An elder representing the National Indian Brotherhood at the General Assembly.)







If you have strong feelings about a topic
of concern to you, we invite you to write
it down and send it to:

The Editor, UBCIC Newsletter,

440 West Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY : 1978

a fragile solidarity

Over 800 people from all over the
Province attended the 10th Annual Assem-
bly of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs,
held in Penticton April 18 - 22.
Observers from the United Native Nations,
The Indian Homemakers of B.C., The Native
Media Society attended the Assembly, as
well as observers from other Indian
organizations in Canada and the United
States.

The General Assembly was an intense work-
ing conference. The agenda was very
heavy and activities were planned so that
everyone could be kept busy in workshops,
social activities and the big meeting
itself, as well as the many small
regional meetings that took place. Many
people have commented that the General
Assembly was too heavy. There was also
the suggestion that we should have two
big meetings a year so that we can all
get all of the work done. The workshops
were an important part of the Assembly
because we were able to talk about
important issues that were of specific
interest to our bands, in an informal
working session, outside of the formal
Assembly.

Politically, it could be said that the
Assembly achieved ''a fragile solidarity''
in the words of George Manuel. Even
though the West Coast District walked
out of the Assembly on the second day,
as the conference progressed, it became
increasingly clear that there was

mutual agreement about the major

issues facing Indians in B.C.

The most important achievement of this
year's Assembly is that we now share a
collective goal. George Manuel spoke
about Indian Government in his speech

to the General Assembly. He cited
unemployment figures: ''The Indian people
never used to live in poverty and we

never experienced unemployment before the
Europeans came and made it a way of life for
us. Now at the best of times the average
unemployment rate among our people is 57%.
and at the worst of times over 90%. The
government of Canada is concerned about a
national unemployment rate of 8% while we
have to deal with unemployment of 55% to
90%....The keys to Indian employment are
Indian Government and Indian control of our
resources. We have to work towards a just
Aboriginal Rights agreement so that we can
regain our authority over enough lands, waters
and resources to provide a firm economic
base for all of our Indian people. We have
to develop our own Indian Government that
will control all our hunting and fishing
rights. That's the only way we can regain
an economic base that will allow our people
to enjoy a standard of living comparable to
that of other Canadians."

The General Assembly gave the Union of British

Columbia Indian Chiefs the mandate to begin

the long road towards Indian control of Indian

lives and the means to live. We have achieved

a ''fragile solidarity,'' but if anything becomes
clear by the events of the Assembly it is that

we all have an enormous amount of work to do.

In concluding his speech to General Assembly,
George Manuel stated:

"The work that needs to be done for us to
manage our Indian Fishing rights and to create
a strong Indian Government is a monumental
task. But | challenge you to keep pace with
the job that we must do as Indian people.

You know and | know that the only people that
can solve our problems is us. The only people
that can bring about our goals is us.

|'m going to be a leader in this fight and |
hope that | WILL HAVE YOUR SUPPORT, AND THAT
IN EVERY BAND YOU WILL TAKE THE KIND OF ACTION
THAT |S NEEDED, to protect and defend our
rights.''

WESTCOAST WANTS MORE

Here we go

In January of this year, Westcoast Trans-
mission applied to the National Energy
Board for approval to ''loop'' portions of
its pipeline from Chetwynd, in north-
eastern B.C. to Huntington on the Canada
- U.S. border. (Looping is doubling a
pipeline by laying another pipeline
beside it). Westcoast proposes to loop
sections of the line totalling 111.5
miles. By looping the pipeline, Westcoast
would be able to carry more oil to Amer-.
ican markets at a time when the cost per
barrel is high because of shortfalls in
the American mid-west. If the Chetwynd-
Huntington line could be looped quickly
and without a big fuss, then Westcoast
Transmission could cash in on the high
prices before the prices per barrel
drops.

The general attitude towards looping
applications is to say: ''Oh well,

they're small projects, the pipeline has
already gone through the area once, the
environmental impacts and the social
impacts are not serious.'' However, the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is opposed

to industrial developments until companies
can prove that they will do everything in
their power to make sure that the land and
the people are not damaged in the process
of development. After consultation with
the bands affected by the looping pro-
posal, it was decided that the UBCIC would
intervene in the National Energy Board
hearing into Westcoast Transmission's
application to loop the Chetwynd-Hunting-
ton line. The Looping hearing began April
25 and lasted two weeks. There were many
other parties who were opposed to the
application: these were oil companies who
would be affected economically if West-
coast succeeded in its application. The
UBCIC was the only party which intervened
on public interest grounds.

3

Loop de Loop

The hearing took place ‘in a room which
looked like a court room in the B. C.
Energy Corporation offices in downtown
Vancouver. The room was packed with men

in three piece suits and real leather
attache cases. Most were oil companies'
lawyers and technical advisors ~- engineers,
biologists, etc., all brought in to argue
the ''rightness'' of their cases.

In the back row by the windows sat the
Indians and their ''technical advisors''
(2) and their lawyer (1). We were
dressed in varying shades of blue jeans,
work shirts, shawls and cowboy boots.
It was very funny to be sitting in a
room full of three piece suits and
shiny shoes. On the other hand, we
were all aware of the seriousness of
our case. From time to time through-
out the two week hearing we would
catch each others! eye and smile, a
secret smile - the smile of people

who know they are right.

Our Evidence

The UBCIC challenged the company on
the grounds that the company had not
done sufficient environmental and
socio-economic studies to know what
effect the pipeline would have on the
lands and on the people. Many of the
people along the pipeline route came
down to the hearing and told the
National Energy Board of problems that
they had with Westcoast Transmission
in the past. They also told the hear-
ing about their land. Robert Simon
from Deadman'seek came before the Board
and pointed out that there was salmon
spawning in a creek. Westcoast had
not known this when they had described
the environment in his area. Herman

Sellars from Deep Creek told the Board
that he was unhappy with the right-of-
way contracts which the company nego-
tiated in 1955 with the help of the
Department of Indian Affairs. He was
also worried about his fishing. ‘It

is all we have left around our place.''
Arlene Laboucane and Stan Napoleon from
the northeast, told the Board of the
problems they have been experiencing in
their area now that the Silver-Dahl Pipe-
line is being built. Westcoast Trans-
mission had come to the Fort St. John
area and had said that they could build
the pipeline without any negative effects.
Arlene Laboucane, told about the increas-
ed alcohol abuse which had occured in the
area since the construction workers had
come. She told about the problems which
their reserves have when Indian women go
off with the white workers. Stan
Napoleon told of the damage which West-
coast had done to rivers and traplines in
constructing the first pipeline.

Mary-Lou Andrew from Seabird Island told
the Board that Westcoast had done damage
to their creek in constructing the first
pipeline. She also expressed her fears
which were shared by other people about
the safety of the pipeline once it is

in place. What assurances do we have
that the line will not blow up with the
increased pressure on the line once it
is looped? she asked.

Andy Solonas from McLeod Lake told the
Board that his people wanted compensa-
tion for the pipeline going through

their traditional lands. He was also
very skillful in pointing out the lack

of knowledge which the Company had about
the land on which hispeople live and the
lives that they lead.

Ray Hance, a Vice-President of the UBCIC
put before The National Energy Board,

the resolution which had been passed at
the General Assembly in Penticton in which
all the Chiefs agreed to oppose the con-
struction of the pipeline until we were
satisfied that the pipeline could be

built safely.

We called on Mr. Chris Hatfield who has
experience in the preparation of environ-
mental studies for other pipeline projects
and in his evidence he said that he felt
that the material which the company sub-
mitted was so defective that the National
Energy Board should not grant the company
the right to go ahead and build the pipe-
line. He also stated that he felt the
environmental damage in a looping applica-
tion could be more serious than firsttime
pipeline construction because the area

had already experienced damage and would
probably take longer to recover the second
time round.

Our Impact

Many questions were raised at the National
Energy Board hearing. Few were answered.
Our witnesses at the hearing spoke of our
feelings. They asked real questions and
they received no answers. They spoke of
our interests and showed that the companies
did not work on our behalf.

What can be done? How can we fight back?
Every time Indian people go before a
hearing, every time an Indian speaks of
Our past, present and future a few will
listen, a few more will remember. We had
a great impact on the looping hearings.
We have lost nothing and gained a lot.
Government and business people know we
are not going to let ourselves be for-
gotten and that we will take our turn

to tell of our experiences, our truths

of the work of companies. It is important
to us to remain strong and firm with
these people, these people who use power
in ''our best interest''. We will not be
silent in these hearings. We will have
our say. We will continue to teach these
people of the wisdom of our people.

“Boldt Decision not a total victory”

Joe de la Cruz, President of the National
Tribal Association in the United States
and one of the main figures we associate
with the Boldt decision in the State of
Washington, was invited to address del-
egates to the General Assembly about
Indian fishing in the State of Washing-
ton. Fishing has always been as impor-
tant to the people of Washington State

as it is to us. They have always
harvested salmon from the rivers, both

for both subsistence and trade. They have
also had to fight to retain their

_ aboriginal rights to the fish.

''| have to agree with George Manuel said
Joe in his introduction, that the people
that manage and administer fisheries in
Canada and the United States are our
public enemy number one''.

THE BOLDT DECISION



In 1973, 22 tribes got together to

fight back. They hired the best tech-
nical experts, anthropologists and
attorneys. They pooled their resources,
built their own data base, built their
own hatcheries and proved they could
manage their fishing resources far better
than the government agencies. Their
fight earned a court ruling that 50% of
the harvestable catch belongs to the
Indian people. ''Most of you have heard
of that as the Boldt decision. That
Boldt decision was not a total victory
for the Indian people, !'1ll assure you
that''. Some tribes can never reach that
harvest realistically: other tribes
caught more before the ruling. The Boldt
decision also turned the genral public
totally against the Indian people in the
view of the media.

The State of Washington has refused to
pass the Boldt decision into law and
wont't authorize enforcement officers to
stop non-Indian poachers in Puget Sound.

=

— Joe de la Cruz

Finally, after a few shooting incidents,
the President appointed a Task Force to
look into the continuing problems. This
Task Force came up with recommendations
that both the State and the Indians dis-
agree with. The Indian Fish Commission,
with commissioners from each of the five
treaty areas, declare there is no way,
they can give up any more rights - in
spite of the fact they are made to feel
they are at the negotiating tables with
a gun to their heads.

"We have got a tough battle. Even though
we legally won and we morally won, they
are trying to legislate us and legislate
our rights completely off the map".

INDIAN MANAGEMENT BETTER

The only way they have been able to fight,
said Joe, is by continuing to pool their
resources. In most cases their data is
better and their methods are better than
the Fisheries Department. We have always
been told that Indian people are not
capable of resource management: but the
government is 'making halfbreeds out of
fish, through enhancement programs’.

When logging had depleted the salmon,
Fisheries agents were taking eggs from
one stream to another, genetically

messing up the fish with weaker strains,
in spite of warnings of our people. To-
day few streams have strong genetic native
strains left in them. Indian restoration
methods, using fish with natural genetic
strains, have been far more successful

and an embarassment to the State.

In Phase Two of the Boldt decision, the
Indian people are suing the State for
Environmental damage. We have always
been blamed for the decline of fish runs,
in Washington as in B. C. The proof of

continued page |

ANGRY ASSEMBLY
REJECTS QUOTAS

The Federal Fisheries seem determined to
find a scapegoat for the decline of the
B.C. salmon fisheries. Rather than take
on the big corporations who are making
our rivers and streams unliveable for

the salmon, they are blaming us: rather
than limit the commercial fishermen who
take 93% of the salmon, rather than take
on the politically powerful sports fisher-
men who take 4% at least, they find it
easier to hide their mismanagement by
harassing the Indian people. We use less
than 2% of the salmon and we have managed
the fisheries for thousands of years with
good effect. The imposition of the regu-
lations about cutting off the nose and
dorsal fins was an insult to our people.
Now the Fisheries Department are cutting
off our very livelihood.

We are being unreasonably victimized by
further regulations on food fishing

We are charged with wastage of fish,
without any accurate documentation of
such accusations. Though we recognize
that the depletion of fish is a serious
concern, the task we face as a part of
our heritage is to preserve and ensure
the protection of our traditional rights
to the salmon and marine resources.

a quota by any
other name.....

The proposal to impose quotas for Indian
food fishing was first indicated in a
speech by the Regional Director of Fish-
eries, Dr. Walley Johnson to the UBCIC
Provincial Fish Form held on December
15th and 16th, 1977.

Shortly afterwards the Minister of
Fisheries Romeo LeBlanc called the

UBCIC office inviting our President,
George Manuel, to meet with him on Jan-
uary 23, 1978. George did not learn

till the very day of the meeting that the
Native Brotherhood of B.C., and the Indian

The United Native Nations also
lt was at this

also.
attended this meeting.

meeting that Minister Romeo LeBlanc

announced that the B.C. Indians can expect

a quota system for Indian food fishing.

The Minister can now say that he ''consulted!'!
with B.C. Indian organizations before pro-
ceeding with the quota regulations. The
Minister stated that if the word ''quota''
offended Indians, he could use another
term to restrict Indian food fishing.
Regional Director for B.C.. was also
present at this meeting.

our resolutions

The

Because the UBCIC strongly protests any
more impositions regarding our rights the
General Assembly of the UBCIC resolved:

WHEREAS the Indian Bands of British Columbia
have 4tshing rights which they have never
given up and these rights cannot be Limited
without the consent and agreement of the
Indian people involved, and

WHEREAS The Federal Fisheries Department 44
now amposing a Quota System on Indian Fashing
An British Cokumbia. BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED
THAT THIS ASSEMBLY, (THE UNION OF BRITISH
COLUMBIA INDIAN CHIEFS' ASSEMBLY,) REJECT
ANY EFFORT OF THE FISHERIES DEPARTMENT TO
CURTAIL OR LIMIT INDIAN FISHING RIGHTS.

In the meeting with the Fisheries Minister,
President Manuel made a constructive offer:
"give us the opportunity to do necessary
research,'' he said, ''and | promise you
we'll come up with proposals that wil]
benefit all Canadians.'' This promise was
backed up by a second General Assembly
resolution on Indian fishing:

WHEREAS when fisheries in B.C. were com-
pletely managed by Indian Bands, the fisher-
ies were well cared for and there were
plenty of fish and,

WHEREAS due to one hundred years of control
and mismanagement by the Fisheries Depart-

Homemakers Association of B.C. were invited ment, and due to over-fishing by non-native

6

people, the fish stocks have become endanger-

ed and are now in need of massive rehabil-
itation and restoration and,

WHEREAS all Indian Bands whether on the
coast or in the interior depend on many of
the same species of fish and,

WHEREAS all Indian Bands must exercise
management of Indian fisheries.

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED:

THAT this Assembly direct the President

to involve all interested Bands in devel-

oping a strategy to provide province-wide

lr ‘ian representation that would deal with
rent critical concerns in fishery

matters.

B.C Talent

Over 1,000 people crammed the Assembly

Hall at General Assembly to see one of the
best talent shows ever held in B.C. The
proof of the interest and entertainment
value of the evening was the fact that

1,000 people sat in the darkened hall for
hours to watch and enjoy act after act of
talented people. The acts ranged from

young children singing and acting out

skits to semi-professional singers, fiddlers,
poets, and comedians.....
The Talent show began at 8:00 p.m. and

lasted until 2:00 a.m., babies, kids,?
fathers, mothers, young people, old people,

PI AA Pe AAAI AA AAA ATA AAAI stayed rooted to their seats, clapping,

| ON
ctd. from pageby

where the damage really happens brings
out the opposition of the multi-national
corporations, but ''we feel our case is
strong enough....and if we are successful
it's not only going to benefit the Indian
people, it is going to benefit all people;
it is going to benefit the economics of
this whole Pacific region''.

BOLDT DECAS



A COMMON UNDERSTANDING

Because of the crisis we face in the U.S.,
Canada and internationally in terms of
our aboriginal rights, because of the
similarities of our struggle, we should
collectively help each other.

This

laughing, and cheering their people on.
People like the inimitable Larry Pierre from
Penticton singing ''Chatanooga Choo Choo",
Ron Wood from Williams Lake singing ''T.B.
BLUES'', Alphonse Stager and his puppet who
figures the words to the national anthem

'0 Canada' should say: ''Our home on Native
Land". =,

The Talent Show provided a common ground

for many people to set aside political

differences, regional tensions and tribal

rivalries to be a part of the music,poetry
and humor. We could all appreciate the
talent, and the common theme throughout..
is who we are and this is what we
feel as Indian people.

The number of acts and the many people who

participated are too many to mention in
this little space but it was a great even-
ing and a good time was had by all

"| feel it's going to be necessary for more
of our people to be meeting with your people
to exchange ideas!'', ended Joe de la Cruz, ''to
begin better communications with our brothers

in Canda so we can build a common under-
standing to beat and defeat our enemy'',

PIA IAAAAAAAAA IAN

7

LILLIAN BROWN to APPEAL Tax Decision

Lillian Brown, on her own behalf and on important to be aware that there is nothing
behalf of all other Indians who purchase in the Indian Act that suggests any such
electricity or gas from B.C. Hydro and thing.

Power Authority on a reserve and who pay

sales tax, is suing B.C. Hydro. Lillian It is perfectly possible to read the two
Brown is claiming that as an Indian person Acts so that there is no conflict. If the
living on a reserve, she is exempt (free) Judge recognises that our people living on
from having to pay the Social Services reserves have a special status as regards tax,

Tax. Lillian said that under Section 87 the Social Services Tax does not apply.
of the Indian Act, the following property
is exempted from taxation: The decision is being appealed and the case
# the interest ot an Indian or Band in will be continued in the fall.
reserve or surrendered lands and
x*e**the personal property of an Indian The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has called
or Band situated on a reserve***%* on all Bands to support this case. All
The whole idea for Section 87 of the Indians living on reserve have been asked
Indian Act was to encourage Indian to withhold this tax portion of their bill.
people to live on reserves. Hydro has sent a directive to all of their
offices saying that there will not be any
The case was heard in Vancouver, April 3rd disconnections until the court case has been
and 4th. The Court took a long time to settled. We recommend that individuals
decide whether this tax was legal or not. continue not to pay the tax portion of
When he finally made his judgement against their hydro bills. However, you must
Lillian Brown, on May 3, 1978, the Judge realize that if this case is lost then
gave the following reasons: you will be liable to repay all the tax
you have withheld. Therefore, this money
1. there are some taxes which Indians should be set aside until the final
living on reserves have to pay: decision has been handed down.
for example customs duties for MMO He Ie 2c He aie Ie ae oh 3c 3k 2 ok 2c ke CK I I KK ae ak ie ake ak ae
things bought outside Canada; and *
tax on anything bought off the
reserve. The National Indian
Brotherhood believes that Indians
in Canada should not be part of any | d { D a
taxation process. In la n a YS
2. Anybody taking legal action has to
prove there has been some kind of
wrong. This has to be proved by
law. If the Judge is left in any
doubt, he will dismiss the case.

JUNE 24 - 25th at
SPALUMCHEEN BAND
George Manuel will
officially open the
new administration
building at 1.00 p.m.
Saturday 24th.

EVERYBODY WELCOME

3. Judges have to try and get around
any conflicts with the Constitution
of Canada. Judge MacDonald did not
want to see any conflict between
the Social Services Tax Act and
Section 87 of the Indian Act.

So the Judge decided that the
electricity used in one's own home is
indeed personal property - but not the
kind of personal property suggested in
Section 87 of the Indian Act. It is

HEE ACHE I I RO OE OR OK OG ASK OK oS OK 2S i oR OK 2K OK oi og ok Kk

aie ee oie oie oie 2 2s 2k oie 2s 2c 2c 26 og 26 2 2 2g ok 2 2 2k 2 2 2K ok 2K 2s 96

HEAR HEE I Ie 2 CE I 2 OK OK KK KK OK OK eK 2k 2K oe

¥

OO

PENTICTON ‘78



ALL TRIBES

ALL POINTS




OF VIEW

11



Ist Annual Indian Gathering in
Memory of Doug Hance



In memory of Doug Hance, who passed away earlier this year,
the Toosey Indian Band is having a gathering of all inter-
ested people at the Toosey Reserve #2 near Riske Creek, B.C.

Doug was a very special individual who committed his whole
life to helping his people in every way possible. He was
very active as an organizer and the people of the Williams
Lake District are indebted to him for his many successes
within our District.

Although Doug has left this world to live in another we have
all benefited from his work and will continue to do so for
many years to come.

Our Band would like to invite everyone to come to our Reserve
to remember Doug, but also to do something that Doug would
have liked to see. A lot of Indian people together:

This is not a political conference, it is a social get to-
gether of people. We will have dancing, singing, bone games,
sports, and lots of sharing.

There will be no drinking or drugs allowed.

Please come and spend a week at our reserve starting July 10
through July 16, 1978.

Bring your family and friends.
lf anyone interested in acting as security people contact:
The Council of the Toosey Band

Box 4681,
Williams Lake, B. C.





> oc KC iC

= = = ot i ‘







Chiefs - WildlifeFederation to Co-operate

A cooperative effort has grown out of two
B.C. Wildlife Federation draft resolutions
calling for tighter restrictions on Indian
fishing. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
expressed concern over the resolutions and
the B.C. Wildlife Federation replied by
inviting the Union's President, George
Manuel, to address a luncheon meeting at
the Federation's Annual Convention in
Chilliwack on May IIth.

One resolution blamed Indians for alleged
"fish wastage'' along the banks of the
Fraser River and called for a quota on
Indian food fishing. The other reso-
lution would require Indian fishermen to
attend to their own individual nets "at
all times, all year round.''

George Manuel explained why Indian people
totally reject any quotas that might be
imposed on Indian food fishing by the
Fisheries Department. He told the del-
egates that we Indians have never
surrendered our land or our resources.

We still retain our aboriginal hunting
and fishing rights.

He made it clear, however, that we have
no intention of displacing other people
from these provisions or taking away any
rights they may have acquired. ''We have
accepted that you are here to stay,'' he
assured the delegates and observers but
you must accept that we are here to stay
....This is our only homeland. We have
no other'',

MANY COMMON AIMS —

Manuel said that the Federation and the
Union have many things in common and also
some differences. We are not going to
fight you if you accept us as people of
dignity and if you will sit down with us
to discuss the issues with us''. He
recommended that both organizations get
together to form a joint committee to
develop constructive solutions to prob-
lems and effective ways to help each

other in the struggle to reach common
objectives.

Immediately following the speech a date

was set and a small, exploring meeting was
held in the Union Office on May 25th. Plans
were laid for the first meeting of the joint
committee in June.

George Manuel's speech was strongly supported
by about 75 Indian observers who attended

the Convention, including the members of the
UBCIC Executive Committee, who were meeting
in Chilliwack (at the same time).

OFFENDING RESOLUTIONS TABLED

The two offensive resolutions were discussed
in three workshops and acted upon in a
plenary session. Both were tabled by a near
unanimous vote of the BCWF delegates. They
will therefore not be considered again for
at least a year. This will allow time for
the joint committee to examine the reasons
for the resolutions and to work together on
more acceptable solutions to any real
problems that may be identified.

Possibilities for improved communication and
cooperative action begin to look hopeful.

On Friday, May 12, Fisheries Minister Romeo
LeBlanc spoke. He praised the Salmonoid
Enhancement Program for putting into focus
on ''the potential of the future instead of
assigning blame for the past.'"'

Though the Minister stated that ''Discussions
are going on between my department and
Indian leaders,'' the Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs has not been included yet in any
serious process for studying and dealing
with basic issues.

UBCIC FRUSTRATED BY FISHERIES

During the question period George Manuel
explained why the UBCIC is totally frustrated
with Fisheries and regards the Department as
"public enemy number one''. Three substan-
tial proposals have been submitted to the

aerate
12

Department since January 23 when B.C. Indian
groups met with the Minister. At the time
George Manuel spoke, the Union had received
no response whatsoever.

(The next day we did receive a letter from
the Fisheries Department inviting the Union

to discuss with their staff one of our
proposals submitted March 23.) The
Minister called upon his Regional
Director-General, Dr. Wally Johnson, to
help with his reply to George Manuel.

Dr. Johnson publicly stated that his door
was always wide open, but, he said, his
Department had heard nothing from the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. George
Manuel attempted to correct this’ bold
faced lie but the chairman cut him off
because time had run out.

Six letters and a telex had been sent to
the Fisheries Department by the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs since the January
meeting when the Minister specifically
asked George Manuel to re-activate a
provincial Indian council on food fishing.
Our March 28 proposal for that very purpose
has not even been acknowledged as of May

26.
STRONG INDIAN PRESENCE

There is no doubt that the presence of a
large number of Indian people at this con-
vention, together with the strong speech

by George Manuel, contributed substantially
to a promising beginning for more cooper-
ation and less conflict between the B.C.
Wildlife Federation and the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs.

The B.C. Wildlife Federation, the Federal
Fisheries Department, the provincial Fish
and Wildlife Branch and the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs all share at least one
common objective. We all want to restore
the healthy fish run and fish habitats
that existed a hundred years ago,

13

More THREATS to Fishing

In 1930, land was expropriated from
Fort Langley Band for a ferry landing.
Whether the $75.00 paid was per acre

or for the whole area has to be cleared
up still. It certainly did not compen-
sate the people for the loss of valuable
fishing grounds. The closing of these
ground forced the local Band to fish
further up the river.

Now, in May 1978, another ferry has
started operating and threatens this
other fishing ground.

Joe Gabriel, chief of the MacMillan Band,
contacted the UBCIC to find out the legal-
ities of this new threat by the Depart-
ment of Highways. Joe has been
consistently harassed by the ferries.
Last September his net was cut in half
by a ferry. The captain of the ferry
claimed he did try to stop, but couldn't.
Joe lost his net. The new ferry means

a game of cat and mouse between the
fishing boats and the ferry. '‘''The ferry
can manoevre to avoid the boats,'' the
Department of Highways spokesman, Mr.

Al Wallace says, "It is all a question
of co-operation.'' But if the ferry
Captain wishes, he can legally charge
the fishermen for obstructing the ferry
service. On the one open day per week

in the fishing season, sixty fishermen
crowd the area to set their nets. If
there is a conflict with the ferry,

there is a real possibility of having
boundaries established for the fisher-
men. The people of MacMillan Island

have fished this area all their lives.

It is our Aboriginal Right.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

We want to know what you think about the
topics discussed in the newletter or what
you think of the newsletter generally. We
invite you to send in comments, criticisms
and ideas and we will print your letters.

EE — —————————eE———————

If you go down in the woods today...

The Revised Forest Act was in-
troduced into the Legislature on
May 12. It presents some major
changes to the way the forests
of B.C, will be managed.

At the time of writing, the Act
was not available for detailed
review. However, it would seem
that the Act does not make pro-
vision for special timber allo-
cations to Indian bands.

At the recent General Assembly,
the Chiefs passed the following
resolution:

WHEREAS a Provincial Committee
has been formed with the ob-
jective of ensuring that the
new New Forest Act will ensure,
encourage and assist greater
Indian involvement in the
Industry, and

WHEREAS Indian people require op-
portunities for Economic
Development

BE IT THERFORE RESOLVED:

THAT this AsSembLyY Support
thts commattee

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

THAT in the short term thts
Assembly support changes tn
the Forest Act guaranteeing
the opportunity for involve-
ment tn the industry and
guaranteeing the opportunity
fon allocation of timber re-
Sources to Indians on a mean-
Angfuk basis and,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

THAT in the Long term this

Assembly give the Unton the
mandate to work with bands

to develop Long range stra-
tegies within the Forestry

Andustry.

Therefore the Forestry Committee
now must review this legislation
in detail and urge the provincial
government to make adequate pro-
vision for much greater Indian in-
volvement in the industry.

Copies of the Act will be sent to
all committee members within the
next few days. Qur CESO consul-
tant, Lorne Swannell, will provide
his analysis of the legislation.

A meeting of the committee will
be called shortly to plan the ac-
tion which must be taken.

All bands are invited to partici-
pate in the work of the Forestry
Committee. Pands wishing to do
can contact the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs office in Vancouver.
Copies of the Revised Act will al-
sO be available from the Vancouver
office.



DO YOU LIKE TO WRITE?

DO YOU LIKE TO WRITE?

We want to know what is happening in your
community. Other communities want bo know
what is happening in your community.
PLEASE WRITE!!!







14

GENOCIDE IN THE NORTHEAST

The Northeast is, to governments
and business, a promising and
prosperous region. To the Indian
people, the Northeast is a despe-
rate and deadly place. Indian
people must face the realities of
the decisions of governments and
business. Indian people must
suffer the most; governments and
business have a way about choosing
the victims. The Indian people
have had to fight off attacks on
their land, their culture, their
economic resource base and their
pride as a people for too long in
the Northeast.

PowPEL INE WIE T 1A SS

Indian leaders have come to every
region, to speak with Indian peo-
ple. George Manuel came to the
Northeast to talk and listen to

the Indian people of the Northeast.

He saw the destruction and peril
of the Indian people. He Saw the
brutal genocide being cast on the
Indian people in the Northeast.

In early April, George Manuel
visited all the reserves in the
northeast B.C.

"As a southern leader," he
told the people there, "I
want to see how you people
live, find out how you peo-
ple feel about things, so
that we can represent you
better."

The Chiefs had already asked the
Union for help against the pipe-
lines that are being put through
the Northeast. Westcoast Trans-
mission, major pipeline company

in the area, has declared that
these have no effect on life up
here; but the people were telling
George how prices have been going
up and up, how impossible it is to
find housing in the towns - and
what does become available is
rented at ridiculous prices. Some

15

Indian people lived through the
last winter in a tent in Fort St.
John. Alcoholism is already a
major problem here. The. old
people say it is not safe to be
out after 9:00 p.m. Game gets
more and more scarce, scared away
by pipeline construction. Many
traplines have already been dam-
aged and plans for more construc-
tion threaten more traplines. The
people here are already victims of
pipeline development. Another ma-
jor "development" at this stage
would be genocide; the deliberate
destruction of a people.

In March, the chiefs of the north-
east and southeast went to Ottawa.
They went to tell the Pipeline
Parliamentary Committee how alarmed
they are about the effects of the
proposed Alaska Highway Pipeline.
They told the Parliamentary commit-
tee how urgent it is to have an en-
aquiry about how the Alaska Highway
Pipeline is going to affect our
people, an Enquiry like the one
Judge Berger held into plans to
build a pipeline down the MacKenzie
Valley.



Elisa

at Prophet River introduces her
father to George Manuel. They
talked of the signing of Treaty 8.

George Manuel, when he was president
of the National Indian Brotherhood,
had helped get the Enquiry going

and he told how the Indian and Inuit

people in the Northwest Territories
united to fight the pipeline and

how strong they became because of
the fight. We showed the film about
the MacKenzie Valley Enquiry at each
reserve. The film shows a couple of
the community hearinas where the
Indian people are telling the Judge
how stronaly they feel about con-
tinuing their traditional life style
and their opposition to the pipeline
that threatened this. They stopped

the pipeline in the MacKenzie Valley.

Now that pipeline is planned for
northeast and southeast B.C. and it
is our turn to look very carefully
at the effects of such a large plan.

"Who is going to benefit
from this pipeline?",
asked George Manuel.

"Not the Indians: Skilled
workers, the companies
that sell the gas, the
Provincial and Federal
governments that collect
the taxes and, of course,
the people of the United
States who will use the
gas. Maybe one or two
Indians in B.€. will get
labourers' jobs for a few
months. Will the destruc-
tion of our people be
worth these few jobs?"

FULL ENQUIRY DEMANDED

The Indians and Inuit of the North-
West Territories felt very strongly
that no amount of jobs would be
worth such destruction. We need

an Enquiry here to find out what
effects the Alaska Highway Pipeline
will have on Indian people in B.C.:
will it be the final genocide -

the final destruction of a people -
that we fear? This is the scale of
the issue.



Drying moose meat at the home
Chief Jerry Attachie of the
Doig Reserve

WE HAVE TO FIGHT BACK

George Manuel, like other Indian
leaders, was humbled by the seve-
rity of the lives of the Indian
people of the Northeast. He was
pained greatly by the inevitability
of the invasion by government and
business: how the constant chip-
ping away of resources and life-
style by these people. He recog-
nized the last resort -- that the
Indian people of the Northeast

have to fight back, have to win
back their natural rights as Indian
people, as human beings. He knew
the Indian people of the Northeast
have to have a voice that was
strong, proud and wise to govern-
ments and business.



INDIAN GOVERNMENT

Assembly v

At this years annual assembly, the Indian
Government Portfolio held several workshops which covered
the various aspects of the Unions position on Indian Government.
In these workshops we reported on our activities over the past
year. Robert Manuel, the Indian Government Portfolio Chief, -
presented this report and also reviewed the Aboriginal
Rights Position Paper.

The workshops were valuable for a number of
reasons. First, they provided a much needed opportunity
to exchange ideas concerning the concept of Indian Government.
Secondly, it was these workshops that helped to formulate
the resolution which was passed at the assembly.

The resolution reads as follows:
MOTION - Moved by Dennis Alphonse
Seconded by Tom Sampson

THAT the Aboroginal Rights Position Paper proposed by the
U.B.C.1.C. Indian Government Portfolio be adopted as
the Aboriginal Rights Position of the U.B.C.1I.C. under
the condition that it is reviewed and revised from
time to time according to clause 5 of the Aboriginal
Rights Position Paper.

It was through the workshops and this resolution
that our tasks for the coming year have been more clearly
defined. We propose to hold Indian Government workshops in
the very near future which will further clarify our proposed

plan of action.
Charlotte Gilbert

17

Education

In all the latest issue of the Union
of B.C. Indian Chiefs Newsletter, the
Education Portfolio has just given in-
formation on the Master Tuition Agree-
ment. In this issue, | will describe
what the Education Portfolio is and
what it does for the Indian people of
Bs Gs

First of all, the Education Portfolio
is directed by Phillip Paul of the
Tsartlip Band in Saanich and he
handles the education details at a
political level for the Chiefs Council
and sit on the Executive Committee as
Vice-President in charge of education.

1 am the Education Co-Ordinator for

the Portfolio and carry out the
planning and other technical details

of the work which we are given to do

by Chiefs Council or the Executive.
Sometimes, we are asked to do research
or to make recommendations on how work
should be carried out but the final
decisions are made by the Chiefs Counci |
and the general assembly of the

U.B.C.1.€. | am not from B.C. but have
lived here off an on 14 years in
Vancouver. | am from the Old Crow

Band in the Yukon originally.

The Education Assistant for the Educa-
tion Portfolio is Ronald Dan who is
from Mount Currie, B. C. and he

handles other responsibilities whenever
Phillip or | are busy with certain

Rosalee Tizya

issues. Ron also handles all band
requests that we get and arranges any
workshops that the bands ask for. Last
year, Ron's main responsibility was with
the cultural education centres program
while mine was the Master Tuition Agree-
ment.

We are still dealing with both the
Cultural Education Centres Program and
the Master Tuition Agreement and were
given further direction by the general
assembly in Penticton this year to con-
tinue dealing with these two issues.

Sandy Cameron has been doing much of our
research dealt with the Master Tuition
Agreement. Sandy used to teach in
addition to other kinds of work such as
Mining and Logging and he has been a big
help in doing a lot of the background
work for us.

It is the responsibility of the Educa-
tion Portfolio to provide proper infor-
mation regarding education issues to

all bands in B.C., who request technical
or expert help. We are also asked by
Chiefs Council and Executive Committee
to deal with outside groups who either
make requests or proposals which would
have a good or a damaging effect on the
Indian people of the Province.

Specific issues on Education will be

provided in the next issue along with
information we have available.

18

_YOUTH

The General Assembly was extremely valuable
for the Youth Development Portfolio as it
provided the opportunity for direct contact
with a number of young people. This contact
gave us a much more realistic kind of in-
sight into the needs and interest of B.C.'s
Indian young people. It also gave us an
insight into the kinds of Youth Programs
that are already in existence in the pro-
vince, and also what kinds of programs

are needed and wanted.

The portfolio has since been involved

in helping to organize a Conference at
U.B.C. The Theme of the conference was
"Human Rights in Your Community'' and was
sponsored by The United Nations Associa-
tion In Canada. The portfolio arranged

to have 26 Indian Students from all areas
of the province participate in the con-
ference. Some of the students have agreed
to document their experiences at the con-
ference and some of these reports may be
featured in future issues of the newsletter.

The Portfolio also arranged to have’ 17
people from the various Indian Communities
of B.C. to act as resource people at the
conference. These people gave workshops

on a variety of topics such as Education,
Indian Government, Aboriginal Rights, Youth
Development & Fishing Rights. These Work-
shops were very successful as they stimu-
lated a large number of Non Indian students
to think about the struggle of B.C.'s
Indian people.

19

Michelle Stiff

We were also very fortunate to have George
Manuel as the Keynote speaker of the day.
George made a vital presentation which
covered and gave the students a much deeper
insight into Aboriginal Right and how

that is a Human Right. The speech really
aroused the students interest and pre-
pared them to participate more fully in the
following workshops.

The conference was a success and | would
especially like to thank all the Indian
students who participated as they really
helped to make their fellow student dele-
gates more aware of the struggle of B.C.'s
Indian population.

The Youth Development Portfolio is also
involved in a Summer Hiring Program.

We plan to do a great deal of research
into the area of Youth Development that
will hopefully lead to comprehensive,
long term Youth Development Programs.

He Bc af NC fe 9 9c 3c ac aC 9 9K 9k

BOOK REVIEW

The Youth Development Portfolio is starting

a 'Book of the Month' section for the Youth

Development section of the Newsletter. This
means that each month there will be a brief

review of recommendial books that depict

all aspects of the struggle of Indian people.

This months book is HalfBreed by Maria
Campbell.

Campbells book is a very moving personal
story of what it is like to be a half-
breed-woman in Canada. This book is highly
recommended as it intrinsically brings up
the question of status laws by depicting
how the loss of status can so negatively
effect the lives of Indian women.

The Book is very easy to read and once
you pick it up it becomes increasingly
difficult to put it down!!

Indian Workers Strike

The Muckamuck Restaurant in Vancouver is currently the scene of
a labour dispute. The Muckamuck, well known as an “authentic
Indian restaurant", employs a staff that is 90% Indian. The
management and owners are all white. The restaurant has had a
history of poor employee/employer relations from its beginnings.

The Muckamuck has a large turn-over of staff; the wages are low
$3.00 - $4.25 per hour; the employees have no say in scheduling
and they have short notice of change of work hours. The all-
Indian staff were fed up with the poor treatment they were getting.
On February 21, the Muckamuck employees applied for certification
to form Local 1 of the Service, Office and Retail Workers'

Union of Canada. On that day, the Union organiser and Muckamuck
employee, Cay Jung, was fired. Since Union certification, on
March 21, four employees were fired or intimidated into quitting:
Ethel Gardner, Loretta Hill, Rey George and Vikki Peters.

The Muckamuck employees are fighting four of the dismissals with
unfair labour practice charges at the Labour Relations Board.

To date, repeated attempts to negotiate with the Muckamuck
management have failed. On May 20th, Local 1 or SORWUC (Service,
Office and Retail Workers Union of Canada) began to pass out in-
formation leaflets outside the restaurant. The leaflets stated
their position and their grievances. The managements claims the
Union is acting in bad faith by passing out leaflets outside the
restaurant and that it is an illegal picket. On Sunday, May 28,
the Indian workers finally said - Enough: and voted to strike.
The strike began Thursday, June 1. The Muckamuck workers Local |
of Sorwuc have called on Indian organisations to support their
strike to win decent working conditions and to be treated with
respect by the Muckamuck management.

Local 1 of Sorwuc is calling on all supporters to contribute to
their strike fund. The strike could be long and the employees
will need money to live on if they are going to win this battle.
They are also calling on the Indian community in Vancouver to
Support their picket line by going down to the Restaurant and
picketing with them.

They are asking people not to eat at the Muckamuck restaurant
until there is a Union contract and the workers are rehired.
Strike fund donations should be sent to:

Muckamuck Workers, Sorwuc,
#1114 - 207 West Hastings,

Vancouver, B. C.

Tel: 684-2834 or 681-2811

20

+e



Mm VIDEO WORKSHOP

Quite a few people have been asking about workshops on video:
what is available and what to do with what you have got.

The television staff at Capillano College in North Vancouver
have agreed to put on a two-three day workshop in late

August. This would be for all Bands in B. C. who already have,
or hope to get, video equipment, and for any other groups or
persons who are interested.

The workshops have been planned to include:

equipment: how to use it (we will have i b. & w.
gee l to reel, cassette and
/," colour cassette equipment)
digcussions on the uses of each kind

production: basic tastruction in
camerawork
sound and
lighting

pre-planning,

editing scripts and editing (if you have
any edited tapes or tapes that you would
like to edit, please bring them)

If you have any particular video problems that you would
like us to cover, please let us know.

One of the other advantages to a workshop of this kind is to get
together with all other Indian video groups or individuals: find
out who is doing what, who can help who - and to start a kind of
distribution network, so that useful programs aren't just sitting
on someone's shelf.

If you could let us (Communications UBCIC) know that you will be
coming and if there are particular areas that you want to cover,
it would certainly help with arranging the workshop.



21

*%* JOB NOTICES #*#



INTERIOR INDIAN FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY

POSITION: Assistant Executive Director
Interior Indian Friendship
Society

DUTIES: prepare all funding submissions

ly

2) direct training programs for new
staff members

3) liaise with other community
agencies

4) assist Executive Director in
monitoring and assessing
I.I.F.S. sponsored programs

5) attend conferences and work-
shops as required

6) assist Executive Director and
Board in formulating policy

7) assume all duties and respon-
Sibilities of Executive Direc-
tor in his absence

8) perform counselling and refer-
ral duties as required.

SALARY: Negotiable
CLOSING DATE: Friday, June 2, 1978
SEND RESUME TO:
INTERIOR INDIAN FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY
387 - 4th Avenue

KAMLOOPS, B.C.
V2C 3P1

SPALLUMCHEEN BAND
TEACHERS WANTED



The Spallumcheen Adult Basic Education
Program is a unique, community-based,
Indian controlled program that involves
twenty Indian adult students, one co-
ordinating teacher. It employs an in-
novative, flexible, highly individualized
instructional approach and curriculum
materials adapted to the particular needs
of the students in the program. Curri-
culum areas include English, Math, Social
Studies, Bookkeeping and typing or con-
struction and students receive accredation
through Okanagan College in grades 9-12.

POSITIONS OPEN

1) Co-ordinating Instructor
2) Full-time Teacher Aides
3) Construction Instructor (part-time)

Deadlines for written resumes; June 30th,

1978. Please specify position applied for
and set interviewing date for week of

July 3 - 7, 1978. Submit applications to:

WAYNE M. CHRISTIAN

Education Co-ordinator
Spallumcheen Indian Administration
P.O. Box 430

ENDERBY, B.C.

VOE 1V0

Essential that the people are Native

Indian or have worked for Indian People
for a number of years.

22