Periodical
UBCIC News - volume 1, number 6 (October 1978)
- Title
- UBCIC News - volume 1, number 6 (October 1978)
- Is Part Of
- 1.06-01.03 Nesika: UBCIC News
- 1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series
- Date
- October 1978
- volume
- 1
- issue
- 6
- Language
- english
- Identifier
- 1.06-01.03-02.10
- pages
- 31
- Table Of Contents
-
CONTROLLING OUR EDUCATION
HUNTING RIGHTS DECISION:
A LANDMARK VICTORY
BAND TRAINING WORKSHOP AND
SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY - Contributor
- Beth Cuthand
- Pauline Douglas
- George Manuel
- Millie Poplar
- Maxine Pape
- Loretta Todd
- Barbara Kuhne
- Dinah Schooner
- Saul Terry
- Clarence Oppenheim
- Lloyd Nagonosh
- Cary Linde
- Herman Thomas
- Ramona Louis
- Lillian Basil
- Gene Joseph
- Ron Dan
- Rick Salter. Louisa Basil.
- Type
- periodical
- Transcription (Hover to view)
-
Vol.1 No.6 Oct.‘78
EDITORIAL
Once upon a time, not long ago, in a big city lived a five-year-old Indian kid named Steven. He was an ordi-
nary boy who wanted to learn how to read so that he could grow up to be a space pilot, like Luke Skywalker in
Star Wars. So Steven decided to go to kindergarten to get an education. Finally the first day of school arrived.
Steven walked to school beside his mother and his little brother. Even though he wanted to run, he was very
careful to walk on the sidewalk and look both ways for cars when he came to a corner. He was excited; at last he
was going to start to read and write. When they arrived at the big brick building with the bars across the windows
and the big steel doors, Steven clutched his mother’s hand and his brother’s arm. There were so many children.
Big kids too. Kids of all sizes and colors, wearing new clothes and shiny shoes. The little family walked through
the crowds of kids to the big front doors... .
“There’s more Indians this year,” an older girl said to her friend as Steven passed by. He looked up quickly
at his mother, his eyes were wary and questioning.
“You’re lucky Steven,” I said, “‘there’s more Indians this year.”
I smiled at my son but the look in his eyes didn’t go away. At last the bell rang and the children streamed
into the big brick school. Steven walked slowly up the steps and the big steel doors clanked shut behind him.
“Just like a jail,” I thought as I stood in the deserted school yard. I stood there for a long time, my throat tight
and my eyes stung with tears which I couldn’t let out. | remembered the day my oldest son was born: my child
would go to an Indian school, where he would learn to be strong and proud of what he was. He would learn his
own language, his own history, and way of life. Then he could be anything he wanted and go anywhere he
pleased with his back straight and his head high. A strong Indian home and a strong Indian school makes for a
strong Indian kid.
I stood there in the barren school yard looking at the big brick building with the barred windows and the
big steel doors.
The weeks passed and Steven tried to learn to read and write but for some reason the teacher couldn’t stand
him and he couldn’t stand her. Steven began to throw fits outside the school. He would lie in the middle of the
road kicking and screaming and the teacher would have to carry him into the classroom. Finally the teacher
phoned: “Your son is totally unmanageable and disrupts the class. He refuses to read when it’s time to read, he
refuses to paint when it’s time to paint, in fact he refuses to conform at all. I suppose you've noticed if you look.
at his work, that he prints everything backwards? Why he can’t even print his name straight!”’ she said.
“I know he prints backwards,” I said, “but I’ve talked to other parents whose kids have the same problem:
you must be patient and encouraging, Miss Dixon. The child has to want to print straight before he’ll learn.”
“It sounds to me like you’re taking Steven’s side,” the teacher said huffily. “Children have to learn that there
are rules and regulations that they have to live by. If a parent doesn’t support the teacher, then I’m afraid it’s a
waste of time to have the child in class.”’
“That’s fine, Miss Dixon: kindergarten is not compulsory in this province, I think it would be better for all
concerned to withdraw Steven from school.” So Steven became a drop-out at the ripe old age of 5.
Several months later, we found ourselves living on a reserve on the Prairies which had taken control of its
education five years earlier. At first Steven ignored the school, but every morning he noticed the big yellow
school bus picking up his friends. One day he decided to give “education” one more try. For some reason, he
liked this school; he’d come home and count in Odjibway for his Grannie who would tell him what a smart boy
he was. I talked to the teacher and the teacher-aide about his printing. ‘‘Should I correct him when he prints back-
wards at home?”’ I asked.
“No,” the teacher said, “‘we’re encouraging him to print straight; if he gets too pressured he won’t want to
learn. Just be patient.”
One day a blizzard hit and the roads were blocked. The school bus couldn’t run so Steven got all dressed up
and waded through the snow to the school. There were only three kids in kindergarten that day, and the teacher
walked them all home at noon.
Steven ran into the house, his eyes were dancing and he was all smiles.
“Look mommy, look I can print an S!”
I took the frozen piece of paper and looked at it. On it was a row of letters: SSSSS.
Editor
UBCIC 2
_ The UBCIC NEWS is the official voice of the
| Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs.
| It is dedicated to building a strong foundation
| for Indian Government by providing an awareness
| of the political and social issues affecting the
Indians of British Columbia.
: Signed articles and opinions are the views of
the individuals concerned and not necessarily
those of the UBCIC.
Editor: Beth Cuthand Assistant Editor: Pauline Douglas
Written Contributions: George Manuel, Millie Poplar, Maxine Pape, Loretta Todd, Barbara Kuhne,
Dinah Schooner, Saul Terry, Clarence Oppenheim, Lloyd Nagonosh, Cary Linde, Herman Thomas,
| Ramona Louis, Lillian Basil, Gene Joseph , Ron Dan and Rick Salter.
Legend told by Louisa Basil.
The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs
440 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: 684-0231
V6B 1L1 Telex: 04-54220
Editorial
Hunting Rights Victory Hat Creek
President’s Message CMHC and Band Housing
Band Training Chiefs Council
Kootenay Hit First by Giant Special General Assembly
Pipeline. ... Taking Care of Business
Wrestling over Control Fishing
of Indian Education Resource Centre
David Campbell Book Review
Pole Raising Youth Development
A Coyote Legend Letters
Our Cover: Steven Charlie is from the Squamish Band. He is 19 years old and has been painting for six
years. His grandmother told him the story of his great-grandfather who was seven feet tall and had a bow
that no one else could open. One day he went hunting and killed two grizzly bears with one arrow.
UBCIC 3
MOOSE-DIES-ON-DOORSTEP CASE
A LANDMARK DECISION _
INDIAN HUNTING
RIGHTS AFFIRMED
@ FRANCIS HAINES
ACQUITTED
On February 8th this year
Francis Haines of the Stone Band
was charged by Fish Wildlife
Officers for shooting moose out
of season without a permit. The
case came up at the Alexis Creek
court in June and again in July,
and finally, on October 11th,
Judge C.C. Barnett handed down
his decision on the case. It was a
decision worth waiting for: the
charge was dismissed.
On October 11th, the Judge
told Francis that he had written
out the reasons for his judgement,
but he wanted to say a few things
too. ;
UBCIC 4
a “| am going to dismiss the
charge of hunting the moose
out of season without a permit
because | believe that your
people have a right to hunt for
food during all seasons. In the
Supreme Court of Canada the
judges have not said that the
Indian people do not have
hunting rights — what they
have said is that, assuming the
Indian people do have abun-
dant hunting rights, the pro-
vince can regulate the enjoy-
ment of those rights by requir-
ing Indians to obtain permits.
That is why, in previous cases,
| fined Indians who hunted
moose out of season without
permits. But, in my opinion,
when the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Officers refuse
to issue permits to the Indian
people, it is they who are
wrong, not the Indians who
continue to hunt and kill only
what they need for food. The
Indian people believe that their
rights to hunt for food should
people are allowed to hunt for )
sport. | say they are right.
Nobody ever told me in any
of the earlier cases that the
Conservation Officers had de-
cided to stop issuing permits
to the Indian people. —
| am going to dismiss the
charge of having the moose
carcass at your home on the
reserve out of season because
that is no offence if you had a
right to kill the moose in the
first place.
| have not decided this case
on any narrow technical point.
I say you are not guilty because
you had a right to hunt the
moose. The government can
regulate your hunting, but it
cannot ignore your rights. . . .
Officers at Alexis Creek have |
deliberately - ignored Indian —
hunting rights and the cumber-
some procedure they make
you go through when you do
apply for a permit is really just
a smokescreen to disguise the
fact that no permits are granted.
at all.”” J
\ be considered before other
UBCIC President George
Manuel was delighted. He told
the Press: “This is for us a major
reward. This judgement has re-
stored my belief in the legal
system. . . It’s an absolute land-
mark decision.” Francis’ reaction
was more cool; “That was pretty
good,” he told the Press, “I’m a
family man with ten people to
feed. And I think the Judge
recognised this, that I had to
feed my family.”
The Judge also recognised the
history of misunderstandings and
hostility about Indian hunting
(continued page 6)
Photo: S. Basil
PRE SIDENT S
MESSAGE
INDIAN EDUCATION
Today, in British Columbia, we have no control
over the education of our children. Indian parents
are unconditionally locked into a ‘‘Master Tuition
Agreement” negotiated between the Federal and
Provincial Governments. This Agreement was signed
without any consultation or involvement of Indian
people. It deprives us of control and responsibility
for the education of our children.
The present educational system in British
Columbia meets the needs of only a small number
of children who enter the school system. The school
system encourages competitiveness and often
creates feelings of inferiority for Indian children.
The schools which our children attend are usually
separate from our communities. Schools are often
seen as a place where Indian children learn not to
be Indians. It is no wonder that only nine percent
of Indian children in British Columbia complete
the secondary school program.
Under the Indian Act, responsibility for the
education of Indian people lies with the Federal
Government. For many years educational funds
and the power to make decisions have rested almost
exclusively with the Department of Indian Affairs.
The control over the education of our children has
been with public servants who don’t understand
the Indian way of life and Indian values. We assert
that as part of our Aboriginal Rights, the Federal
Government has the obligation to provide funding
for the education of our children, and we strongly
maintain that only Indian people can develop a
philosophy and system of education suited to our
needs. If “Indian Control of Indian Education” is
to become a reality for Indian parents, we must be
clear as to what kind of society we want to build.
We must begin by asking what kind of life we want
for ourselves and our children, and what kind of
future we see for our communities.
Before we can talk about curriculum, teachers’
qualifications and other practical aspects of design-
ing our own educational system, we must develop a
whole new philosophy of education, based on
Indian values and adapted to modern living.
The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has requested
the Minister of the Department of Indian Affairs to
revise the ‘Master Tuition Agreement” which is
now in effect. We are demanding that it be brought
into line with our Indian Control of Indian Educa-
tion policy. We are demanding an educational
planning process which calls for full participation
of Indian people at all levels of decision-making.
As your Provincial organization, we are working
hard to improve the quality of our education. It is
a task which calls for the co-operation and support
of all Indian parents and Band Councils in the pro-
vince. All of our energies are needed to create a
better future for ourselves and our children. This
is the only way we can be strong enough to face
the cities and the world as Indian people.
Yours in unity,
George Manuel
UBCIC 5
Hunting Rights . . .continued
rights. He quoted a piece from
“B.C. Outdoors” about the vio-
lent attitude of the non-Indian
sports hunters and fishermen to
Indians’ “‘silly claim that they are
entitled to hunt and fish out of
season’’.
“This type of uninformed
and irresponsible journalism
only serves to fuel the fires of
prejudice and discontent, both
of which remain very much
alive in 1978 in British Co-
lumbia,”” ended Judge Barnett.
He didn’t include this in his writ-
ten statement. The UBCIC lawyer
agreed with Francis: “It’s clear
that he’s lived in the area and
understands the Indian people,”
Louise Mandell told us.
In legal terms, the key issue
for the decision rested on the
routine refusal to grant hunting
permits by the Fish and Wildlife
Officers. During the court case,
Conservation Officer Holden tes-
tified that “We don’t run the
moose population as a meat
market,” and, suggested that
needy Indians can get welfare,
and therefore don’t need to
hunt.
UBCIC 6
EVIDENCE SHOWED
THAT THERE WAS NO PRO-
VINCIAL POLICY FOR SUS-
TENANCE (FOOD) HUNTING
PERMITS. Therefore the local
officers had absolutely no right
to make their decision not to
consider Indian rights and to
make getting a permit as difficult
as possible.
INDIAN RIGHTS
KEY TO DECISION
One of the reasons why the
Judge took so long in making his
decision was that he did a lot of
research himself. Because he be-
lieved that the issue could not be
decided without considering the
“native rights” question, he
researched the traditions of the
people; he read up a whole lot of
anthropology studies by Wilson
Duff and Barbara Lane about the
area, and he read up all the old
legal cases on the subject. And he
decided that you can’t separate
Indians and hunting in the Chil-
cotin area. You can’t legislate
on Indian hunting without legis-
lating on Indians and our rights.
(Ponting rights are still ihe |
portant to a great many Indian
people in British Columbia. |
The importance is both mate-
rial and cultural and the Indian
people have no wish to ex-
change their rights for welfare
cheques or to abandon what
remains of their culture for
ours. These facts are not well
understood by us but that is
only because white North
Americans have generally re-
fused to take native cultures
seriously, and British Colum-
bians are no exception.
In the present case there is
| evidence to justify the belief
of the Chilcotin people that
they have a real material need
to hunt game at times outside
the designated seasons.
_In the present case there is
evidence to justify the conclu-
sion that the needs of the Chil-
cotin people could be met if
hunting for sport by resident
and non-resident hunters was
somewhat curtailed.
If conservation is the real
problem in the Chilcotin, the
solution is obvious.
In the result | find the
\accused not guilty.” a
WHAT THIS MEANS
We asked Louise what this
means for Indian hunters:
“T think it means that Indians
in the Chilcotin don’t have to get
permits in or out of season. Even
if appealed, this remains true
until and unless we get a decision
to the contrary. In a wider sense,
Indians throughout the Province
may be able to hunt without a
permit — but at the risk that
their situation is not similar to
that of the Chilcotin people. It is
only unclear how Conservation
Officers are going to act on this
decision. But I really advise that
anyone who does get busted
should contact us immediately:
so that we can unify the defence»
Photo: E. John
It’s going tobe a school
|
that we can run ourselves.
The Stuart Trembleur Band
has a plan to take over its educa-
tion. They don’t know how long
it will take but they are planning
to do it slowly and gradually.
Stuart Trembleur is part of the
Carrier Nation.
Eddy John is a member of
Stuart Trembleur and a third year
law student at the University of
British Columbia. He has been
active in his band for a long time
and has been concerned about the
issue of Indian Control of Indian
Education. He talked with the
UBCIC News about how his band
is planning to go about it.
Photo: E. John
UBCIC. 7
We should eventually be able
to control our education. To run
our schools the way we want them
run. We want to educate our
children about our customs, our
history, our language. Not only to
be aware of the potlatch and all its
implications, but also to be able to
function in the non-Indian world.
We have to admit that there are
non-Indian people controlling the
main industries in the province.
The dominant language is English,
the dominant institutions are non-
Indian. We have to be able to
function in those areas too.
So how is Stuart Trembleur
going about doing this?
It’s a long and arduous process.
We’ve had a lot of problems be-
cause we've had to start from
scratch. Everything prior to, let’s
say, four or five years ago was
handled by Indian Affairs. We’re
slowly taking over programs and
seeing how successful we are in
handling them. We’re taking over
the hiring of language teachers,
UBCIC 8
Photo: E. John ~
home-school co-ordinators, teacher
aides, tuition fees, room and
board fees, that sort of thing.
Along the way we’re develop-
ing some kind of management
skills so that we’ll be able to take
over the whole thing eventually.
So you're looking at a real
gradual process?
Yeah, we really can’t jump
into this without really knowing
how to handle it. We’ve looked at
other areas where there have been
some failures and we felt that the
problem might be that the people
did it all at once.
You mentioned earlier that
you had language teachers. . . do
you see language as a key to
understanding ourselves as Indians?
That’s. it, that’s got to be the
key. By knowing your language
you're able to communicate with
the old people and from that
you'll be able to understand the
old people’s stories, legends, their
history and from that you can
pick up the whole cultural atmos-
phere that you normally wouldn’t
be able to understand. I don’t
know if I’m making myself clear.
Oh | think you are, go on...
In the past the younger chil-
dren were losing the ability to
speak the language. That’s slowly
Photo: E. John
being stopped and it seems that
they’re able to speak the language
quite fluently. You know it’s a
matter of how much we’re involved
in it and how much we push it.
It’s up to us to push it.
TF gaaeean |
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Photo: E. John
Photo: S. John
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What kind of school do you
see at the end of the line, when
your band has taken complete
control?
It’s a school that we’ll be able
to run. Where we've hired the
teachers, we've set the curri-
culum guidelines. A school that’s
geared to our needs. We will be
the administrators of the whole
thing. We won’t have to rely on
outsiders to educate our kids any
more. The first few years of any
child’s life are really crucial. It is
within that period that they form
their views of the world and how
they can relate to other people.
If somebody else controls what
you learn and what you can view,
then obviously you’re going to be
exposed to only a certain ideology
. . to a certain way of thinking
and a certain way of doing things.
A lot of cases in the past have
ignored the Indian values, cul-
ture, and history. Indian people
have been in a certain vacuum till
they reach a certain stage when
they start saying: “Hey, wait a
minute. This is not the only thing
we can learn.
Photo: E. John
ne gr
own ways?
language?
history?
What about our
What about our own
What about our own
So where do the dollars come
from?
The Federal Government has
an obligation under the Indian Act
to provide funds for the educa-
tion of Indians. What we’re saying
is that, it’s DIA’s duty to supply
money to bands to operate their
own schools.
It’s about time DIA took its
obligation seriously.
Indian control of Indian edu-
cation has got to come. It’s a mat-
ter of local people becoming
involved to make it happen. I
think provincial organizations can
provide resources but they can’t
make it happen at the local level.
Local people have to start the ball
rolling. It’s happening in a lot of
areas in our Province and I think
it’s a good thing.
UBCIC 9
BAND TRAINING
_'NDIAN CONTROL LANDS RESOURCES? INSTITUTIONS
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The Chiefs and Band Council and their hired
employees are the basic force in the development of
strong Indian Governments. The Department of
Indian Affairs has done some training for Band
Councils and Band employees in the past through
its “band training program’’, but this program
doesn’t meet our needs.
We are working on a province-wide Band Train-
ing Workshop to be held November 20, 21, and 22,
1978.
We have no DIA people coming. We have
the funds to pay for one person from each Band;
if Bands wish to send more than one person, we
are encouraging all bands who have the funds to
do so. All Band representatives are welcome.
It is time that we come together to take a good
look at the kind of training DIA is providing us and
the kind of training we need to make our Indian
Government strong. The Master Service Agreement
(sometimes called the Local Service Agreement or
the Memorandum of Agreement) is the most recent
and serious threat to our goal of independent Indian
Governments. It reinforces the Department’s control
over Band money and the decisions about the
spending of that money.
UBCIC 10
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We have divided the three-day workshop into
two parts. The first one and a half days will be con-
centrated on looking at Band Training and devel-
oping other ways to acquire the skills necessary for
running our own governments. DIA’s objective in
training Band Councils and Band employees is to
make brown bureaucrats who can only enforce DIA
policy at the Band level. We cannot allow that to
happen. We need to develop and strengthen our
skills to run our administrations. Band staff tell us,
for example, that Band Planning is one of the most
important things that we must learn to do. During
the first half of the three-day workshop, we will
develop an alternative training program which will
provide the skills that we think are needed for Band
Councils and Band staff in order to run a Band
Government effectively and efficiently for the
benefit of the Band (not the DIA).
We feel that as
Indian people, we are past the time of holding
workshops where somebody comes to talk to
us. So in preparing for our workshops, we are
planning for all band people who attend to be
participants.
TOWARDS INDIAN GOVERMENT
The second half of the Indian Government De-
velopment Workshop will be devoted to looking at
the Master Services Agreement which DIA is saying
every Band must sign before the end of the fiscal
year (March 31, 1979). They threaten to cut off
Band funding unless Bands sign.
The Draft Master Services Agreement, formu-
lated by the B.C. Regional staff of DIA, makes DIA
co-signers with Bands for money spent. It takes
away what little control Bands have over their dol-
lars. DIA says Bands may only administer pro-
- grams. At a time when we are saying ‘Indian Gov-
ernment Today,’ they are saying, ‘Forget it. We'll
handle your money and we’ll make your decisions.’
The Master Services Agreement is a giant step
backwards for Indian Government.
After 3 days of workshops, the Special
General Assembly will be held. Our job in the
Band Training Workshops is to make recom-
mendations to the Assembly on the two topics
we will be dealing with: “Band Training” and
“Master Service Agreement.”
Our job in the Workshop, is to review DIA’s
draft Agreement and to see what requirements
Ottawa DIA is calling for, in order that Bands can
continue administering the programs they already
have. After three months of consultation with
Bands and Districts, we have prepared a draft
counter-proposal which meets DIA Ottawa’s re-
quirements.
If we sign any agreement, we must know how
to negotiate it with DIA. We will develop nego-
tiations and strategy that will prepare us to get the
kind of agreement we want as Indian people.
After three days of studying and sharing ideas
we will have concrete recommendations on Band
Training and the Draft Master Services Agreement
to bring forward to the Special General Assembly.
We have only enough money to pay for one
delegate per Band. We are urging all Bands to pay
for any additional delegates and, as usual, anyone
who is a Band member is welcome to come and
participate. The Special General Assembly was
planned to follow immediately after the workshop
to save on delegates’ travel expenses.
F
THE FED’S POLICY |
In the past the Government of Canada’s
Indian Policy has been the protection, civil-
ization and assimilation of Indian People.
The goal of DIA is to do away with Indian
special status.
Protection
Under the B.N.A. Act, section 91-24, the
government of Canada has exclusive jurisdiction
over “Indians and lands reserved for Indians”.
The Indian Act which followed soon after
outlines the ways in which the government will
protect Indians.
Civilization
Having given us special status through the
Indian Act, the government has since been
trying to eliminate it. They have tried to do
this by civilizing us through their education
system. By training us to accept European
values, the government believed that we could
be capable of looking after our own affairs in
the same way that European values dictate.
Assimilation
Assimilation; ‘“‘to absorb” or ‘“‘make the
same”. By protecting us and then training us to
accept European civilization, the Indian iden-
tity and culture would be eliminated. Indians
would be the same as anyone else and no longer
need or want special status. DIA’s control over
our Band Training is just one way that the
government is enforcing this policy.
a J
Communications Worker
Wanted for 6 month term
B.C. Indian with a basic
knowledge of photography who
believes in and can write about
the gut social and political
issues that we live with in B.C.
Some experience in a field of
communications preferred but
not essential. Salary negotiable.
Apply to: The Editor, UBCIC
News, 440 West Hastings St.,
’ Vancouver.
Telephone: 684-0231.
UBCIC 11
KOOTENAYS FIRST TO BE HIT
BY GIANT PIPELINE |
_ The giant Foothills pipeline
project has been approved by the
American government. It looks
like the companies will now try to
push the pipeline through Indian
land in northeastern B.C. and
pre-build. The main reason to
pre-build the pipeline is to help
the companies raise enough money
to build the whole pipeline.
As was stated in the Union’s
submission to the National Energy
The Southeastern section of
the Alaska Highway pipeline will
most certainly affect the lives of
Indian people along the route
where traditional lands are crossed.
Traditional hunting area on Wigwam Flats
through the Kootenay people’s
aboriginal territory.
In fact, there is already a
proposal to build a pipeline
through the Kootenays ahead of
schedule. They call this the
UBCIC 12
Board, we oppose all attempts to
pre-build until such time as the
governments and industries in-
volved are prg¢nared to recognize
our aborigina: rights to the land
and the resources.
This was eloquently stated by
representatives of the Kootenay
area who appeared before the
Parliamentary Committee looking
into Bill C-25 on March 6, 1978.
At that time Chief Peter
McCoy told MP’s:
(“| think the Bill C-25, or any)
pipeline for that matter is just
making things worse. We will
not have any more land, any
more hunting, any more game,
and we are ruining our culture
and our traditional Indian
heritage, and will not be able
to teach our kids anything.
And the spawning grounds of
fish are being netted with all
that water pollution up there
and the sheep breeding and
lambing grounds will be right
in where the pipeline is pro-
Cr 3
Wigwam River near Site 35
(the pipeline will in no au
benefit my people either by &
gaining employment or receiv- McEvoy Creek immediately above Site 24
ing any of the gas and there
will beno benefitto future
generations of my _ people.
There have been developments |
in the Kootenays in the past
which harmed our livelihood.
. .- At the present we do have
limited hunting and trapping
but it is our fear that after the
construction of this pipeline
there will be nothing left.”
. . . ‘So you see the alarm and
anxieties that lie within my
people. | think before Bill
C-25 [Pipeline Act] is passed,
land claims and aboriginal
rights issues be settled. Thank
\ you se 4)
Wilf Jacobs of the Lower Kooten-
ay Community said .
aah
UBCIC 13
‘DIA, CHURCH, BANDS WRESTLE
FOR CONTROL OF EDUCATION
On September 8, 1978, the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs, Education Portfolio was requested
to attend a meeting at Coqualeetza, Fraser East
District. This meeting was called between the
Bands, D.I.A., and St. Mary’s Catholic School.
This was a preliminary meeting on the issue of
Indian children in parochial schools.
What quality of education are the children
getting and what educational services are the In-
dian people getting for the tuition dollars? Very
fair questions. The days of leaving Indian people
out of the affairs which affect their lives are over.
As more Bands get involved with their education
programs, it is only natural that they begin to
evaluate and question those services provided to
them.
Follow-up meetings were held on September
18, 19th and 21st with the Bands in the Chilli-
wack area and a General Meeting with all the Bands
UBCIC 14
on September 28th. At the General Meeting it was
decided that further consultations were required
with the parents and so each Band is endeavouring
todothat. —
It is encouraging to hear of Bands that are
developing ways of getting better education ser-
vices for their children. That is what Indian Con-
trol of Indian Education is all about — “Give
responsibility back to the parents.”
The Bands are preparing to negotiate with St.
Mary’s Catholic School for an Agreement to spell
out those areas of education which for so many
years have been neglected. Agreements are one
way to guarantee that Bands will get the quality of
educational services they are requesting.
It is important that the D.I.A. and St. Mary’s
Catholic School participate in negotiations for the
good of the Indian children.
That is all the Bands are asking.
' David Campbell is an Ara-
wack Indian from Guyana, a
small country on the north
coast of South America, who
now lives on Manitoulin Island
in northern Ontario. He writes
songs and sings. He has made
many records and given concerts
in Europe as well as North Amer-
ica. He was recently in B.C.
‘performing in Victoria, Mt. Currie
and Vancouver. While he was
here he talked about hiniself and
his music.
Why did you come to Canada?
As a child growing up in
a British colony you’re taught
you're British and that when
you're an adult you'll go to
England or Canada. Anything
Indian or local you’re made to
feel ashamed of. Like Indian
people everywhere you’re trained
that your forefathers were savage
and heathen and that brown is
ugly. Since a child has no resis-
tance to this | grew up brain-
washed. | came to Canada know-
ing very little about myself and
Indian people. Later | left for
England but returned to Canada
about five years ago. Through
thinking and experiencing |
began to break my chains. |
went to work in Toronto at an
Indian children’s recreation pro-
gram. There was difficulty
at first with acceptance but now
| feel at home with Indian peo-
ple everywhere.
Why did you start playing
music?
In Guyana, people love music,
but a career as a musician is seen
as frivolous. | only started play-
ing the guitar after | came to
Canada, but soon grew tired of
‘singing other people’s songs and
started writing my own. After-
wards, when | had moved to Eng-
land and was making my living as
a musician, | started thinking
about my people and began
writing songs about being Indian.
_- soon realized that | couldn’t
write about being Indian from
England, so | returned to Canada.
DAVID CAMPBELL
ARAWACK SINGER
What differences and similar-
ities have you noticed between
North and South American
Indians?
_ There are many cultural and
language differences but there
are also certain central traditional
ideas common to all Indians:
sharing for the good of all,
respect and love of the ea:th
because she is your morher.
Since the invasion of Euro-
peans, Jndians everywhere have
suffered the same oppression.
The only difference being to
what degree and what era. Even
today in Brazil Indian people are
being shot from airplanes to
make way for more development.
| prefer to see the similarities
rather than dwell on the differ-
ences.
Are you hopeful for the
future of Indian people?
| sense a new cycle for
Indian people. For instance
Indian people are claiming their
land in an unprecedented way.
| am glad to be alive at this time
and be a part of these changes.
But there has been immeasurable
damage and there is still a long
way to go. In Latin America
conditions are medieval for Indian
people. | hope what has started
in North America will make its
way to Latin America. | see this
already happening in the meetings
of Indian people from North,
Central and South America.
Through my travels | have recog-
nized the common ground that
all Indian people share and the
need for unity. Local issues
should be important too but In- .
dians have to see that it is not
just you on this reserve but that
this has happened to millions of
other Indians throughout the
Americas. Through this we will
gain strength and become power-
ful once again.
sernerenme ec Se
wie
David Campbell's records are available from NOONA MUSIC, Providence
Bay, Manitoulin Island, Ontario POP 1T0 for $7.00 + $1.00 postage.
UBCIC 15
Elders, chiefs leading their people,
tors. The destination
is the new community hall being
opened Saturday, 7th October.
Beaver, Wolf and Frog clans.
The carrying of the poles and raising was done by
Indians, guests and visitors. Thanks and praise was
given to various organizations, and especially to the
carver, Walter Harris, and also to Rodney Harris,
Arthur Wilson for helping design the door and the
design of Raven Stealing the Sun. At the ceremon-
ies | believe there were approximately a thousand
witnesses. Traditional songs were sung and speeches
in their traditional tongue and later in English.
There was a speech given on unity which was very
moving. ‘We are one, brothers under one roof and
that roof is the sky.” In closing everyone was
invited to the cermonial feast.
Moses Morrison cutting ribbon, and declaring ‘We
are one.”
UBCIC 16
One pole represents the founder of Kispiox: the other is a family pole for Kispiox which has crests of the
. Ss
Moricetown pole raising.
Village people patiently waiting
for the beginning of the great
occasion:
Monday, October 9th, the Carrier people, as well
as the Kispiox, celebrated the occasion of raising a
traditional pole with family crests. The community
gathered later to join in a feast. The feast is a
traditional custom. There were traditional Carrier
songs and speeches by the elders: the respect and
dignity for their elders was very evident. The
overall theme was love, unity and survival of cus-
toms. Tradition is going to never cease.
Carrier people taking a short pause before com-
mencing to raise pole by hand.
Carrier traditional songs being sung by the elders
before raising of Moricetown community pole.
A C OYOTE L EG E N D e by Louisa Basil
Why there are rocks in the fields from the Bonaparte River crossing to 16 Mile House, which is known
as the ‘Highway to the North”’.
Long before man walked the Valley and Lands of the Shuswaps, animals had powers, great powers
of instinct. There is a legend that the Coyote heard of a man who was travelling from the coast to the
interior who also had great powers: for example, he could make wood start to burn, like when lightning
struck a tree; just by hitting two rocks together and he could do various other things. The Coyote
didn’t like this because he believed no one was stronger than he was in a certain part of the Valley that
he watched over. This was his territory and he knew what was happening at all times. So he was
curious to see this powerful person (man).
So he went to the highest mountain and sat at a rock bluff and waited for the man. Days passed
and the Coyote waited patiently. Finally, one early summer morning he saw something far off in the
distance, he could make out something moving and was uncertain of what it was. The Coyote was
certain it was moving toward his territory. So the Coyote’s eyes followed the movement. Finally,
when the Coyote could make out the movement, it was mid-day: it was the man with many powers.
In the earlier days of the Coyote when he needed food he waited for a large animal to enter the
valley and the Coyote would roll a large boulder down from the hill top and never did he miss his
target. So in his mind this man wasn’t going to go througn this Coyote’s valley. So taking into con-
sideration all the stories he’d heard of this man, he positioned a big boulder. When the man was in the
line of where the rock would fall, the Coyote pushed the boulder; it rolled down the mountain and to
the surprise of the Coyote the boulder missed by inches. Quickly, the Coyote pushed another boulder
down the mountain and this time he was certain the boulder would hit its target, but again it missed
by inches. So again, the Coyote rolled another and another. The man kept on walking, not dodging the
boulders, but walking straight forward. The Coyote was beginning to be frightened because the boulders
he pushed down the mountain had not hit the target.
By this time all the other animals had gathered after hearing the boulders which echoed like
thunder throughout the valley. They saw the man walking and the boulders throughout the fields in
the valley. The Coyote was so frightened and did not know what to do. So at the top of his voice and
as loud as he could, the Coyote barked: and the bark echoed and the bark sounded like many and it
was kind of hurt and scared. Then the Coyote turned and ran from the man. Failing to stop him, the
Coyote was very frightened by man and his powers which took away his territory; so frightened of
man the Coyote never tried to regain his territory. To this day if you are lucky to see a Coyote, it
would be only for a brief moment and the Coyote will be gone and later you will hear the echo of his
bark fading in the distance, running from MAN.
UBCIC 18
SCIENTISTS MEET ABOUT HAT
CREEK: No Amount of Safeguards
Devi e
EVEN IF HYDRO DID EVERYTHING
RIGHT IN THE HAT CREEK PRO-
JECT THERE WOULD STILL BE
DAMAGE IN THE AREA.
This was one of
the themes that came out of a
two-day meeting of scientific
consultants and representatives
from the Hat Creek Committee
and the UBCIC which took place
October 16 and 17 in Vancouver.
Experienced consultants from
different areas of environmental
impacts were brought together to
discuss what risks our people
might be faced with as a result of
B.C. Hydro’s proposed coal mine
and electricity plant in the Hat
Creek region. A range of potential
problems were discussed, includ-
ing air and water pollution,
effects of the project on fish and
wildlife, and impacts on vegeta-
tion and human health.
If this project is allowed to
proceed as currently planned, it
*
Photo: S. Basil
Vi eet is
will be the largest single source
of industrial pollution in B.C. It
will create serious problems not
only for the immediate, local
area but for a very large region
that will suffer gradual, long-
term impacts. Indian people
in the region will again be faced
with increased social and environ-
mental stresses and further de-
struction of our way of life.
Can Ever Be Enough
One of the major concerns at
the meeting was that B.C. Hydro
is withholding information from
the UBCIC and the Hat Creek
Committee. Hydro has so far
refused to give us the research
reports on the project and has
not given us details on the design
and operation of the plant. The
information which we have ob-
tained, however, indicates that
there are a great many problems
which Hydro has not adequately
dealt with. The UBCIC staff is
now in the process of reviewing
the information which came out
of the risk assessment meeting to
determine which are the most
serious risks for the Bands. We
will be getting this information
out to you as soon as possible.
Past experience with similar
projects in other parts of Canada
and abroad shows that even with
the best design and regulation,
such power projects create irre-
parable damage to the environ-
ment. When you consider B.C.
Hydro’s track record of other
projects throughout this province,
is it likely that this plan will be
any different?
UBCIC 19
BAND CAPITAL OPENED TO CMHC
While the Government con-
tinues to deny that the 1969
White Paper is being imple-
mented, DIA continues to spread
its responsibilities to other
government departments and
agencies. What is happening with
Band Housing is just one more
example.
From the beginning, DIA has
failed to provide adequate hous-
ing on reserves. The Agency who
deals with housing for the rest
of Canada is the Central Mortgage
and Housing Corporation, and
the DIA has long tried to persuade
the CMHC to take over the re-
sponsibility for Indian housing.
For a long time, CMHC refused
to raise the rest. Few people can
raise large loans on reserves, and
new houses are often left uncom-
pleted.
CMHC PERSUADED
TO TAKE OVER
DIA figured that the way out
would be to hand over total
responsibility for housing to
CMHC. In 1974, the DIA and
CMHC agreed on a scheme where
the CMHC could provide loans to
Band members for the construc-
tion of houses on reserve.
by Cary Linde
The then Minister of Indian
Affairs, Jean Chretien, came up
with the following scheme for
meeting the demands of CMHC:
If the elected Band Council
of a Band would consent in
writing, the Minister of Indian
Affairs would guarantee to CMHC
repayment out of whatever mon-
ies the government might be
holding in trust in Ottawa
‘that belong to the entire mem-
bership of the Band.
If the householders in a Band
could not then repay back to
CMHC all the money for the
“loan”’, CMHC could dip into the
Band’s Capital Trust funds in Ot-
tawa and pull out the entire bal-
because Indians on_ reserves
couldn’t offer the usual security
for a housing loan, which is the
return of the house and the land
on which it is built to the CMHC.
The nature of the Indian reserve
land is that its title (ownership)
remains with the Federal Crown,
and not with the Band or Band
members. So, it cannot be put
up as collateral (security) for a
loan. This has been a major
factor that has protected and
preserved Indian land. Without it,
the Reserves would have been
owned by mortgage companies
and banks years ago.
Under the DIA housing pol-
icy, a few people a year got
$10,000 to build a_ house.
$10,000 won’t even put in an
adequate basement in the north.
The home owner was supposed
UBCIC 20
« "
DIA/CMHC AGREEMENT:
Any revenue that the Band
| has resulting from resource
sales or other sources goes into
its Capital Trust Fund. The
money is held in trust by the
Department of Indian Affairs
in Ottawa on behalf of all the
members of the Band. This
DIA has opened this Trust
Frund to the CMHC as security
against individual Band mem-
bers’ housing loans. A Band's
Trust Fund can be wiped out
by one Band member who
can’t keep up the monthly
loan payments.
Ce )
ance owing.
And they have, in fact re-
cently done this all across the
country. One Band in B.C. had
$90,000.00 taken. This money
had resulted from a full Band
meeting decision to sell its only
timber resource to provide the
beginnings of a very badly need-
ed recreational complex. A
community decision to sell a
community asset to get commu-
nity dollars for a badly needed
community recreation hall was
butchered when DIA gave that
$90,000.00 to CMHC — without
even the need for a court hearing
which is required by law for off-
reserve, private land mortgages.
The $90,000.00 in question
resulted from three homes de-
faulting, out of an original six
built this way. The owners of
=.
: Bands Liable for Individual’s Debts
BLIND PLANNING
those homes were regarded at
the time of the original ‘‘loans”’
to be capable of paying back the
loans because they were all
working as carpenters or carpen-
ters’ helpers on the very houses
that were being built — a total of
six. Nobody seemed to recog-
nize the obvious fact that as soon
as the six houses were built, the
three house builders would be
out of work and no longer able
to make their payments. And
that is exactly what happened.
This sort of total blindness to
what will happen later in the
day, to say nothing about to-
morrow, with respect to DIA
programmes is all too typical of
anyway — but if they could, who
would they put back in the
house? With unemployment in
excess of 70% in many areas, and
with a limited Band population
to pick from, who is going to
want or even be able to move in
and meet the almost four hundred
dollars a month rent payments
that the Band will have to charge
if it is going to get back its
$90,000.00 over the next 18
years? Besides — and this is not
as uncommon as one might think
— the three householders in ques-
tion are suing the builder for
negligence in building the houses
and failure to complete the dwel-
lings. So the buildings aren’t in
the best of shape to begin with.
LOAN NON-PAYMENT BY ONE
MEMBER CAN WIPE OUT ___
BAND CAPITAL FUNDS @,
your part that Band funds are
committed to secure individual
CMHC loans which I have
guaranteed. My guarantee is
given on the assessed ability of
the applicant to repay his loan,
and not according to the size of
a Band’s account. Band funds
are not committed in any. way.
The guarantee protects Band
Land from seizure by non-
Indians, and ensures that Band
Councils have complete control
over it.”
the history of DIA.
And this leads to the next
area of ignorance and stupidity
on the part of DIA. The original
idea was that where a house-
holder doesn’t make payment
and CMHC grabs the money
being held for ALL the members
of the Band in Ottawa, the house
and lot in question then reverts
to the Band Council for owner-
ship. The Band Council is then
supposed to act as landlord, It is
fundamentally impossible for the
elected Band Council to even
seriously consider evicting the
householder who has defaulted
on the CMHC “‘loan’’.
And even if the Band Coun-
cil could evict the householder
from the house that is now tech-
nically in the name of the Band
Council — which they can’t do
Not only that, now that the
householder knows he isn’t sup-
posed to have legal title, what
reason is there for him to make
any improvements to the place?
DIA REASSURANCES
ARE INACCURATE
AND MISLEADING
The degree of double-dealing
and deceit becomes glaringly ob-
vious in a July 24, 1974 letter
from the Minister of Indian
Affairs, Jean Chretien, to the
Thompson River District Coun-
cil.
Chretien is responding to
some expressed concerns about
the new proposed housing policy,
and their fears that Band funds
are subject to seizure. Chretien
writes: “I would like to clarify
an apparent misunderstanding on
_ This DIA/
CMHC conspiracy has just killed
a badly-needed recreation centre
in one village and done immeas-
urable and unforgivable damage
to the social and political fabric
of the Band.
This is happening in a num-
ber of cases in B.C. and all over
Canada.
Editor’s Note: Bands who have
been through the kind of prob-
lems that Cary describes, or who
fear they might be threatened by
CMHC involvement in their hous-
ing programs should forward
their complaints to Maxine Pape,
President’s Assistant, at the
UBCIC office, and the matter
will be looked into by the legal
and housing portfolios.
UBCIC 21
CHIEFS COUNCIL
Chief’s Council met at the UBCIC
meeting room October 16 and 17.
Some of the topics discussed
were agenda items for the coming
special General Assembly, Band
Training, the Fishing Forum, and
Indian government.
Aboriginal Rights
Because of recent government
policies, official or otherwise,
advancement toward Indian Gov-
ernment is being slowed down. A
study done by the Federation of
Saskatchewan Indians on assimi-
lation shows that historically the
government has been working
toward abolishing our rights.
With the proposed changes in the
Constitution and the Indian Act
there is fear that sec. 91(24) of
the BNA Act, that gives Indians
special status, will be weakened.
Indian Government wants Abori-
ginal Rights firmly written into
the new Constitution. Indian
Government tabled its Aboriginal
Rights negotiating process paper
for approval at the Special
General Assembly. The Indian
Government Portfolio sees this as
a vehicle to allow Indian Bands
to deal directly with the Federal
and Provincial Government agen-
cies instead of through DIA.
Band Citizenship
The Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs has taken a major step to
establish Indian Self-Government
in B.C. The UBCIC has initiated
plans to develop regulations de-
fining Band Citizenship (Member-
ship), a right enjoyed by most
governments.
The Chiefs have decided to
play a leading role in the member-
ship issue by initiating a process
that will effectively resolve the
question of Indian status as it is
imposed by the Indian Act.
UBCIC 22
A memorandum is being sent
to all Bands recommending they
begin to develop specific regula-
tions to govern citizenship in
their Band.
Further, the Indian Govern-
ments (Band Councils) are being
asked to contact non-status mem-
bers to assist in the process of de-
veloping citizenship regulations.
The right of each Band Gov-
ernment to determine who its
citizens are, is fundamental to
the Aboriginal Rights position
adopted at the General Assembly
in April.
This position was presented
to Indian Affairs Minister Hugh
Faulkner, but it is apparent in
his proposals for revisions to the
membership sections of the In-
dian Act, that the federal govern-
ment has chosen to disregard our
position.
As responsible leaders, the
Chiefs cannot afford to accept
this rejection because control of
Band Citizenship is vital to effec-
tive Indian Government as it is
defined in our Aboriginal Rights
position,
Band Membership is currently
determined under the Indian Act
which defines who shall be en-
titled to be registered as an Indian.
Responsibility for administering
this statute is vested in a registrar
who has no experience with, nor
any ongoing commitment to
Indian communities.
In deliberations regarding the
development of regulations for
Band Citizenships, Indian Gov-
ernments are being asked to con-
sider the following questions:
1. Will citizenship be deter-
mined by blood quantum?
If so, what will the per-
centage be or will it be
determined by parental
lineage?
2. Will a registration system
be developed, if so how
will the system work? Will
there be tribal, provincial,
or national involvement?
If so, what will their role
be?
3. Will there be an appeal
process for persons dis-
satisfied with the deci-
sions made by authorities?
What will the procedure
be for appeals, who will
have the final decision?
E.g, Band Council, Gen-
eral Band Membership,
impartial board, federal
court?
Courtworkers
Council approved by a vote
of eight (with four abstentions)
that the UBCIC withdraw from
the Native Courtworkers and
Counselling Service because poli-
tical differences between the
UBCIC and the co-founding
organization United Native Na-
tions, have interfered with the
operation of the program. The
UBCIC will recommend to the
Federal and Provincial govern-
ment agencies that the program
be decentralized to the Indian
Governments of B.C. (Band
Councils) for the registered Indian
section of the program.
Some of the other resolutions
passed included support of the
newly formed Western Indian
Agriculture Corporation to get
incorporated with the provision
that they report back to the
Special General Assembly; and
support of the Native Street-
workers program to be reviewed
in one year. The matter of execu-
tive elections was also raised
with the decision being that
Bands will be notified of the
option to have such elections
at this Special General Assembly.
"SPECIAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY
5th SPECIAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNION OF
Photo: S. Basil
B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS
TO BE HELD: NOVEMBER 23, 24, 1978 IN
VANCOUVER, B.C.
at the: Sheraton Landmark Hotel, 1400 Robson
Street
The theme for this Conference is “PRACTICE
INDIAN GOVERNMENT”’. Over the past two years
we have made many strides in developing our own
concept of Indian Government. While we all believe
that we are going in the right direction, and are
moving forward, we also realize and appreciate that
we have a long way to go. The important thing to
remember is that we are mobilized, and going
forward. ae
As the Chiefs of B.C. we have made many
important decisions both at our General Assem-
blies and also within our own Bands. In some
parts of the province they are fortunate enough
to have held many District Council of Chiefs meet-
ings and made important Indian Government de-
cisions there also.
To establish ourselves more forcefully, we are
holding this Special General Assembly with the
theme of ‘Practice Indian Government”.
Our agenda items, recommended by our Chiefs
Council are:
1. Band Training, Its future?
2. Master Local Service Agreement
Options?
3. Possible Election of President, Vice-Presi-
dents, District Representatives — Assembly
Discretion.
4. Indian Development Corporation of B.C. —
A Way to Help Ourselves and Each Other.
5. WesternIndian Agriculture Corporation Limi-
ted — Which Grew Out of Our Agriculture
Committee
6.Health and Social Development Portfolio
Report — Something That We Can Help Each
Other Co-ordinate.
7.B.N.A. Act and Indian Government — B.C.
Position to Protect Indian Status.
8. Aboriginal Rights Negotiating Process Paper —
For Chiefs Consideration.
— QOur
We look forward to a large turn-out, and the
opportunity to practice Indian Government; and
prepare our plans for the coming year.
te,
UBCIC 23
‘TAKING CARE OF BUSINES$
Getting dollars for programs and accounting
for these dollars takes too much Band time and
energy. It certainly diverts them from more im-
portant projects and issues. So the Socio-Economic
Portfolio called a meeting of interested people:
Band Managers, accountants working for Bands
and the government bureaucratic staff for whom
these accounts are done.
George Manuel traced the history of Band
frustrations:
(s ‘I have been involved in Indian politics fora
very long time — since the time when the govern-
ment totally rejected the idea of our people hav-
ing some say in how our band funds should be
expended: even its revenues, never mind its
capital. That's where I started from. Then even-
tually Indian people were allowed to have a say
in the revenue section or interest on their funds.
And of course, now we’re more involved in the
capital and also, to some degree, in the Govern-
ment funding.
If the Band is a sophisticated Band, it has de-
veloped sophisticated groups of resource people.
So the bigger and stronger bands have no problem
| in initiating their own programs, charting their
own goals and pursuing them, both social and
economic goals.
So what we are really talking about here to-
day, is probably the poorer Bands — or not poor
Bands, but those who haven’t developed the
sophistication, the academic know-how or the
technical know-how in terms of administration.
That’s the biggest problem; and the majority of
our Bands are in this category. I think the unem-
ployment statistics reflect this. A lot of Bands
have resources of some kind — so our major
problem is to identify our financial problems,
the procedural problems as far as finances are
concerned.
If the Bands haven’t got the knowledge of
what the rules are of the various government
departments, they have a very difficult time
~both acquiring the funds and accounting for
that the various departments have various kinds
of accounting systems which make it that much
more difficult for Bands who have a very small
staff, who have a very limited understanding of
how finances are handled.
And it is specifically in this area that we
want your help: to decrease the kind of frustra-
tion and break-down in terms of the programs
them. And I understand from our consultants |
that concern an Indian community.” ia
UBCIC 24
The purpose of the meeting was to get recom-
mendations about what could be done. The usual
suggestion is to work on a simplified and standard
accounting system which would be applicable for
all funding agencies by all Bands. However, as
former Band Manager Dick Vedan pointed out:
“Standardization would tend to take away
local control and initiative.”
Over the years, too many Band people have
come to regard accounting as a hassle, and only
done to get dollars out of the government. People
see all the different accounting systems imposed as
just one more way of keeping Bands dependent,
occupied by a missing receipt from last May instead
of constructive programming, lobbying and admin-
istration.
—~
“So accounting has taken on all kinds of
negative aspects, and the main purpose has be-
come lost,” said the auditor for The Nicola
Valley Indian Administration. ‘The whole point
of accounting is to provide useful information to
the Chief and Council, to help in decision-making.
Chiefs and Band Managers should be involved in
the accounting to make sure that the process is
less to satisfy Government agencies and more to
(retain Band control.” og
The meeting mainly highlighted the need for
professional, bookkeeping and clerical training for |
Band staff. If the Band accounting staff understands
the reasons for the accounts, then the accounts be-
come a useful back-up for Indian Government
(Band Council). More Band representation had
been anticipated so the bureaucrats and accountants
outnumbered our people and ‘the talk was more
_ about difficulties and less about solutions. However,
there did seem to be a general realization that
training was the key to Indian control of dollars.
There was no clear idea of what training was needed
nor how it can best be provided.
What did become clear was the need for Band
staff to become involved in Band finances; to work
out for themselves what they need, what kind of
training they think would be most useful and to
come to grips with how to do it. These are the
kinds of decisions that can only be made at Band
level. The planning for this will be one of the topics
to be discussed at the Band Training workshop.
FISHING
The Chiefs Council, at its meeting on October
16th and 17th, passed a resolution to the effect
that the Fish Forum proceed as recommended by
the Fishing Portfolio on DECEMBER 14th and
15th, 1978, at the Vikings Hall, Hastings Street,
Vancouver. Council also recommended that Dis-
tricts be asked to make a contribution to the
costs of the Forum.
So far the tentative planning is that INDIAN
FISHING RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
will be the theme of the provincial Fish Forum.
The purpose will be to complete a UBCIC Direc-
tion Paper on Indian Fishing. Another purpose of
the Fish Forum is follow-up from the December .
1977 Fish Forum.
The specific objectives are to plan ways to
strengthen Indian Government in respect to
Indian Fishing issues:
_ 1. Indian Control of Indian Fishing
2. Involvement of Indian Fishing experts in the
management of the development of Indian
Fisheries. This represents a resumption of
traditional Indian responsibility for sustained
fish reproduction.
The Fish Forum will be
planned so that Indian leaders, and band members
concerned with developing an effective UBCIC
plan of action on fishing issues will be consistently
involved throughout the Forum, with co-operation
from the UBCIC staff and consultants at all levels
(Band, District and Provincial). The process will
include plenary sessions to present information and
to give a report on the achievements of 1978, and
an introduction plan for the challenges of 1979.
The Forum will focus on small workshops for
in-depth discussions su as:
Fishing Rights and Sec eeabiti
Enforcement
Court cases
Effective Negotiating Methods
Public Education on Indian Fishing Rights
and Responsibilities
Research
i. Indian Fishing History
ii. Fish and shellfish depletion
iii. Energy and Resource Impacts
iv. Indian Control of Salmonid Enhancement
projects on or near reserves
7. Collaboration with Potential Allies
8. Organizations that are opposed to Indian
Fishing Rights
a) Se
Photo: S. Basil
A major function of the Fish Forum will be to
develop among all Bands the concept of research as
an opportunity and a responsibility of all. The -
most valuable research material for the struggle to
protect Indian Fishing Rights generally comes from
information that is well known in the community,
but needs to be recorded and organized so that it
can be used effectively when needed.
The main function of the Research consultants
at the Forum will be to record and compile research
data for the UBCIC. It is hoped that the Indian
people from communities will provide the leader-
ship in all discussions at the workshops and plenary
sessions. There will be a heavy emphasis on small,
working groups rather than large meetings to hear
from a few people.
- The Fish Forum is open to anyone concerned
about our fishing rights in general. However, we are
advising you that the Fishing Portfolio has no
money and therefore cannot pay expenses for dele-
gates. We are holding the Forum in Vancouver be-
cause it is cheaper than anywhere else.
We are determined to continue to protect and
assert our fishing rights and responsibilities so it is
very important that the people, bands or districts
participate and assist at the Fish Forum.
UBCIC 25
a
Alert Bay, 1940-41. St. Michael’s School Farm.
Photo by Barney Williams from British Columbia
Provincial Museum.
In February, 1978 the U.B.C.I.C. Resource
Centre bought a series of government documents
crucial to research done for and by the Indians of
British Columbia. When the microfilm copies
began to arrive in April, the Resource Centre be-
came the only Indian organization to have Depart-
ment of Indian Affairs records. Until that time
these records were only available in Ottawa where
they are stored at the Public Archives of Canada.
(The Provincial Archives of British Columbia has
one series of these records, the Black Series).
These government records are vital to research-
ers of land claims, aboriginal rights, Indian educa-
tion economics and political history. The micro-
films also contain important and little-used material
relevant to research of band or tribal culture and
social history.
These records contain letters, memorandums,
etc. from the D.I.A. files and are referred to as
Record Group 10 (RG10). RG10 was first estab-
lished in 1907 when the Department of Indian
Affairs began transferring their records to the
Public Archives of Canada. After this time various
government branches and departments made peri-
odic deposits of their records into the Archives.
Normally the Department of Indian Affairs
operates on the 30 year principle, which makes
records less than 30 years old not available with-
out written permission from the Department.
UBCIC 26
RESOURCE CENTRE
However, to facilitate research D.I.A. has declared
its records open to January 1, 1950. Record
Group 10 does not contain documents of the
Department written since 1950.
RESOURCE CENTRE’S RG10 HOLDINGS
The Resource Centre does not contain all of
the records contained in RG10. We only bought
those series which deal with British Columbia.
Deputy Superintendent Letterbooks, 1879-
1924. This set contains the private letterbooks of
the Deputy Superintendent, filed in volumes by
the year. :
Black Series Headquarters Files, 1872-1950.
This series is one of the better known and most
often used series. The Black Series contains the
files dealing with almost all aspects of the adminis-
tration on Indian Affairs in Western Canada. The
bulk of the records concern the period between
1872-1930.
Headquarters Letterbooks, 1871-1920. These
contain copies of departmental correspondence
relating to the administration of Indian Affairs in
both Eastern and Western Canada.
School Files, 1879-1958. We have 87 reels of
the school files which deal specifically with B.C.
These files cover all aspects of Indian school
administration..
Headquarters Files, 1837-1970. There are 25
reels of the Headquarters Files which deal with
B.C. These files relate to such topics as land
sales, natural resources, Indian claims, war service
pensions and amendments to the Indian Act.
Headquarters Files, 1850-1970. This series in-
volves annuities, welfare, funerals, childcare, and
agents’ allowances.
This material is available for research at the
Resource Centre where a reader-printer machine
can make copies of the documents. All bands, the
Indian people of B.C., and other interested resear-
chers are welcome to come and use these micro-
films. Unfortunately we cannot photocopy all
RG10 material on a specific band or tribe for the
band or tribe because the microfilms have not
been completely catalogues. Interested groups
should visit us for extensive research projects.
However, we will provide copies for those who
request specific documents.
FUTURE PURCHASES
The Resource Centre will be buying more
records on B.C. (i.e. Agency Files and the Indian
Reserve Commission) when they become available.
“| AM NOKOMIS, TOO”, THE BIOGRAPHY OF
VERNA PATRONELLA JOHNSTON
by R.M. Vanderburgh. Published by General Pub-
lishing Co. Ltd., Don Mills, Ontario, 1977.
Verna Johnston, an Ojibwa Indian woman,
voted Woman of the Year, 1977, is one fantastic
person with plenty of interesting experiences that
will sometimes bring tears to your eyes, and
laughter. It was rather difficult to write about it
in a sense that I didn’t know where to begin with-
out writing the whole book.
It begins by tracing her ancestors to the time
when the boundary between the American colonies
and British territory and her relatives were caught
on the American side.
Her childhood was much the same story that
we are fast becoming familiar with — about schools
run by missionaries or residential school. The con-
fusion she felt between what her History taught
and the attitude of her teacher, Miss Muffit, who
said that love and patience would guide the children
from the fault of being born Indian to overcome
their flaw “to rise above being born Indian and to
become something else: responsible, civilised human
beings”. But Verna and all the people from Cape
Croker who had any contact with this woman had
a tremendous respect and love that still hasn’t
changed because of the tireless and relentless time
and energy Miss Muffit devoted to all her students
and people. She had a tremendous role that was a
major influence throughout Verna’s life, and de-
veloped an inner strength and character.
You are also able to feel and share her moments
of loneliness when her family harboured bitterness
toward her when, after a great deal of thought, she
chose to leave the reserve, her grown family and
her husband. She became ill and was baptised. Tears
of sorrow when she lost her mother whom she had
really strong ties with. Desolation when she tried
to return to the reserve and it had changed; elders
no longer had a prominent role and she was more
or less told to wait out the remainder of her years
“on the shelf”. Hope, when she had heard that the
community was once more functioning as a unit
that maybe she can return, to stay, to be useful, to
be independent. This was all Verna had ever really
sought for herself, and her family and for her
people.
Verna’s experience from Reserve to urban
living has covered so much ground that in the
interview the author had with her, she had very
definite answers and ideas: for example, ‘One of
the reasons that Indians drink is that they are no
longer masters of their own destiny.”’
You have to read the book to appreciate the
author’s ability to put all that on paper and into
a book, As we know, most times when someone
else does the writing, it could lose the impact. This
review I feel just really does not do the book
justice. I know why she was voted Indian Woman
of the Year. After reading the book, I think she
should be bestowed a greater honour still.
Peace.
Dinah Schooner
UBCIC 27
Ramona Louis went to the NIB Conference as a Young Achiever from B.C. Last month we published
Alfred Adams’ report, and now we have a different yiew from Ramona, who comes from the Lower Simil-
kameen Band.
Tuesday, August 29
Alfred and | were up at 6 to
go to the Sunrise Ceremonies. It
was held at the St. Mary’s Re-
serve ballpark. That reserve is
right in town! 1! could hardly
tell the difference between the
reserve and the other city streets.
There were not very many people
at the ceremony, only a small
circle. Ernest Benedict, a St.
Regis-Mohawk elder, built a
small fire in the centre of the cir-
cle and offered prayers and
tobacco to Mother Earth, the
Sun, and the Creator. Since
there were people from differ-
ent areas and reserves, the eldest
one from each separate area said
a prayer and offered tobacco to
the fire on behalf of their people.
The last ceremony was for all the
unborn babies of the world. A
man, another woman and |,
stood for all the parents of the
unborn babies.
Later, at the conference, the
usugl preliminaries got off to a
late start. MicMac drummers led
the procession of the executive
council and the opening prayer
was given.
During Noel Starblanket’s
speech, | tried desperately to
catch everything that he said,
but | couldn’t because he spoke
so fast and about so many things.
However, | did get most of what
he was trying to say, because he
is a very good and intelligent
speaker. . . His speech dealt with
the important issues concerning
us today, such as, Indian Self-
Government. He said that only
Indian Self-Government _ will
remedy the bad business con-
cerning Indian people, and that
UBCIC 28
we have built up effective Indian
organizations so now we should
assert our sovereignty.
During the lunch break, the
B.C. delegates held a meeting and
Alfred and | attended to listen
in. The meeting was about pro-
posing a resolution in regard to
setting up a Constitution Com-
mittee which would review the
whole constitution.
During the afternoon, | met
some of the other Young Indian
Achievers, | did not remember
every Young Achiever’s name
and province, but | did become
close with a few of them. Every-
one was excited about the
Lobster Feast which was to take
place later on, because Isobel
Said that we would be receiving a
certificate and a special gift.
The lobster that got away
That night, out at the Kings-
clear Reserve, a Lobster Feast
awaited us as we unloaded from
the buses and lined up on the
lawn near the church. Tables
were set up outdoors and some
were set up under huge tents.
The lobster had been bought by
all the New Brunswick reserves —
for us and there was also clams
or oysters, salmon and _ salads
and corn! Bob Manuel and
Alfred each had 3 lobster apiece!
After everyone had eaten, a
drum group started to drum and
sing MicMac songs. It was quite
dark when up on a little plat-
form beside the church, Noel
Starblanket presented us with
our certificates and gifts. |
received a beautiful set of .4
sweetgrass baskets which were
woven by the MicMac people.
Wednesday, August 30 :
During the lunch break, there
was a meeting with the Press for
the Young Indian Achievers, al-
though there were not a very
many press people there. Group
pictures were taken of us and |
asked for.a copy to be sent to
me. It was very un-exciting but a
lot of fun too.
— Noel Starblanket and Dennis
Nicholas were re-elected as Presi-
dent and Vice-President respec-
tively for the National Indian
Brotherhood.
A resolution was proposed
that a delegation of native people
be sent over to England to talk
to the Queen. Many people ex-
pressed strong views in favour of
such a trip, and some comments
that | recorded in my notes at
the time were:
“We want to speak for our-
selves, we do not want the gov-
ernment to speak for us. We
don’t trust them!” “One of our
problems is that we have been
asking for too long. If our peo-
ple go to the Queen to ‘ask’ for
our rights, then they are not re-
presenting us.’ One idea was
that, whoever goes over should
not use the title ‘Indian’, because
we are not ‘Indians’, we have our
own names.
_ The cost of sending a number
of people all the way over to Bri-
tain will be high. Some people
were against the idea because
they believe that the trip will be
taken out from funds set aside
for our people. But | think that
someone assured them that spe-
cial funds will be made for the
trip or else the money will be
raised.
Later that night, a banquet
was held. We (the Young Achie-
vers) were lucky to have a table
right in front, so we had a good
view of all the V.I.P.’s at the
head table. After the meal, the
ceremonies and speeches were
made. The President and Vice-
President were sworn in by Er-
nest Benedict, the
Elder. The Tom _ Longboat
Award was presented to the
Outstanding Indian Athlete of
Canada. Beautiful buckskin
scrolls were presented to each
member of the Council of
Elders. A painting of the late
Omer Peters was unveiled and
was carried around the banquet
room, with Mr. Peters’ family in
the small procession. A close
friend of Mr. Peters gave a very
touching speech about him, as he
was the past President of the
N.I.B. Other lengthy speeches
were made by important guests.
Noel Starblanket even introduced
us (the Young Achievers) to the
assembly. But he read the wrong
list of names, so he had to intro-
duce us again! Ernest Benedict
gave the opening and closing
prayers in the MicMac language
and there were drummers pre-
sent with a huge drum. Even
though the banquet lasted until
quite late, | enjoyed it.
Resident |
Thursday, August 31
Starblanket introduced the
Young Achievers to Hugh Faulk-
ner, the Minister of Indian Af-
fairs. | listened to his speech,
but somehow I really didn’t
understand him. Perhaps, be-
cause | still haven’t mastered the
knack of interpreting long in-
tellectual talks. | prefer people
to get down to the nitty-gritty
when they talk to me, and poli-
ticians usually lose me. After
his speech, questions were
directed to him from the floor.
NATIONAL YOUTH PROGRAM
Resolutions took quite a long
time then the conference was
over. David Gehue, an Indian
from Nova Scotia, got a delegate
to read a resolution that he
had drawn up in regard to es-
tablishing a National Office for —
Youths which the N.I.B. would
obtain funding for. The resolu-
tion was passed by unanimous
agreement!
The day before, | had met
David and talked to him for
ee
~
it
Nae
_ a
)
oti \
a while and realized that he is
really trying to get something
done for us. The other Young
Achievers were willing to speak
with him to discuss his resolu-
tion and he wanted to hear our
ideas about it and his speech.
We asked him not to read his
speech because although it would
surely shock the assembly into
trying to do something, we asked
him to first find something posi-
tive to add to the speech. We
thought that a positive note in
regard to a worthwhile project
being done for a group of native
youths would add strength to his
speech. That way the people
who read it will know that there
is hope for us, that we can get
something good done because
there is already something hap-
pening.
It was rather sad to say good-
bye to everyone, because | knew
that | will never see some of
them again.
Hopefully, next year, two
more kids will get the same op-
portunity to attend the next
N.I.B. General Assembly.
fr: ap Ft
Uy y
UBCIC 29
Speed —
The birds can sing and the birds can fly
over the tree tops, into the sky;
They like to fly like the powered planes
And in the sky they both look the same
The only thing wrong ts the plane is fast;
And that is why birds come last;
But the bird can sing, and the plane can’t sing
PNCM UPC hme ate hea eile :
Lloyd William Nagonosh, Age 11
Loss for Progress
High in the mountains
Where sound is lost
And occasionally found
share el ioe haemo a ae
The murmuring tree tops
Seem to be saying,
“| hear machines
and noise approaching
Which means we soon will die.”
._»As time passed
Only the faint cry
Of the Blue Jay’s
Discontent was heard.
See Gradually the remains
Pp Ogethe barren ground
Were but little trees
Planted row on row
And to visualize all the
Magnificence of Nature's Past
Is possible only
For the unbiased sky
Clarence Oppenheim of Coldwater Band.
a
UBCIC 30
Dear UBCIC Newsletter:
We're having an Indian Day and want you to
come. We are inviting native people from all over
the Fraser Valley to come and share with us some
aspect of Sto-lo Indian life.
The purpose of the day is to broaden the
understanding of our non-Indian students about
Indian people. We will also invite the parents of
our students to participate.
We want to contact as many people as we can
who would be willing to present a half-hour work-
shop to four different groups of students in Grades
8, 9, and 10. The topic is up to the group or
individual: last year they ranged from Indian
Curriculum to Cedar bark clothes.
Talk it over with your friends and family —
then phone me. Meanwhile let people know about
it — all Indian people who attend will have a deli-
cious lunch on us. I’m waiting for your ideas.
November 10th is almost here.
Sincerely,
Tony Rekert
Teacher, Indian Counsellor
Yale Junior Secondary
Telephone 853-0778
Dear Readers:
As we all know, money is tight thes: days. We
have hardly any money for communications. We
would like to continue to put out The UBCIC
News, special reports and information posters like
the Fish Bulletin but we need your help.
We are asking everyone who can afford it to
subscribe to The UBCIC News. It only costs $8.00
for individuals or $12.00 for institutions (libraries,
schools, band offices, etc.). If you subscribe you
won't have to walk over to the band office to pick
up a copy, you can pick it up at the Post Office
with the rest of your mail. And you'll be on the
mailing list for any other posters and reports we
put out.
You can also help out by sending us stories,
photographs, cartoons and drawings. We'll give a
free subscription to anyone who contributes in
this way.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers,
Beth Cuthand,
Editor
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
VANCOUVER INDIAN CENTRE
1855 Vine Street, Vancouver Telephone: 736-8944
Hello out there.
Our creative activities, such as crafts are now in
progress, with Gladys Quewezance teaching beading,
leather work and quilt making. We have also hired
Barry Wilson to teach West Coast designs, carving
and silk screening. Robert Aberham is also a new
staff member and he will be teaching Indian draw-
ing and painting. The Centre is fortunate in having
these talented people teach these classes, and we
hope that people in Vancouver can take advantage
and attend some of these classes. There is no charge
for participation: just come and enjoy yourselves.
Another project that we would like to start at
the Centre is a West Coast Indian dancing and
singing class. Starting dates will be announced in
the near future. We would appreciate hearing from
elders who have some free time and would like
something to do; your suggestions and participation
would be valuable. Some of the suggestions that
have been made are: tours to places of interest and
story telling of our ancestors as seen through the
Indian eyes (most of us are tired of the White Man’s
version). We would also like to hear from mothers
who have youngsters between the ages of six and
ten. Perhaps we can work something out for these
young people.
Any suggestions, questions, comments or
criticisms (constructive) are most welcome, so
phone or drop in and have a cup of coffee, visit the
staff or come and participate in some of our pro-
grams.
Hope to see you,
Jolin Alden, Recreation Director
UBCIC 31
SPECIAL
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
and
BAND TRAINING
WORKSHOP
NOV. 20-24
VANCOUVER
Part of UBCIC News - volume 1, number 6 (October 1978)