Periodical
Indian World - volume 3, number 8 (November / December 1980)
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- Title
- Indian World - volume 3, number 8 (November / December 1980)
- Is Part Of
- 1.06-01.04 Indian World
- 1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series
- Date
- November 1980
- volume
- 3
- issue
- 8
- Language
- english
- Identifier
- 1.06-01.04-02.11
- pages
- 36
- Table Of Contents
-
Our Elders Honoured...........................2
Constitution Express—
A Journey to Nationhood.....................4
President's Message............................7
Nationhood...................................8
All Chiefs Conference..........................9
News News News.............................11
Our World...................................12
Indian Child Caravan..........................14
DIA "Protects" Indian Resources................ 15
Redstone Ranchers Recover.................... 16
4H at Alkali..................................17
Help Wanted.................................18
Time with the Children: Bella Coola.............20
Indian Radio Training.........................22
Gitskan Carrier Assembly..................23
The Dance of the Animal Kingdom..............24
Book Review: Pitseolak........................26
In the News..................................27
Documenting Land Claims____.................28
Indian Sovereign Nations: The Legal Case........30
Editorial.....................................34
On the Constitution Express................35 - Contributor
- Darrell Ned
- Pauline Douglas
- Chief Vivien Cahoose
-
Chief
Wayne Christian - Gert Mack
- George Manuel
-
Bobby
Joseph - Leonard George
- Beth Cuthand
- Bill Chelsea
- Louise M
- el
- Bess Brown
- Fran Smith
- Brenda Leon
- Jim Brisebois
- Rod Jeffries
- Violet Birdstone
-
Carrie
Nyce - Jim Rowed
- Val Dudoward
- Carmen Maracle
- Mary Schendlinger
- Type
- periodical
- Transcription (Hover to view)
-
INDIAN WORLD
"THE CHOICE IS OURS"
ONE DOLLAR
UBCIC NEWS
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1980
THE CONSTITUTION ISSUE
"We are here tonight to honour what being an Indian is all about. You see here about 3000 years of knowledge, 3000
years of wisdom— If we don't recognize it now, we never will."
The Kwawkewlth Elders were honoured at a special dinner in Port
Hardy on November 19. People from
Muwitti, Tsawataineuk, Kwicksutainek and Fort Rupert shared food
and talk, and spoke of the contributions the Elders have made to their
communities.
"Learning your own culture is unity, using your Indian culture, honor and
respect— that's why our old people have unity."
"I wish I would have listened to the things I was told by my Elders— I say
to you young people, honor and obey your Elders—not only the traditions
but the advice from your Elders' guidelines."
The dinner was held to honour the
Elders and to encourage the young
people to ask their Elders for advice
and guidance when they need it.
Chiefs and Councillors made opening remarks to the Elders after the
dinner. They thanked their Elders for
the direction they've given them and
their communities.
Then the people sang and danced in
their traditional ways, and some of
the Elders told the stories of the songs
and dances.
One Elders spoke and encouraged
the young people to have respect for
their Elders, and to learn the traditional teachings of the Elders so that
they can become part of a strong
community. He said, "In order to
have a full and complete life, one has
to respect not just yourself but your
mother, father, aunts, uncles, and
grandparents for the things they have
contributed to you throughout your
lifetime."
The overall message from the
whole evening is that we must learn
from our Elders in order to become
strong people again. If we don't carry
on these ways, then we will have
neglected what is there waiting for us
to learn and use.
INDIAN
WORLD
I N D I A N W O R L D 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.
V O L U M E 3, NUMBER 8
The Spinks family of Lytton and Leo family of Mount Currie awaiting boarding call for the Indian Constitution Exp
Contributors
Editor: Darrell Ned
Assistant Editor: Pauline Douglas
Written Contributions: Chief Vivien Cahoose, Chief
Wayne Christian, Gert M a c k , George Manuel, Bobby
Joseph, Leonard George, Beth Cuthand, Bill Chelsea,
Louise Mandel, Bess Brown, Fran Smith, Brenda Leon,
Jim Brisebois, R o d Jeffries, Violet Birdstone, Carrie
Nyce, J i m Rowed, V a l Dudoward and Carmen Maracle.
Photographs: U B C I C staff unless credited.
Typesetting: M a r y Schendlinger at Pulp Press.
Table of Contents
Our Elders Honoured
Constitution Express—
A Journey to Nationhood
President's Message
2
4
7
Nationhood
A l l Chiefs Conference
News News News
Our World
Indian Child Caravan
D I A "Protects" Indian Resources
Redstone Ranchers Recover
4 H at A l k a l i
Help Wanted
Time with the Children: Bella C o o l a
Indian Radio Training
Gitskan Carrier Assembly
The Dance of the A n i m a l Kingdom
Book Review: Pitseolak
In the News
Documenting L a n d Claims
Indian Sovereign Nations: The Legal Case
Editorial
O n the Constitution Express
8
9
11
12
14
. . 15
16
...17
18
20
22
23
24
26
27
28
30
34
35
INDIAN WORLD 3
A JOURNEY TO
NATIONHOOD
O n November 24th when the two
trains in the Constitution Express left
Vancouver, Number 104 North and
Number 102 on the Southern Route,
the journey that was to follow would
cover more than time and distance.
This was also to be a journey into the
hearts and minds of the 500 who
would eventually join the express.
When Prime Minister Trudeau
announced his plan for the patriation
of the Constitution, what seemed at
first as a guarantee of our Indian
rights and heritage, was in fact a
guarantee of our assimilation into
Canadian society.
Immediate action was necessary to
show Trudeau and the general public
that our Indian Nations strongly disagreed with Trudeau's vision for this
country.
The U n i o n o f B . C . Indian Chiefs
took action on several fronts, regional, national, and international, involving various political and local
strategies. The most dramatic was the
Indian Constitution Express, a 3000
mile trek for our Elders and youth,
our men and women, to the seat of
the federal government.
The purpose of this journey was to
tell Trudeau and his government
that the Indian people have rights
as the first inhabitants of this land,
and that these rights have been
guaranteed by treaty and historical
agreement between Indian Nations
and the British Government.
INDIAN W O R L D 4
Our sacred rights to the land and its
resources are also viable and legitimate arguments that must be part
of any Canadian Constitution.
Working on the train brings
renewed strength of purpose
Elders and spiritual leaders were an
essential part of these workshops.
The strong identification to our culture and spiritual strength and convictions prepared the Constitutional
travellers for an encounter with an
enemy they did not yet fully understand.
The message carried by our Elders
on the Express was one of Nationhood. They remember and understand the special relationship between our Indian Nations and the
Queen. They remember how these
agreements were made with the
honour and respect accorded to
nations. They were compelled to
travel to Ottawa to tell the federal
government that it too must treat
these agreements with equal respect.
O n the southern route Chiefs Bob
Manuel and Wayne Christian were in
charge and on Train Number 104
Chiefs Archie Pootlass, Saul Terry
and Dennis Patrick took leadership
responsibilities.
The organization for the Express
was massive. Three weeks of intensive
field work was necessary to inform
the communities of the threat from
Trudeau's Constitutional plans. A
strategy team was sent to Ottawa to
organize activities and to prepare
food and shelter for those who would
support the Express.
the people were divided first by
their nationalisty and then again into
smaller units. This was for people
running the workshops and for
security reasons. People in the smaller
units would be more familiar with
each other, lessening the chance of an
infiltration by outsiders on the train
and in Ottawa.
Although many who boarded the
train in Vancouver weren't sure of the
details of the Constitutional issue,
they understood the intention of
Trudeau's proposed Constitution.
Various resource people were constantly mingling throughout the train,
assisting
group
leaders
with
workshops and talking to individuals.
These were the chiefs, Elders,
lawyers, politicians, the young and
old who were secure in their cultural
and spiritual beliefs and knew the
situation. A renewed sense of pride
and purpose was clear. Discussions
lasted long into the night. People
spoke of our rights to the land, the
water and its resources. But most
spoke of the right to be Indian and
how they were not allowed to express
their own nationality within this
country called Canada.
In order to lessen fears and to
ensure a stronger sense of purpose,
workshops were held on the train to
familiarize everyone with the complex
legal issues and strategies in our C o n stitutional fight.
Elders and spiritual leaders were an
essential part of these workshops.
The strong identification to our
culture and spirituality gave strength
and conviction, and prepared Constitutional travellers for an encounter
A code of conduct had been set
before the Express left Vancouver.
INDIAN W O R L D 5
governent flag were raised to greet
newcomers.
There was much drumming and
singing en route and at the major
stops. The Express was given overwhelming receptions in Edmonton,
Calgary, and Winnipeg. The rail
stations must still be echoing with the
sounds of our Indian drums.
The Constitution Express arrived
in Ottawa at 2:20 p . m . on November
28. 1980. The Ottawa Indian community welcomed the weary travellers
enthusiastically.
The journey was not over
Hand-picked security were in spiritual training at Neskainlith to
strengthen their resolve for the
journey ahead.
External forces, however, were
something over which we had no
control. A t the Winni-eg stop where
the two trains joined, a bomb threat
was called aout 30 minutes after our
departure. This proved to be more of
an inconvenience than a threat. The
real cause for concern, however, was
for those not on the train. Incidents
such as this are often distorted by the
media and we hope that family and
friends were not caused needless
worry by the threat..
Life on the train
There was much sharing and giving
freely of one's time and possessions.
Those who had brought food gave it
to those who did not. If you were
without a sleeping bag or blanket or a
place to sleep, one would be sure to
be found.
The children laughed and played in
the aisles and baggage racks. The
Elders rested and contemplated. M e n
and women worked to ensure that
there were provisions and that everyone was as comfortable as possible.
A t each stop, as our numbers and
strength increased, the Indian Constitution Express banner and the Indian
When the Express arrived in
Ottawa on November 28, 1980, a
delegation of our Indian leaders and
Elders met with Governor General
Edward Schreyer, the Queen's representative in Canada.
After the meeting Chief Robert
Manuel of Neskainlith reported, "We
presented a brief to the Governor
General saying that the Canadian
government should not be allowed to
patriate the parts of the Constitution
which govern the Indian people. But
the Governor General told us that we
would have to deal with the Canadian
government. We could not deal
directly with the Crown. That made
us feel more strongly than ever that
we must be recognized as a nation in
our own right."
So the journey continues on to New
York and the United Nations "to take
our rightful place alongside of the
other nations of the world."
This trip on to New York has
depended on the response of the federal government. Since day one of the
Constitution Express, an advance
team of Indian organizers was
already in New York setting up meetings with U N delegates and officials
and again planning for the arrival of
our Indian ambassadors.
What began as a political action in
protest of Trudeau's Constitutional
plans has now become a full duplomatic mission of strong identifiable
Indian Nations. The journey has
covered something much more
than miles and it is a journey that
has just begun.
INDIAN WORLD 6
PRESIDENT'S
MESSAGE
I am writing this message at the most difficult time of
our struggle with the Canadian and British Governments.
But I am humbly encouraged by the strong co-operation
given by the Indian Governments and their membership
from right across the country, and especially our Chiefs,
Councillors, Band Members, District Councils and
support groups from British Columbia. Hundreds of
people and their families have made supreme sacrifices
when they laid down their tools and left their jobs to
commit their winter funds for their families to respond to
the Union of B . C . Indian Chiefs 12th Annual General
Assembly "State of Emergency" declaration. We called
upon all of our people to do everything possible to stop
the unilateral action of the Federal Government of
Canada to have a resolution package passed in the
Parliament of Canada to patriate the Canadian
Constitution (British North America Act).
I want to tell every status and non-status Indian in
British Columbia that hundreds of our people left by
C P R and C N R on the Constitutional Express from
Vancouver, B . C . arriving in Ottawa on Friday,
November 28,1980. Others travelled by cars, buses and
planes. The purpose of their trip is to attend the National
A l l Chiefs Conference and to lobby the House of
Commons and Senate Constitutional Committee,
Members of Parliament, the Governor General and
anybody who will listen to our people in Ottawa.
The Constitutional Express will travel on to New Y o r k
City to ask officials of the United Nations to intervene as
a mediator between the Indian Governments of Canada
and the Canadian and British Governments. The lobby
will constitute a statement of goal in a form of petition
stating that a positive approach is in order, one that
would elevate constitutional patriation and amendments
to exercising enstatesmanship and true Nation building.
The exclusion of Indian participation from a broad
constitutional review and a review of relations between
the Indian Governments, British and Canadian
Governments is the first mistake which the Canadian
and British authorities must correct. If this is not done,
Indian Nations REJECT the proposed independence
of Canada in total as an aggressive, hostile act against
our Indian governments.
We believe peaceful and responsible diplomatic
measures can and will remedy this difficult dilemma. The
following measures are essential to resolving and
preventing serious conflict.
The representatives of Indian Governments, Britain
and Canada should enter into Internationally supervised
discussions to:
• Review the present role and responsibilities of all
parties involved i n the existing "tri-lateral" relationship
that is Indian Nations, the Canadian Government, and
the British Government.
• Define in detail the full meaning and extent o f the political association between Britain and the Indian Affairs
in Canada.
• Define in detail, and agree on, the full area and
boundaries of territories occupied and/or owned by
Indian Nations as well as the full area and boundaries
of what will become an independent Canada.
• Define the terms for political co-existence between
the Indian Nations of Canada and the Canadian
Government.
• Define i n detail the extent and method by which
financial aid and other supports will be extended to the
governments of Indian Nations after Canadian
Independence.
• Define the alternatives for individual Indian Citizenship
in addition to their own national citizenship in the
Indian Nations and arrange for the release of prisoners
held in Canadian jails.
• Define and agree to the necessary measures to ensure
that each Indian Nation will exercise the full measure o f
self-government.
• Define the roles and authorities of the various parties
in matters related to fishing, wildlife, religious lands
protection, water resources management and control,
use and development of minerals, petroleum resources,
t i m b e r and other natural resources.
Canada must notify the Indian Governments of her
intent not to finalize Constitutional Patriation
proceedings until this "tri-lateral" conference has
concluded.
I cannot stress enough the threat posed by Trudeau's
Constitutional Resolution to totally destroy our
hereditary ties with our homelands and to our survival
as the original peoples in Canada. The strength of the
delegation of Indian Bands, Tribes and Nations to
Ottawa and to New Y o r k will ensure our continued
survival.
Yours in Unity
INDIAN W O R L D 7
FIRST NATIONS DECLARE
NATIONHOOD
A Declaration of the First Nations was adopted by the First Nations Assembly as the
official position of the Council of Chiefs:
We the original peoples of this land know the Creator put us here.
The Creator gave us laws that govern our relationships to live in harmony w
nature and mankind.
The laws of the Creator defined our rights and responsibilities.
The Creator gave us our spiritual beliefs, our languages, our culture, and a place
Mother Earth which provided us with all our needs. We have maintained our freed
our languages, and our traditions from time immemorial.
We continue to exercise the rights and fulfill the responsibilities given to us by th
Creator for the lands upon which we were placed.
The Creator has given us the right to govern ourselves and the right to sel
determination.
The rights and responsibilities given to us by the Creator cannot be altered or tak
away by any other nation.
The President and Vice-President
of N . I . B . , at the request of the
Chiefs, presented the Declaration to
Governor-General E d Schreyer, who
was asked to relay the Declaration to
Prime Minister Trudeau, Members of
Parliament, and to the Queen. The
meeting was an attempt to cover all
bases in the Constitutional fight. It
was just another route of trying to get
to the Prime Minister. Our concerns
are important enough to warrant discussion at the highest possible level.
We are utilizing all available ways to
get to him.
No agreement on constitutional
strategy
However, the Assembly did not
INDIAN W O R L D 8
Our t r a d i t i o n a l C h i e f s and s p i r i t u a l
l e a d e r s p u l l e d us t o g e t h e r , s a y i n g
we are One N a t i o n .
We c o u l d always hear
the drummers, l i k e a
heartbeat, a constant
reminder o f why we
were t h e r e .
reach a consensus on the main issue
of Indian involvement i n the Constitution. While some representatives
from Ontario, Manitoba and B . C .
wanted to work within the Federal
system, appearing before the joint
committees on the Constitution,
lobbying M P s , and various government officials, other groups felt
strongly that going outside the Canadian system was the best bet.
Meeting with anyone less than
heads of government would be
compromise
Many at the Assembly felt that any
presentation or negotiation with the
federal government, i n committee
form or otherwise, would compromise the position of Indian Nationhood.
The Constitution Express refused
to meet with the joint-senate committee on the Constitution, whose deadline for hearings has been extended to
February 9th, 1981. Chief Wayne
Christian, Chairman of the Constitution Express, stated that "the appropriate officials must be the heads of
the government for Canada and the
government o f Great Britain. We
have our petitions carefully prepared
by our people. Yet we have been
advised that we have, all together, 45
minutes to speak."
INDIAN W O R L D 9
YOUR
INDIAN RIGHTS
A R E AT S T A K E . . . . !
Council of Chiefs of Indigenous
Nations
The Chiefs formed the Council o f
Chiefs of Indigenous Nations which
is to take the various Constitutional
positions, unify them, and make our
presentation o n the final day of the
joint Senate committee hearings.
The Provisional Council is to be
comprised of representatives of all
Indian Nations and has been mandated to work on a provisional government structure, and the establishment of a protocol office. The one
unifying belief in the Assembly is that
we are Indian Nations. H o w to
solidify our nationhood is the next
step.
C H I E F WAYNE C H R I S T I A N
AND OUR S P I R I T U A L
L E A D E R S WERE D E L E G A T E D
TO CARRY OUT T H E T A S K
OF A D D R E S S I N G THE
UNITED NATIONS AND
SEEKING A SEAT THERE
FOR OUR I N D I A N N A T I O N .
WE W E N T T O D E C L A R E T H E
I N D I A N N A T I O N A N D WE
H A V E T H E MANDATE TO
PUT OUR P R O V I S I O N A L
GOVERNMENT I N P L A C E .
THE F I R S T S T E P HAS B E E N
TAKEN.
WE'RE JUST AT
THE B E G I N N I N G OF A L L
T H E WORK T O B E D O N E A T
HOME A N D A B R O A D .
INDIAN W O R L D 10
RUSSELL TRIBUNAL FINDS
C A N A D A GUILTY
The jury of the Fourth Russell
Tribunal, in Rotterdam, Holland,
found that the Government of Canada, and the Government of the
Province of Ontario, have violated
international law by attempting to
take the land of the Nishnawbe-aski
Nation by illegal means.
The jury found that:
"The Indians were told that they
were signing a treaty of peace and
goodwill towards the king and other
white men in exchange for which
they were to receive certain government assistance. They were not told
that the irrevocable surrender of
their territorial rights was also a
provision of the treaty. The treaty
was written in English, a language
riot spoken by the Nishnawbe-aski
in 1905."
They
contend
that
Treaty
Number 9 is invalid because the
most important ingredient of the
transaction, namely consent, was
missing. The Indian people could
not consent because the actual terms
of the treaty weren't fully explained
to them.
The jury concluded that the
actions of the governments constitute a violation of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights to
...would you trust
your future
With P I E R R E ?
which Canada is a signatory. The
jury finding supports the position of
Grand Council Treaty N o . 9, that
the Nishnawbe-aski Nation has not
relinquished its ownership of more
than 210,000 square miles of
northern Ontario.
The Tribunal also recommended
that the International Court of
Justice should provide remedies for
the indigenous peoples of national
states.
The jury of the 4th Russell
Tribunal also found that Canada
has failed t involve the Indian
Nation in the current Constitutional
process, it further concluded that
Indian rights have not been considered i n the proposed Canada A c t
of 1980.
The Tribunal adopted the Declaration presented by the Indian delegation, which stated that Indian
peoples have the right to exist as
distinct people of the world, the
right to the possession of their own
territory, and the right to sovereign
self-determination.
NEWS NEWS NEWS
NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD HEARINGS
O n November 25, 1980 the National Energy Board
began hearings in Vancouver on the Trans Mountain
Pipeline application to bring Alaskan crude oil down the
west coast of Vancouver Island by tanker to L o w Point
Washington.
These hearings are a continuation of those held in
Ottawa last December. Because of the risks to west coast
fishery and environment from increased o i l tanker
traffic, the U n i o n o f B . C . Indian Chiefs is making the
strongest possible representation at these hearings to try
and have the proposal stopped.
The proposal is also being opposed by Foothills Pipeline, Westcoast Environmental L a w Society, S P E C Federation, the Sierra Club, B . C . Wildlife Federation, the
Municipality of Victoria and many others.
H E A L T H CONSULTATIONS UPDATE
The four Health Consultation Fieldworkers who began
with the Health and Social Development Portfolio in
mid-September were asked to partake i n the activities of
the 11th Annual General Assembly of the Union of B . C .
Indian Chiefs.
They attended all the discussions which were brought
to the floor and introduced themselves to a few Chiefs
they were to meet with in the future.
U p o n returning to their respective communities they
began their fieldwork by visiting the respective Bands in
their designated zones. The Province was divided into
four zones similar to the Medical Services zones i n order
to divide the work evenly among all the fieldworkers.
This also allows the fieldwork co-ordinator to monitor
their work closely.
O n November 18th, the fieldworkers held a full day
meeting at the U B C I C office along with the Fieldwork
Co-ordinator to discuss and evaluate the Consultations
and redirect the study, i f necessary.
Another date was set i n January, 1981 for the next
Consultation Fieldwork provincial meeting when a
similar evaluation will be conducted.
FISHERIES A P P E A L F O U N T A I N DECISION
The Department of Federal Fisheries announced that
they will appeal the decision brought down by Judge
T . W . Shupe in which four Fountain Band members were
found Not Guilty for fishing during closure. The Judge
stated that with the evidence given by the biologist for the
L u m m i Tribe of Washington State, the closure was not
for the purposes of conservation, therefore it was unreasonable and unnecessary.
N A T I O N A L CONGRESS OF A M E R I C A N INDIANS
SUPPORTS O U R CONSTITUTION ACTION
The National Congress of American Indians held their
37th A n n u a l Convention between 26th and 31st October,
1980, i n Spokane, Washington State.
About 500 people were there from various tribes all
over the United States.
The W o r l d Council of Indigenous Peoples, headed by
George Manuel, President of U B C I C , took the floor for
the whole of the second day, called International Day. A
slide-tape show and presentations on the W C I P were
given. George Manuel also gave a strong speech on the
international relationship of Indian communities.
O n the last day of the conference, a resolution was
carried unanimously that:
The assembled delegates of the Indian nations individually and collectively represented by the N C A I pledge
moral and other support for the Indian Nations of
Canada, represented by the N I B in their efforts to
serve full recognition of Indian treaties and original
rights and the right of Indian self-determination i n
relation to constitutional development i n Canada.
C E N T R A L INTERIOR TRIBAL COUNCILS
ASSEMBLY
The Four Tribal Councils forming the C I T C met for
their second annual assembly November 4-6th. About
one hundred delegates representing over 30 Bands met at
the old Kamloops residential school, where both the
C I T C and the south Central Tribal Councils now have
offices.
the C I T C was formed originally to organize an
efficient delivery of services to their Bands. The D I A
District Offices i n Kamloops and Cranbrook were closed
down in 1975 and the C I T C is gradually assuming the
functions and funding of those offices. .
During their first year, member Tribal Councils put
together the Red Book, a manual on the kind of services
that Bands require. "What Happens Next?" was incorporated i n November 1979, introducing procedures for
improved auditing and communications, sharing of
expertise between Councils and Bands, stretching funds
further for socio-economic development, housing and
social services.
The effect on Trudeau's proposal to repatriate the
Constitution on the above became an issue at the
assembly.
the focus has always been to rely less and less on the
D I A and to prepare for the implementation and
advancement o f Indian Government. A motion was
therefore brought forward and carried that recognition
of the Aboriginal Rights Position become a C I T C
priority from now on.
INDIAN W O R L D 11
OUR WORLD
Photo: Patrick Hattenberger
Photo: Patrick Hattenberger
B.C. INDIAN B U L L RIDER P L A C E D SECOND IN
INDIAN INTERNATIONAL RODEO
Three top B . C . Indian cowboys participated in the international Indian rodeo at Albuquerque, New Mexico
last weekend. Sponsored by the Indian National Finals
Incorporated, there were five performances a day for
four days. The stock was from the best in the world,
supplied by eleven contractors, and on the way to the
world championships to be held in Oklahoma in
December.
Burt Williams of Mount Currie was placed second in
bull riding: "Just a little guy who sure can ride, one hell
of a competitor," said Bob Pasco, who was lucky enough
to be there. Only a few days before, Burt had been bullriding and placed fourth in the Canadian Association
championships in Edmonton.
It wasn't such a good week for A l l Round C o w H a n d
Oliver Louis of Vernon, a former Indian world champion, who placed fourth in the saddle bronc. Blaine Louis
joined his brother for the team roping event.
The photographs here were taken at the B . C . Indian
Championships held in Kamloops last month.
INDIAN W O R L D 12
I.C.G.
An Indianowned general
development
consulting
group
(Indian Consulting Group) Ltd.
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Band organization and training
225-744 West Hastings Street
Vancouver
V6C1A5
(604) 682-7615
Carrying pole to new Indian Centre site where it was blessed by an Elder, then erected.
The Centre of 81
By Leonard George
Assistant Administrator, V.I.C.
The Vancouver Indian Centre
Society is setting a new refreshing
pulse and attitude i n designing and
implementing programs
for
the
urban Indian. The size of the new
building on 1607 E . Hastings—44,000
square feet—in itself will be a great
resource. The full-size gym, fully
equipped, will provide many hours of
sports. The multi-purpose room will
have continuous social functions with
both rooms hosting Bingos every
Sunday.
The facilities also offer three large
classrooms, a child-minding room,
Doctor,
and
dental
office,
a
manpower office, a games room, television, lounge, a good family restaurant and lunch room, social services, a library, an Arts & Crafts
shop, and also we'll have Social and
Cultural programming.
W i t h these services, there will be
three times the amount of people
coming to the Centre i n comparison
to our Vine Street location, the
difference being that 90% of the
clients will be involved i n something
positive and constructive as opposed
to just a drop-in service.
The lower floor of the Centre will
provide training programs of all
kinds of our Native Arts & Crafts. A s
four large workshops will take up the
majority of the space, the main
underlying theme of all our programs
is an offering of the variables that
prevent our people from succeeding
in their endeavours. For example, a
single parent has great difficulty i n
extending their education because of
the problems involved with babysitters and such. W i t h the large childminding room, single parents won't
have any problem getting up-grading.
We feel with these services and a
fine mixture of Native Spirituality, a
good education on use of all services
offered i n a City, should make a few
lives happier.
W i t h the subsidiaries of V . I . C .
Society, namely the V . I . C . Restaurants, V . I . C . Housing, Longhouse
Construction, and V . I . C . Arts &
Crafts, the Society has become a
Social-Economical
Development
organization programmed, implemented and administered by an allNative Board of Directors with no
white involvement, and this has been
the key to our success—a mandate
designed by Natives for Natives.
The Vancouver Indian Centre Society
wishes to invite all Indian people and
their families to our Annual Children's Christmas Party!
The date: D E C E M B E R 19, 1980
The time: 11:00 a.m.
The place:
Here at the Vancouver Indian
Centre,
1855 Vine Street,
Vancouver, B . C .
The Vancouver Indian Centre Society
also wishes to invite all Indian people
and their families to our Annual
Christmas Dinner.
The date: December 19,1980
The time: 12:00 noon
Please come and bring all your
children!!! There are lots of gifts and
food for everyone. Come and bring
your whole family. W e have lots of
turkey and other food for everyone.
We will be expecting all o f you and
your families.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
&
H A P P Y NEW YEAR!!!!
Please call: 736-8944 and leave your
name and address so that we will
know how many people will be
attending.
INDIAN W O R L D 13
By Chief Wayne Christian of
Spallumcheen Band
The Indian Child Caravan proved
that we can do something on our
own. A t last year's General Assembly
The success of the Indian C h i l d
Caravan really depended on the
people that helped organize it and the
leaders that came with it. I was proud
at the number o f Chiefs that
travelled with us, that brought their
people with them. Those leaders that
came with us understood that the
basis o f our children's problems is the
identity crisis and identifying with the
family unit. The organizers, the
leaders and especially the Elders and
the children that participated, and
parents that have lost children that
participated, should be congratulated
—especially for that long walk that
we endured! B y their physical presence and also by their spiritual presence they gave us strength. I believe
that that was a part of the reason for
our success—that we were able to do
things not just on the political level,
but we organized in body and our
minds were at one level and I think
our spirits were also at one level. W e
were really clear i n our objectives.
The
people
should
really
be
commended in their efforts: those
that gave us hospitality, the cooks,
the drivers of the vehicles, the
security that kept us moving and kept
things in order, the drummers that
really got sore voices. Those are the
people that really made it happen. It
was an idea that was conceived and it
took the people to carry it out.
INDIAN W O R L D 14
we passed a resolution to stop child
apprehensions from our reserves and
that resolution was implemented.
Implementation Starts with Will
of Band Members
If we don't have the people involved,
the parents and grandparents and the
children themselves, then it is going
to be just like a Program.
We got our people involved in
developing our own legislation. It has
really got to come from the Band
members. It's not something that leadership can impose.
We have to be very committed. We
worked for two years before we got to
the Indian Child Caravan, before we
got the agreement with McCarthy
that her officials would only take
children from the Band at the request
of the Chief and Council.
Lack of Confidence and Lack of
Money can be Overcome
We found a resistance initially with
our own people because they were
saying "can we do it?" We've been so
brainwashed in that attitude that
we've got to start doing things
ourselves. The other thing is our
people keep getting hooked into the
money thing. Y o u can't talk about
money when what we are really talking about is children. We should talk
about things we can do without dollars.
A t the first General Band meeting
we had after we got back from the
Caravan they deeloped a Homemakers Club. The women got
together to support the families and
children that would need help.
We have designed an ermergency shelter and will have house
parents in a group home situation
where we can offer special counselling on a one to one basis. We are also
working with a program to do with
the children who have been taken,
and working with families who want
their children back. There is also a
real concern by foster parents that we
will just come in and take the children
away. We have to talk to them. If the
child wants to stay with the foster
parent we have to respect that. But we
still want to retain some kind of administrative control so that the child
doesn't lose contact with his community.
Human Resources Don't Believe
Us
We won an agreement from M i n ister McCarthy but stubborn Human
Resources personnel still want to
retain control at the local level. They
don't believe in the whole concept of
it and they are waiting for us to make
mistakes so they can capitalize on it.
Munro Holding Back Resources
The key thing is that H u m a n Resources will transfer administration
of all these programs over to us only
when we an get the financial resources
from
the
Federal
Government. M u n r o , the Minister
responsible, has refused to meet. He
just wants to hand it over to the
Regional Office but we want the
whole process straight in Ottawa
first. I'm asking that as many Bands
that support Spallumcheen Band
write letters to the Minister. He made
a half commitment to us and we want
to know what has happened: has he
transferred the money? what has he
done? His desk should be filled with
letters demanding action now.
Caravan Victory Could be Wiped
Out by a New Constitution
I know it's a difficult time to ask
Bands for this right now when our
attention is concentrated on the most
important struggle i n our history.
Trudeau's resolution would mean
all delivery of services would be transferred to the provinces: our Indian
Child Caravan would have been for
nothing.
A s she boarded the Indian Constitution Express, Chief Vivian Cahoose
breathed a sigh of relief that the Ulkatcho Band was free of the Hutchinson Logging Company. She and
councillors Rose Squinas and Ella
Stallas had just instructed the U B C I C
Legal Task Force to terminate the
agreement that the company had
broken in almost every respect.
who to hire but they never did that
either. They just went ahead and
hired just anyone they wanted —they
finally did hire one Band member. H e
had put i n a new logging access road
where we told him not to and that was
not satisfactory. Also I'd found out
earlier on that someone was hauling
logs from the area with a truck and
wagon. I sent the R C M P after him
and sure enough he was building a log
house. Hutchinson said we would be
reimbursed but we never were. The
house is nearly finished now.
DIA "Protects"
Indian Resources DIA claims decision-making role
Against Band's
Interests
Jan Bakker of D I A refused to
dissolve the Agreement, saying that
he was the final authority, not the
Band. Even after the Band members
pointed out that the Agreement was
signed between the Chief and the
company, he still insisted he would
make all decisions.
By Vivian Cahoose
This was the Band's first experience
in logging. About three years back
the Hutchinson Logging Company
was interested in logs from the reserve, Band seizes our land
to export. Finally in January 1980,
In August the Band made a seizure
they signed the timber contract that on that logging area. That was after I
D I A drew up for them to log on our went to the U B C I C for legal advice.
Indian Reserve #4, Abuntlet Lake.
A l l of the machinery was still in the
Payment depends on how many area. We took pictures of them using
trees they log per month, but they it even after the Band put a seizure on
have never paid the Band. Every that logging. I hand delivered the
month I kept asking the D I A i f they letter and we posted copies on the
had paid through the department in site, on trees and on the logs.
this, but they never did. We finally
About one week later all the papers
got D I A to tell the Company they disappeared and those guys kept
were going to put a seizure on the going back on to the logging area just
Reserve for thirty days to pay so as i f nothing had happened. A n d still
much of what they owed the Band.
we hadn't been paid. This was now
Company broke nearly every
September.
term of agreement
DIA orders company back
Before the thirty days was up, the
So I got after D I A and asked them
councillors and I went to the Indian what was going on. We wanted to get
Affairs office. We told them, "We paid before those guys came back to
don't want that company, we are not work. We hadn't set any new agreesatisfied with that agreement. They ment with them and there they are
never did anything that was said at still going to the logging area. We are
that meeting with the Bands." The going to block them off i f they keep
logging company had promised they coming back.
would hire people from the reserve. I
thought that was good as it would cut DIA ready to call RCMP to
back on Welfare. A lot o f the people "protect Crown" interest
on the reserve are loggers with a lot of
Then I found out that it was the
experience. That was no problem. D I A who had sent them back to
The area was only nine miles from the work. Apparently the company had
reserve so there was no trouble offered a partial payment. Without
getting to and from work. But they consulting the Band, Bakker agreed.
never did hire anyone for a long time. We objected and Bakker wrote back
They were supposed to ask the Band to me saying that our action was
"not in the best interest of the
Ulkatcho Band" and that as the
Band's trustee, he was disregarding
our B C R ordering Hutchinson off!
"In this role as trustee, it is encumbent upon this Department to
ensure that it is not a party to any
action or act which would diminish the value or use of trust property" [and therefore he saw] "no
alternative but to instruct Hutchinson to resume his operation, under
the protection of the R C M P i f
necessary."
The land is still seized as far as the
Band is concerned. The company was
still hauling logs off at night. We told
them not to go back in there, so the
machinery is moved off now.
We got mad and eventually, with our
legal advisors, got the D I A to back off.
Free to make our own choices.
The D I A is out o f it now, hopefully. We are demanding to work
directly with the company to get the
situation cleared up. What I felt was
that we had been backed up against a
wall and this is what we don't want.
D I A set up an agreement behind our
backs. D I A was telling us what to do
like a bunch of little kids that don't
know anything. The Department was
supposed to be assisting us on what
the Band wanted done. Instead it was
just reversing the whole thing, telling
everyone what to do. This is what we
don't want. We want to be free to
make our own choices.
INDIAN W O R L D 15
HARD WORK HARD DEALING
REDSTONE RANCHERS RECOVER
Members o f the Alexis Creek Band
at Redstone are working towards rebuilding their ranch economy that is
now based on both new and old
agricultural systems.
A t the village site on Redstone flat,
160 ac o f alfalfa is planted and irrigated with a large wheel move system.
The Band wants to increase this acreage. The hay farm is supervised by
ranch foreman Irvin Charleyboy. The
crop has been inoculated with nitrogen-fixing bacteria and fertilized to
ensure stronger plants and good
quality hay. Two cuts of alfalfa are
harbested each year, using a mechanized method as well as an old fashioned haying crew.
Individual members of the Band
are pushing for expansion of small
ranches on the other 34 affiliated
ranch reserves. These ranches use the
natural
sedges
from
wetland
meadows and on water sheds or creek
basins for feed sources. Indian ranchers in the area rely totally on the
spring and summer floods for irrigation of the wild hay crops. O n
many ranches flood irrigation has
been practiced for many years. In the
early 1900's the people began
damming the creeks in the spring and
releasing the water at the end o f June
to allow the land to dry for the
harvest i n late July. Timing is really
important once the hay "heads out."
After maturing the nutritional value
of hay drops to very little.
Reserve ranches were established i n
the 1930's by D I A . The haying operations are not totally dependent on
water for growth and maintenance o f
the meadows, but the D I A agents i n volved were negligent i n not acquiring
water rights for the Band. This omission may now present the Band with
unnecessary conflicts over water use.
Haying brings all generations of the family together
A t one time the ranches supported
over 800 head of cattle. During the
sixties and early seventies, the cattle
herd dropped to about 200 head. This
was due mainly to market conditions.
The haying operation i n the meadows
is a family operation. Often three
generations of one family will be
working in the same field. Horse
drawn cutters, rakes, and sleds are
used in the operations of the Jack,
Hemlin, Williams, Guichon and Case
family ranches. The hay is salted,
compacted, rounded and combed, so
that the haystacks will shed the rain.
The hay will then remain good for
many seasons. Patrick Charleyboy
and Sam Guichon supplemented their
winter hay with feed blocks of protein
and minerals. Labour is often a
problem.
The loss o f family members to the
mission schools for months and years
at a time almost spelled disaster for
the family ranches. During the 1960's
many o f the marginal income
ranchers gave up their ranches and
went to work in the temporary sawmill at Puntzi M ills . When the mills
left, many people were left without
jobs or cattle. Today, lack of job
opportunities is one of the major
problems in the area. Another difficulty
affecting
area
ranching
operations is that the summers of
1964, 1969, 1974 and 1980 were extremely wet, leaving some meadows
Tommy Timothy has been trying to
have something done about water
control on the meadows for over 10
INDIAN W O R L D 16
years. In 1974 he had to sell 120 head
of cattle because of the lack of winter
hay. That same year the Billy family
sold 60 head of cattle.
The Band is in the process of correcting this problem through Special
A R D A development applications. A t
an August meeting, over 25 Band
members expressed their strong interest in ranch development. The meeting itself was conducted in Chilcotin
language by Chief Jerry Charleyboy.
During this time of rebuilding, the
people are facing many outside
pressures. Mining and oil companies
are searching the Chilcotin for its
By William (Bill) Chelsea
The first year of our 4 H Club was
somewhat of a different one and a
learning experience. But plans are
just getting udner way for the future
year.
This past year we had eight beef
members, but for the upcoming year
we may only have five or so members.
The reason is the past wet season and
the shortage of hay, unless the 4 H
beef club can come up with some
dollars.
The other reason for having fewer
numbers of beef members could be
because of the kids' education. Some
people may think that 4 H isn't a
learning program. But I have heard
of members still in 4 H after nineteen
Keeping Daily Records
20
21
22
The past year we were late
on keeping record of
our animals, but this
WIAC WORKSHOPS
coming year there will
Field Crop Manage- Clarence Walkem
have to be records kept
Anaham
Cow Calf Operation George Saddleman on the animals, like their
Kamloops
Cow Calf Operation George Saddleman age, weight, daily gain
Chase
Cow Calf Operation George Saddleman
Merritt
in weight, amount of
Follow-up, Financial Jimmy Quaw
Terrace
feed and how much it
Management & Farm
costs per day to feed
Planning
Lytton
Cow Calf Operation George Saddleman that animal to gain that
Farm Financial
Mike Joseph
Ml. Carrie
much weight.
& Darcy
Management
I guess that sounds
Short Course
George Saddleman complicated but with
Kamloops
Calving
George Saddleman that they learn figures
Chase
Calving
Lower
Dan Gravelle
Field Crops
in pounds and dollars.
26
27
28
Kootenay
Mt. Currie
Merritt
Lillooet
Jan.
Hay harvest depends on the summer 5
6
water levels.
minerals, gas and oil. Forest companies are planning more temporary
logging and sawmill operations that
will affect the fishing and hunting
resources of the Chilcotin people.
Large white ranching empires, built
by Indian cowboys, are encroaching
on Indian grazing lans. These lands
must be protected for the coming rebirth of a strong viable native ranching economy and for future generations.
A t the August meeting it was
suggested that a native Chilcotin cattleman Association be formed to deal
with problems as they affect native
ranchers. The future will depend on
hard work and some hard dealing
with the provincial and federal governments.
Jim Rowed
years of age. Some even went on and
became 4 H animal judges, because in
4 H they share the good and the bad
points of the animals. Some members
could become vets, 4 H members learn
more about all kinds of illnesses and
diseases. (Len Marchand was a 4 H
member and he became minister for
the environment.)
Another reason I figure it's good
for the kids is that not only will it give
them something to do and keep them
out of trouble, but it could and will
give them a bit of agricultural, education. So to me 4 H is educational.
7
13
14-15
14
19-23
Feb.
3
4
6
10
4H Introductory
Calving
4H Introductory,
Evening Organizing
Columbia Lake Forage Production
Stone
Financial
Management
Victoria
Cultural Ctr.
Kamloops
Financial
Management
Mike Joseph
George Saddleman
Mike Joseph
Dan Gravelle
Clarence Walkem
Gabe Bartleman
George Saddleman
4H Gathering
So I say again 4 H is
educational. Some time
this month we are planning a dinner for all
members and parents,
and interested parties.
There will be prizes
handed out to the most
dedicated members.
INDIAN W O R L D 17
HELP WANTED
L I L L O O E T DISTRICT INDIAN COUNCIL
Education Co-ordinator
Job Summary:
• T o act as liaison officer between schools, students, and
parents.
• T o conduct interviews and counsel Native students i n
the in-school programs (Kindergarten-Grade 12), postschool (Vocational, Technical, University, and C o l lege).
• T o act as liaison with federal, provincial and local
government agencies, eg: colleges, Canada Manpower,
and Social Development departments, to further the
education and welfare of all Indian students.
• T o be responsible for education programs and supervise staff.
Qualifications:
• Grade 12 minimum with some training and experience
in Program Management.
• Have own vehicle and be willing to travel, eg: meetings,
field work, etc.
• Knowledge o f Indian language an asset.
Salary: Negotiable. Closing Date: December 17th, 1980.
A p p l y with resume to:
Lillooet District Indian Council
Box 465
Lillooet, B . C . V 0 K 1V0
Environment Impact Co-ordinator
Applications are being accepted for an Environment
Impact Co-ordinator to work with the four rural villages
of New Aiyansh, Greenville, Canyon City, and Kincolith,
in the Nass Valley area.
The duties include information gathering, liaison, public
participation.
The candidates will gather and distribute information on
the activities of large resource companies and the effects
on the livelihood o f Indian and other communities across
Canada and elsewhere.
There will be greatest emphasis on the companies with
projects land and operating in the Nishga land claims,
area. The environment impact co-ordinator will plan and
implement social and economic strategies with community leaders.
Requirements include:
G o o d communications skills; the ability to lead public
meetings; and the ability to write reports; the ability to
travel and knowledge o f the Nishga language are special
assets.
This competition closes December 20,1980.
The starting date is January 1st, 1981.
Salary: Negotiable.
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Send a resume or phone:
South Central Tribal Council requires a Band Financial
Advisor for the Lytton and Fraser Canyon area Bands.
The position will include:
• Providing advice on financial management systems,
procedures and principles to Chiefs, Councillors, and
Bands.
• Reviewing and developing financial and administrative procedures for Bands.
• Promoting financial management skills o f Bands.
• Developing a verification program to ensure proper
application o f the Band policy.
• Acting as a professional resource person to Indain
people.
Qualifications: The successful applicant should possess a
firm financial background in either business administration or accounting.
Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Please direct all inquiries and applications to:
Jim Coke, Tribal Administrator
South Central Tribal Council
345 Yellowhead H w y .
Kamloops, B . C . V 2 C 1H1
Deadline for applications is January 1st, 1981.
INDIAN WORLD 18
N
e
l
s
o
n
L
e
e
s
o
n
c/o Nishga Tribal Council
New Aiyansh, B . C .
V0J 1A0
Phone (604) 633-2215
A CAREER IN AVIATION AS AN
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
Pacific Air Services Region
Air Traffic Services Branch
Transport Canada Vancouver, B . C .
This competition is open to both men and women who
are residents of the province o f British Columbia.
Salary:
While training - $ 10,775 per annum
Basic Controller - $16,824 per annu,
Top Operational Controller - $36,876
No previous experience required as full training is
provided.
How to A p p l y : Applications received until December 31,
1980 will be considered; however, i n order to ensure
immediate
consideration
applications
should be
submitted immediately to: Regional Staffing Officer,
Transport
Canada,
739 West
Hastings
Street,
Vancouver, B . C . V 6 C 1A2.
Please quote reference number: 7 9 - M O T - V - A - O C - 1 3 at
all times.
PRODUCTION M A N A G E R
Production Manager of the "Indian W o r l d " is in charge
of arranging production schedule and ensuring that
schedule is followed.
Related Duties:
• ensure that all suggestions from line-up meeting are
followed through on time, including scheduling submissions o f articles, photographs, art work, etc.
• assist in writing, editing and photography
• liaison with typesetters and printers
Preference will be given to a Band member who has
working experience for his or her Band. Should be willing
to travel and be willing to work longer than average
hours.
Starting Date:
A s soon as possible.
Salary: Negotiable.
Write to or phone: Communications Portfolio, Union of
B . C . Indian Chiefs, 440 West Hastings St., Vancouver,
B . C . V6B 1L1 Phone (604) 684-0231.
Field Researchers
(Occupational Health and Safety Concerns of Native
People)
In this position, you will conduct an in-depth survey on
the occupational health and safety concerns of native
people. Y o u will be working under contract possibly
leading to permanent employment. Y o u will have the
ability to communicate with and understand native
culture. Y o u will be able to address effectively
conventions, conferences, etc. and have the ability to
work alone and accept responsibility. Must be free to
travel extensively.
Locations:
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories,
Ontario, and Quebec. Bilingualism an asset for Ontario
and Quebec.
Qualifications:
Practical knowledge of industry, mining, logging,
construction, oil explorations, or industrial manufacturing.
Education:
Minimum High School Diploma. Exposure to occupational health and safety courses (not mandatory).
Salary: $346.00 per week plus expenses.
Please submit applications by December 15,1980 to:
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and
Safety
A t t n : L . Lavallee
Health Sciences Centre
1200 M a i n Street West, Suite 3N25
Hamilton, Ontario L 8 N 3Z5
POSITION: ASSISTANT EDITOR
The Assistant Editor of the "Indian W o r l d " magazine is
responsible to the Band members for the production o f
the magazine and other publications by the Print section
of the Communications Portfolio.
Related Duties:
• taking photographs and writing articles and editing
• travelling to Bands, on request, to hold print workshops
• sending staff out i n the field to cover stories
E D U C A T I O N P R O G R A M DIRECTOR
This person will be responsible for the administration of
the Band Council's education program.
Duties will include the proper administration of the
education budget (approximately $300,000), supervision
of teacher aides, education staff and nursery school.
Successful applicant will work closely with the cultural
co-ordinator i n the development of Indian education
programs. Development of Band training programs for
Band members will also be part of the director's duties.
Interested persons should apply in writing to:
Band Manager
Bella C o o l a Band Council
P . O . Box 65
Bella Coola, B . C . V 0 T 1C0
For information, phone: 799-5613.
Closing date for this job will be December 12th, 1980.
Salary will be negotiable.
T E A C H E R - I N D I A N EDUCATION
The Bella C o o l a Band Council is starting an Indian
education program in Bella Coola. This program is
designed to provide a small group of students (15
maximum) with an educational experience with emphasis
on Indian values i n addition to a basic academic
education.
The Indian education teacher will be expected to act in
the following areas:
• Teach a basic academic program of Math, Science,
English and Social Studies
• Teach a program of Indian studies
• Foster effective school community relations.
Candidates should be trained teachers, preferably with
a background in the Social Sciences.
Persons with equivalent training or experience are
encouraged to apply.
Applicants should forward a resume including a
philosophy o f education and supporting documents by
December 15,1980.
Further information may be obtained from the
education director Ben K i l f o i l at 799-5453.
Applications should be sent to:
Horace Walkus, Band Manager
Bella Coola Band Council
P . O . Box 65
Bella Coola, B . C . V 0 T 1C0
INDIAN W O R L D 19
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
By Gert Mack
our culture and language. The Elders
spoke of their feelings, they were
happy to hear from the young people
and thanked all who participated.
Each day we served lunch and
supper. After supper the second day
the Bella Coola singers and dancers
performed
for the guests who
attended the Education Conference.
P h i l Lane spoke on how the present
school system works. F r o m the day
our children start school in Kinder-
Good education at the Band level will help build a stronger community.
The Bella Coola Band held an Education Conference on October 28-30
to discuss Indian values, parental involvement, and how to take control
of our children's education.
With prayers, introductions, and
Chief Archie Pootlass expressing his
feelings to all who came from other
communities to support our Education Conference, the
conference
began. Our interpreter, Rosie Hans,
translated to the Elders from Bella
Coola on the issues that were to be
discussed. Mable H a l l , Marg Hans
and other Elders talked about Indian
values that they grew up with. They
talked of the Creator putting us on
this earth, the sharing with other
Indian Bands before the coming of
the white people, the ritual of
thanking our Creator every day in
everything they did, as in hunting,
fishing, singing, dancing, and for our
mother earth.
A s communities we have to be
proud of our heritage: people from
the communities expressed
their
willingness to learn all they could of
The people at the Conference shared
garten we are told we are not
welcome. The curriculum isn't designed for Indians but for nonThe young people told the Elders they want to learn their people's ways. Indians. P h i l told us that we are all
born with intelligence but we soon
begin to suppress our ideas and
feelings because of the attitudes and
ideas of other people toward us.
Then, as we go through the school
system, we begin to think of ourselves
as failures. P h i l Lane told each and
every one of us not to be ashamed of
who we are. We should be proud that
we are Indians and we should not
think we are failures. We can succeed
in this world.
the wrap-up session and discussion
went well. I spoke of the importance
of our involvement as parents in our
children's education. The role of the
INDIAN W O R L D 20
BELLA COOLA SHARES
RESEARCH INTO BAND SCHOOLS
Elders is in teaching our young people
all they know of Indian values, language and culture. The students came
forward and said that from now on
they'll revive the sharing and communicating with others in our communities. The young people have to learn
many things from the Elders before
all is lost. After each open session the
people broke into smaller groups to
share ideas, and this was really successful.
from the Bella Coola Band have
visited i n British Columbia: New
Aiyansh, Blue Quills, Saddle Lake i n
Alberta, Prince Albert in Saskatchewan, and the United States.
A panel discussion was held with
Joe Dupuis keynote speaker
talked
of
community
and
parental
involvement
in
our
children's
education. They talked about the difference in parental responsibilities of
whites and Indians. The Indians used
to share the responsibility of the upbringing o f children.
After the open session was through
we all broke into small workshops
with men in one group, the students
in another and women in another
group. We all shared experiences
we've had and we talked about how
we spend our time with our children.
We all feel we could spend more time
with our children. Many of us realize
now how important it is to be more
valued in our children's education.
It's important that they learn about
our language and culture.
I wish to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who made this
conference successful: Roy and L i n a
Edgar for taking care of the H a l l and
food. Karen Anderson for the
entertainment. Melvina Mack and
Ben for the planning of everything.
Roseann A n d y and Darlene Tallio for
billets and hotel reservations. The
guest speakers, Joe Dupuis, Vince
Worme, and P h i l Lane, for sharing
with us their many ideas. The Union
staff for helping the education staff
of Bella Coola. A n d many more too
numerous to name. Thanks also to
the people who come from afar and
near to share with us their concerns
for the education of our children.
M a y we always share ideas and
concerns with other Indian communities.
We should be proud that we're Indians; we can succeed in this world.
ideas on their children's education.
Archie Pootlass expressed his concern regarding the Patriation of the
Constitution. H e explained to the
people exactly what Prime Minister
Trudeau is trying to do. It was decided
to have an evening meeting to completely explain the issue. We were
very thankful we had Rosie Hans to
interpret everything to our Elders.
The second morning again was
spent on the Constitution. The people
really began to understand exactly
what was involved. If Indians aren't
involved i n the changing of the C o n stitution, we will lose all our rights as
indigenous people.
The afternoon was then taken up
with Ben Kilfoil's preliminary report
on Band-operated schools. Ben told
of his trips to places he and people
1977 INTERNATIONAL S C H O O L BUS
Holds 72 passengers.
$13,500 or best offer.
Contact B O N E P A R T E B A N D office, Box 669, Cache
Creek, B . C . V0K 1H0, Telephone 457-6559.
INDIAN W O R L D 21
INDIAN RADIO TRAINING:
Breaking New Ground
Speaking with our own words and accents, having the power to speak to hundreds and thousands o
people — this is Indian Radio.
In British Columbia, Indian radio is still new territory. The Union of Chiefs is providing training so
that Bands, tribal councils and individuals will have the skills needed to begin serious planning for th
kinds of Indian radio programming they want and need.
Back: Diane, Education Director; Gordon Jack, trainee. Front: Brenda Leon, trainee; Annette, receptionist; Geneva
Waseta, news director; Donald Eriacho, technician; Faye Eriacho, program director; Susan Braine, station manager.
This year, from June 23 to October 31, the Radio
section of the Communications Portfolio held its second
annual Indian Radio Communications Training Program. Six trainees were hired, and five made it through
the entire five months.
After the first thirteen weeks, trainee Gail Stump o f
Anaham Band returned to Prince George College to
finish her high school education, and she completed her
practicum there as well. Gail worked with the news director and station manager of one of the local radio stations,
contributing story ideas and contact names on a weekly
basis.
The other trainees went to radio stations in the United
States for the 5-week practicum portion of the training
program. Fran Smith and Marshall Goulet went to
K A O S Public Radio in Olympia, Washington, and
Gordon Jack and Brenda Leon worked at Indian radio
station K S H I in Z u n i , New Mexico.
begin to be involved in radio planning or production in
their communities or wherever they're needed.
The trainees in this year's program had their eyes,
minds and hearts opened to many new experiences. The
red earth and kind people of Z u n i , New Mexico showed
them a very different Indian lifestyle, one they grew to
appreciate and understand. Zuni is in the heartland of
Indian country i n the United States, and the trainees had
no shortage of material to translate into news-stories,
profiles and mini-documentaries.
Olympia, Washington is campus country, with Indian
programming a part of the total work done by K A O S
Radio. The trainees there learned about production and
documentary techniques, they met good people willing to
teach them skills, and they left with a knowledge of the
workings of a radio station.
Training so we can Plan Strongly
Using and Sharing Knowledge is Key to Indian
Radio
There is a growing demand for Indian radio programming by our people in British Columbia. We need the
skilled Indian people to do all the jobs necessary in this
field—announcers, news-readers, broadcasters, technicians and engineers, script-writers, producers — before we
can make a strong beginning. This program is serving
that purpose. It is training young people so they can
Training is where we are turning our attention. Each
person with radio skills has it on his or her conscience to
share that knowledge with whoever is wanting to learn.
We will work with any Band who asks for training of any
kind i n radio communications skills. The small circle o f
skilled people will grow larger and stronger through
training and sharing.
INDIAN W O R L D 22
When I was in Z u n i , New Mexico, a reporter from the
local newspaper asked me what I was going to do when I
returned to British Columbia. I told him, "I'm going back
home to continue with radio production, to help both
Indian and non-Indian people to become aware of issues
involving Indian people in British Columbia."
By production, I mean going out to various tribes,
getting interviews, music and information through
research and really listening to people's feelings and
ideas. I would like to independently produce "packages"
involving B . C . Indians and sell them to radio stations in
the area the event is happening i n .
I'd like to raise enough money to buy all my own equipment and set up a very small production studio—this is
going to be a priority for me.
Brenda Leon, Chehalis
Brenda is on staff at the U n i o n o f Chiefs.
This program is one of a few which will have longlasting effects on Indian people. This is because through
the medium of radio, the Indian people can be exposed
to and educated about the cultures o f our own particular
tribes. We can also learn about the situations facing us
and can be informed of happenings with which we could
be involved.
Over-all this course has a heavy work-load, but it helps
condition the individual to the amount of work that
person would face i f they chose to go into the radio field.
Gordon Jack, Hazelton
Gordon has been hired by the Health Portfolio o f the
U n i o n o f Chiefs.
When I got here in Vancouver and started work I didn't
really know what I was in for. After the first week, I
knew that the next nineteen weeks would be a lot of
work, doing interviews with various types of people,
learning how to read properly, learning how to write
scripts, and to use all the equipment.
When I first started the course I was terrified, because I
had moved away from my home and family i n Prince
Rupert. I didn't know too many people i n Vancouver.
However, I met a lot o f people and at the U n i o n office,
the work atmosphere was easy to adjust to.
After 14 weeks of learning the radio skills, I went to
Olympia, Washington, with Marshall Goulet. There, I
This year was the Third Annual Convention of the
Gitskan Carrier Tribal Council. O n the first day of the
convention, as I walked into the gym, I could feel excitement, enthusiasm, and tension. I knew the next two days
were going to be pretty powerful.
The young people were a great help in preparing and
helping i n the convention. The Indian art class of the high
school made a banner with Indian designs for each Band
and a big banner with the theme of the convention. The
enthusiasm o f the young people must have rubbed off on
everyone, because there were a lot of happy and excited
people there.
This year's theme was "Native Women, Our Existence,
Our Survival." A t the beginning of the convention they
had presentations from the Gitskan women and the Carrier women, showing us what part the women had played
in building the strong and proud Gitskan-Carrier Nation.
The issue that concerned the convention was Section
12(1)B o f the Indian A c t , the section that discriminated
against native women who marry non-Indian men. It was
very clear that this had to be changed.
They also had a panel of leaders open for questions
from the people attending the convention. This was
great. It was open to anyone to have a say in the convention. It was a good learning experience for everyone.
B y Kelly Nyce
worked i n the news department for K A O S Radio, where I
read and wrote news, public service announcements, job
services and other things for an Indian program Skyrunner " I remember my first time on-air "live" at K A O S :
all of a sudden I was i n the studio doing the news live;
they didn't give me a chance to get scared or nervous.
After I finished I realized I'd been on-air live and then I
got scared.
I returned to Prince Rupert with a lot of new knowledge in communications and Indian issues.
Fran Smith, Port Simpson Band
Fran has since accepted a job as publicity chairwoman
for the B . C . Winter Games in Prince Rupert.
INDIAN W O R L D 23
THE DANCE OF
By Bobby Joseph
A long time ago, i n the world of the Kwiksuktaineuk
Indians, a legend was born to a noble lady of that tribe.
She was Ahnoos, privileged to come into contact and
communication with members o f the animal spirit world.
A s legend would have it, Ahnoos was digging for cockles,
in order to prepare a special feast for her husband and
family, when there came upon her a frightening and spine
tingling sensation, common to those gifted with visits
from the supernatural world. Slowly raising her head,
Ahnoos glimpsed the awesome and frightening figure of
Buckwes, the wildman of the woods.
A n d as they got to the Yout'si, which is the
supernatural cave, Buckwes told Ahnoos to stay behind
and hide behind a stump. While she did that, he gave her
two cockles, and just told her to wait.
Buckwes entered the supernatural cave, and in the
supernatural cave was a full fledged ceremony going on.
The A n i m a l Kingdom was enacting the potlatch, dancing
and singing and so forth. There were speeches being
made and every animal was doing his dance.
During that time, four of the A n i m a l Kingdom
characters went out to try to find out what was present
outside. They knew somebody was outside that was
mortal. So first of all the mouse went out and Ahnoos
gave the mouse a chunk of the cockles that she had been
told to keep by Buckwes. Then the weasel went out, and
then the ermine went out, and then the otter went out,
and each time Ahnoos gave them a piece of the cockle.
For a timeless moment in space, the mortal Ahnoos
froze in fright. Buckwes with his supernatural gift,
communicated to Ahnoos assurances of her safety, and
that all he wanted was her cockles.
"What will you give me in return?" asked Ahnoos.
"Come and follow me and I will show you," said
Buckwes, picking up the basket of cockles.
So Buckwes and Ahnoos treaded into the forest, away
from the beach where she ws digging the cockles. A n d as
they got deeper and deeper into the forest, Ahnoos could
hear the chanting and singing and beating on the drums.
What came to her mind immediately was that they
sounded very much like the potlatches of the
Kwawkewlth people, so she felt a little more comfortable
about it.
INDIAN W O R L D 24
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
Finally Buckwes got up to speak at the ceremony. H e
told them about Ahnoos and could he have permission to
bring her in? The animal world said, "Yes. Bring her i n . "
Then she was asked to take off her garments. She turned
around and looked at all the beings in the A n i m a l
Kingdom, in the supernatural cave. She had a blurred
vision of the animals, because what she was now
witnessing was the spirits of the animals.
There is a lesson in the story. After the dance was
finished, the animals told Ahnoos: " Y o u may now go
home. We are going to give you the gift of this dance."
The Kwicksutaineuk tribe assumed the right to the
A n i m a l Kingdom because it was a gift from the Animals
themselves. They told her to teach the message of the
value of the natural world to human beings. People
should now always respect the animal world and
maintain a balance.
In the end, when we are dancing, we all come back out
again, and we come back carrying our masks. The grande
finale in what we are doing is taking off the animal
costumes and showing our spiritual beings.
INDIAN W O R L D 25
BOOK REVIEW
By Bess Brown
Pitseolak was not like so many other students caught in
the same position o f not belonging to his Inuit culture or
to the white society. Like other students he was sent away
to obtain a good education and expected to use some of
this to help his people "improve" their lifestyles. This is
what the government had hoped, anyway. Just what the
Inuit people expected or wanted from returning students
is unclear.
A Government Success
Pitseolak was a misfit to his family but the government
considered him a success for he did adopt some of the
values of the non-Indian society. Throughout most of the
story Pitseolak struggles to find his place i n the Inuit
culture or white society.
Resolving Things
W i t h the encouragement of Raine, he was able to
resolve this conflict. H e began learning the ways of the
Inuit people with a sense of pride and dignity, something
he had never felt before. Without Raines' constant
encouragement, it is doubtful he would have been able to
resolve this conflict. I found it quite disturbing that his
family was not supportive during his troubles. Hopefully
native people are more understanding now of others who
have been brought up i n the dominant society and now
wish to live and learn native values and customs. Transition into different lifestyles is often difficult, without
having other pressures added.
E D M O N T O N : HURTIG PUBLISHERS, 1980.
176 pp.
Learning But Not Living
Twelve years ago David Raine was a teacher at Cape
Dorset on Baffin Island. While there he became good
friends with a young Inuit man named Pitseolak.
Pitseolak: A Canadian Tragedy is the story of the friendship that developed between these two men.
According to Raine, Pitseolak learnt a great deal about
the Inuit in a short period o f time, still others felt he
didn't fit into the Inuit culture. Those who felt he did not
belong thought the circumstances surrounding his death
were proof enough. While hunting with a companion,
Pitseolak suddenly stood up and was shot in the back of
the head (experienced Inuit hunters would have given
warning).
Not Belonging
Government Policies
Pitseolak left home at a young age to continue his
education. A t school in Manitoba he became very
removed from the Inuit culture. He finally returned home
feeling alienated from both the community and his
family.
Raines believed Pitseolak's death could be attributed to
the policies o f the government stating i f he had been
brought up with Inuit values and attitudes he would not
have been killed hunting.
Raines' interest i n the Inuit culture made the book very
enjoyable. Pitseolak: A Canadian Tragedy is an excellent
book examining the effects of government policies on the
Inuit people. Recommended.
The things he now valued, his family thought were
unimportant and insignificant.
INDIAN W O R L D 26
IN THE
NEWS..
F R O M A L K A L I SPEAKS
CREATIONS OF
T H E SHUSWAP
By Fred Johnson
The arts and crafts group started our get-tgether on
October 27th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p . m . We hope to meet
three times weekly, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
evenings at 7:00. Our main objective is to create a better
atmosphere o f cultural awareness.
We had a good turn-out of students and crafts people.
Myrtle Johnson, painter, graduate o f Cariboo College in
Kamloops, will be a great help to our students. Dave
Sampson, another Cariboo College art student, never did
bring his body around yet, so Dubby get your fingers i n
gear.
Franky, Johnny, Irene, Marcella and Marge Dick will
be doing their crafts; the students can see how it is done.
For our first activity we are drawing, we are exercising
our eyes and fingers to move together. We are learning to
sketch first; we must catch the image in a glance, and put
it on paper. We are practicing to concentrate on our
drawing, rather to be self-conscious of the people
F R O M Y U K O N INDIAN NEWS
CHARLIE'S C H U C K L E S
By Bob Charlie
Once upon a time there was an Indian Chief living i n
Beaver Creek who became quite concerned about the
energy crisis. So he sold his pickup i n order not to use any
more gas which was getting too expensive anyways and
bought himself a ten speed bicycle.
One day he got a call to attend an all-chiefs meeting i n
Whitehorse. H e figured i f he was to get there on time, he
would have to leave a week ahead. So, off he went and
when he arrived at Burwash Landing, he decided to stop
for lunch at the Kluane Tribal Brotherhood's D r y Meat
Truck Stop. A young fellow came and sat down beside
the chief and they started talking. The young man asked
the chief where he was going and how he was travelling.
I remember them
they are dancing
haunting me
to think of Indians
A s they were before
But, I want to be
me. Today
I will always
see them dancing
Because they
are a part
of me! That
I do not see
today!
watching. We are learning to take criticism, also to be
open-minded. We must never use an eraser on a drawing,
and never throw out a drawing. We are in a learning
stage, we have to learn from all our mistakes, big and
small. A l s o we will be studying Indian Design, our theme.
How can we even call Ourselves Indian, i f we don't know
about our history. In our art, we say, how can we draw or
paint Indian life i f we never went down to the creek,
swam in cold water or went i n the sweathouse. H o w in
the world, can we draw about lehal or hunting, when we
don't know some songs and history of how our Shuswap
grandfathers use the sweathouse to get ready for a lehal
game.
I am encouraging the student to try some of these
activities so next time somebody asks, "Is this Shuswap
Indian A r t ? " they will be proud to show off their art.
Yes, this is a picture o f when we had a sweathouse,
twenty below zero.
The chief told him he was going to Whitehorse on his
take you a long time, maybe I can help you." The chief
said; " H o w ? " A n d the young guy replied that he would
tow the chiefs bike behind his brand new Corvette Stinhg
Ray and i f they started to go too fast, all the chief had to
do was ring the bell on his handlebar and he would slow
down.
Off they went and things were going great until this
blue Mustang passed them. The driver o f the Corvette
didn't like that so he stepped on the gas and the two cars
started racing down the highway. In the meantime, the
chief was getting pretty worried about how fast they were
going and started ringing his bell. But with all the noise
and excitement his driver didn't hear him. Then they went
through a radar trap and the policeman who was sitting
there called his buddy who was parked five miles down
the road. H e said, "There's a couple of drag racers
coming your way arid they're moving pretty fast. One is a
blue Mustang and the other is a red Sting Ray. Y o u can
let them by but, there's this Indian right behind them on a
ten-speed bicycle ringing his bell and trying to pass them,
grab h i m ! "
INDIAN W O R L D 27
ten-spe
DOCUMENTING LAND
CLAIMS: 300 YEARS
OF LIVING MEMORY
By Beth Cuthand
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai of the Lake Temegami Region of
N.E. Ontario are seeking legal recognition of their right to
unmolested possession of their homeland: Ndaki-Menan.
For the last ten years this small
tribe, numbering 630 members—250
of whom live on Bear Island in Lake
Temagami—have been working diligently and alone, pursuing their right
to control their land. Ndaki-Menan is
4,000 square miles o f heavily-timbered, mineral and water-rich land
which has supported the Teme-augama
Anishnabai for generations upon generations. N o treaty has ever been
signed with the Temagami Indians.
They have never ceded, sold or otherwise given up the rights to their land.
Band Freezes Land Sales and
Development on Unsurrendered
Land
Based on that fact, in late 1973, the
Band quietly filed a "caution" (land
freeze) on 110 townships within the
boundaries of their ancestral lands. A
giant tourist resort was planned right
in the centre of Teme-augama Anishnabai lands and the Band filed the
INDIAN W O R L D 28
caution to give notice o f their outstanding aboriginal interest. It was
only about 4 months later, when the
Province attempted to sell some o f
the land, that the caution came to
light. It was then that the Member of
Parliament for the area, E d Havrot,
made racist statements about Indians
and caused an uproar across the
country. Havrot was up i n arms
because the Maple Mountain tourist
complex was his baby and the
Temagami Band was standing i n the
way o f "progress." Chief Gary Potts
wrote in a press release at the time:
"Today our land is being slowly
stripped of her natural resources. The
air and water are being polluted.
Seeing this, we realized that i f these
present concepts o f progress are to
continue, w e . . . would, merely for the
convenience o f material value, soon
be unable to make a living i n this
area. Worse still, the unborn generations o f the Temagami Indian Band
would have no base from which to
grow."
"Progress" Means Different
Things to Peoples
Two very different concepts o f
"progress" have been clashing head
on. For Chief Gary Potts "progress"
is ensuring the continuity o f the
Teme-augama Anishnabai. F o r the
Province o f Ontario, "progress" is
ensuring that the land is open for
immediate resource exploitation. But
try as it might, the Province o f O n tario has not been able to lift the caution and the land remains closed to
any new development until the courts
decide just who owns the land.
The Band is prepared to present the full story. Their legal support
staff have gathered over 4,000 pages of documents confirming
the knowledge that has been passed from generation to
generation of the Teme-augama Anishnabai: that the roots of the
people go back beyond living memory, that their ancestors were
created on the ancestral lands and the spirits reside there permanently, that there has always been a specific connection
between the Temegami people and Ndaki-Menan.
(continued page 30)
1620 A . D . French interpreter and fur trader Jean
Nicollet winters o n Lake Nipissing, twelve years after
the founding o f Quebec. A m o n g the groups he encounters are the Teme-augama Anishnabai.
1760. The English have conquered New France. Formal
capitulation o f French army at Montreal states that the
Indian allies o f the King o f France shall not be disturbed i n the lands they occupy for having taken up
arms against the English. A m o n g these allies are the
Teme-augama Anishnabai.
1763, October 7th. King George III of England issues a
Royal Proclamation. Because of "Great Frauds and
Abuses" committed by European settlers, these settlers are warned to get off Indian lands. Native tribes
are confirmed as owners of all lands not already sold or
surrendered by them to the Crown. If at any future
date, these tribes are inclined to part with any lands,
they are to be bought in the King's name only, at a
public meeting with the Chiefs and principal men of
the tribes in question. Ndaki-menan is Indian land.
The Royal Proclamation has never been repealed. It
still has the force of a Statute in Canada.
1791. The Province o f Upper Canada is created
Its
formal boundaries include Ndaki-menan. But the
Teme-augama Anishnabai do not sell.
1850, September 9th. Minerals have been discovered on
the north shore o f Lake H u r o n . The Government o f
the Province of Canada offers to buy the lands i n
question from the local tribes. The "Robinson-Huron"
Treaty gives the Queen full title to the northern and
eastern shores of Lake H u r o n . Not being invited and
not being present, the Treaty was N E V E R signed by
the Teme-augama Anishnabai.
1867. Confederation. The new "federal" Government is
given responsibility, under the British North America
A c t , for "Indians and lands reserved for the Indians."
1877. Lumbermen, licensed by the Ontario Government
to cut on Lake Temiskaming, arrive on Temagami
Lake exploring for timber. Chief Tonene o f the Temeaugama Anishnabai immediately visits the federal
Indian Agent i n Parry Sound, protesting that
white men are interfering with Indian lands that have
never been surrendered by Treaty.
1883. The Federal Government acknowledges that the
Teme-augama Anishnabai did not take part in the
Robinson-Huron Treaty. Some o f the Teme-augama
Anishnabai (those o f Native ancestry i n the male, but
not female, line) are identified by the federal
government as the "Temegami Indian Band." Although
no formal sale or surrender o f Ndaki-menan takes
place, a small (100 square miles) tract at the south end
of Lake Temagami is surveyed i n 1885 by the Federal
Government as a "Reserve" for the "Temagami Band
of Indians."
1885 to 1978. The Government o f the Province o f Ontario refuses to recognize the 100-square-mile tract on
Lake Temagami as an Indian Reserve, claiming that all
of Ndaki-menan has already been surrendered by the
Robinson-Huron Treaty o f 1850. Despite continuous
protests by the Teme-augama Anishnabai, the Ontario
government allows exploitation o f Ndaki-menan by
European settlers to proceed.
1906. Lands immediately north o f Ndaki-menan are
sold by the resident Cree and Ojibwa Indian people to
the Crown under the terms o f the "James Bay Treaty
(Treaty Number Nine)." Despite interferences by the
Ontario Government, Ndaki-menan is still legally
Indian land.
1943. The Ontario Government has been threatening for
ten years to evict certain members o f the Temeaugama Anishnabai from Bear Island, Lake
Temagami, where they have homes, for failing to pay
rent to the Province. T o avoid further conflict, the
Federal Government buys Bear Island from the Province. The Teme-augama Anishnabai, however, refuse
to acknowledge this purchase as a settlement o f their
grievance, because no formal sale or surrender of
Ndaki-menan has taken place.
1971. The Federal Government declares Bear Island to
be an Indian Reserve.
1973, August. Chief Gary Potts o f the Teme-augama
Anishnabai files a "Caution" against all unregistered
" C r o w n " lands within Ndaki-menan, asserting that the
area in question is still Indian land within the meaning
of the Royal Proclamation o f 1763. The Province tries
to have the Caution lifted.
1978, M a y . The Attorney-General for the Province o f
Ontario sues the Teme-augama Anishnabai in the Supreme Court o f Ontario, seeking a number o f declarations, among them that the Teme-augama Anishnabai
have no interest whatsoever in Ndaki-menan.
1979,
January. Trial
pleadings
1979. Twenty-two townships added to Caution.
1979, December. Bruce Clark, Lawyer for the Defendants, questions the Provincial Representatives.
1980, January and February. Province questions Chief
Gary Potts for seven days, investigating the facts we
rely on to support our Claim to the lands in question.
INDIAN W O R L D 29
(from page 28)
Bruce
Clark,
Band
lawyer,
explains:
"The
fact
that
the
Temagami have always been regarded
as the exclusive possessors and absolute owners of the use and enjoyment
of the land is corroborated (confirmed) by the historical documents
which show that throughout the history at least of this part of Ontario,
Indians, not just here but elsewhere,
have asserted that right and that the
white society has formally acquiesced
(accepted) and agreed to that
principle. A lot of the research has
been documenting that basic social
contract which was made between the
white society and the Indian society.
The root of the social contract is the
Indian assertion of their sovereignty
and exclusive possession."
Each Family Can Trace Their
Ancestors Back Three Centuries
Chief Gary Potts first started the
reseach in 1972 by doing genealogy
charts of the 14 families who make up
the tribe. Using an anthropologist's
1913 report on the family trees of his
Band, he went to all the Elders and
not only got them to remember their
ancestors but also each family
been invaluable to the Band. Says
Chief Potts, " T o re-establish the
sense that we did have a say and
would have a say in the future of our
people and our lands, the genealogy
charts were a positive factor. It was
illustrated in black and white, our
connection with the ancestors and the
historical facts that our research
brought out showed that there was
absolutely no question who had jurisdiction over this land. When all that
information came out in community
meetings and newsletters, the people's
attention got focused on the fact they
did have a natural right to this land.
Nobody could take it away from
them."
Today, the Supreme Court action
has gone through the pre-trial stages,
through the discoveries stage, and has
been re-opened to allow a new intervener: Panmore Porcupine Mines, a
subsidiary o f the multi-national Nor¬
anda Mines, to become a party to the
Province's action.
Trudeau's Constitution Could
Wipe Out Land Rights
The Supreme Court action will
probably be before the courts for the
The Wabimakwa
family members
know their ancestors
as far back as the
time of the Royal
Proclamation. They
know their history
and they know their
rights.
hunting area. A t that time, he
thought the thing to do was to prove
"aboriginality"; hence the genealogical charts going back into the 1700's.
The fourteen family hunting areas, he
put together on a map and was able to
define the boundaries of their homeland.
Knowledge Strengthens Band
Members
Though they are no longer arguing
their case on the basis of "aboriginal
rights," the genealogy charts have
INDIAN W O R L D 30
"We'd like to see a clearer charter for
native continuity go into the Constitution, "declares Chief Gary Potts.
you're absolutely right, but because
we're working under different laws
now,
your argument no longer
applies." They can go on with a lot of
rhetoric saying how the government
has shafted us and that's not right,
but that's about all they can say.
We're very concerned about the Constitution and we'd like to see a more
explicit charter for native continuity
go into the Constitution in place of
section 24. The proposed section 24 is
just filling space as far as I'm
concerned.
No Negotiation
next five years and go all the way to
the Supreme Court of Canada. But
the patriation of the Constitution is
cause for a lot of our concern. Says
Chief Potts: "It could affect the outcome of our court case because we're
looking at another five years before it
gets to the Supreme Court of Canada.
In that time, i f it's a whole new ball
game, for example, i f there's no more
section 109 in any Constitution, then
all the work we've done is almost like
for nothing. The Judge will says, " i f
this had been here five years ago,
Regardless of the politics outside
their homeland, the resolve of the
Teme-augama Anishnabai remains
undiminished. When the Province of
Ontario and the Federal Government
met with the Temagami this summer
at Bear Island, the Province indicated
that they were prepared to negotiate a
settlement. The Temagami people
said, " N o , we will not negotiate."
Chief Gary Potts is a stubborn man
and the issue is clear: the Temeaugama Anishnabai have the right to
unmolested possession of their homeland. He wants the Canadian judicial
system to recognize that fact. N o
more and no less.
SOVEREIGN NATIONS
T H E L E G A L CASE
A s the Constitutional Express makes its way across
Canada, we are presenting legal arguments on behalf of
the Indian Nations in Rotterdam, England, Ottawa, and
possibly New Y o r k .
The legal argument for the Indian people is a strong
one. We are arguing that Indian people are the original
peoples of this land. We have the rights to use the land as
our ancestors used the land. We have the right to total
sovereignty within our territories. When the European
settlers came to this land they treated the Indian people
with a good deal of respect, at first, when the settlers
were in the minority and the Indian people were most
powerful.
After some time the settlers began to make inroads into
Indian people's territory and at that time there was a
great resistance from the Indian people. Great Britain at
that time could not afford to enter into a war with the
Indian Nations and so as a result of the pressure put upon
her the Royal Proclamation of 1763 was passed.
The Royal Proclamation
In this Proclamation certain rights which Indian people
have to their land were entrenched in law. Under the
Proclamation no land could be sold until it was ceded by
a surrender which was obtained through an open B a n d
meeting. Following the Royal Proclamation many
By Louise Mandel
treaties were entered into to cede the land. These treaties
were made with Her Majesty the Queen and were
executed on the basis that the Indian people have full selfgovernment. The treaties then are agreements between
Her Majesty the Queen in Britain representing her
country, and the Indian Chiefs representing the Indian
Nations. Great Britain was, and continues to be, under a
sacred trust to the Indian people to preserve the people,
their land, and their government from the onslaught of
more powerful countries.
Canadian Government Given Administrative
Powers Only
In 1867 Canada was given the authority over Indians
and lands reserved for Indians under the British North
America A c t . It is clear from all that we have looked at
that the authority which the Canadian Government was
given was simply the authority to administer the
obligations which Great Britain had to insure that Indian
people's land, resources,
and government
were
maintained intact. Canada assumed no political obligations with the Indian Nations because the Indian Nations
never entered into arrangements with Canada but only
with Great Britain. Canada's role was to administer the
delegated trust over the fulfillment of Britain's
obligations.
Canada Mismanaged Trust
In fact we are arguing that Canada very badly
mismanaged the trust because they have continued upon
a policy of expropriation of Indian people's lands,
Above: Skiedans Village, 1979
Right: Skidegate Band Off ice, 1979.
INDIAN W O R L D 31
without consent and against the law. A l s o they have
continued upon a policy of assimilation which denies
Indian people's rights to their own Indian Government.
Canada Wants to Terminate Trust & Obligations
Now that the Government is repatriating the Constitution, it wants to terminate all the obligations which
Great Britain has to the Indian people—to ensure that no
land is sold until it was ceded, to ensure that the treaty
obligations are enshrined and protected, to ensure that
Indian people's rights to self-determination and full
Indian Government are maintained. Canada no doubt
will continue the policy o f expropriation and assimilation
and with Britain no longer protecting the final obligation
to the Indian Nations, Canada and the Provinces will
very likely terminate the obligations to Indian people in
non-Indian law.
Going to Court Outside Canada
We have decided to take the legal questions through
courts and forms outside of Canada. W e made this
decision because it seems that every time we take a
question through the Canadian courts, it is the Canadian
judges and the Canadian law which is applied. There are
no Indian judges. There is no Indian law.
Conflict of Interest
In discussing whether or not Indian Affairs ought to be
kept with Britain or administered through the colonies i n
1837, a Parliamentary Committee i n Britain recommended that Indian Affairs be maintained with Britain
because they felt that there would be a conflict o f interest
for the Government o f Canada to both protect Indian
land and also to attempt to develop their own wealth.
Canada has operated i n this conflict of interest now for
over 100 years, only to the detriment of the Indian
Nations. Perhaps we will get a better hearing in a court
which is not tied into the Canadian system.
The Russell Tribunal
We have presented oar legal arguments i n Rotterdam
before the Russell Tribunal. The Tribunal is comprised of
some International Jurists who meet to hear the cases of
various peoples around the world who have particular
problems. The theme this year is the American Indian
and we have presented our case to them. Although they
don't have the authority to make a decision which binds
one country their opinion is influential in the politics of
the country.
The British Law
We have also asked the Parliamentary Standing
Committee i n Britain for a hearing. The Parliamentary
Standing Committee is a committee set up by the British
Parliament to advise concerning the rights and responsibilities which Great Britain has before patriation.
Although the lawyer for the Committee said that Indian
people are completely under the authority of the
Canadian Government, we wholly disagree with that
position. W e have made our submission and are waiting
to be heard.
We are also preparing a submission before the
Standing Committee i n Canada. We are hopeful that this
submission can be presented while the people are in
Ottawa.
Above: Dipnetting on Fraser, 1900
Right: Dipnetting on Fraser, 1980
INDIAN W O R L D 32
Kotsuis Hohhug, Nakoaktok, 1915
Bella Coola Hohhug Dancer, 1980
We may make submissions in New York for the United
Nations. We are still working on gathering supporting
documents. If anyone has suggestions or evidence we
would certainly appreciate hearing from them.
tuton Express. Some chiefs are taking theirs on the train.
The action on this court case starts in Ottawa immediately after the First Nations Conference.
Action Against Trudeau
Recognition of Rights Leads to National Status
in World
The nine Bands' action taken against Trudeau
and the Federal Government for going beyond their
administrative jurisdiction in the resolution was not
immediately understood by the Government. The
November 7th deadline to respond went by without a sign
from them. We had cited a lot of material they'd never
investigated. N o w they have appealed for and been
granted an extra month to make a defense.
A s we have to go to court each time a Band or
individual joins this action, we have kept them for a
major court application to add all parties. Supporting
B C R ' s have continued to arrive in our office since the
assembly, and throughout the organization of the Consti-
About three years ago when we first started to fight
cases in the courts, and winning them, there seemed to be
hope that perhaps the Canadian courts might recognize
Indian people's basic rights. We seem to have progressed
far beyond that point now. Rather than asking the
Canadian courts to recognize Indian people's rights, we
are realizing the power of Indian people recognizing basic
rights to the land, resources, and to Indian Government.
With that realization Indian people are taking steps to
assume our National status in the world of countries. We
are moving so far beyond the new recognition by the
Canadian courts of certain rights under Canadian law.
It is a really exciting time for Indian people.
Indian fishdryingracks, c. 1880
Indian fish drying racks, 1980
INDIAN W O R L D 33
EDITORIAL
By this time, all citizens of our Indian Nations see
the crises we are faced with. Our people realize that
more than our rights are i n danger by Prime Minister
Trudeau's government resolution to patriate the
Canadian constitution. So is our very existence as a
people uniquely separate from Canadian society.
The Canadian government has forgotten its role as it
concerns our nations. Canada has forgotten and
neglected the fact that it was delegated, by the Imperial
Crown of Great Britain, the role of administrator of
our affairs, not as the ruling power over our land and
people. Indian nations have been legally and politically
connected to the British Crown for over 200 years, not
to Canada. Therefore, only the British Crown and the
Indian nations have the right to, together, sever the
ties between us.
During the first three weeks of November, most of
the U B C I C staff went into the communities in our
home areas to let our people know how the Canadian
government's resolution would likely affect us. While
travelling around and talking with the people of the
Sto:lo Nation, I learned a lot, especially from our
Elders. Over and over again the Elders across what is
now called B . C . , stressed the importance of unity of
all the Indian nations in Upper North America. They
could see clearly that the original people of this land
must once again unite with one mind and rebuild our
nationhood i n the eyes of the world.
While younger, our Elders saw Indian Government
in practice. They lived it every day of their lives. The
old people have been waiting for us to realize that
control over our everyday lives by the federal
government is not necessary. They know that we have
no ties to Canada other than the administrative ones
delegated by the Crown. They have seen our own laws
effectively govern our people and know that this can
be a reality once again. We have the resources, ability
and strength to determine our own future. A n d we can
draw from our Elders and leaders the knowledge that
is necessary in rebuilding and strengthening a nation of
the original people which will suit our needs.
During the Constitution Express, I saw something
that I've never witnessed before, something I've only
heard about i n the stories of the Elders. I saw an
Indian Nation. The people on the train, by the time we
''had reached Ottawa, felt like citizens of an Indian
Nation. A s each hour passed, the people aboard the
foundation of our nation, grew stronger and stronger
in determination. There was conviction in their minds
that no person or group could ever stop the natural
path we are taking towards nationhood. Whether or
not we are officially recognized as a nation is not so
important as the fact that within our hearts we know
we are a nation and no one can change that feeling. We
now know that no matter what happens, we will
always be Indian people. We will survive.
By Darryl Ned, Editor
INDIAN W O R L D 34
I Would Like
I would like the trees being born once more
I would like our culture been born again
I would like to see the Indians being happy without the
help of alcohol or drugs.
I would like to see our old culture, that I haven't seen
before
I would like to see our language spoken more often,
instead of speaking English.
I would not like to see disco dancers
but I would prefer to see Native dancers.
I would like to see a tree that hasn't been harmed by
machines.
I would like to see more of a medicine man
Instead of doctors prescribing drugs.
I would also like the Indians who went on the
Constitution Express to be successful.
Sarah Clement
Nazko, B . C .
THE CONSTITUTION EXPRESS
Chief Nathan Spinks, Lytton Band: "The Constitution
Express is something that must be done by the native
people themselves, the people that are really concerned
about it. When Canada was first joined as a country, the
native people were not consulted. The second time
around Trudeau is trying to tell us that we should have
nothing to do with it. This is not right. T o me, he is
saying that in the future, there will be no more Indians,
no more reserves. In 1969, he tried this with the White
Paper. The people got it together and fought that policy.
Now is the time for Indian people to get together and
speak not as individuals but as Nations to ensure their
rights. I am here representing my people, and speaking
on their behalf."
Mike Peter, M t . Currie Band: "I am here for my rights. I
want to stay an Indian. I don't want to be white. I hear
that they are going to tax us i f the Constitution goes
through. Tax us on land that we originally owned! I think
that the Constitution Express is a good way to show our
concern."
Joyce Willard, Neskainlith Band. "Why am I here? That
is a hard question. I guess in the broader sense we are
here to let the non-Indians and the rest of Canada know
that we have struggled and suffered long e n o u g h . . . . F o r
me to be on this train just makes a lot of sense because it
is something that I believe in. It is not as if we are going
to make a lot of changes. We have fought for hundreds
of years, we can't stop now. The Constitution Express is a
very important part of our continuing struggle."
L . Adrian,
Cranbrook: "There is a lot I didn't under¬
stand about the Constitution. The Express and the people
on it have helped me to have a better understanding of
what is happening to us. There is a lot to learn. I look to
the Elders. I feel that i f we all work together as a Nation
we can make it. If we believe what we are saying, if we
believe in what we are doing, we can be successful."
SECOND CLASS MAIL
R E G I S T R A T I O N N U M B E R 4983
VANCOUVER, B.C.
The D I A upheld Crown control of Indian resources
when it came to the crunch for Ulkatcho Band. Chief
Vivian Cahoose described Anaham Lake's year-long
struggle with a logging company that wouldn't pay for
Band trees (p. 13). Bill Chelsea of Alkali Lake Band
writes of our future foresters and vets and ranchers who
start off as 4 - H club members (p. 18).
Bella Coola people had a large meeting to share their
research into Band operated schools and Gert Mack, the
Education Assistant, sent in the story on p. 14.
THIS MONTH :
They're off!! The Vancouver railway station echoed
with the beat of the drums and voices of the singers bringing strength to our leaders and the people, as they
boarded the Indian Constitution Express on November
24th. This is the Constitution Issue. Our former editor
Beth Cuthand of Little Pine Reserve in Saskatchewan,
went to Bear Island where the people there have been
working for years on documenting legal evidence of the
sovereignty Of Indian nations in Canada (p. 27). The
Seabird Island grade 5 & 6 students sent us copies of their
letters, that the people of their Band are taking to
Trudeau on the Constitution Express (p. 35).
The Indian Child Caravan succeeded in getting an
agreement with the Provincial Government, but Chief
Wayne Christian reports that the Minister of Indian
Affairs has not followed through on his commitments (p.
12).
We were very honoured that the Elders of the
Kwawkewlth Nation invited us to their meeting in
November (p. 2). One of the legends of their nation is
that of the A n i m a l Kingdom, sacred to the
Kwiksutainenk Band. Chief Peter Smith asked Bobby
Joseph to present the legend (p. 25).
Vancouver Indian Centre has always been a cultural
island of sanity and spiritual comfort for Indian people
visiting or living in Vancouver. Leonard George of
Squamish describes the new building and new directions
on page 11.
This is our last issue of 1980, an important year for
Indian Nationhood. We wish you a happy holiday and
strength and hope for the New Year!
{ JNWE HONUR VUK
ELDERS
ry c -.
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, . =p
_ i.
*
A .
7
“We are here tonight to honour what being an Indian is all about. You see here about 3000 years of knowledge, 3000
years of wisdom--- If we don’t recognize it now, we never will.”
Sos AS
oe
The Kwawkewlth Elders were hon- -
oured at a special dinner in Port
Hardy on November 19. People from
Muwitti, Tsawataineuk, Kwicksu-
tainek and Fort Rupert shared food
and talk, and spoke of the contribu-
tions the Elders have made to their
communities. |
The dinner was held to honour the
Elders and to encourage the young
people to ask their Elders for advice
and guidance when they need it.
Chiefs and Councillors made open-
ing remarks to the Elders after the
dinner. They thanked their Elders for
—a..
: : the direction they’ve given them and
: ar ; , : zs — their communities.
“Learning your own culture is unity, using your Indian culture, honor and Then the people sang and danced in
respect-—- that’s why our old people have unity.” their traditional ways, and some of
“I wish I would have listened to the things I was told by my Elders--- I say the Elders told the stories of the songs
to you young people, honor and obey your Elders—not only the Traditions and dances.
ut the advice from vour Elders’ guidelines.”
Sibi Jromn. | z One Elders spoke and encouraged
the young people to have respect for
their Elders, and to learn the tradi-
—_ tional teachings of the Elders so that
they can become part of a strong
community. He said, “In order to
have a full and complete life, one has
to respect not just yourself but your
mother, father, aunts, uncles, and
grandparents for the things they have
contributed to you throughout your
Ts lifetime.”
a, , ji The overall message from _ the
| 3 | whole evening is that we must learn
from our Elders in order to become
strong people again. If we don’t carry
on these ways, then we will have
neglected what is there waiting for us
to learn and use.
NN ee eS
. I
1
INDIAN WORLD 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.
_ [The Spinks family of Lytton and Leo family of Mount Currie awaiting boarding call for the Indian Constitution Express.
Contributors .
O n rl U O rs NaHOnHOOG .<:8e sure aie'=)s es ea ae Setrots io etsiaralacnvatavalare ss 8
Editor: Darrell Ned Allcchiefs; Conference «. sails. acces Wet ae aes sles 9
Assistant Editor: Pauline Douglas News News News ....... Wiebe te tints steiner oeste arate ll
Written Contributions: Chief Vivien Cahoose, Chief OurWotld: «Sa oie oth oka) Slee 12
Wayne Christian, Gert Mack, George Manuel, Bobby Inidiary Child Caravan. cots «cee .4.0c.s000.y0 <8 9ccarns 14
Joseph, Leonard George, Beth Cuthand, Bill Chelsea, DIA “Protects” Indian Resources............0085 15
Louise Mandel, Bess Brown, Fran Smith, Brenda Leon, Redstone Ranchers Recover ...........++-6- nee LO
Jim Brisebois, Rod Jeffries, Violet Birdstone, Carrie Al atAlkae, cis fosccaw sn seitaesGa sine eeaes acon
Nyce, Jim Rowed, Val Dudoward and Carmen Maracle. HelpiWanted sia. ca vecbina.s cetere s s'v aa sleecle avis 18
Photographs: UBCIC staff unless credited. Time with the Children: Bella Coola .............. 20
Typesetting: Mary Schendlinger at Pulp Press. Indidty RAGiO TFaIinines bc. 6cacads os sine elven c's ers 22
Gitskan: Carrier ASSEMDLY <1. -09.50 ope sedge at 23
oo The Dance of the Animal Kingdom .............. 24
Table of Contents Book Review: Pitseolake ioc t:. cic seve ois 6 5+ 20
EPPS NO WS oo sia a a terecete lle ooeva-ern ace w nepeeereconete ere svar 27
Our Elders Honoured,...........see0eeeceveees 2 Documenting Land Claims .............000+000+28
Constitution Express — Indian Sovereign Nations: The Legal Case ........ 30
A Journey to Nationhood ..... ees fae! 4 Editorial sicctiiiis sees aay aretng oma eres Sey ate Aa ate . 34
ereeidentis IVTESNAG CSF Ane on acs. oo tate Whee het ala Serres 7 On the Constitution Express ...............00005 *
INDIAN WORLD 3
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AJ OURNEY TO
-NATIONHOOD
INDIAN WORLD 4
On November 24th when the two
trains in the Constitution Express. left
Vancouver, Number 104 North and
Number 102 on the Southern Route,
the journey that was to follow would
cover more than time and distance.
This was also to be a journey into the
hearts and minds of the 500 who
_ would eventually join the express.
When Prime Minister Trudeau
announced his plan for the patriation
of the Constitution, what seemed at
first as a guarantee of our Indian
rights and heritage, was in fact a
guarantee of our assimilation into
Canadian society.
Immediate action was necessary to
show Trudeau and the general public
that our Indian Nations strongly dis-
agreed with Trudeau’s vision for this
country.
The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
took action on several fronts, region-
al, national, and international, in-
volving various political and local
strategies. The most dramatic was the
Indian Constitution Express, a 3000
mile trek for our Elders and youth,
our men and women, to the seat of
the federal government.
The purpose of this journey was to
tell Trudeau and his government
that the Indian people have rights
as the first inhabitants of this land,
and that these rights have been
guaranteed by treaty and historical
agreement between Indian Nations
and the British Government.
Our sacred rights to the land and its
resources are also viable and legi-
timate arguments that must be part
of any Canadian Constitution.
The message carried by our Elders
on the Express was one of Nation-
hood. They remember and under-
stand the special relationship be-
tween our Indian Nations and the
Queen. They remember how these
agreements were made with the
honour and respect accorded to
nations. They were compelled to
travel to Ottawa to tell the federal
government that it too must treat
these agreements with equal respect.
The organization for the Express
was massive. Three weeks of intensive:
field work was necessary to inform
the communities of the threat from
Trudeau’s Constitutional plans. A
strategy team was sent to Ottawa to
organize activities and to prepare
food and shelter for those who would
support the Express.
_Although many who boarded the
train in Vancouver weren’t sure of the
details of the Constitutional issue,
they understood the intention of
Trudeau’s proposed Constitution.
In order to lessen fears and to
ensure a stronger sense of purpose,
workshops were held on the train to
familiarize everyone with the complex
legal issues and strategies in our Con-
stitutional fight.
Elders and spiritual leaders were an
essential part of these workshops.
The strong identification to our
culture and spirituality gave strength
and conviction, and prepared Consti-
tutional travellers for an encounter
a
ri
Working on the train brings
renewed strength of purpose
Elders and spiritual leaders were an
essential part of these workshops.
The strong identification to our cul-
ture and spiritual strength and con-
victions prepared the Constitutional
travellers for an encounter with an
enemy they did not yet fully under-
stand.
On the southern route Chiefs Bob
Manuel and Wayne Christian were in
charge and on Train Number 104
Chiefs Archie Pootlass, Saul Terry
and Dennis Patrick took leadership
responsibilities.
the people were divided first by
their nationalisty and then again into
smaller units. This was for people
running the workshops and for
security reasons. People in the smaller
units would be more familiar with
each other, lessening the chance of an
infiltration by outsiders on the train
and in Ottawa.
—_
Various resource people were con-
stantly mingling throughout the train,
assisting group leaders with
workshops and talking to individuals.
These were the chiefs, Elders,
lawyers, politicians, the young and
old who were secure in their cultural
and spiritual beliefs and knew the
situation. A renewed sense of pride
and purpose was clear. Discussions
lasted long into the night. People
spoke of our rights to the land, the
water and its resources. But most
spoke of the right to be Indian and
how they were not allowed to express
their own nationality within this
country called Canada.
A code of conduct had been set poe BR ~~ :
before the Express left Vancouver. ,
“AAS
“INDIAN WORLD 5
= ——— =.
Hand-picked security were in spiri-
tual training at Neskainlith to
strengthen their resolve for the
journey ahead.
External .urces, however, were
something over which we had no
control, At the Winni-eg stop where
the two trains joined, a bomb threat
was called aout 30 minutes after our
departure. This proved to be more of
an inconvenience than a threat. The
real cause for concern, however, was
for those not on the train. Incidents
such as this are often distorted by the
media and we hope that family and
friends were not caused needless
worry by the threat..
INDIAN WUKLD 6
a a
Life on the train
There was much sharing and giving
freely of one’s time and possessions.
Those who had brought food gave it
to those who did not. If you were
without a sleeping bag or blanket or a
place to sleep, one would be sure to
be found.
The children laughed and played in
the aisles and baggage racks. The
Elders rested and contemplated. Men
and women worked to ensure that
there were provisions and that every-
one was as comfortable as possible.
At each stop, as our numbers and
strength increased. the Indian Consti-
tution Express banner and the Indian
governent flag were raised to greet
newcomers.
There was much drumming and -
Singing en route and at the major
stops. The Express was given over-
whelming receptions in Edmonton,
Calgary, and Winnipeg. The rail
stations must still be echoing with the
sounds of our Indian drums.
The Constitution Express arrived
in Ottawa at 2:20 p.m. on November
28. 1980. The Ottawa Indian commu-
nity welcomed the weary travellers
enthusiastically.
The journey was not over
When the Express arrived in
Ottawa on November 28, 1980, a
delegation of our Indian leaders and
Elders met with Governor General
Edward Schreyer, the Queen’s repre-
sentative in Canada.
After the meeting Chief Robert
Manuel of Neskainlith reported, “We
presented a brief to the Governor
General saying that the Canadian
government should not be allowed to
patriate the parts of the Constitution
which govern the Indian people. But
the Governor General told us that we
would have to deal with the Canadian
government. We could not deal —
directly with the Crown. That made
us feel more strongly than ever that
we must be recognized as a nation in
our own right,” |
So the journey continues on to New
York and the United Nations “to take
our rightful place alongside of the
other nations of the world.”
This trip on to New York has
depended on the response of the fed-
eral government. Since day one of the
Constitution Express, an advance
team of Indian organizers was
already in New York setting up meet-
ings with UN delegates and officials
and again planning for the arrival of
our Indian ambassadors.
What began as a political action in
protest of Trudeau’s Constitutional
plans has now become a full duplo-
| matic mission of strong identifiable |
Indian Nations. The journey has
covered something much more
than miles and it is a journey that
has just begun.
a
(- | \
PRESIDENT’S
MESSAGE
N A
| am writing this message at the most difficult time of
our struggle with the Canadian and British Governments.
But I am humbly encouraged by the strong co-operation
given by the Indian Governments and their membership
from right across the country, and especially our Chiefs,
Councillors, Band Members, District Councils and
support groups from British Columbia. Hundreds of
people and their families have made supreme sacrifices
when they laid down their tools and left their jobs to
commit their winter funds for their families to respond to
the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs 12th Annual General
Assembly “State of Emergency” declaration. We called
upon all of our people to do everything possible to stop
the unilateral action of the Federal Government of
Canada to have a resolution package passed in the
Parliament of Canada to patriate the Canadian
Constitution (British North America Act).
I want to tell every status and non-status Indian in
British Columbia that hundreds of our people left by
CPR and CNR on the Constitutional Express from
Vancouver, B.C. arriving in Ottawa on Friday,
November 28, 1980. Others travelled by cars, buses and
planes. The purpose of their trip is to attend the National
All Chiefs Conference and to lobby the House of
Commons and Senate Constitutional Committee,
Members of Parliament, the Governor General and
anybody who will listen to our people in Ottawa.
The Constitutional Express will travel on to New York
City to ask officials of the United Nations to intervene as
a mediator between the Indian Governments of Canada
and the Canadian and British Governments. The lobby
will constitute a statement of goal in a form of petition
stating that a positive approach is in order, one that
would elevate constitutional patriation and amendments
to exercising enstatesmanship and true Nation building.
The exclusion of Indian participation from a broad
constitutional review and a review of relations between
the Indian Governments, British and Canadian
Governments is the first mistake which the Canadian
and British authorities must correct. If this is not done,
Indian Nations REJECT the proposed independence
_of Canada in total as an aggressive, hostile act against
our Indian governments.
We believe peaceful and responsible diplomatic
measures can and will remedy this difficult dilemma. The
following measures are essential to resolving and
preventing serious conflict.
The representatives of Indian Governments, Britain
and Canada should enter into Internationally supervised _—-
discussions to: *;
e Review the present role and responsibilities of all >
parties involved in the existing “tri-lateral” relationship
that is Indian Nations, the Canadian Government, and
the British Government.
e Define in detail the full meaning and extent of the poli-
tical association between Britain and the Indian Affairs
in Canada.
® Define in detail, and agree on, the full area and
boundaries of territories occupied and/or owned by
Indian Nations as well as the full area and boundaries
of what will become an independent Canada.
e Define the terms for political co-existence between
the Indian Nations of Canada and the Canadian
Government.
© Define in detail the extent and method by which
financial aid and other supports will be extended to the
governments of Indian Nations after Canadian
Independence.
@ Define the alternatives for individual Indian Citizenship
in addition to their own national citizenship in the
Indian Nations and arrange for the release of prisoners
held in Canadian jails.
e Define and agree to the necessary measures to ensure
that each Indian Nation will exercise the full measure of
self-government.
© Define the roles and authorities of the various parties
in matters related to fishing, wildlife, religious lands
protection, water resources management and control,
use and development of minerals, petroleum resources,
“timber and other natural resources.
eve
Canada must notify the Indian Governments of her ns,
intent not to finalize Constitutional Patriation -"
proceedings until this “tri-lateral” conference has
concluded.
I cannot stress enough the threat posed by Trudeau’s
Constitutional Resolution to totally destroy our
hereditary ties with our homelands and to our survival
as the original peoples in Canada. The strength of the
delegation of Indian Bands, Tribes and Nations to
Ottawa and to New York will ensure our continued
survival.
Yours in Unity
pe
INDIAN WORLD 7
FIRST NATIONS DECLARE
NATIONHOOD
A Declaration of the First Nations was adopted by the First Nations Assembly as the
official position of the Council of Chiefs:
Ee ay
We the original peoples of this land know the Creator put us here.
| The Creator gave us laws that govern our relationships to live in harmony with
nature and mankind.
The laws of the Creator defined our rights and responsibilities.
The Creator gave us our spiritual beliefs, our languages, our culture, and a place on
Mother Earth which provided us with all our needs. We have maintained our freedom,
| our languages, and our traditions from time immemorial.
We continue to exercise the rights and fulfill the responsibilities given to us by the
Creator for the lands upon which we were placed.
The Creator has given us the right to govern ourselves and the right to self-
determination. 3
The rights and responsibilities given to us by the Creator cannot be altered or taken |
away by any other nation.
sete
A
The President and Vice-President
of N.I.B., at the request of the
Chiefs, presented the Declaration to
Governor-General Ed Schreyer, who
was asked to relay the Declaration to
Prime Minister Trudeau, Members of
Parliament, and to the Queen. The
meeting was an attempt to cover all
bases in the Constitutional fight. It
was just another route of trying to get
to the Prime Minister. Our concerns
are important enough to warrant dis-
cussion at the highest possible level.
We are utilizing all available ways .to
get to him.
No agreement on constitutional Our traditional Chiefs and spiritual
Strategy leaders pulled us together, saying
However, the Assembly did not we are One Nation.
. INDIAN WORLD 8
=
We could always Hear |
the drummers, like a
heartbeat, a constant
reminder of why we
were there.
‘reach a consensus on the main issue
of Indian involvement in the Consti-
tution, While some representatives
from ‘Ontario, Manitoba and B.C.
‘wanted to work within the Federal
system, appearing before the joint
committees on the Constitution,
lobbying MPs, and various govern-
ment officials, other groups felt
_ strongly that going outside the Cana-
_ dian system was the best bet.
‘Meeting with anyone less than
heads of government would be
‘compromise
Many at the Assembly felt that any
presentation or negotiation with the
federal government, in committee
form or otherwise, would compro-
mise the position of Indian Nation-
hood,
The Constitution Express refused
to meet with the joint-senate commit-
tee on the Constitution, whose dead-
line for hearings has been extended to
February 9th, 1981. Chief Wayne
Christian, Chairman of the Constitu-
tion Express, stated that “the appro-
priate officials must be the heads of
the government for Canada and the
_ government of Great Britain. We
have our petitions carefully prepared
by our people. Yet we have been
advised that we have, all together, 45
minutes to speak.”
INDIAN WORLD 9
YOUR
INDIAN coerce
| ARE AT STAKE....!
| GOT Thar
ACRAEHE AGM
Council of Chiefs of Indigenous
Nations
The Chiefs formed the Council of
Chiefs of Indigenous Nations which
is to take the various Constitutional
positions, unify them, and make our
presentation on the final day of the
joint Senate committee hearings.
The Provisional Council is to be
comprised of representatives of all
Indian Nations and has been man-
dated to work on a provisional gov-
ernment structure, and the establish-
ment of a protocol office. The one
unifying belief in the Assembly is that
we are Indian Nations. How to
solidify our nationhood is the next
step.
CHIEF WAYNE CHRISTIAN
AND OUR SPIRITUAL
LEADERS WERE DELEGATED
TO CARRY OUT THE TASK
OF ADDRESSING THE
UNITED NATIONS AND
SEEKING A SEAT THERE
FOR OUR INDIAN NATION.
WE WENT TO DECLARE THE
INDIAN NATION AND WE
HAVE THE MANDATE TO
PUT OUR PROVISIONAL
GOVERNMENT IN PLACE.
THE FIRST STEP HAS BEEN
TAKEN. WE'RE JUST AT
THE BEGINNING OF ALL
THE WORK TO BE DONE AT
HOME AND ABROAD.
INDIAN WORLD 10
RUSSELL TRIBUNAL FINDS
CANADA GUILTY
The jury of the Fourth Russell
Tribunal, in Rotterdam, Holland,
found that the Government of Can-
ada, and the Government of the
| Province of Ontario, have violated
international law by attempting to
take the land of the Nishnawbe-aski
Nation by illegal means.
The jury found that:
“The Indians were told that they
were signing a treaty of peace and
goodwill towards the king and other
white men in exchange for which
they were to receive certain govern-
ment assistance. They were not told
that the irrevocable surrender of
their territorial rights was also a
provision of the treaty. The treaty
was written in English, a language
riot spoken by the Nishnawbe-aski
in 1905.”
They contend that Treaty
Number 9 is invalid because the
most important ingredient of the
transaction, namely consent, was
missing. The Indian people could
not consent because the actual terms
of the treaty weren’t fully explained
to them.
The jury concluded that the
actions of the governments consti-
tute a violation of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights to
hs
Sant you trist
ona ms your future
ith PIERRE ?
which Canada is a signatory. The
jury finding supports the position of
Grand Council Treaty No. 9, that
the Nishnawbe-aski Nation has not
relinquished its ownership of more
than 210,000 square miles of
northern Ontario.
The Tribunal also recommended
that the International Court of
Justice should provide remedies for
the indigenous peoples of national
states.
The jury of the 4th Russell
Tribunal also found that Canada
has failed t involve the Indian
Nation in the current Constitutional
process. it further concluded that
Indian rights have not been consi-
dered in the proposed Canada Act
of 1980.
The Tribunal adopted the Declar-
ation presented by the Indian dele-
gation, which stated that Indian
peoples have the right to exist as |
distinct people of the world, the |
right to the possession of their own
territory, and the right to sovereign
self-determination.
NEWS NEWS NEWS
NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD HEARINGS
On November 25, 1980 the National Energy Board
began hearings in Vancouver on the Trans Mountain
Pipeline application to bring Alaskan crude oil down the
west coast of Vancouver Island by tanker to Low Point
Washington.
These hearings are a continuation of those held in
Ottawa last December. Because of the risks to west coast
fishery and environment from increased oil tanker
traffic, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is making the
strongest possible representation at these hearings to try
and have the proposal stopped.
The proposal is also being opposed by Foothills Pipe-
line, Westcoast Environmental Law Society, SPEC Fed-
eration, the Sierra Club, B.C. Wildlife Federation, the
Municipality of Victoria and many others.
NATIONAL CONGRESS OF AMERICAN INDIANS
SUPPORTS OUR CONSTITUTION ACTION
The National Congress of American Indians held their
37th Annual Convention between 26th and 31st October,
1980, in Spokane, Washington State.
About 500 people were there from various tribes all
over the United States.
The World Council of Indigenous Peoples, headed by
George Manuel, President of UBCIC, took the floor for
the whole of the second day, called International Day. A
slide-tape show and presentations on the WCIP were
given. George Manuel also gave a strong speech on the
international relationship of Indian communities,
On the last day of the conference, a resolution was
carried unanimously that:
The assembled delegates of the Indian nations indivi-
dually and collectively represented by the NCAI pledge
moral and other support for the Indian Nations of
HEALTH CONSULTATIONS UPDATE
The four Health Consultation Fieldworkers who began
with the Health and Social Development Portfolio in
mid-September were asked to partake in the activities of
the 11th Annual General Assembly of the Union of B.C.
Indian Chiefs.
They attended all the discussions which were brought
to the floor and introduced themselves to a few Chiefs
they were to meet with in the future.
Upon returning to their respective communities they
began their fieldwork by visiting the respective Bands in
their designated zones. The Province was divided into
four zones similar to the Medical Services zones in order
to divide the work evenly among all the fieldworkers.
This also allows the fieldwork co-ordinator to monitor
their work closely.
On November 18th, the fieldworkers held a full day
meeting at the UBCIC office along with the Fieldwork
Co-ordinator to discuss and evaluate the Consultations
and redirect the study, if necessary.
Another date was set in January, 1981 for the next
Consultation Fieldwork provincial meeting when a
similar evaluation will be conducted.
FISHERIES APPEAL FOUNTAIN DECISION
The Department of Federal Fisheries announced that
they will appeal the decision brought down by Judge
T.W. Shupe in which four Fountain Band members were
found Not Guilty for fishing during closure. The Judge
stated that with the evidence given by the biologist for the
Lummi Tribe of Washington State, the closure was not
for the purposes of conservation, therefore it was unrea-
sonable and unnecessary.
Canada, represented by the NIB in their efforts to
serve full recognition of Indian treaties and original
rights and the right of Indian self-determination in
relation to constitutional development in Canada.
CENTRAL INTERIOR TRIBAL COUNCILS
ASSEMBLY
The Four Tribal Councils forming the CITC met for
their second annual assembly November 4-6th. About
one hundred delegates representing over 30 Bands met at
the old Kamloops residential school, where both the
CITC and the south Central Tribal Councils now have
offices.
the CITC was formed originally to organize an
~efficient delivery of services to their Bands. The DIA
District Offices in Kamloops and Cranbrook were closed
down in 1975 and the CITC is gradually assuming the
functions and funding of those offices. .
During their first year, member Tribal Councils put
together the Red Book, a manual on the kind of services
that Bands require. “What Happens Next?” was incor-
porated in November 1979, introducing procedures for
improved auditing and communications, sharing of
expertise between Councils and Bands, stretching funds
further for socio-economic development, housing and
social services.
The effect on Trudeau’s proposal to repatriate the
Constitution on the above became an issue at the
assembly.
the focus has always been to rely less and less on the -
DIA and to prepare for the implementation and
advancement of Indian Government. A motion was
therefore brought forward and carried that recognition
of the Aboriginal Rights Position become a CITC
priority from now on.
INDIAN WORLD 11
Photo: Patrick Hattenverge:
=
‘B.C. INDIAN BULL RIDER PLACED SECOND IN
INDIAN INTERNATIONAL RODEO
Three top B.C. Indian cowboys participated in the in-
ternational Indian rodeo at Albuquerque, New Mexico
last weekend. Sponsored by the Indian National Finals
Incorporated, there were five performances a day for
four days. The stock was from the best in the world,
supplied by eleven contractors, and on the way to the
world championships to be held in Oklahoma in
December.
Burt Williams of Mount Currie was placed second in
bull riding: “Just a little guy who sure can ride, one hell
of a competitor,” said Bob Pasco, who was lucky enough
to be there. Only a few days before, Burt had been bull-
riding and placed fourth in the Canadian Association
championships in Edmonton.
_It wasn’t such a good week for All Round Cow Hand
Oliver Louis of Vernon, a former Indian world cham-
pion, who placed fourth in the saddle bronc. Blaine Louis
joined his brother for the team roping event.
The photographs here were taken at the B.C. Indian
Championships held in Kamloops last month.
INDIAN WORLD 12
= An Indian-
: owned gene
2s development
ee igs ei les consulting
ES group
JIBINQUENEH Ye :01OYd
_ (Indian Consulting Group) Ltd.
Economic feasibility studies
Preparation of funding proposals
Project planning/implementation
Socio-economic impact analysis eS
Negotiations with government/industry | —
Band organization andtraining
"225-744 West Hastings Street _
Vancouver V6C 1A5
(604) 682-7615 |
Carrying pole to new Indian Centre site where it was blessed by an Elder, then erected.
The Centreof 81
By Leonard George
Assistant Administrator, V.1.C.
The Vancouver Indian Centre
Society is setting a new refreshing
pulse and attitude in designing and
implementing programs for the
urban Indian. The size of the new
building on 1607 E. Hastings— 44,000
square feet—in itself will be a great
resource. The full-size gym, fully
equipped, will provide many hours of
sports, The multi-purpose room will
have continuous social functions with
both rooms hosting Bingos every
Sunday.
The facilities also offer three large
classrooms, a child-minding room,
Doctor, and dental office, a
manpower office, a games room, tele-
_ vision, lounge, a good family res-
taurant and lunch room, social ser-
vices, a library, an Arts & Crafts
shop, and also we’ll have Social and
Cultural programming.
With these services, there will be
three times the amount of people
coming to the Centre in comparison
to our Vine Street location, the
difference being that 90% of the
clients will be involved in something
positive and constructive as opposed
to just a drop-in service.
The lower floor of the Centre will
provide training programs of all
kinds of our Native Arts & Crafts. As
four large workshops will take up the
majority of the space, the main
underlying theme of all our programs
is an Offering of the variables that
prevent our people from succeeding
‘in their endeavours. For example, a
single parent has great difficulty in
extending their education because of
the problems involved with baby-
sitters and such. With the large child-
minding room, single parents won’t
have any problem getting up-grading.
We feel with these services and a
fine mixture of Native Spirituality, a
good education on use of all services
offered in a City, should make a few
lives happier.
'With the -subsidiaries of V.I.C.
Society, namely the V.I.C. Restaur-
ants, V.I.C. Housing, Longhouse
Construction, and V.I.C. Arts &
Crafts, the Society has become a
Social-Economical Development
organization programmed, imple-
mented and administered by an all-
Native Board of Directors with no
white involvement, and this has been
the key to our success—a mandate
designed by Natives for Natives.
| children!!! There are lots of gifts and
The Vancouver Indian Centre Society
wishes to invite all Indian people and
their families to our Annual Chil-
dren’s Christmas Party!
The date: DECEMBER 19, 1980
The time: 11:00 a.m.
The place:
Here at the Vancouver Indian
Centre,
1855 Vine Street,
Vancouver, B.C.
The Vancouver Indian Centre Society
also wishes to invite all Indian people
and their families to our Annual
Christmas Dinner.
The date: December 19, 1980
The time: 12:00 noon
Please come and bring all your
food for everyone. Come and bring
your whole family. We have lots of
turkey and other food for everyone.
We will be expecting all of you and
your families.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
&
HAPPY NEW YEARI!!!!
Please call: 736-8944 and leave your
name and address so that we will
know how many people will be
attending.
INDIAN WORLD 13
By Chief Wayne Christian of
Spallumcheen Band
The Indian Child Caravan proved
that we can do something on our
own. At last year’s General Assembly
The success of the Indian Child
Caravan really depended on the
people that helped organize it and the
leaders that came with it. | was proud
at the number of Chiefs that
travelled with us, that brought their
people with them. Those leaders that
came with us understood that -the
basis of our children’s problems is the
identity crisis and identifying with the
family unit.
leaders and especially the Elders and
| the children that participated, and
parents that have lost children that
participated, should be congratulated
—especially for that long walk that
we endured! By their physical pres-
ence and also by their spiritual pres-
ence they gave us strength. I believe
that that was a part of the reason for
| our success—that we were able to do
but we organized in body and our
minds were at one level and I think
our spirits were also at one level. We
were really clear in our objectives.
The people should really be
commended in their efforts: those
that gave us hospitality, the cooks,
the drivers of the vehicles, the
security that kept us moving and kept
‘things in order, the drummers that
really got sore voices. Those are the
people that really made it happen. It
was an idea that was conceived and it
took the people to carry it out.
The organizers, the |
things not just on the political level, |
INDIAN WORLD 14
we passed a resolution to stop child
apprehensions from our reserves and
that resolution was implemented.
Implementation Starts with Will
of Band Members
If we don’t have the people involved,
the parents and grandparents and the
children themselves, then it is going
to be just like a Program.
We got our people involved in
developing our own legislation. It has
really got to come from the Band
members. It’s not something that lea-
dership can impose.
We have to be very committed. We
worked for two years before we got to
the Indian Child Caravan, before we
got the agreement with McCarthy
that her officials would only take
children from the Band at the request
of the Chief and Council.
Lack of COnfidence and Lack of
Money can be Overcome
We found a resistance initially with
our own people because they were
saying “can we do it?” We’ve been so
brainwashed in that attitude that
we’ve got to start doing things
ourselves. The other thing is our
people keep getting hooked into the
money thing. You can’t talk about
money when what we are really talk-
ing about is children. We should talk
about things we can do without dol-
lars.
At the first General Band meeting
we had after we got back from the
Caravan they deeloped a Home-
makers Club. The women _ got
together to support the families and
children that would need help.
We have designed an ermer-
gency shelter and will have house
parents in a group home situation
where we can offer special counsel-
ling on a one to one basis. We are also
working with a program to do with
the children who have been taken,
and working with families who want
their children back. There is also a
real concern by foster parents that we
will just come in and take the children
away. We have to talk to them. If the
child wants to stay with the foster
parent we have to respect that. But we
still want to retain some kind of ad-
ministrative control so that the child
doesn’t lose contact with his commu-
nity.
Human Resources Don’t Believe
Us
We won an agreement from Min-
ister McCarthy but stubborn Human
Resources personnel still want to
retain control at the local level. They
don’t believe in the whole concept of
it and they are waiting for us to make
mistakes so they can capitalize on it.
Munro Holding Back Resources
The key thing is that Human Re-
sources will transfer administration
of all these programs over to us only
when we an get the financial re-
sources from the Federal
Government. Munro, the Minister
responsible, has refused to meet. He |
just wants to hand it over to the
Regional Office but we want the
whole process straight in Ottawa
first. I’m asking that as many Bands
that support Spallumcheen Band
write letters to the Minister. He made
a half commitment to us and we want
to know what has happened: has he |
transferred the money? what has he
done? His desk should be filled with
letters demanding action now. t
Caravan Victory Could be Wiped
Out by a New Constitution
I know it’s a difficult time to ask
Bands for this right now when our
attention is concentrated on the most
important struggle in our history.
Trudeau’s resolution would mean
all delivery of services would be trans-
ferred to the provinces: our Indian
Child Caravan would have been for
nothing.
As she boarded the Indian Consti-
tution Express, Chief Vivian Cahoose
breathed a sigh of relief that the UI-
katcho Band was free of the Hutchin-
son Logging Company. She and
councillors Rose Squinas and Ella
Stallas had just instructed the UBCIC
Legal Task Force to terminate the
agreement that the company had
broken in almost every respect.
DIA “Protects”
Indian Resources
Against Band’s
Interests
By Vivian Cahoose
This was the Band’s first experience
in logging. About three years back
the Hutchinson Logging Company
was interested in logs from the reserve,
to export. Finally in January 1980,
they signed the timber contract that
DIA drew up for them to log on our
Indian Reserve #4, Abuntlet Lake.
Payment depends on how many
trees they log per month, but they
have never paid the Band, Every
month I kept asking the DIA if they
had paid through the department in
this, but they never did. We finally
got DIA to tell the Company they
were going to put a seizure on the
Reserve for thirty days to pay so
much of what they owed the Band. —
Company broke nearly every
term of agreement
Before the thirty days was up, the
councillors and I went to the Indian
Affairs office. We told them, “We
don’t want that company, we are not
satisfied with that agreement. They
never did anything that was said at
that meeting with the Bands.” The
logging company had promised they
would hire people from the reserve. I
thought that was good as it would cut
back on Welfare. A lot of the people
on the reserve are loggers with a lot of
experience. That was no problem.
The area was only nine miles from the
reserve so there was no trouble
getting to and from work. But they
never did hire anyone for a long time.
They were supposed to ask the Band
who to hire but they never did that
either. They just went ahead and
hired just anyone they wanted—they
finally did hire one Band member. He
had put in a new logging access road
where we told him not to and that was
not satisfactory. Also I’d found out
earlier on that someone was hauling
logs from the area with a truck and
wagon. I sent the RCMP after him fae a
and sure enough he was building a log
house. Hutchinson said we would be
reimbursed but we never were. The S™\gea
house is nearly finished now.
DIA claims decision-making role
Jan
pointed out that the Agreement was
signed between the Chief and the
company, he still insisted he would
make all decisions.
Band seizes our land
In August the Band made a seizure
on that logging area. That was after I
went to the UBCIC for legal advice.
All of the machinery was still in the
area. We took pictures of them using
it even after the Band put a seizure on
that logging. I hand delivered the
letter and we posted copies on the
site, on trees and on the logs.
About one week later all the papers
disappeared and those guys kept
going back on to the logging area just
as if nothing had happened. And still
we hadn’t been paid. This was now
September.
DIA orders company back
So I got after DIA and asked them
what was going on. We wanted to get
paid before those guys came back to
work. We hadn’t set any new agree-
ment with them and there they are
still going to the logging area. We are
going to block them off if they keep
coming back.
DIA ready to call RCMP to
**protect Crown’’ interest
Then I found out that it was the
DIA who had sent them back to
work. Apparently the company had
offered a partial payment. Without
consulting the Band, Bakker agreed.
We objected and Bakker wrote back
to me saying that our action was
Bakker of DIA refused to =
dissolve the Agreement, saying that 3
he was the final authority, not the «
Band. Even after the Band members ‘y
“not in the best interest of the
Ulkatcho Band” and that as the
Band’s trustee, he was disregarding
our BCR ordering Hutchinson off!
“In this role as trustee, it is encum-
bent upon this Department to
ensure that it is not a party to any
action or act which would dimin-
ish the value or use of trust prop-
erty” [and therefore he saw] “no
alternative but to instruct Hutchin-
son to resume his operation, under
the protection of the RCMP if
necessary.”
The land is still seized as far as the
Band is concerned. The company was
still hauling logs off at night. We told
them not to go back in there, so the
machinery is moved off now.
We got mad and eventually, with our
legal advisors, got the DIA to back off.
Free to make our own choices.
The DIA is out of it now, hope-
fully. We are demanding to work
directly with the company to get the
situation cleared up, What I felt was
that we had been backed up against a
wall and this is what we don’t want.
DIA set up an agreement behind our
backs. DIA was telling us what to do
like a bunch of little kids that don’t
know anything. The Department was
supposed to be assisting us on what
the Band wanted done. Instead it was
just reversing the whole thing, telling
everyone what to do. This is what we
don’t want. We want to be free o
make our own choices.
INDIAN WORLD 15
Members of the Alexis Creek Band
at Redstone are working towards re-
building their ranch economy that is
now based on both new and old
agricultural systems.
At the village site on Redstone flat,
160 ac of alfalfa is planted and irri-
gated with a large wheel move system.
The Band wants to increase this acre-
age. The hay farm is supervised by
ranch foreman Irvin Charleyboy. The
crop has been inoculated with nitro-
gen-fixing bacteria and fertilized to
ensure stronger plants and good
quality hay. Two cuts of alfalfa are
harbested each year, using a mechan-
ized method as well as an old fash-
ioned haying crew.
Individual members of the Band
are pushing for expansion of small
ranches on the other 34 affiliated
ranch reserves. These ranches use the
natural sedges from wetland
meadows and on water sheds or creek
B. :
basins for feed sources. Indian ranch-
ers in the area rely totally on the
spring and summer floods for irri-
gation of the wild hay crops. On
many ranches flood irrigation has
been practiced for many years. In the
early 1900’s the people began
damming the creeks in the spring and
releasing the water at the end of June
to allow the land to dry for the
harvest in late July. Timing is really
important once the hay “heads out.”
After maturing the nutritional value
of hay drops to very little.
Reserve ranches were established in
the 1930’s by DIA. The haying opera-
tions are not totally dependent on
water for growth and maintenance of
the meadows, but the DIA agents in-
volved were negligent in pot acquiring
water rights for the Band. This omis-
sion may now present the Band with
unnecessary conflicts over water use.
Haying brings all generations of the family together
ee Gs ee
1 Y tea ff
= Pa 2 yy od t P
At one time the ranches supported
over 800 head of cattle. During the
sixties and early seventies, the cattle
herd dropped to about 200 head. This
was due mainly to market conditions.
The haying operation in the meadows
is a family operation. Often three
generations of one family will be
working in the same field. Horse
drawn cutters, rakes, and sleds are
used in the operations of the Jack,
Hemlin, Williams, Guichon and Case
family ranches. The hay is salted,
compacted, rounded and combed, so
that the haystacks will shed the rain.
The hay will then remain ae for
many seasons. Patrick Charléyboy
and Sam Guichon supplemented their
winter hay with feed blocks of protein
and minerals. Labour is often a
problem.
The loss of family members to the
mission schools for months and years
at a time almost spelled disaster for
the family ranches. During the 1960’s
many of the marginal income
ranchers gave up their ranches and
went to work in the temporary saw-
mill at Puntzi Mills. When the mills
left, many people were left without
jobs or cattle. Today, lack of job
opportunities is one of the major
problems in the area. Another diffi-
culty affecting area ranching
operations is that the summers of
1964, 1969, 1974 and 1980 were ex-
tremely wet, leaving some meadows
Tommy Timothy has been trying to
have something done about water
control on the meadows for over I()
years. In 1974 he had to sell 120 head
of cattle because of the lack of winter
hay. That same year the Billy family
sold 60 head of cattle.
The Band is in the process of cor-
recting this problem through Special
ARDA development applications. At
an August meeting, over 25 Band
members expressed their strong inter-
est in ranch development. The meet-
ing itself was conducted in Chilcotin
language by Chief Jerry Charleyboy.
During this time of rebuilding, the
people are facing many outside
pressures. Mining and oil companies
are searching the Chilcotin for its
Hay harvest depends on the summer
water levels.
The first year of our 4H Club was
somewhat of a different one and a
learning experience. But plans are
| just getting udner way for the future
year.
This past year we had eight beef
members, but for the upcoming year
we may only have five or so members.
The reason is the past wet season and
the shortage of hay, unless the 4H
beef club can come up with some
dollars.
The other reason for having fewer
numbers of beef members could be
because of the kids’ education. Some
people may think that 4H isn’t a
learning program. But I have heard
- of members still in 4H after nineteen
, “ae See,
By William (Bill) Chelsea
years of age. Some even went on and
became 4H animal judges, because in
4H they share the good and the bad
points of the animals. Some members
could become vets, 4H members learn
more about all kinds of illnesses and
diseases. (Len Marchand was a 4H
member and he became minister for
the environment.)
Another reason I[ figure it’s good
for the kids is that not only will it give
them something to do and keep them
out of trouble, but it could and will
give them a bit of agricultural educa-
tion. So to me 4H is educational.
Keeping Daily Records
The past year we were late
minerals, gas and oil. Forest compan-
ies are planning more temporary
logging and sawmill operations that
will affect the fishing and hunting
resources of the Chilcotin people.
Large white ranching empires, built
by Indian cowboys, are encroaching
on Indian grazing lans. These lands
must be protected for the coming re-
birth of a streng viable native ranch-
ing economy and for future genera-
tions. 1
At the August meeting it was
suggested that a native Chilcotin cat-
tleman Association be formed to deal
with problems as they affect native
ranchers. The future will depend on
hard work and some hard dealing
with the provincial and federal gov-
ernments. Jim Rowed
on keeping record of
WIAC WORKSHOPS our animals, but this
Jan. coming year there will
5 Anaham Field Crop Manage- Clarence Walkem | have to be records kept
6 Kamloops Cow Calf Operation George Saddleman } on the animals, like their
7 ee ee Calf oe eae egos age, weight, daily gain
13 erritt ow Calf Opera ion George eman | i, weight, amount of
14-15 Terrace Follow-up, Financial Jimmy Quaw Reed andi ‘
Management & Farm eed and how much it
Planning costs per day to feed
14 Lytton Cow Calf Operation George Saddleman | that animal to gain that
19-23. Mt.Currie Farm Financial Mike Joseph much weight.
& Darcy Management I guess that sounds
Short Course 1j di
20. Kamloops _—Calving George Saddleman | COMplicated but with
21 Chase Calving George Saddieman | that they learn figures
22 Lower Field Crops Dan Gravelle in pounds and dollars.
Kootenay
26 « Mt. Currie 4H Introductory Mike Joseph
27 Merritt Calving George Saddleman 4H Gathering ;
28 Lillooet 4H Introductory, Mike Joseph So 1 Say again 4H 1S
Feb Evening Organizing educational. Some time
3 Columbia LakeForage Production Dan Gravelle this month we are plan-
4 Stone Financial Clarence Walkem | Ning a dinner for all
Management members and parents,
6 Victoria Gabe Bartleman J and interested parties.
Sahara Cr There will be prizes
10 Kamloops Financial George Saddleman Pp
j Management handed out to the most
dedicated members. @
INDIAN WORLD 17
a —— HELP WANTED
LILLOOET DISTRICT INDIAN COUNCIL
Education Co-ordinator
Job Summary:
© To act as liaison officer between schools, students, and
parents.
® To conduct interviews and counsel Native students in
the in-school programs (Kindergarten-Grade 12), post-
school (Vocational, Technical, University, and Col-
lege).
e To act as liaison with federal, provincial and local
government agencies, eg: colleges, Canada Manpower,
and Social Development departments, to further the
education and welfare of all Indian students.
¢ To be responsible for education programs and super-
vise staff,
Qualifications:
© Grade 12 minimum with some training at experience
in Program Management.
¢ Have own vehicle and be willing to travel, eg: meetings,
field work, etc.
® Knowledge of Indian language an asset.
Salary: Negotiable. Closing Date: December 17th, 1980.
Apply With resumeto: Lillooet District Indian Council
Box 465
Lillooet, B.C. VOK 1V0
FINANCIAL ADVISOR
South Central Tribal Council requires a Band Financial
Advisor for the Lytton and Fraser Canyon area Bands.
The position will include:
® Providing advice on financial management systems,
procedures and principles to Chiefs, Councillors, and
Bands.
® Reviewing and developing financial and administra-
tive procedures for Bands.
© Promoting financial management skills of Bands.
© Developing a verification program to ensure proper
application of the Band policy.
® Acting as a professional resource person to Indain
people.
Qualifications: The successful applicant should possess a
firm financial background in either business administra-
tion or accounting.
Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifica-
tions.
Please direct all inquiries and applications to:
Jim Coke, Tribal Administrator
South Central Tribal Council
345 Yellowhead Hwy.
Kamloops, B.C. V2C 1H1
K Deadline for applications is January Ist, 1981.
Environment Impact Co-ordinator
Applications are being accepted for an Environment
Impact Co-ordinator to work with the four rural villages
of New Aiyansh, Greenville, Canyon City, and Kincolith,
in the Nass Valley area.
The duties include information gathering, liaison, public
participation.
The candidates will gather and distribute information on
the activities of large resource companies and the effects
on the livelihood of Indian and other communities across
Canada and elsewhere.
There will be greatest emphasis on the companies with
‘projects land and operating in the Nishga land claims.
area. The environment impact co-ordinator will plan and
implement social and economic strategies with commu-
nity leaders.
Requirements include:
Good communications skills; the aie to lead public
meetings; and the ability to write reports; the ability to
travel and knowledge of the Nishga language are special
assets.
This competition closes December 20, 1980.
The starting date is January Ist, 1981.
Nelson Leeson
c/o Nishga Tribal Council
New Aiyansh, B.C.
VOJ 1A0
Phone (604) 633-2215
Salary: Negotiable.
Send a resume or phone:
A CAREER IN AVIATION AS AN
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER
* Pacific Air Services Region
Air Traffic Services Branch
Transport Canada Vancouver, B.C.
This competition is open to both men and women who
are residents of the province of British Columbia.
Salary: While training—$10,775 per annum
Basic Controller — $16,824 per annu,
Top Operational Controller —$36,876
No previous experience required as full training is
provided.
How to Apply: Applications received until December 31,
1980 will be considered; however, in order to ensure
immediate consideration applications should be
submitted immediately to: Regional Staffing Officer,
Transport Canada, 739 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver, B.C. V6C LA2.
Please quote reference number: 79-MOT-V-A-OC-13 at
INDIAN WORLD 18
all times. aay
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Production Manager o* the ‘‘Indian World’’ is in charge
of arranging production schedule and ensuring that
schedule is followed.
Related Duties:
® ensure that all suggestions from line-up meeting are
followed through on time, including scheduling sub-
missions of articles, photographs, art work, etc.
® assist in writing, editing and photography
© jiaison with typesetters and printers
| Preference will be given to a Band member who has
working experience for his or her Band. Should be willing
to travel and be willing to work longer than average
hours.
Starting Date:
Salary: Negotiable.
As soon as possible.
Write to or phone: Communications Portfolio, Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs, 440 West Hastings St., Vancouver,
B.C. V6B 1L1. Phone (604) 684-0231.
POSITION: ASSISTANT EDITOR ee)
The Assistant Editor of the ‘‘Indian World’’ magazine is
| responsible to the Band members for the production of
the magazine and other publications by the Print section
of the Communications Portfolio.
Related Duties:
® taking photographs and writing articles and editing
® travelling to Bands, on request, to hold print work-
shops
e sending staff out in the field to cover stories
‘Practical knowledge of industry,
| Field Researchers
(Occupational Health and Safety Concerns of Native
People)
| In this position, you will conduct an in-depth survey on
the occupational health and safety concerns of native
people. You will be working under contract possibly
leading to permanent employment. You will have the
ability to communicate with and understand native
culture. You will be able to address effectively
conventions, conferences, etc. and have the ability to
work alone and accept responsibility. Must be free to
travel extensively.
Locations:
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories,
Ontario, and Quebec. Bilingualism an asset for Ontario
and Quebec.
Qualifications:
mining, logging,
construction, oil explorations, or industrial manufactur-
ing.
Education:
Minimum High School Diploma. Exposure to occupa-
tional health and safety courses (not mandatory).
Salary: $346.00 per week plus expenses.
Please submit applications by December 15, 1980 to:
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and
Safety
Attn: L. Lavallee
Health Sciences Centre
. 1200 Main Street West, Suite 3N25
Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z5
EDUCATION PROGRAM DIRECTOR
This person will be responsible for the administration of
the Band Council’s education program.
Duties will include the proper administration of the
education budget (approximately $300,000), supervision
of teacher aides, education staff and nursery school.
Successful applicant will work closely with the cultural
co-ordinator in the development of Indian education
programs. Development of Band training programs for
Band members will also be part of the director’s duties.
Interested persons should apply in writing to:
Band Manager __ Bella Coola Band Council
P.O, Box 65 Bella Coola, B.C. VOT 1C0
For information, phone: 799-5613.
Closing date for this job will be December 12th, 1980.
Salary will be negotiable.
TEACHER— INDIAN EDUCATION
The Bella Coola Band Council is starting an Indian
education program in Bella Coola. This program is
designed to provide a small group of students (15
maximum) with an educational experience with emphasis
on Indian values in addition to a basic academic
education.
The Indian education teacher will be expected to act in
the following areas:
e Teach a basic academic program of Math, Science,
English and Social Studies
© Teach a program of Indian studies
© Foster effective school community relations.
Candidates should be trained teachers, preferably with
a background in the Social Sciences.
Persons with equivalent training or experience are
encouraged to apply.
Applicants should forward a resume including a
philosophy of education and supporting documents by
December 15, 1980.
Further information may be obtained from the
education director Ben Kilfoil at 799-5453.
Applications should be sent to:
Horace Walkus, Band Manager
Bella Coola Band Council
P.O. Box 65
Bella Coola, B.C. VOT 1C0O
a
INDIAN WORLD 19
TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
afe
Good education at the Band level will help build a stronger community.
The Bella Coola Band held an Edu-
cation Conference on October 28-30
to discuss Indian values, parental in-
volvement, and how to take control
of our children’s education.
With prayers, introductions, and
_ Chief Archie Pootlass expressing his
feelings to all who came from other
communities to support our Educa-
tion Conference, the conference
began. Our interpreter, Rosie Hans,
translated to the Elders from Bella
Coola on the issues that were to be
discussed. Mable Hall, Marg Hans
and other Elders talked about Indian
values that they grew up with. They
talked of the Creator putting us on
this earth, the sharing with other
Indian Bands before the coming of
the white people, the ritual of
thanking our Creator every day in
everything they did, as in hunting,
fishing, singing, dancing, and for our
mother earth.
As communities we have to be
proud of our heritage: people from
the communities expressed their
willingness to learn all they could of
The young people told the Elders they want to learn their people’s ways.
INDIAN WORLD 20
=: 5
' :
By Ger rt Mack
our culture and language. The Elders
spoke of their feelings. they were
happy to hear from the young people
and thanked all who participated.
Each day we served lunch and
supper. After supper the second day
the Bella Coola singers and dancers
performed for the guests who
_ attended the Education Conference.
Phil Lane spoke on how the present
school system works. From the day
our children start school in Kinder-
The people at the Conferanie Seed
garten we are told we are not
welcome. The curriculum isn’t de-
signed for Indians but for non-
Indians. Phil told us that we are all
born with intelligence but we soon
begin to suppress our ideas and
feelings because of the attitudes and
ideas of other people toward us.
Then, as we go through the school
system, we begin to think of ourselves’
as failures. Phil Lane told each and
every one of us not to be ashamed of
who we are. We should be proud that
we are Indians and we should not
think we are failures. We can succeed
in this world,
the wrap-up session and distussion
went well. I spoke of the importance
of our involvement as parents in our
children’s education. The role of the
BELLA COOLA SHARES
RESEARCH INTO BAND SCHOOLS
Elders is in teaching our young people
all they know of Indian values, lan-
guage and culture. The students came
forward and said that from now on
they’ll revive the sharing and commu-
nicating with others in our communi-
ties. The young people have to learn
many things from the Elders before
all is lost. After each open session the
people broke into smaller groups to
share ideas, and this was really suc-
cessful.
ideas on their children’s education.
Archie Pootlass expressed his con-
cern regarding the Patriation of the
Constitution. He explained to the
people exactly what Prime Minister
Trudeau is trying to do. It was decided
to have an evening meeting to com-
pletely explain the issue. We were
very thankful we had Rosie Hans to
interpret everything to our Elders.
The second morning again was
spent on the Constitution. The people
really began to understand exactly
what was involved. If Indians aren’t
involved in the changing of the Con-
stitution, we will lose all our rights as
indigenous people.
The afternoon was then taken up
with Ben Kilfoil’s preliminary report
on Band-operated schools. Ben told
of his trips to places he and people
from the Bella Coola Band have
visited in British Columbia: New
Aiyansh, Blue Quills, Saddle Lake in
Alberta, Prince Albert in Saskatche-
wan, and the United States.
A panel discussion was held with
Joe Dupuis keynote speaker talked
of community and parental
involvement in our children’s
education. They talked about the dif-
ference in parental responsibilities of
whites and Indians. The Indians used
to share the responsibility of the up-
bringing of children.
After the open session was through
we all broke into small workshops
with men in one group, the students
in another and women in another
group. We all shared experiences
we've had and we talked about how
we spend our time with our children.
We all feel we could spend more time
with our children. Many of us realize
now how important it is to be more
— oe
valued in our children’s education.
It’s important that they learn about
our language and culture.
I wish to take this opportunity to
thank everyone who made this
conference successful: Roy and Lina
Edgar for taking care of the Hall and
food. Karen Anderson for the
entertainment. Melvina Mack and
Ben for the planning of everything.
Roseann Andy and Darlene Tallio for
billets and hotel reservations. The
guest speakers, Joe Dupuis, Vince
Worme, and Phil Lane, for sharing
with us their many ideas. The Union
staff for helping the education staff
of Bella Coola. And many more too
numerous to name. Thanks also to
the people who come from afar and
near to share with us their concerns
for the education of our children.
May we always share ideas and
concerns with other Indian communi-
ties, @
b
i
$13,500 or best offer.
Contact BONEPARTE BAND office, Box 669, Cache
_ Creek, B.C. VOK 1HO, Telephone 457-6559.
INDIAN WORLD 21
INDIAN RADIO TRAINING: |
Breaking New Ground
Speaking with our own words and accents, having the power to speak to hundreds and thousands of
people — this is Indian Radio.
In British Columbia, Indian radio is still new territory. The Waion of Chiefs is providing training so
that Bands, tribal councils and individuals will have the skills needed to begin serious planning for the
kinds of Indian radio programming they want and need.
Back: Diane, Education Director; Gordon Jack, trainee. Front: "BRenga Leon, Wainee, Annette, receptionist; Geneva
Waseta, news director; Donald Eriacho, technician; Faye Eriacho, program director; Susan Braine, station manager.
This year, from June 23 to October 31, the Radio
section of the Communications Portfolio held its second
annual Indian Radio Communications Training Pro-
gram. Six trainees were hired, and five made it through
the entire five months.
After the first thirteen weeks, trainee Gail Stump of
Anaham Band returned to Prince George College to
finish her high school education, and she completed her
practicum there as well. Gail worked with the news direc-
tor and station manager of one of the local radio stations,
contributing story ideas and contact names on a weekly
basis.
The other trainees went to radio stations in the United
States for the 5-week practicum portion of the training
program. Fran Smith and Marshall Goulet went to
KAOS Public Radio in Olympia, Washington, and
Gordon Jack and Brenda Leon worked at Indian radio
station KSHI in Zuni, New Mexico.
Training so we can Plan Strongly
There is a growing demand for Indian radio program-
ming by our people in British Columbia. We need the
skilled Indian people to do all the jobs necessary in this
- field—announcers, news-readers, broadcasters, techni-
cians and engineers, script-writers, producers— before we
can make a strong beginning. This program is serving
that purpose. It is training young people so they can
INDIAN WORLD 22
begin to be involved in radio planning or production in
their communities or wherever they’re needed.
The trainees in this year’s program had their eyes,
minds and hearts opened to many new experiences. The
red earth and kind people of Zuni, New Mexico showed
them a very different Indian lifestyle, one they grew to
appreciate and understand. Zuni is in the heartland of
Indian country in the United States, and the trainees had
no shortage of material to translate into news-stories,
profiles and mini-documentaries. |
Olympia, Washington is campus country, with Indian
programming a part of the total work done by KAOS
Radio. The trainees there learned about production and
documentary techniques, they met good people willing to
teach them skills, and they left with a knowledge of the
workings of a radio station.
Using and Sharing Knowledge is Key to Indian
Radio
Training is where we are turning our attention. Each
person with radio skills has it on his or her conscience to
share that knowledge with whoever is wanting to learn.
We will work with any Band who asks for training of any
kind in radio communications skills. The small circle of
skilled people will grow larger and stronger through
training and sharing.
When I was in Zuni, New Mexico, a reporter from the
local newspaper asked me what I was going to do when I
returned to British Columbia. I told him, “I’m going back
home to continue with radio production, to help both
Indian and non-Indian people to become aware of issues
involving Indian people in British Columbia.”
By production, I mean going out to various tribes,
getting interviews, music and information through
research and really listening to people’s feelings and
ideas. I would like to independently produce “packages”
involving B.C. Indians and sell them to radio stations in
the area the event is happening in.
I’d like to raise enough money to buy all my own equip-
ment and set up a very small production studio—this is
oing to be a priority for me. :
ree e Brenda Leon, Chehalis
Brenda is on staff at the Union of Chiefs.
This program is one of a few which will have long-
lasting effects on Indian people. This is because through
the medium of radio, the Indian people can be exposed
to and educated about the cultures of our own particular
tribes. We can also learn about the situations facing us
and can be informed of happenings with which we could
be involved.
Over-all this course has a heavy work-load, but it helps
condition the individual to the amount of work that
person would face if they chose to go into the radio field.
Gordon Jack, Hazelton
Gordon has been hired by the Health Portfolio of the
Union of Chiefs.
¥
fe 4 # ry
i . # \ 4 me k. ‘ 5
gh ~s ' ta Lia
4 * =a
- a
When I got here in Vancouver and started work I didn’t
really know what I was in for. After the first week, I
knew that the next nineteen weeks would be a lot of
work, doing interviews with various types of people,
learning how to read properly, learning how to write
scripts, and to use all the equipment.
When I first started the course I was terrified, because I
had moved away from my home and family in Prince
Rupert. I didn’t know too many people in Vancouver.
However, I met a lot of people and at the Union office,
the work atmosphere was easy to adjust to.
After 14 weeks of learning the radio skills, | went to
Olympia, Washington, with Marshall Goulet. There, I
This year was the Third Annual Convention of the
Gitskan Carrier Tribal Council. On the first day of the
convention, as I walked into the gym, I could feel excite-
ment, enthusiasm, and tension. I knew the next two days
were going to be pretty powerful.
The young people were a great help in preparing and
helping in the convention. The Indian art class of the high
school made a banner with Indian designs for each Band
and a big banner with the theme of the convention. The
enthusiasm of the young people must have rubbed off on
everyone, because there were a lot of happy and excited
people there.
This year’s theme was “Native Women, Our Existence, —
Our Survival.” At the beginning of the convention they
had presentations from the Gitskan women and the Car-
rier women, showing us what part the women had played
in building the strong and proud Gitskan-Carrier Nation.
The issue that concerned the convention was Section
12(1)B of the Indian Act, the section that discriminated
against native women who marry non-Indian men. It was
very clear that this had to be changed.
They also had a panel of leaders open for questions
from the people attending the convention. This was
great. It was open to anyone to have a say in the conven-
tion. It was a good learning experience for everyone.
By Kelly Nyce
worked in the news department for KAOS Radio, where |
read and wrote news, public service announcements, job
services and other things for an Indian program Sky-
runner ” J remember my first time on-air “live” at KAOS:
all of a sudden I was in the studio doing the news live;
they didn’t give me a chance to get scared or nervous.
After I finished I realized I’d been on-air live and then I
got scared.
I returned to Prince Rupert with a lot of new know-
ledge in communications and Indian issues.
Fran Smith, Port Simpson Band
Fran has since accepted a job as publicity chairwoman
for the B.C. Winter Games in Prince Rupert.
INDIAN WORLD 23
THE DANCE OF
By Bobby Joseph
A long time ago, in the world of the Kwiksuktaineuk
Indians, a legend was born to a noble lady of that tribe.
She was Ahnoos, privileged to come into contact and
communication with members of the animal spirit world.
As legend would have it, Ahnoos was digging for cockles,
in order to prepare a special feast for her husband and
family, when there came upon her a frightening and spine
tingling sensation, common to those gifted with visits
from the supernatural world. Slowly raising her head,
Ahnoos glimpsed the awesome and frightening figure of
Buckwes, the wildman of the woods.
And as they got to the Yout’si, which is the
supernatural cave, Buckwes told Ahnoos to stay behind
and hide behind a stump. While she did that, he gave her
two cockles, and just told her to wait.
Buckwes entered the supernatural cave, and in the
supernatural cave was a full fledged ceremony going on.
The Animal Kingdom was enacting the potlatch, dancing
and singing and so forth. There were speeches being
made and every animal was doing his dance.
During that time, four of the Animal Kingdom
characters went out to try to find out what was present
Outside. They knew somebody was outside that was
mortal. So first of all the mouse went out and Ahnoos
gave the mouse a chunk of the cockles that she had been
told to keep by Buckwes. Then the weasel went out, and
then the ermine went out, and then the otter went out,
and each time Ahnoos gave them a piece of the cockle.
For a timeless moment in space, the mortal Ahnoos
froze in fright. Buckwes with his supernatural gift,
communicated to Ahnoos assurances of her safety, and
that all he wanted was her cockles.
“What will you give me in return?” asked Ahnoos.
“Come and follow me and I will show you,” said
Buckwes, picking up the basket of cockles.
So Buckwes and Ahnoos treaded into the forest, away
from the beach where she ws digging the cockles. And as
they got deeper and deeper into the forest, Ahnoos could
hear the chanting and singing and beating on the drums.
‘What came to her mind immediately was that they
sounded very much like the potlatches of the
Kwawkewlth people, so she felt a little more comfortable
about it.
INDIAN WORLD 24
Finally Buckwes got up to speak at the ceremony. He
told them about Ahnoos and could he have permission to
bring her in? The animal world said, “Yes. Bring her in.”
Then she was asked to take off her garments. She turned
_around and looked at all the beings in the Animal
Kingdom, in the supernatural cave. She had a blurred
vision of the animals, because what she was now
witnessing was the spirits of the animals.
There is a lesson in the story. After the dance was
finished, the animals told Ahnoos: “You may now go
home. We are going to give you the gift of this dance.”
The Kwicksutaineuk tribe assumed the right to the
Animal Kingdom because it was a gift from the Animals
themselves. They told her to teach the message of the
value of the natural world to human beings. People
should now always respect the animal world and
maintain a balance.
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM
In the end, when we are dancing, we all come back out
again, and we come back carrying our masks. The grande
finale in what we are doing is taking off the animal
costumes and showing our spiritual beings.
INDIAN WORLD 25
EDMONTON: HURTIG PUBLISHERS, 1980.
176 pp.
Twelve years ago David Raine was a teacher at Cape
Dorset on Baffin Island. While there he became good
friends with a young Inuit man named Pitseolak.
Pitseolak: A Canadian Tragedy is the story of the friend-
ship that developed between these two men.
Not Belonging
Pitseolak left home at a young age to continue his
education. At school in Manitoba he became very
removed from the Inuit culture. He finally returned home
feeling alienated from both the community and his —
family.
The things he now valued, his family thought were
unimportant and insignificant.
INDIAN WORLD 26
BOOK REVIEW
By Bess Brown
Pitseolak was not like so many other students caught in
the same position of not belonging to his Inuit culture or
to the white society. Like other students he was sent away
to obtain a good education and expected to use some of
this to help his people “improve” their lifestyles. This is
what the government had hoped, anyway. Just what the
Inuit people expected or wanted from returning students
is unclear.
A Government Success
Pitseolak was a misfit to his family but the government
considered him a success for he did adopt some of the
values of the non-Indian society. Throughout most of the
story Pitseolak struggles to find his place in the Inuit
culture or white society.
Resolving Things
With the encouragement of Raine, he was able to
resolve this conflict. He began learning the ways of the
Inuit people with a sense of pride and dignity, something
he had never felt before. Without Raines’ constant
encouragement, it is doubtful he would have been able to
resolve this conflict. | found it quite disturbing that his
family was not supportive during his troubles. Hopefully
native people are more understanding now of others who
have been brought up in the dominant society and now
wish to live and learn native values and customs. Tran-
sition into different lifestyles is often difficult, without
having other pressures added.
Learning But Not Living
According to Raine, Pitseolak learnt a great deal about
the Inuit in a short period of time, still others felt he
didn’t fit into the Inuit culture. Those who felt he did not
belong thought the circumstances surrounding his death
were proof enough. While hunting with a companion,
Pitseolak suddenly stood up and was shot in the back of
the head (experienced Inuit hunters would have given
warning). .
Government Policies
Raines believed Pitseolak’s death could be attributed to
the policies of the government stating if he had been
brought up with Inuit values and attitudes he would not
have been killed hunting.
Raines’ interest in the Inuit culture made the book very
enjoyable. Pitseolak: A Canadian Tragedy is an excellent
book examining the effects of government policies on the
Inuit people. Recommended. i)
CREATIONS OF
THE SHUSWAP
By Fred Johnson |
The arts and crafts group started our get-tgether on
October 27th, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. We hope to meet
three times weekly, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
evenings at 7:00. Our main objective is to create a better
atmosphere of cultural awareness.
We had a good turn-out of students and crafts people.
Myrtle Johnson, painter, graduate of Cariboo College in
Kamloops, will be a great help to our students. Dave
Sampson, another Cariboo College art student, never did
bring his body around yet, so Dubby get your fingers in
gear.
Franky, Johnny, Irene, Marcella and Marge Dick will
be doing their crafts; the students can see how it is done.
For our first activity we are drawing, we are exercising
our eyes and fingers to move together. We are learning to
sketch first; we must catch the image in a glance, and put
it on paper. We are practicing to concentrate on our
drawing, rather to be self-conscious of the people
FROM YUKON INDIAN NEWS
CHARLIE’S CHUCKLES
By Bob Charlie - eS
Once upon a time there was an Indian Chief living in
Beaver Creek who became quite concerned about the -
energy crisis. So he sold his pickup in order not to use any
more gas which was getting too expensive anyways and
bought himself a ten speed bicycle.
One day he got a call to attend an all-chiefs meeting in
Whitehorse. He figured if he was to get there on time, he
would have to leave a week ahead. So, off he went and
when he arrived at Burwash Landing, he decided to stop
_ for lunch at the Kluane Tribal Brotherhood’s Dry Meat
Truck Stop. A young fellow came and sat down beside -
the chief and they started talking. The young man asked
the chief where he was going and how he was travelling.
I remember them
they are dancing
haunting me
to think of Indians
As they were before
But, I want to be
me. Today
I will always
see them dancing
Because they
are a part
of me! That
I do not see
today!
watching. We are learning to take criticism, also to be
open-minded. We must never use an eraser on a drawing,
and never throw out a drawing. We are in a learning
stage, we have to learn from all our mistakes, big and
small. Also we will be studying Indian Design, our theme.
How can we even call ourselves Indian, if we don’t know
about our history. In our art, we say, how can we draw or
paint Indian life if we never went down to the creek,
swam in cold water or went in the sweathouse. How in
the world, can we draw about lehal or hunting, when we
don’t know some songs and history of how our Shuswap
grandfathers use the sweathouse to get ready for a lehal
game.
I am encouraging the student to try some of these
activities so next time somebody asks, “Is this Shuswap
Indian Art?” they will be proud to show off their art.
Yes, this is a picture of when we had a sweathouse,
twenty below zero.
' The chief told him he was going to Whitehorse on his ten-
speed bicycle. The young fellow said, “That’s going to
take you a long time, maybe I can help you.” The chief
said, “How?” And the young guy replied that he would
tow the chief’s bike behind his brand new Corvette Stinhg
Ray and if they started to go too fast, all the chief had to
do was ring the bell on his handlebar and he would slow
down. ;
Off they went and things were going great until this
blue Mustang passed them. The driver of the Corvette
_ didn’t like that so he stepped on the gas and the two cars
started racing down the highway. In the meantime, the
chief was getting pretty worried about how fast they were
going and started ringing his bell. But with all the noise
and excitement his driver didn’t hear him. Then they went
through a radar trap and the policeman who was sitting
there called his buddy who was parked five miles down
the road. He said, “There’s a couple of drag racers
coming your way arid they’re moving pretty fast. One is a
blue Mustang and the other is a red Sting Ray. You can
let them by but, there’s this Indian right behind them ona
ten-speed bicycle ringing his bell and trying to pass them,
grab him!”
INDIAN WORLD 27
DOCUMENTING LAND
CLAIMS: 300 YEARS.
OF LIVING MEMORY
By Beth Cuthand
The Teme-Augama Anishnabai of the Lake Temegami Region of
N.E. Ontario are seeking legal recognition of their right to
unmolested possession of their homeland: Ndaki-Menan.
For the last tén years this small
tribe, numbering 630 members—250
of whom live on Bear Island in Lake
Temagami—have been working dili-
gently and alone, pursuing their right
to control their land. Ndaki-Menan is
4,000 square miles of heavily-tim-
bered, mineral and water-rich land
which has supported the Teme-augama
Anishnabai for generations upon gen-
erations. No treaty has ever been
signed with the Temagami Indians.
They have never ceded, sold or other-
wise given up the rights to their land.
Development on Unsurrendered
Land
Based on that fact, in late 1973, the
Band quietly filed a “caution” (land
freeze) on 110 townships within the
boundaries of their ancestral lands. A
giant tourist resort was planned right
in the centre of Teme-augama Anish-
nabai lands and the Band filed the
INDIAN WORLD 28
caution to give notice of their out-
standing aboriginal interest. It was
only about 4 months later, when the
Province attempted to sell some of
the land, that the caution came to
light. It was then that the Member of
Parliament for the area, Ed Havrot,
made racist statements about Indians
and caused an uproar across the
country. Havrot was up in arms
because the Maple Mountain tourist
complex was his baby and the
Temagami Band was standing in the
way of “progress.” Chief Gary Potts
wrote in a press release at the time:
“Today our land is being slowly
stripped of her natural resources. The
tan 2
—
=
a r eI. - . j ' ina, 7
The Band is prepared to presen t the full story. Their legal support
SSS
. Iara
f +e F
air and water are being polluted. —
Seeing this, we realized that if these
present concepts of progress are to
continue, we. .. would, merely for the
convenience of material value, soon
be unable to make a living in this
area. Worse still, the unborn genera-
tions of the Temagami Indian Band
would have no base from which to
grow.”
‘*Progress’’ Means Different
Things to Peoples 4
Two very different concepts of
“progress” have been clashing head
on. For Chief Gary Potts “progress”
is ensuring the continuity of the
Teme-augama Anishnabai. For the
Province of Ontario, “progress” is
ensuring that the land is open for
immediate resource exploitation. But
try as it might, the Province of On-
tario has not been able to lift the cau-—
tion and the land remains closed to
any new development until the courts _
decide just who owns the land.
ee a aS
a.
a aout
=
sR | | Sa
5 ee ied sei |
nea hb.
Wes UE Ey
—
he
i |
staff have gathered over 4,000 pages of documents confirming
the knowledge that has been passed from generation to
generation of the Teme-augama Anishnabai: that the roots of the
people go back beyond living memory, that their ancestors were
created on the ancestral lands and the spirits reside there per-
manently, that there has always been a specific connection
between the Temegami people and Ndaki-Menan.
(continued page 30)
_ (TUR Lim i’
- : THis LKnnNnR BEECWE | fT 1K See At
SOME nRE cence
CME NRE LAVING
1620 A.D. French interpreter and fur trader Jean
Nicollet winters on Lake Nipissing, twelve years after
the founding of Québec. Among the groups he en-
counters are the Teme-augama Anishnabai.
| 1760. The English have conquered New France. Formal
capitulation of French army at Montreal states that the
Indian allies of the King of France shall not be dis-
turbed in the lands they occupy for having taken up
arms against the English. Among these allies are the
Teme-augama Anishnabai.
1763, October 7th. King George III of England issues a
Royal Proclamation. Because of “Great Frauds and
Abuses” committed by European settlers, these set-
tlers are warned to get off Indian lands. Native tribes
are confirmed as owners of all lands not already sold or
surrendered by them to the Crown, If at any future
date, these tribes are inclined to part with any lands,
they are to be bought in the King’s name only, at a
public meeting with the Chiefs and principal men of
the tribes in question, Ndaki-menan is Indian land.
The Royal Proclamation has never been repealed. It
still has the force of a Statute in Canada.
1791. The Province of Upper Canada is created _Its
formal boundaries include Ndaki-menan, But the
Teme-augama Anishnabai do not sell.
1850, September 9th. Minerals have been discovered on
| the north shore of Lake Huron. The Government of
the Province of Canada offers to buy the lands in
question from the local tribes. The “Robinson-Huron”
Treaty gives the Queen full title to the northern and
. eastern shores of Lake Huron. Not being invited and
not being present, the Treaty was NEVER signed by
the Teme-augama Anishnabai.
1867. Confederation. The new “federal” Government is
given responsibility, under the British North America
Act, for “Indians and lands reserved for the Indians.”
1877. Lumbermen, licensed by the Ontario Government
to cut on Lake Temiskaming, arrive on Temagami
Lake exploring for timber. Chief Tonene of the Teme-
augama Anishnabai immediately visits the federal
Xe Indian Agent in Parry Sound, protesting that
white men are interfering with Indian lands that Have
never been surrendered by Treaty.
1883. The Federal Government acknowledges that the
,Feme-augama Anishnabai did not take part in the
Robinson-Huron Treaty. Some of the Teme-augama
Anishnabai (those of Native ancestry in the male, but
not female, line) are identified by the federal
government as the “Temegami Indian Band.” Although }
no formal sale or surrender of Ndaki-menan takes
place, a small (100 square miles) tract at the south end
of Lake Temagami is surveyed in 1885 by the Federal
Government as a “Reserve” for the “Temagami Band
of Indians.”
= 1885 to 1978. The Government of the Province of On-
tario refuses to recognize the 100-square-mile tract on
Lake Temagami as an Indian Reserve, claiming that all
of Ndaki-menan has already been surrendered by the
Robinson-Huron Treaty of 1850. Despite continuous
protests by the Teme-augama Anishnabai, the Ontario
government allows exploitation of Ndaki-menan by
European settlers to proceed.
1906. Lands immediately north of Ndaki-menan are
sold by the resident Cree and Ojibwa Indian people to
the Crown under the terms of the “James Bay Treaty
(Treaty Number Nine).” Despite interferences by the |
Ontario Government, Ndaki-menan is still legally
Indian land.
1943. The Ontario Government has been threatening for
ten years to evict certain members of the Teme-
augama Anishnabai from Bear Island, Lake
Temagami, where they have homes, for failing to pay
rent to the Province. To avoid further conflict, the
Federal Government buys Bear Island from the Prov-
‘ince. The Teme-augama Anishnabai, however, refuse
to acknowledge this purchase as a settlement of their
grievance, because no formal sale or surrender of
MNdaki-menan has taken place.
1971. The Federal Government declares Bear Island to
be an Indian Reserve.
1973, August. Chief Gary Potts of the Teme-augama
Anishnabai files a “Caution” against all unregistered
“Crown” lands within Ndaki-menan, asserting that the
area in question is still Indian land within the meaning
of the Royal Proclamation of 1763, The Province tries
to have the Caution lifted.
1978, May. The Attorney-General for the Province of
Ontario sues the Teme-augama Anishnabai in the Su-
preme Court of Ontario, seeking a number of declara-
tions, among them that the Teme-augama Anishnabai
have no interest whatsoever in Ndaki-menan.
1979, January. Trial pleadings
1979. Twenty-two townships added to Caution. .
1979, December. Bruce Clark, Lawyer for the Defen-
dants, questions the Provincial Representatives.
1980, January and February. Province questions Chief
Gary Potts for seven days, investigating the facts we
rely on to support our Claim to the lands in question. f
INDIAN WORLD 29
(from page 28)
Bruce Clark, Band lawyer,
explains: “The fact that the
Temagami have always been regarded
as the exclusive possessors and abso-
lute owners of the use and enjoyment
of the land is corroborated (con-
firmed) by the historical documents
which show that throughout the his-
tory at least of this part of Ontario,
Indians, not just here but elsewhere,
have asserted that right and that the
white society has formally acquiesced
(accepted) and agreed to that
principle. A lot of the research has
been documenting that basic social
contract which was made between the
white society and the Indian society.
The root of the social contract is the
Indian assertion of their sovereignty
and exclusive possession.”
Each Family Can Trace Their
Ancestors Back Three Centuries
Chief Gary Potts first started the
reseach in 1972 by doing genealogy
charts of the 14 families who make up
the tribe. Using an anthropologist’s
1913 report on the family trees of his
Band, he went to all the Elders and
not only got them to remember their
ancestors but also each family
been invaluable to the Band. Says
Chief Potts, “To re-establish the
sense that we did have a say and
would have a say in the future of our
people and our lands, the genealogy
charts were a positive factor. It was
illustrated in black and white, our
connection with the ancestors and the
historical facts that our research
brought out showed that there was
absolutely no question who had juris-
diction over this land. When ali that
information came out in community
meetings and newsletters, the people’s
attention got focused on the fact they
did have a natural right to this land.
Nobody could take it away from
them.”
Today, the Supreme Court action
has gone through the pre-trial stages,
through the discoveries stage, and has
been re-opened to allow a new inter-
venor: Panmore Porcupine Mines, a
subsidiary of the multi-national Nor-
anda Mines, to become a party to the
Province’s action.
Trudeau’s Constitution Could
Wipe Out Land Rights
The Supreme Court action will
probably be before the courts for the
“We'd like to see a clearer charter for
native continuity go into the Consti-
tution,” declares Chief Gary Potts.
The Wabimakwa
family members
know their ancestors|
as far back as the
time of the Royal
Proclamation, They
‘Know their history
and they know their
rights,
ae
= =
a | Re ee
=~) =
ares. -
abe soe
= =
=
Cae
—
—s =
es
Stabs ate ta 2 oe rE
ew = —=
— » = eta = aeenseres Sr sat ga
-
gue ae = o ue
pew es oe =a ew
a A
— i Se it ade a a. er i
—
hunting area. At that time, he
thought the thing to do was to prove
“aboriginality”; hence the genealogi-
cal charts going back into the 1700's.
The fourteen family hunting areas, he
put together on a map and was able to
define the boundaries of their home-
land.
Knowledge Strengthens Band
Members
Though they are no longer arguing
their case on the basis of “aboriginal
rights,” the genealogy charts have
INDIAN WORLD 30
next five years and go.all the way to
the Supreme Court of Canada. But
the patriation of the Constitution is
cause for a lot of our concern. Says
Chief Potts: “It could affect the out-
come of our court case because we’re
looking at another five years before it
gets to the Supreme Court of Canada.
In that time, if it’s a whole new ball
game, for example, if there’s no more
section 109 in any Constitution, then
all the work we’ve done is almost like
for nothing. The Judge will says, “if
this had been here five years ago,
you’re absolutely right, but because
we're working under different laws
now, your argument no_ longer
applies.” They can go on with a lot of
rhetoric saying how the government
has shafted us and that’s not right,
but that’s about all they can say.
We're very concerned about the Con-
stitution and we’d like to see a more
explicit charter for native continuity
go into the Constitution in place of
section 24. The proposed section 24 is
just filling space as far as I’m
concerned.
No Negotiation
Regardless of the politics outside
their homeland, the resolve of the
Teme-augama Anishnabai remains
undiminished. When the Province of
Ontario and the Federal Government
met with the Temagami this summer
at Bear Island, the Province indicated
that they were prepared to negotiate a
settlement. The Temagami people
said, “No, we will not negotiate.”
Chief Gary Potts is a stubborn man
and the issue is clear: the Teme-
augama Anishnabai have the right to
unmolested possession of their home-
land. He wants the Canadian judicial
system to recognize that fact. No
more and no less. &
SOVEREIGN NATIONS
THE LEGAL CASE
As the Constitutional Express makes its way across
Canada, we are presenting legal arguments on behalf of
the Indian Nations in Rotterdam, England, Ottawa, and
possibly New York.
The legal argument for the Indian people is a strong
‘one. We are arguing that Indian people are the original
peoples of this land. We have the rights to use the land as
our ancestors used the land. We have the right to total
‘sovereignty within our territories, When the European
settlers came to this land they treated the Indian people
with a good deal of respect, at first, when the settlers
were in the minority and the Indian people were most
powerful.
After some time the settlers began to make inroads into
Indian people’s territory and at that time there was a
great resistance from the Indian people. Great Britain at
that time could not afford to enter into a war with the
Indian Nations and so as a result of the pressure put upon
Above: Skiedans Village, 1979
Right; Skidegate Band Office, 1979.
By Louise Mandel
treaties were entered into to cede the land. These treaties
were made with Her Majesty the Queen and were
executed on the basis that the Indian people have full self-
government. The treaties then are agreements between
Her Majesty the Queen in Britain representing her
country, and the Indian Chiefs representing the Indian
Nations. Great Britain was, and continues to be, under a
sacred trust to the Indian people to preserve the people,
their land, and their government from the onslaught of
more powerful countries.
Canadian Government Given Administrative
Powers Only
In 1867 Canada was given the authority over Indians
and lands reserved for Indians under the British North
America Act. It is clear from all that we have looked at
that the authority which the Canadian Government was
given was simply the authority to administer the
obligations which Great Britain had to insure that Indian
people’s fand, resources, and government were
maintained intact. Canada assumed no political obliga-
tions with the Indian Nations because the Indian Nations
never entered into arrangements with Canada but only
with Great Britain. Canada’s role was to administer the
delegated trust over the fulfillment of Britain’s
obligations.
Canada Mismanaged Trust
Im fact we are arguing that Canada very badly
mismanaged the trust because they have continued upon
a policy of expropriation of Indian people’s lands,
Wenn ae 9
Stet oS tt
a SS Le eee.
INDIAN WORLD 31
“ol iL
rs =
without consent and against the law. Also they have
continued upon a policy: of assimilation which denies
Indian people’s rights to their own Indian Government.
Canada Wants to Terminate Trust & Obligations
_Now that the Government is repatriating the Consti-
tution, it wants to terminate all the obligations which
Great Britain has to the Indian people—to ensure that no
land is sold until it was ceded, to ensure that the treaty
obligations are enshrined and protected, to ensure that
Indian people’s rights to self-determination and full
Indian Government are maintained. Canada no doubt
will continue the policy of expropriation and assimilation
and with Britain no longer protecting the final obligation
to the Indian Nations, Canada and the Provinces will
very likely terminate the obligations to Indian people in
non-Indian law.
Going to Court Outside Canada
We have decided to take the legal questions through
courts and forms outside of Canada. We made this
decision because it seems that every time we take a
question through the Canadian courts, it is the Canadian
judges and the Canadian law which is applied. There are
no Indian judges. There is no Indian law.
——
Above: Dipnetting on Fraser, 1900
Right; Dipnetting on Fraser, 1980 x
z Sata.
INDIAN WORLD 32 i
Conflict of Interest
In discussing whether or not Indian Affairs ought to be
kept with Britain or administered through the colonies in
1837, a Parliamentary Committee in Britain recom-
mended that Indian Affairs be maintained with Britain
because they felt that there would be a conflict of interest
for the Government of Canada to both protect Indian
land and also to attempt to develop their own wealth.
Canada has operated in this conflict of interest now for
over 100 years, only to the detriment of the Indian
Nations. Perhaps we will get a better hearing in a court
which is not tied into the Canadian system.
The Russell Tribunal
We have presented our legal arguments in Rotterdam
before the Russell Tribunal. The Tribunal is comprised of
some International Jurists who meet to hear the cases of
various peoples around the world who have particuiar
problems. The theme this year is the American Indian
and we have presented our case to them. Although they
don’t have the authority to make a decision which binds
one country their opinion is influential in the politics of
the country.
The British Law
We have also asked the Parliamentary Standing
Committee in Britain for a hearing. The Parliamentary
Standing Committee is a committee set up by the British.
___ Parliament to advise concerning the rights and responsi-
bilities which Great Britain has before patriation.
_ Although the lawyer for the Committee said that Indian
_ people are completely under the authority of the
_ Canadian Government, we wholly disagree with that
position, We have made our submission and are waiting
_to be heard.
We are also preparing a submission before the
Standing Committee in Canada. We are hopeful that this
submission can be presented while the people are in
Ottawa.
a) , = eS Ss oT at -} ae ea J Ee ee
Fe s a
Kotsuis Hohhue, Nakoaktok, 1915
7 Bella Coola Hohhug Dancer, 1980
ope We may make submissions in New York for the United
__ Nations. We are still working on gathering supporting
documents. If anyone has suggestions or evidence we
would certainly appreciate hearing from them.
Action Against Trudeau
| The nine Bands’ action taken against Trudeau
and the Federal Government for going beyond their
a administrative jurisdiction in the resolution was not
' immediately understood by the Government. The
lal ‘November 7th deadline to respond went by without a sign
from them. We had cited a lot of material they’d never
| or ‘investigated. ow they have appealed for and been
‘granted an extra month to make a defense.
ae As -we have to go to court each time a Band or
| individual joins this action, we have kept them for a
major court application to add all parties. Supporting
' BCR’s have continued to arrive in our office since the
assembly, and throughout the organization of the Consti-
Indian. n fish dr LES racks, om I od
tuton Express. Some chiefs are taking theirs on the train.
The action on this court case starts in Ottawa immedi-
ately after the First Nations Conference.
Recognition of Rights Leads to National Status
in World
About three years ago when we first started to fight
cases in the courts, and winning them, there seemed to be
hope that perhaps the Canadian courts might recognize
Indian people’s basic rights. We seem to have progressed
far beyond that point now. Rather than asking the
Canadian courts to recognize Indian people’s rights, we
are realizing the power of Indian people recognizing basic
rights to the land, resources, and to Indian Government.
With that realization Indian people are taking steps to
assume our National status in the world of countries. We
are moving so far beyond the new recognition by the
Canadian courts of certain rights under Canadian law.
It i¢-a really exciting time for Indian people. @
Indian fish drying racks, 1980
INDIAN WORLD 33.
EDITORIAL
By this time, all citizens of our Indian Nations see
the crises we are faced with. Our people realize that
more than our rights are in danger by Prime Minister
Trudeau’s government resolution to patriate the
Canadian constitution. So is our very existence as a
people uniquely separate from Canadian society.
The Canadian government has forgotten its role as it
concerns our nations. Canada has forgotten and
neglected the fact that it was delegated, by the Imperial
Crown of Great Britain, the role of administrator of
our affairs, not as the ruling power over our land and
people. Indian nations have been legally and politically
connected to the British Crown for over 200 years, not
to Canada. Therefore, only the British Crown and the
Indian nations have the right to, together, sever the
ties between us.
During the first three weeks of November, most of
the UBCIC staff went into the communities in our
home areas to let our people know how the Canadian
government’s resolution would likely affect us. While
travelling around and talking with the people of the
Sto:lo Nation, I learned a lot, especially from our
| Elders. Over and over again the Elders across what is
now called B.C., stressed the importance of unity of
all the Indian nations in Upper North America. They
could see clearly that the original people of this land
must once again unite with one mind and rebuild our
nationhood in the eyes of the world.
\
INDIAN WORLD 34
While younger, our Elders saw Indian Government
in practice. They lived it every day of their lives. The
old people have been waiting for us to realize that
control over our everyday lives by the federal
government is not necessary. They know that we have
no ties to Canada other than the administrative ones |
delegated by the Crown. They have seen our own laws
effectively govern our people and know that this can
be a reality once again. We have the resources, ability
and strength to determine our own future. And we can
draw from our Elders and leaders the knowledge that
is necessary in rebuilding and strengthening a nation of
the original people which will suit our needs.
During the Constitution Express, I saw something
that I’ve never witnessed before, something I’ve only
heard about in the stories of the Elders. I saw an j
Indian Nation. The people on the train, by the time we
“had reached Ottawa, felt like citizens of an Indian
Nation. As each hour passed, the people aboard the
_ foundation of our nation, grew stronger and stronger
in determination. There was conviction in their minds
that no person or group could ever stop the natural
path we are taking towards nationhood. Whether or
not we are officially recognized as a nation is not so
important as the fact that within our hearts we know
we are a nation and no one can change that feeling. We
now know that no matter what happens, we will
always be Indian people. We will survive.
By Darryl Ned, Editor
I Would Like
I would like the trees being born once more
I would like our culture been born again
I would like to see the Indians being happy without the |
help of alcohol or drugs.
I would like to see our old culture, that I haven’t seen
before
I would like to see our language spoken more often,
instead of speaking English.
I would not like to see disco dancers
but I would prefer to see Native dancers.
I would like to see a tree that hasn’t been harmed by
machines.
I would like to see more of a medicine man
Instead of doctors prescribing drugs.
I would also like the Indians who went on the
Constitution Express to be successful,
Sarah Clement
Nazko, B.C.
THE CONSTITUTION EXPRESS»
Chief Nathan Spinks, Lytton Band: “The Constitution
Express is something that must be done by the native
people themselves, the people that are really concerned
about it. When Canada was first joined as a country, the
native people were not consulted. The second time
around Trudeau is trying to tell us that we should have
nothing to do with it. This is not right. To me, he is
saying that in the future, there will be no more Indians,
no more reserves. In 1969, he tried this with the White
Paper. The people got it together and fought that policy.
Now is the time for Indian people to get together and
speak not as individuals but as Nations to ensure their
rights. I am here representing my people, and speaking
on their behalf.”
Mike Peter, Mt. Currie Band: “I am here for my rights. |
want to stay an Indian. I don’t want to be white. I hear
that they are going to tax us if the Constitution goes
through. Tax us on land that we originally owned! | think
, eatin |
that the Constitution EXDICSN is a good way to show our
concern.’
Joyce Willard, Neskainlith Band. “Why am I here? That
is a hard question. I guess in the broader sense we are
here to let the non-Indians and the rest of Canada know
that we have struggled and suffered long enough... . For
me to be on this train just makes a lot of sense because it
is something that I believe in. It is not as if we are going
to make a lot of changes. We have fought for hundreds
of years, we can’t stop now. The Constitution Express is a
very important part of our continuing struggle.”
L, Adrian, Cranbrook: “There is a lot I didn’t under-
stand about the Constitution. The Express and the people
on it have helped me to have a better understanding of
what is happening to us. There is a lot to learn. I look to
the Elders. I feel that if we all work together as a Nation
we can make it. If we believe what we are saying, if we
believe in what we are doing, we can be successful.”
They’re off!! The Vancouver railway station echoed
with the beat of the drums and voices of the singers bring-
ing strength to our leaders and the people, as they
boarded the Indian Constitution Express on November
24th. This is the Constitution Issue. Our former editor
Beth Cuthand of Little Pine Reserve in Saskatchewan,
went to Bear Island where the people there have been
working for years on documenting legal evidence of the
sovereignty of Indian nations in Canada (p. 27). The
Seabird Island grade 5 & 6 students sent us copies of their
letters, that the people of their Band are taking to
Trudeau on the Constitution Express (p. 35).
The Indian Child Caravan succeeded in getting an
agreement with the Provincial Government, but Chief
Wayne Christian reports that the Minister of Indian
Affairs has not followed through on his commitments (p.
12).
SECOND CLASS MAIL
REGISTRATION NUMBER 4983
VANCOUVER, B.C.
The DIA upheld Crown control of Indian resources
when it came to the crunch for Ulkatcho Band. Chief
Vivian Cahoose described Anaham Lake’s year-long
struggle with a logging company that wouldn’t pay for
Band trees (p. 13). Bill Chelsea of Alkali Lake Band
writes of our future foresters and vets and ranchers who
start off as 4-H club members (p. 18).
Bella Coola people had a large meeting to share their
research into Band operated schools and Gert Mack, the
Education Assistant, sent in the story on p. 14.
We were very honoured that the Elders of the
Kwawkewlth Nation invited us to their meeting in
November (p. 2). One of the legends of their nation is
that of the Animal Kingdom, sacred to the
Kwiksutainenk Band. Chief Peter Smith asked Bobby
Joseph to present the legend (p. 25).
Vancouver Indian Centre has always been a cultural
island of sanity and spiritual comfort for Indian people
visiting or living in Vancouver. Leonard George of
Squamish describes the new building and new directions
on page 11.
This is our last issue of 1980, an important year for
Indian Nationhood. We wish you a happy holiday and
strength and hope for the New Year! “i
.
Part of Indian World - volume 3, number 8 (November / December 1980)