Periodical
Indian World - volume 3, number 9 (January 1981)
- Title
- Indian World - volume 3, number 9 (January 1981)
- Is Part Of
- 1.06-01.04 Indian World
- 1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series
- Date
- January 1981
- volume
- 3
- issue
- 9
- Language
- english
- Identifier
- 1.06-01.04-03.01
- pages
- 36
- Table Of Contents
-
New Year's Pow-Wow..........................2
Indian Nations Seek World Support...............4
Constitution Express Reawakens
Our Indian Nations...........................6
Patriation Illegal Without Indian Consent
says Tribunal................................8
Indian Rights: Letter to Trudeau.................8
Amendments to Constitution....................9
Our World...................................10
News News News.............................12
Floods Destroy Spawning Grounds..............13
True Caretakers of the Land
Exercise Ownership.........................14
Federal Fisheries: "Saving our Taxpayers
Money?"....... .........16
Wildlife Act No Meaning for Indians.............17
The BRATS..................................18
At What Cost?...............................20
DIA vs. S Bar K: DIA Scuttles another
Indian Company............................21
We Don't Have to take these Racist Jokes.........22
Running: A Short Story........................22
Our Journey to the East........................23
Birdie Peters Fights for her Fishing Camp .....24
Training Native Courtworkers..................26
Movie Review................................27
Updates.....................................28
Advertising..................................29
Chiefs Council................................30
I Think: "After the Dust Has Settled"............31
Thoughts on Nationhood.......................32
International Forum...........................33
Editorial.....................................34 - Contributor
- Darrell Ned
- Pauline Douglas
- Chief Archie Patrick
- John Elliot
- Marilyn Napoleon
- Lynn Jorgensen
- Angel Adolph
- B.R.A.T.S.
- Wilfred Pelletier
- Ernie Benedict
- Lucille Joseph
- Larry Commodore
- George Manuel
- Lillian Basil
- Reg Percival
- Sharon Venne
- Julie Newman
- Derek Wilson
- Linda Jordan
- Steve Basil
- Lorna Bob
- Norma Pierre
- Brenda Leon
- Violet Birdstone
- Carmen Maracle
- Winona Stevenson
- Courtworkers Association
- Mary Schendlinger
- Type
- periodical
- Transcription (Hover to view)
-
INDIAN W O R L D
"THE CHOICE IS OURS"
ONE DOLLAR
UBCIC NEWS
JANUARY 1981
Inside: NATION HOOD: We Always Had It.
What Is It?
Alert Bay's B.R.A.T.s:
They're Not So Bad!
NEW YEAR
POWWOW
By Marilyn Napoleon
The Stlatliemel people (Lillooet)
hosted their third annual New
Year's cultural and spiritual gathering from Dec. 31st, 1980 to Jan. 4,
1981 at the T-Bird Hall on the Lillooet Indian Reserve.
The gathering was a major success
and will remain in our memories for
many years to come.
The purpose of the gathering was
to start the next year off right with
good feelings and thoughts and
hopes for the future of our people
— all the Indian nations.
We, the Stlatliemel people, enjoy
the visits of all the other nations that
come to join us and share in our
celebrations.
Despite the floods and road
closures we had many guests here
who stayed for the entire four-day
gathering.
A number of people talked about
the ill effects of alcohol on our
people and urged our people to
begin to live a sober life once again,
as was the way of our people before
the coming of the whiteman.
The gathering was a strong
spiritual gathering
It included sweats and ceremonies. There were eight spiritual leaders
and pipe carriers present as well as
many excellent speakers who shared
their knowledge with the people.
On the first day of the gathering
little Ulthla (Lloyd Napoleon Jr.)
had a coming-out dance —his first
dance and his first time using his
dance outfit. The whole family was
very proud of their youngest dancer.
Little Ulthla's dance was witnessed
by five grandparents and one great
grandmother, many aunts and
uncles, cousins and other relatives.
Ulthla's First Dance
The six sacred directions
On the second day Napoleon
Kruger put up the prints and explained them:
Yellow represents the direction of
the east from where the sun comes,
spring and the great golden eagle
vision,
Green represents the south,
summer and the little green mouse
that reminds us to be humble.
Black represents the west, fall and
black bear.
White represents the north, winter
and the White buffalo elk or
cariboo for strength and unity.
Blue represents the father sky,
star nations and sacred water.
Red represents the sacred mother
the earth, fire, and blood.
On the third day everyone celebrated "The George Abbot's"
birthday with him and shared his
beautiful birthday cake. Each day
began with breakfast at about 11
o'clock followed by free time to visit
and prepare for the evening powwow. The spiritual leaders held
sweat lodge ceremonies in the afternoon. The cooks were busy all day
cooking for the evening meal to feed
anywhere from three to five
hundred people. After dinner and
during the pow-wow many people
got up to share their thoughts and
information with us. We learned a
lot from their good words. For example, some people talked about
the Constitution Express, the trip
across the country and what
happened in Ottawa.
(continued page 35).
INDIAN
WORLD
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.
VOLUME 3 NUMBER 9
Table of Contents
1981 and the stakes are getting higher!!
P h o t o :
Contributors
Editor: Darrell Ned
Assistant Editor: Pauline Douglas
Written Contributions: Chief Archie Patrick, John
Elliot, Marilyn Napoleon, Lynn Jorgensen, Angel
Adolph, B.R.A.T.S., Wilfred Pelletier, Ernie
Benedict, Lucille Joseph, Larry Commodore, George
Manuel, Lillian Basil, Reg Percival, Sharon Venne,
Julie Newman, Derek Wilson, Linda Jordan, Steve
Basil, Lorna Bob, Norma Pierre, Brenda Leon,
Violet Birdstone, Carmen Maracle, Winona
Stevenson, Courtworkers Association.
Photographs: UBCIC staff unless credited.
Typesetting: Mary Schendlinger at Pulp Press.
Illustrations: Carmen Maracle, Derek Wilson
New Year's Pow-Wow
Indian Nations Seek World Support
Constitution Express Reawakens
Our Indian Nations
Patriation Illegal Without Indian Consent
says Tribunal
Indian Rights: Letter to Trudeau
Amendments to Constitution
Our World
News News News
Floods Destroy Spawning Grounds
True Caretakers of the Land
Exercise Ownership
Federal Fisheries: "Saving our Taxpayers
M o n e y ? " . . . . . . .
Wildlife Act No Meaning for Indians
The BRATS
At What Cost?
DIA vs. S Bar K: DIA Scuttles another
Indian Company
We Don't Have to take these Racist Jokes
Running: A Short Story
Our Journey to the East
Birdie Peters Fights for her Fishing Camp
Training Native Courtworkers
Movie Review
Updates
Advertising
Chiefs Council
I Think: "After the Dust Has Settled"
Thoughts on Nationhood
International Forum
Editorial
2
4
6
8
8
9
10
12
13
B r o d y
14
16
17
18
20
21
22
22
23
24
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
OUR COVER: Jerry Hunter's camp in northeastern B.C. This was taken during the people's Land Use and Occupancy study that mapped the traditional hunting, trapping and gathering grounds of the Beaver, Cree and
Slavey Nations. The study was done to protect such national territories from ravages by the oil, gas and coal industries.
INDIAN W O R L D 3
INDIAN NATIONS
SEEK WORLD
SUPPORT
By Sharon Venne
Coordinator of Indian Government Portfolio
We are a sovereign people. We have international
rights under international law to determine our destination as a sovereign people. This is the message which
our delegation of people from British Columbia took
to the United Nations in New York at the beginning of
December, 1980.
In the short space of time from September until
December, 1981 the people of British Columbia have
achieved international support for our fight against
the Canadian Government which wants to extinguish
our rights and bring us into Confederation without
our consent.
There is a history to this story. Let
me fill you in.
As you may be aware, Canada is
trying to bring its constitution to
Canada from Great Britain. This action by Canada will sever our Indian
link with the British Crown and
Government. We, as Indian people,
do not want this link broken without
our consent. We have approached
Canada with a plan for negotiating
our way into Confederation. At this
point in time, we are not Canadian
citizens. We are citizens of our own
Indian nations. We are Carrier. We
are Shuswap. We are Kwakiutl. We
are Kutenai. We are Cree. We are
Dene. We are definitely not Canadian. We have never given ourselves
to the concept of being Canadian.
The Canadian Government would
like to brainwash us into thinking
that we are Canadian, to deny us our
rights as the original owners and
inhabitants of this land now called
Canada.
Our international action in New
York, Great Britain and in RotterINDIAN W O R L D 4
dam at the Russell Tribunal was
designed to let the world know of our
deadlock with the Canadian Government.
Indian Rights in International Law
In going to New York in
December, 1980, we appealed to the
United Nations to prevent the imminent breaches of international law by
the Canadian Government in its bid
to patriate its constitution. If Canada
wants to patriate its constitution it
can do so—but leave Indian rights
with the British Crown. The British
Crown has promised to protect our
rights in the International law arena
since earliest contacts between the Indian and non-Indian. If the Indians
want to get in on the deal of patriation then there must be an international committee set up between
Great Britain, the Indian Nations,
and Canada to negotiate the way into
Canada. It is not the automatic procedure which Canada is trying to
force on the Indian.
One appeal to the United Nations,
an international body made up of
various countries from around the
world, was done as an Independent
nation with rights in International
law.
In the Bill of Particulars which was
presented to the Secretary-General of
the United Nations (by the way, the
Secretary-General is the head of the
United Nations. He is like a referee at
a hockey game, making sure the sides
play by the rules set down), we stated
our position under international law.
At the United Nations our actions
were planned to gain the maximum
benefit of our visit. We covered 14
countries which sit on the Special
Committee on Political Affairs and
Trusteeship and Decolonization. This
special committee of the United Nations exists to look at the decolonization of countries around the world.
Since we are closely connected with
Britain and the process of breaking
the ties with Great Britain would be
an act of decolonization, we can have
our case heard before the United Nations. Such a hearing would help ensure that we are not railroaded by the
Canadian Government.
The countries which are part of the
decolonization committee are: Tanzania, India, Denmark, Australia,
Ireland, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Iran,
Yugoslavia,
Norway, Trinidad/
Tobago, Finland, United Kingdom
and Canada.
At each country, a statement of the
rights of Indian nations under international law was made. It was then
drawn to the attention of the mission
why the Indian nations were seeking
support in the international arena.
Indian Nation survives
century-long attack
When Canada became a country
in 1867, Great Britain gave a trust to
the Canadian government to deal
with the Indians of the land.
Canada has failed in this trust obligation to the Indian Nations. Over
the years Canada has attempted to
take as much Indian land as possible
without just compensation. It has
taken the Indian children and stripped them of their culture and attempted to make 'white' Indians out
of them. They (Governments of the
non-Indian) tried to destroy the Indian governments of the people by
undermining their authority with
the Department of Indian Affairs.
Such activity is still continuing after
a hundred years. This to me means
that the Indian people have such a
strong concept of nationhood that
the non-Indian government has not
been able to wipe out the value. In
this light, we still assert our nationhood. We still have ownership of
over 40% of the land base of
Canada. This includes British Col-
umbia which is unsurrendered Indian land.
Destroying British
protection
Canada wants to sever this link,
which means we will have no
remedy when the non-Indian tries to
take the rest of our land.
We have repeatedly protested the Diplomatic mission to
laws which Canada and British Coldecolonization committee
umbia made to take our lands. Our
Our approach to the various
Indian Nations throughout the 19th
countries
was a diplomatic apand 20th Centuries have petitioned
proach,
with
our delegates presenboth Britain and Canada to stop
ting
our
position
to the various misthese illegal acts. When challenged
sions over the three days in New
by the Indian Nations the Canadian
York.
Federal Government said our
remedy lay with Great Britain. Now Tri-partite agreement on con-
An artist's conception of a
Haisla, Nation passport, something Indian citizens will need as our
nations gain recognition.
stitution
We proposed that there be a trilateral negotiation of the rights of Indian nations within the area known as
Canada. It must be under international supervision because we cannot
trust the Canadian and British Government to protect our rights in light
of the last two hundred years of interaction with these colonizing nations.
We need the international arena to
expose the Canadian Government's
deliberate and systematic destruction
of our racial, cultural and political
rights as Indian Nations.
At this time the present non-Indian
leader of this land, Trudeau, is trying
to get international recognition as a
great leader of the free world. Our
land, our resources and our Territory. He does not mention these
facts in his travels. Instead he talks
about Canadians getting to develop a
keener interest in international issues.
We as Indian Nations are taking
the non-Indian to task. We are getting to know the International scene.
We are asserting our rights in international law. We are Indian Nations.
We own this land known as Canada.
Mr. Trudeau may not have wanted us
to voice our views. But Mr. Trudeau,
our great - great - great - great - great great-great-great-great-grandparents
lived in harmony with this land
before the arrival of the non-Indian
people. We have a sacred birthright
by the Creator which will not be
destroyed by the non-thinking nonIndian.
We are a Nation. Strong and.
proud.
INDIAN W O R L D 5
CONSTITUTION EXPRESS REAWAKENED OUR NATIONS
By George Manuel, President, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
The Constitutional Express smashed the
most shameful disease that the Indians ever
had in British Columbia since the chicken pox
plague of the late 1800's and that disease is
called "habit." Habit has compelled us to
accept all policies and laws of the federal and
provincial governments regardless of what
misfortune, pain, sorrow and injustice they
imposed upon our people. It has slowly, but
quietly devoured our creative skill to live by our
own code of discipline and our own cherished
values.
It must be remembered that we have not lived as free
women and men in the past hundred years. We have only
survived within a prison of deprivation, poverty and
genocide. For too long now we have accepted freedom as
a gift and that always produces berries with poison in it.
In our struggle to have our own Indian
Government as a means to recover part of our
aboriginal rights, we have only two roads that
we can travel.
The rules on one road are to adjust, to cooperate, to be
silent, to submit, to obey, to betray, to compromise and
the rewards are deprivation, poverty and genocide for the
masses of our people and riches for a small
number of native Indians. The rules of the other road are
to fight, by any means and at any cost, to recover our
pride, our dignity, and our aboriginal rights, to re-create
and strengthen our Indian cultural, social, economic and
political institutions.
The Road of the Constitution Express
It is only when that victory is won that we will be able
to live as free people in our homeland, ready and willing
to be partners in making our country a strong Canada for
all peoples. There exists no cultural, social, economic or
political victories in the history of mankind, however,
that does not cost a price in hunger, sweat, blood, agony
and money. The children, their parents, our Elders, our
Indian youth, our leaders, our Chiefs, our staff, our nonIndian supporters and the press, paid the price by
enduring many types of hardships during their travels to
Ottawa, Ontario and the United Nations in New York
City, New York.
The Constitutional Express was faced with the impossible task of lobbying the Governor General to persuade
INDIAN W O R L D 6
the Imperial Crown of England not to patriate to the
Canadian Government those agreements and treaties,
made between the Indian Nations of Canada and the
Parliament of England, that form those sections of the
Canadian Constitution (BNA Act), that relate to Indian
rights as those of a distinct Nation of people.
Indian Nation refused to see Constitution
Committee
The House of Commons and Senate Constitutional
Committee invited the Constitutional Express to come
before their committee to submit evidence on the
resolution of the federal government to patriate the
Canadian Constitution. But our people refused their
invitation because to appear before the committee would
have jeopardized our position on the legal evidence in our
possession that shows we are clearly recognized by the
British Crown as a Nation of people, as proclaimed by
5 King George the III in 1763. There is no record to show
'that the Proclamation and treaties have been repealed.
Evidence shows that we are still a Nation of people that
has a legal right under International law to 40% of the
land base in Canada, that now is illegally controlled
either by the federal or provincial governments of
Canada.
In terms of success, the Constitutional Express
was responsible for:
• Extensions of the Constitution hearing date from
December 7,1980 to February 8,1981.
• Provision to have the constitution committee hear
other Indian groups of Canada.
• Sensitize and generate support from non-Indians of
Ottawa and Canada on Indian rights.
• Politicized our people on the meaning of the ideology
of Indian government and Nationhood.
• Finally, the Constitutional Express sensitized third
world countries into realizing that they do have third
world brothers in Canada, who suffer the same type of
exploitation from the same developed countries, using
the same type of economic and political techniques to
deprive our people of our land and resources. The
message was subtle but clear in this respect, when the
Prime Minister of Canada stepped off his 707 plane at
Lagos, Nigeria airport and was greeted not by the
President but by tribal dancers to remind him that
Nigerian people are aware of how Canada treats its
Indigenous brothers in Canada.
This is a message that the Federal Government wants
to hear. The response was to cast doubts on our very
existence in the new Amendments to the Constitution.
But it can't erase the message of the Constitution Express and though they have tried everything, nobody
has been able to erase our Indian Nations off the map
of Canada.
INDIAN W O R L D 7
PATRIATION ILLEGAL
WITHOUT INDIAN
CONSENT Says Tribunal
In the last week of November,
1980, the Fourth Russell Tribunal
met in Rotterdam, Netherlands to
hear from Indians of the Americas
—North, Central and South..
Indians from British Columbia,
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and
Ontario went to the Tribunal to
make various presentations on behalf
of their organizations and people.
ment and our rights are constantly
taken away.
A judgment against Canada in
the international arena makes
INDIAN
RIGHTS
sure that the Canadian government has to be answerable to LETTER TO TRUDEAU
By Angel Adolph
the international world about its
treatment of Indian people.
Age 8,
Another major presentator from
Canada
was the people from Grand
The Union of British Columbia
Council
Treaty
No. 9. These nations
Indian Chiefs made a presentaof
Cree
and
Ojibway
(Nishnawbetion on the Constitution in relaAski
Nations)
come
from
the northtion to the international law
ern
part
of
present-day
Ontario.
rights of Indians in British ColThey stated at the Tribunal that
umbia.
Treaty Number Nine is invalid, beThis presentation
was well
cause the most important ingredient
received by the jury of twelve people.
of the transaction, namely consent,
The jury came from different counwas missing. The Indian people
tries like Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia,
could not consent, because the
United States, Uruguay, Austria,
actual terms of the treaty were not
France, etc. The jury of twelve lisfully explained to them.
tened to the presentations by the
The Russell Tribunal found that
groups and then made its decision
the actions of the Canadian Governknown at the end of the week in a
ment and the Ontario Government
written judgment on the cases.
violate the provision of international law which prohibits the illegal
The Russell Tribunal found taking of land from the Nishnawbethat Canada had been breaching
Aski Nation.
its international obligations to The other presentatoj^from Canits indigenous people.
ada was the Conseil Attikamek
Montagnais from Quebec. This case
It specifically stated that "treaties
involved a unilateral extinguishment
and
agreements
made
with
of land rights of the people by legisindigenous nations or groups shall
lation and the violation of landnot be subject to unilateral abrogarights of nations by the construction
tion." This is what Canada is atof the hydro-electric project, James
tempting to do by patriating the
Bay.
constitution back from Britain withFor this action the Federal and
out the active involvement of the
Quebec governments were found
Indian people of Canada.
guilty of violating the rights of the
The significance of having the
Indians from the area.
Russell Tribunal condemn Canada
The end result of the Russell Trifor her actions centres around Canbunal and its finds will depend on
ada's image of itself overseas. The
the work to be done by the Union of
Trudeau government always wants
British Columbia Chiefs and its
to project a very humane and liberal
members in the international arena.
attitude to peoples of other counThe Russell Tribunal allowed us to
tries, while the Indian people of the
have an international voice. The rest
country are ignored by the Governis up to us.
INDIAN W O R L D 8
Fountain Band
How would you feel if M r .
Trudeau was an Indian and you felt
left out. Think about it. That's the
same way we feel about it. Lots of
our people are out there dying while
your people are out there living a
free life, enjoying theirself while we
are fighting for our rights, and they
are Out there laughing their heads
off and we got a lot to worry about.
Just because you're white you think
you're smart, while all the Indians
need doctors' treatment. My uncle
has cancer. It's eating all his bones.
He will be in a wheel chair soon.
We are trying to find homes for
Indians. Lots of them are in foster
homes.
More and more are dying every
day just because you sold out the
west. You think you can sell out
Indian land. We own the Indian
land, while white people are moving
in a thinking they are smart and
tough. We know their plan, it is to
try to get us off Indian land. How
would you like it if we tried to sell
out your land? Think about it.
We need care too, just because
your people are running free while
we have all the trouble. And when
we already own Indian land, when
we already own it, while we are
trying to learn how to Indian dance
while your people are laughing. We
don't laugh at their dances. And
your people are flashing their money
around around thinking they are
smart.
SO I ASK Y O U , P L E A S E BE FAIR!
Constitutional Amendments:
Government Says We May Exist
The Constitutional Amendments
presented by Justice Minister Jean
Chretien has again showed the
Federal Government's disregard for
the aspirations of Indian people.
The
amendments
introduced
January 12th read as follows:
(a) Any aboriginal, treaty or other
rights or freedoms that may pertain to the aboriginal peoples of
Canada, including any right or
freedom that may have been recognized by the Royal Proclamation of October 7th, 1863, or
(b) Any other rights or freedoms
that may exist in Canada."
This varies little in meaning or intent to the original section 24 which
stated:
"The guarantee in this Charter of
certain rights and freedoms shall
not be construed as denying the existence of any other rights or freedoms that exist in Canada, including any rights or freedoms that
exist that pertain to the Native people of Canada."
Indian Nations argued that the
original section did nothing to protect
or guarantee Indian rights. In representation to the Parliamentary Standing Committee, many Indian Nations
asked that their treaty and aboriginal
rights be included in the constitution.
Other groups, including those Nations represented by the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs, urged that the
government of Canada and Great
Britain enter into negotiations under
the supervision of the United Nations
to deal with all outstanding Indian
concerns before patriation.
A UBCIC spokesperson stated that
"had the federal government seriously
listened to our concerns, they could
have guaranteed that aboriginal and
treaty rights would be fully protected
against provincial and federal encroachment. The government does
not prevent this encroachment. It
says we may not even have any of
these rights. We argued that the
original section 24 of the Charter did
not guarantee any of our rights and
that the government has still left it
uncertain as to whether they
recognize our rights. The new amendment acknowledges that Indian people may have rights which if proved,
the federal government would not
deny."
1981 INDIAN CALENDARS
Twelve prints on the months of the Haisla, Salish and
Shuswap Nations by Barry Wilson.
Size: 20" x 12" and in colour.
$10.00 each. A l l proceeds go to the Indian Constitution
Express.
Please make cheque or money order payable to Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs and send to Indian Government Portfolio, 440 West Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1L1.
Inuit Critical
of
Constitutional
Amendments
Eric Togoona, Chairman of the Inuit Committee on National Issues, expressed reservations about the constitutional amendments presented by
Jean Chretien.
"Mr. Chretien has broadened
somewhat the section dealing with
these aboriginal rights and freedoms
not affected by the Charter of Rights.
But there are still some areas where
we hope the parliamentary committee
will make additional adjustments."
Mr. Tagoona added that while Mr.
Chretien is starting to move in the
right direction, as far as Inuit concerns go, "he has only taken small
steps towards meeting the needs of
the aboriginal peoples."
In its brief to the parliamentary
Committee on the constitution, ICNI
addressed other issues, including
possible Inuit consent to amendments
which make specific references to
them, rather than leave it to chance
after patriation.
Mark Gordon, ICNI coordinator,
stated "The amending process and the
commitments to negotiation are really the key to the protection of
aboriginal rights. M r . Chretien
doesn't appear to appreciate that
recognizing that aboriginal rights and
freedoms is not too meaningful unless
the aboriginal peoples have a central
role in the amending process as it
directly affects them.
ICNI officials stated the government's new amendments will need
more study "before we can say for
certain where we now stand."
INDIAN W O R L D 9
OUR WORLD
Mrs. Irene Sheard of Port Hardy won the beautiful
chest that was carved by Bruce Boles. She works in the
Band office. "But when I heard I had won," she said, "I
could hardly work that afternoon, I was so excited!" She
is putting the chest in the museum in town so that
everyone will be able to admire the artistry of the West
Coast carver, and know that their culture is alive and very
strong in the works of the artists and carvers of today.
Mrs. Alice Smith of Kwik¬
sutaineuk Band drew the
winning ticket of the contest.
The proceeds went towards
the Indian Constitution Express.
THE JOB INTERVIEW
What will you do when you finish the
course?
I am thinking of putting a shop in the
Xitolacw development plan in Mt.
Currie.
By Lorna Bob
It was Monday morning and I was
on my way to a job interview. I had
all my recommendation letters together, my high school diploma, my
typing and shorthand certificates and
my transcripts from college. I even
had a newspaper clipping telling of
the scholarship I had won for being a
top grade student.
I thought to myself, "I'll impress
the pants off of those people. How
could they not hire such a bright person as me?" I had everything going
for me.
But the one thing I had forgotten to
do was study my family tree and history before I left. Because when I
walked into the room they didn't
seem the least bit interested in my credentials. They were more or less interested in my family and who was my
relatives.
As it turned out, somewhere in my
past my family was linked to some of
the people on the board's family. This
made everything really cool as far as
they were concerned. I was accepted
and they didn't even take time to
really look at all the papers that I had
framed and dusted off especially for
that occasion. But, at least I got the
job.
INDIAN W O R L D 10
A Constitution Express
Potlatch will be held at the
old residential school at the
Kamloops Indian Band from
March 27th to 29th.
Barb Paul
Photo: Nicola Valley
A shampoo and set for Elder Maggie
Shakelly, 80 years old, of the Nooitch
Band, is part of the job for Edna
Blankenship, Homemaker, and her
supervisor Mary Lou Lausten!
A CAREER INTERVIEW
Norma Pierre interviewed Barbara Paul of
Mount Currie.
Barb, what sparked your interest in
hairdressing?
It was one of my English upgrading
assignments on how to set a hairdressing salon started.
Is there a hairdresser in Mt. Currie?
One just moved back in September.
Before that our ladies had to go to
Squamish, Lillooet, or come to Vancouver.
How do you get your licence?
After a year of apprenticeship training, you go back to school for a
month, then write an exam and if you
pass that you get a licence, and renew
it every year.
NOTE: Barb withdrew from the
course because her education in
English and Science weren't upgraded
enough. She is upgrading these in Mt.
Currie now. The other Indian hairdresser, Loretta Pascal, is planning to
open a salon so Barb can do her apprenticeship there.
FIFTH ANNUAL NATIONAL FINALS
Is the spectacular event of Indian Rodeo Top Ten
Cowboys from all over North America competed
against each other for the honour of being No. 1 in Indian Rodeo.
The scoring system used was the total points of all your
rides. So as long as you rode all your stock, roped all
your calves and wrestled all your steers you had a
chance to win the world: as the saying goes, "To the
Luck of the draw."
Jim Jacobs of Porcupine South Dakota won the
Barebacks by riding all five bareback gorses.
Calf roping was won by Melvin Joseph of Lone Pine
California-he won by 2.1 seconds beating out Jim
Gladstone. So you can tell how close that was.
Steer wrestling Champ is Del Fritzler of Crow Agency—his total time was 47.3.
Team roping was won by Wayne and Wallace Den¬
nison of Tohathie New Mexico. They had the fast time
of 72.2 on five head.
Ladies Barrel Racing was won by Lynn McGuire of
Pawkuska, Oklahoma who won by 4/100ths of a second over eleven-year-old Charlene Jackson of Tsaile,
Arizona.
Howard Hunter of Kyle, South Dakota won the Saddle Bronc Riding averaging 72.2 points per ride.
Dale Bird of Browning, Montana won by a mere
margin of 69 points on 4 bulls while Burt Williams
rode 3 bulls successfully. He won the hearts of
thousands of Indians from his spectacular rides on the
fourth go-round. Burt drew a fantastic bull by the
name of #105. According to 5 time world champion
Donnie Gay, this bull is an eliminator.
BUFFY
ST.
MARIE
March 1st,
1981
at 8:30 pm
Orpheum
Theatre
Tickets available at Vancouver Ticket Centre outlets.
$10.00 $11.00 $12.00
Proceeds go to the Indian
Constitution Express.
The Constitution Express was a very important event in
the lives of most of those who rode it. We have had suggestions that we put out a Special Edition on The Constitution Express, written by the people who were there.
What did it mean? What did you learn? What is its place
in the history of your Nation? Our Nation? What now?
Many people took good pictures of special moments
and special people. These can say more than a thousand
words. Do you have ideas, interviews with people,
stories, analysis, a poem that you would like to include?
Send them to Communications Portfolio, UBCIC, 440
W. Hastings, Vancouver, B . C . Pictures will be copied
and returned to you—please put your name and address
on the back!
INDIAN WRITERS'
WORKSHOP April 1st, 2nd and 3rd, 1981
He lost out on the buckle by 69 points, but you can
sure tell who B.C.'s pride and joy is in Rodeo.
By Lucille Joseph
NOTICE
A general meeting of the B.C. Indian Rodeo and Exhibition Association will be held on 21 February, 1981
at St. Joseph's Mission in Williams Lake.
The agenda will include:
— approval of a new constitution
— election of directors
—planning for this year's rodeo
A l l people who compete or who are working to present a
rodeo this year are urged to attend. For details phone
Joan Gentles, 392-3739.
We have to do our own writing, tell our own history and
our own stories in our own way. We have special responsibilities and we need to support each other.
There is a really nice camp site near the Neskainlith
Band's arbour, which is where the workshop will be held.
The Band has started find-raising for helping out with
meals. There is also limited billeting for those who would
prefer it.
Maria Campbell,
author of "Halfbreed",
"Little Badger and the Firespirit", will be giving the workshop.
For further information, call Diane Anthony of
Neskainlith Band or Communications Portfolio, UBCIC.
INDIAN W O R L D 11
NEWS NEWS NEWS
PACIFIC FISHERY INQUIRY APPOINTED
H A I D A / N U U - C H A H - N U L T H L A N D A N D SEA
CLAIM
Bands of the Haida and Nuu-Chah-NuIth Nations have
filed land claims with the government. Both claims are
based on traditional use and occupation of these areas.
The difference in these claims is that the Bands are also
claiming sea areas adjacent to the land. The Haidas are
trying to get back South Moresby Island, in the Queen
Charlotte Islands. Frank Collison, speaking for the
Massett Band, said that when reserves were allotted, the
Haidas got very little land. He said that the government's
reasoning for this was because the Indian people there
depended for the most part on the sea, and that Government didn't feel they needed much land. However, Frank
said they do need the land and do have plans for it.
"We're not just making an unreal claim, we have
development plans for the land. We want to get involved
in some agricultural activities."
The Nuu-Chah-NuIth Tribal Council, acting for that
nation, has laid claim to much of Vancouver Island and
the sea around it. There are about 15 Bands a part of that
action. George Watts, head of the Nuu-Chah-NuIth
Tribal Council, said that the claim of his people is not a
new one. The Elders of that area drew up a map in the
1800's showing the area claimed. The people want to use
the area claimed to become economically self-sufficient.
He explained that about 50% of the fishermen in that
area have lost their occupations. The land and sea claim
would give the Nuu-Chah-NuIth Nation the power to
protect, as well as use the area.
"We hope to be sitting on some sort of management
committee," he said. "We're concerned about the supertankers and we want a say about them."
SEWAGE OFFICIALS R U N OUT OF
COURT DURING UBCIC A C T I O N AGAINST
THEM
Charges under the Fisheries Act, against the Greater
Vancouver Regional District, Greater Vancouver
Sewerage and Drainage District, were filed by the Union
of B.C. Indian Chiefs last fall. The case was heard in
Richmond Court on January 19th, 1981.
The people being charged did everything they could to
get the case adjourned. So on February 4th the Union will
be again going to court to present their argument.
A l l in all their legal system will slow down the whole
process and our fishing resources will continue to be
polluted.
INDIAN W O R L D 12
The Federal Government has finally appointed a Commission of inquiry into the West Coast Salmon
Resources. UBCIC expressed some worry that the Commission may not have allowed enough time to gather all
of the evidence, and that the Commission Mandate
should be broad enough to include the concerns of the Indian people.
C O U N C I L OF CHIEFS D E L I B E R A T E
The Council of Chiefs, a group formed by the
assembly of the First Nations Conference to discuss the
structures that need to be developed before a National
Provisional Indian Government can be set up, met in
Vancouver, January 8 to 12.
The Think Tank session during those days was not
meant as a decision-making process, but as an opportunity for Indian leadership to exchange ideas and explain
how they think Indian people should move in the future.
The Council worked at defining nationhood, nations,
indigenous, and other basic terms, as well as the roles of
the Council of Chiefs, Assembly of First Nations, Council of Elders and the Executive Council of the NIB.
The Council of Chiefs plans to hold another Think Tank
for further discussion. Then, the Council will make its
recommendations and report to the next First Nations
Conference.
T H E D E N T A L C A R E P L A N OF B.C.
DON'T USE YOUR CARDS YET!
The staff of the Health and Social Development Portfolio have been monitoring the Dental Care Plan of
British Columbia since it was first proposed by the
Ministry of Health of B.C. earlier last year.
Some Band members have already received their blue
dental cards by mail along with basic information on the
coverage of the plan. Although the plan was to be
effective January 1,1981, the basic details have not been
ironed out by the Federal Government and Provincial
Government on the process of dividing and deciding
upon the responsibilities of the plan regarding registered
Indians. The plan will be cost shared by both Federal and
Provincial Governments.
Dentists throughout B . C . should have received
information by now from Medical Services on the billing
procedures and types of coverage registered Indians
should be receiving. We will be giving further information to the Bands when we receive it in our office but at
this time it would be advisable to refrain from using the
blue dental card till we get more information.
Photo: W. Williams
Photo: J . Williams
FLOODS DESTROY
SPAWNING GROUNDS
Photo: J . Williams
Damage Will Be Felt In Four Years
Cowichan Band
by Dennis Alphonse
For the second year in a row we
have had this flooding problem. This
year one of our homes was just about
washed away. Villages flooded were
Quamichan #2 arid Klem Klem Lutz.
Most people preferred to stay in their
homes, using canoes as a means of
getting around.
The fish hatchery seems to be okay,
but the natural fish eggs have been
completely destroyed.
Estimated amount of damage done
to dykes and roads comes to about
$25,000.00.
Chehalis Band
by Wayne Williams
The Chehalis Indian Band for the
past three years have been working on
a Salmon Enhancement Program.
Incubation boxes were not affected
by the flooding, they estimate a 50%
to 80% survival out of their project.
Due to flooding they estimate a loss
of 50% natural fish eggs from
spawning grounds.
Mount Currie
by John Williams
High waters caused the Lillooet
Lake to come over the banks. About
800 acres of land was covered by
flood waters, luckily no livestock
were affected. About 70% of people
in the Mount Currie area have been
affected by flood waters. People were
evacuated from the Number One Reserve.
Department of Indian Affairs have
sent in about five estimators for damage done but have not said for what
reasons.
Bella Coola
by Ivan Tallio
In 1936 we had a flood that destroyed one whole community. We
had to move to the existing site because of high ground level.
We had a bit of a mixed blessing, a
big log jam built up, holding back
thousands of gallons of water, that
were just waiting to pour down on us.
This year the flood waters in Bella
Coola were the highest the Indian
people have ever seen. Indian people
in the Bella Coola area have been
drastically affected. No damage was
done to homes, but several thousand
acres of land have been destroyed. So
how do you replace land? Estimated
damage done would be priceless.
New monies are needed too for
major overhauls arid to build up the
rip rapping that was covered in some
places up to six feet of water.
The fish spawn was wiped right out
—the effects of this won't be felt until
the four year cycle returns to spawn
to see exactly how much of the spawn
did survive.
INDIAN W O R L D 13
True
Caretakers
of
the Land
exercise
traditional
ownership.
By John Elliott of Tsartlip Band
WJOLELP
Our people have been using Goldstream (Selektel) as a place of gathering winter food for many generations. At the mouth of SELEKTEL
there is a little island. The Saanich
name of this island is Tqetnet which
means "the fire went out." Long ago,
there used to be a fire kept alight
there all the time. This was for people
to go ashore and borrow fire from,
on their way upstream. This was long
before our people came into contact
with white people. The fire was very
special to our people those days,
something that was well taken care
of. This is to show how long our people have used SELEKTEL for a place
of
gathering
winter
food.
SELEKTEL has always been a good
Dog salmon river. Dog salmon are
good smokers that dry well and keep
for a long time. Dog salmon and
Coho return to Selektel annually,
usually more Dog salmon than Coho.
In November, Thomas Sampson
received a phone call from Fisheries
notifying him that there were too
many salmon going upstream, and
that if the Indian people didn't get up
to the stream within two days, FisherINDIAN W O R L D 14
ies would hire a seign boat to make a
set and get rid of the excess fish.
Thomas then called a meeting of the
Chiefs and Councils of the five Bands
concerned, W O L E L P , STAUTW,
BOKECEN, W S Y K E M , M A E L E E L ,
to inform them of Fisheries' intents.
The five councils then drafted up a
letter to Fisheries in Victoria, informing them that the people of Saanich
were not prepared to accept the philosophy of the Fisheries Department
regarding the salmon at Goldstream,
SELEKTEL. In the letter, they told
Fisheries that Goldstream had
managed itself quite well until the interference by the non-Indian people.
The next step taken by the five
councils was to hire Martin Cooper
from W J O L E L P to police the mouth
of Goldstream, with his troller. This
was to keep fisheries from making
their set. One morning while Martin
was there, Fisheries did have a seign
boat come in and do some sounding
to see where the salmon were. Martin
and a small group of people on his
boat stayed near the seign boat taking
photographs and obstructing any attempt to make a set. Once it became
apparent that the Indian people
would not allow them to make a set,
the seign boat left the mouth of the
stream.
Told too long when
and how to fish
Another
meeting,
held
on
November 26, was open to all
Saanich people to inform them of
what had been happening at
SELEKTEL. Many people spoke that
night. Some told how they didn't like
getting free hatchery fish delivered to
their doorstep. Some of it already
spoiled. They told how much better it
would be to fish for themselves and
get the pride and enjoyment doing so.
They decided they had been told for
too long when and where they could
fish on their traditional fishing
ground. They decided together to go
the next day and exercise their traditional ownership of the land and the
fishing left to them by their
forefathers.
These pictures are part of a slide show for the school children: Martin Cooper
patrolling the mouth of Goldstream to stop the Fisheries Seign boat; the dry
side streams, low water level and dead fish not yet spawned (p. 14), fishing in
our tradition and an old Indian house post still standing on the island at the entrance of Goldstream.
Tourists prefer Coho so Parks
Dept. dry out Dog Salmon streams
Many changes have taken place at
SELEKTEL since the Parks Department has taken control. The water is
held back, the stream is narrow and
most of the side-streams are dry.
There are picnic areas, trails, parking
areas, public toilets, just to name a
few. This is why suddenly there isn't
enough room in the stream for an
average run of salmon. Another
reason to narrow the stream would be
to make it a better Coho stream, and
cut down on the quantities of Dog
salmon. The Coho make for good
sports fishing in the Saanich Inlet, a
good tourist attraction for this area.
The thinking of the Parks Department is control the water level, control the runs of salmon and make
more money for themselves all
around. A l l this without any consent
from the true caretakers of the land.
Our people went out this year
together and hooked all the salmon
they wanted. We look forward to
next season when we can go again
together and enjoy our rights to the
land and fishing at SELEKTEL.
INDIAN W O R L D 15
FISHERIES
"SAVING THE TAX
By Letting Illegally Confiscated Fish Rot?
By Harassing Our Elders? November 1 1 , 1980.
I would like to report a complaint against Federal
Fisheries in Terrace, B.C. On July 4,1980 at 8:40 p.m. I
was just about to reach home on Queensbury Drive in
Thornhill. We had just come from the hospital for new
bandages for my son Paul's injured hand. Fisheries was
nowhere in sight. Just before we reached home, they
came out from a driveway and pulled us over. I had my
three kids and two babies with me. They witnessed what
the Fisheries were doing.
The officials never explained why they pulled us over,
and when I asked them, they said they were saving the
taxpayers some money. I don't understand why they said
this.
My oldest daughter asked who they were, what their
names were. They just ignored her. They ordered my kids
out of the car. I asked just what was going on. I said the
kids were my passengers and my family, and the car my
private property. I tried to tell the kids to stay put, but
they were scared and so they moved out.
Fisheries searched the car
and pulled out the back
seat. One man asked me to
open the trunk. They must
have been trying to smell
for the scent of fish. The
man went again to the side
of the car, looked in again,
went to the trunk a second
time.
I asked again just what
they were looking for and
this man lifted the car jack
and looked at it. I said the
jack belongs to the car. He put the jack down.
That's when he pushed me with his right, brushed by
me, and almost knocked me down. He said that he was
doing his duty. He kept saying every time I asked what
they were looking for: they were doing their duty.
This is one of the many incidents I have encountered
with Fisheries. I have brought this complaint before the
Human Rights at Prince George at a meeting they held
in the Kermode Friendship Centre in Terrace on July
31, 1980.
Yours truly,
Paul Mason of Terrace.
The Human Rights Commission say they couldn't contact Mr. Mason for further action on this case, but that
they are the ones to send complaints of this kind to.
UBCIC Fishing Portfolio has written to Fisheries demanding that disciplinary action be taken against the officers
in question or to explain why not. No response has been
received yet.
INDIAN W O R L D 16
Up to now, when Federal Fisheries stopped Indian
people on suspicion of food fishing violations, they
would practically always confiscate that person's fish,
right then and there. The fish would be supposedly sold
to a "good cause" for $1.00, or it would be frozen until
the trial, for which it was thawed, refrozen while the
judge made a decision or thawed again for the next trial
date because fishing cases are often put off to a later
date. That fish was rotten by then.
During the last two or three years, we started fighting
back in the courts. Fisheries was losing case after case,
and the "Not Guilty" Indians were demanding back their
fish that was confiscated. They were not too happy at
receiving $1.00 or a garbage bag full of rotten fish.
Rita McCrae of Sardis was the first to test this situation
in court (Indian World, July 1980). The judge decided
that the Federal Fisheries policy of confiscating fish,
before the suspect was found guilty, was illegal. As a
result the UBCIC Legal Task Force asked Fisheries to
compensate those "Not Guilty" people for fish
confiscated illegally, and sold or spoiled. Ralph George
will now be receiving 68 salmon, Donna Villeneuve 68,
Larry Ned, Herbert and Patrick Silver 10. The cases of
P.D. Peters and Frank Link are being considered.
Federal Fisheries will not disclose their new policy in
this regard. However, according to the law, unless the
case is pretty extreme—like selling unmarked fish from a
truck in the middle of Kamloops —it is illegal for
Fisheries to confiscate your fish unless you are found
"Guilty as charged" in court.
Elder Edna Ned of
Sumas continued to have
problems with the department, however. When she
was charged in 1979, her car
was also confiscated. In
November her case was still
awaiting a hearing and she
phoned Fisheries a couple
of times to make sure that
they drained the battery and
radiator, etc. to protect her
car from the winter cold.
When the car was finally returned, the engine block
was cracked; it had only been partially drained. There
was damage to valves; the car does not run well. She
has given all the details to our lawyers, insisting on full
compensation. Federal Fisheries cannot push around
our Elders.
PAYERS MONEY"?
By tying up courts with political issues
Harrassment by the Federal Fisheries and the snail-like
movement of the court system becomes normal for any
Indian person who pleads not guilty and fights food
fishing charges.
Herman Thomas' fishing case, since it began over three
years ago, has become a classic in fishing cases. It's at a
point now where it seems ridiculous for Fisheries to pursue the charges. The Federal Fisheries have put thousands
of dollars into Herman's case and have accomplished only one thing—to make themselves appear both incompetent and spiteful. Herman went to various courts, a total
of six times before he was properly heard. More than
once either the Judge or prosecutor, or both, didn't show
up. Then, after Herman won the case, Fisheries appealed
it. So Herman has to prove to the courts again that he's
innocent. But he's even having trouble getting a chance to
do that.
Herman was to appear the latest time, in Matsqui
Court, January 17th. However, several days before, the
court clerk there called him
and said he was to be in court
on that day. It was the first
time Herman and his lawyer
had been informed of the
change in court dates. He
also found out that there was
a bench warrant ready for his
arrest. The new court date
would be January 20th, he
was told.
When Herman and his
lawyer went to the Matsqui
court on the 20th, the crown
prosecutor wasn't present and the Judge, through the
court clerk, told Herman that he "didn't want to hear Indian food fishing cases any more" and told Herman to go
home. But, the problem still remains, what does that
mean for Herman's case? The Judge didn't refer the case
to another Judge and he didn't throw out the case. He
just doesn't want to hear about it. And, because he didn't
show up at court, it doesn't look like the prosecutor
wants to deal with it either.
Several Judges have said that food fishing is a
political problem and that Federal Fisheries and Indian
people should sit down in good faith and negotiate.
How can negotiations begin in good faith until the
Federal Fisheries have changed their tactics of harrassment and begin to respect Indian people's rights?
WILDLIFE ACT NO
MADE FOR INDIANS
Hunting is something that some Indian people have
been hesitant to do because of the Wildlife Act and the
penalties imposed on Indians. The deer, moose or other
animals which are being hunted are for food for the
family, not necessarily meaning only the immediate
family, but also the extended family. We, as Indians,
have always shared our food in many ways. The point I'll
try to make is who was the Wildlife Act made for? The
answer is, not for Indian people.
We have our own laws which our people have followed
for hundreds of years. We have, and do practice, the
most strict conservation methods today in many parts of
our land. But our laws are not understood or respected by
the white people today. In our forefathers' time we didn't
have certain times to go hunting for moose or deer and
we weren't told how many we could or couldn't harvest.
We knew how much we needed and when to go to harvest
our foods. We also knew where to hunt, which was
within our tribal boundaries as well as within our
national boundaries. There were and today are areas used
for harvesting food which are used by other tribes within
a nation. Indian Nations have shared food gathering
areas both in hunting and fishing.
The Wildlife Act was drawn up by a people who are
part of a capitalist society who see nothing but money
and will stop at nothing if dollar signs are attached. Our
Indian leaders and people were not a part of making the
rules and regulations in the B.C. Wildlife Act. This is
something that our Elders have tried to tell us. It is now
up to us as Nations to return to our Elders and seek the
knowledge they have, which was passed down to them by
their Elders. We are a Nation that is determined to
become a self-governing body. In order to be respected
and listened to by other nations we have to practise our
ways traditionally, by our laws, which we built. The
beginning of that process will come from talking to our
Elders and sharing and practising the meaning of nationhood through our Indian Government. Only then will we
be heard and respected as the original peoples of this
land.
In our struggle for our rights today
INDIAN W O R L D 17
Photo: The BRATS
As a young people's group we are concerned with a
number of things. We realize that for our age group,
there are a number of kids needing a place to be. Our
reasons for belonging to the BRATS vary:
"I've never belonged to a group before."
"Gives us something to do."
"To keep kids off the street."
"My friends were in there,"
"It's a good place to be."
"The kids in the group make it nice."
TO DO ANY OF THESE WE'RE
We as individuals have a wide range of interests: some
of us babysit, play basketball, floor hockey, soccer,
Disco dancing, and watching T V .
Many of us are involved with learning our native
culture, historical legends, language and Indian dancing
at school and through the Kwakwala Arts & Crafts Society.
We are aware that idle time can lead to no good for
Photo: The BRATS
THE B.R.A.T.S.
Floor is cleared for Tina and Drew.
Many of you may wonder what BRATS is all about.
We have a name, Best Recreation Activities for Teens.
We were formed about a year ago.
We are capable young people who are able to carry out
the responsibilities of conducting our own meetings,
deciding what is best for us concerning activities as
teenagers on our reserve and in the community.
Membership consists of boys and girls between the ages
of twelve years to sixteen years. Most of us do go to
school, and two of our members have jobs. Our meeting
place is at the small gym at the high school.
Our Community is important to us because We live there...
We like to travel and go on field trips. Although we've
had a couple of disappointing trips. We enjoy ice-skating
at Port McNeill, swimming in Port Hardy, camping, and
going on picnics.
To do any of these we are sure to do our fund raising.
We do it through raffles, bingos and sponsoring dances
for teens and children. We are also involved in fun-nites,
a social gathering in our community. We cater to the
good things that keep us together.
INDIAN W O R L D 18
BRATS participating in the May Day Parade. We won
first prize (May 1980).
Photo: The BRATS
some of our kids and would like at this time to say that
the club is open for new membership. What you get out
of it is what you put into it. We do not agree that you
should show up only when there is a field trip being planned, but that you should come to all the meetings.
There are many things needed to function better
though. We need a meeting place that we could call our
own, although we know that space is hard to come by.
We need the total support of our community and parents
in all things. Although community plays a very important
role because most of us live there. We are aware that taking part in what is being planned for the community is
good. For example, we recently took part in a basketball
fun-nite up at our school, and in the near future we are
going to be part of the Volleyball Fun-nite. As a youth
club we own a few things like a stereo, records, T-shirts,
glitterball, canteen stuff, and most of all our bank account.
We cater to the good things
that keep us together....
One important event on our calendar is June Sports, a
three day native tournament sponsored by the Nimpkish
Band. We take our turns in running one of the concession
booths.
BRATS First Anniversary Celebration. Our first year
success!
Some of the goals that we will strive for:
to get more members into our club
to get more support from our community
to keep kids from getting into trouble
to visit a place that we've never been to before
being able to hold an open dance for the adults
to be participating members of our community
we will work towards a better Recreation Centre.
We run into problems but
we always manage to solve them.
Our sponsor is Honey Jacobson, Recreation Director
of the Nimpkish.
Our President—Andrea Cranmer
Vice-President —Bonnie Alfred
Treasurer—Roberta Harris
Secretary—Angela Brown.
Presently our membership is: Andrea Cranmer, Roberta Harris, Bernice Isaac, Lawrence Isaac, Billy Isaac,
Bonnie Alfred, Andrew Alfred, Shelly Cook, Colleen
Smith, Debra Beans, Arnold Hanuse, Kenny Robertson,
Norine Cranmer, James Taylor, Angela Brown, Sherry
Alfred, Andrea Alfred, Patricia Alfred, William
Wasden, James Humchitt.
Yours in Friendship,
B.R.A.T.S.
INDIAN W O R L D 19
AT WHAT COST?
INDIAN LIVES AND
LAND JEOPARDIZED
Chevron Canada has succeeded in convincing the
INDIANS AND NON-INDIANS
Cowichan Valley Regional
OF HAT CREEK AREA
District to put an oil and gas
UNITE TO FIGHT PROJECT.
NISHGAS DEMAND
tank farm adjacent toninety-tw
PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO
This site is the future home
AMAX MINING
of Indian people and in no
PRACTICES
way do they want this inOn January 15th, 1981, I
dustry next door to them. It
attended a meeting in Vanwould involve bringing the
couver, B . C . between the
oil and gas in by barge which
Anglican Church of Canada,
could easily result in an oil
the Nishga Tribal Council
and gas spill. This is a direct
and the multi-national corthreat
to
the
marine
poration of Amax.
resources, and interferes with
Amax, as all other multinathe lives of Indian people. It
tionals, stands very firm in
is also a fact that the
their beliefs that the method
C . V . R . D . has dealt very unOn January 22nd, a group of about 120 people
by which they dispose of all gathered at the %12 Highway and Upper Hat Creek
fairly with the Paquachin Intheir effluent, whether it be Junction to support a position presented to the N D P
dian people.
in mining, molybdenum, Task Force which was touring the Thompson area. Their
uranium or coal, is the very position basically was opposition to the project because
Ever since the UBCIC
best and safest for all parties of the damage the pollution would cause to the surroundFishing Portfolio has been
involved.
involved in opposing the proing areas which would range in the hundreds of miles.
posed industry, officials have
The issue at the meeting The position was made jointly by the Indians and nonstated it will not harm
was a public inquiry as to Indians of Lillooet. Members from Lillooet Band,
anything; they say, in fact, it
whether or not the methods Cayoose Creek Band, Oregon Jack Band, Fountain,
is an asset to the community.
of dumping the effluent from Pavillion, Mt. Currie and Bonaparte were there. Other
These
people
include
the
production
of
groups came from Kamloops, Lytton, Cache Creek,
Chevron Canada, C.V.R.D.
molybdenum mining into Ashcroft and Lillooet. The NDP made some statements
and Fisheries representatives.
Alice Arm fishing grounds is
favourable to the opposition
. We gave the NDP
The
decision
whether
environmentally safe. Amax
members a tour of the Hat Creek Valley and were invited
Chevron
Canada
be
allowed
claims that we, the Nishga
to a public caucus in Ashcroft to show our slide show on
or not is in the hands of Bill
Indians, have nothing to
the effects of a similar coal mine operation in Montana.
Vander Zalm, Minister of
fear, that the salmon and
B.C. Hydro is planning to begin testing the Thompson
Municipalities.
other foods which our people
River bottom for their pumping station. There will be
The people of the Padepend on shall not be conmore meetings.
quachin
and Cowichan
taminated or, if so, it shall be
SUPERTANKER T R I A L
planning a
very minimal. They have on the millions of dollars R U N (AFTER ENVIRON- Bands are
demonstration at the site on
testified that they are willing Amax has spent in creating M E N T A L TESTS A R E
January 30, 1981.
to eat our salmon from the an environment that would C A N C E L L E D )
Nass River for as long as the be pleasant and comfortable
Since the Fishing Portfolio
mine is in operation. Let us to the employees of their cor- first heard of the U.S. Coast Puget Sound and Juan de
not forget to remind them of poration. Let us remind them Guard's plan for a super- Fuca Strait have sustained
this statement. High levels of again that all the dollars in tanker trial run on Puget our peoples for thousands of
molybdenum's
uranium- the world cannot give back to Sound in territorial waters of years.
based by-products in the us what they are taking from the U.S., we have been in
A petition has been started
water supply is associated us. They come to us and contact with the Tribes of and addressed to Romeo
with increased incidences of speak of their profits. They Washington State who have LeBlanc, Minister of Fishercancer, blood diseases, high say if they can't make a pro- voiced their concerns which ies and Oceans, on our feelblood pressure, digestive fit, the mine would no longer we support fully.
ings on a matter which would
system diseases, and birth be operational.
We realize the potential have a serious effect on our
defects. "Let us believe them
We the Nishga people shall dangers to fish stocks. The dwindling salmon resource
and have nothing to fear"?
never be bought off.
river estuaries, shellfish and should a massive oil spill ocBy Reg Percival marine environment of the cur.
They gave us information
INDIAN W O R L D 20
Photo: A. Patrick
DIA VS.
S. BAR K
DIA SCUTTLES ANOTHER INDIAN COMPANY
By Archie Patrick, Co-Chairman of
the Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council
S Bar K Logging Co., employing 12
men at Stoney Creek Indian Band,
has gone broke as a direct result of
DIA meddling. S Bar K found that it
could not operate profitably when the
logging market collapsed at the end
of last summer. The logging operation manager, Don Liscum, approached the Band Council with a request for a lowering of the royalty
paid to the Band. The Council agreed
to lower the royalty, but the DIA
district manager Myler Savill vetoed
the Band Council resolution.
Mr. Liscum then appealed through
his M . P . , Lorne McCuish, to the
Minister of Indian Affairs to intervene and allow the Band Council
resolution to stand. The Minister
agreed. However, the Minister's deci-
WIAC WORKSHOPS
Feb. 3
Feb. 4
Columbia Lake Forage Production
Stone
Financial
Management
Feb. 6
Victoria Cultural Centre
Feb.10
Kamloops
Financial Management
Feb. 11-12 Hazelton
Follow-up, Management Training & 4H
Club
Feb. 11
Chase
Financial Management
Feb. 16-18 Redstone
Mechanics
Feb. 17
Merritt
Financial Management
Feb.18
Lytton
Financial Management
Feb. 20
Oliver Band
Orchard Development
Hall
Feb. 23-27 Mt. Currie*
Farm Financial
Darcy
Management
Short Course
Feb. 25-27 Stone
Mechanics
Mar. 2-4 Williams Lake Calving
Mar. 4
Burns Lake
Follow-up, Management Training, Land
Clearing, 4H
Mar. 10
Kamloops
Field Crops
Mar. 10
Lillooet
Home Gardens
Mar. 11
Chase
Field Crops
Mar. 11
Seton Lake
Home Gardens
Mar. 12
Creston
Small Fruit Products,
Tree Fruit Products
Dan Gravelle
Clarence Walkem
sion was vetoed by the acting director
of reserves and trusts, a bureaucrat in
Ottawa.
Mr. Liscum then asked M r . Justa
Monk, Chairman of the CarrierSekani Tribal Council, for help. M r .
Monk, despite his best efforts, could
not help.
Mr. Liscum then went to the
media. The story was in most large
newspapers in British Columbia. The
story was reported in the radio stations, but the exposure did not have
any effect on the bureaucratic decision. Except for M r . McCuish and
Mr. Monk, no politician either white
or Indian volunteered any help. The
Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council passed
a motion that the whole business between S Bar K Logging and the DIA
be subjected to an enquiry. M r .
Monk has asked several Provincial
Indian organizations for help in pursuing an enquiry, but to date has had
no response.
Twelve men are out of
work at Stoney Creek. Including the
families of the men, 54 people must
now be supported by Welfare or UnDIA meddles in S Bar employment Insurance. This is one
K: expensive equip- example of the tragedies that befall
ment stands idle and Indians of British Columbia who try
12 men are out of to participate in the mainstream.
work at Stoney Creek.
Gabe Bartleman
George Saddleman
Jimmy Quaw
George Saddleman
Clarence Walkem
George Saddleman
George Saddleman
Cecil Louis
Mike Joseph
Clarence Walkem
Clarence Walkem
Jimmy Quaw
George Saddleman
Mike Joseph
George Saddleman
Mike Joseph
Dan Gravelle
Photo: A . Patrick
INDIAN W O R L D 21
WE DON'T HAVE TO
TAKE RACIST JOKES
During the past few months a number of incidents of
outright racist attitudes by the medical profession
towards our Indian people have been brought to the attention of the public: in a Winnipeg, Manitoba hospital
last December 3, 1980, a surgeon sewed beads into the
sutures on an Indian woman's chest as a joke; in our own
province the hospital administrator of a Prince George
hospital openly distributed racist jokes about Indian
employment. These attitudes of the medical profession
towards Indian people have not just sprung up recently,
they began years ago.
The majority of the public think that they, the taxpayers, are paying for our health care and supporting us.
This is being done subtly by the various government
departments in that we are portrayed as only a social
responsibility. They are totally ignoring our aboriginal
rights.
We are treated as second class citizens, as people who
have no common sense or sensitivity, or as objects by
professional people who make life and death decisions.
We are still categorized in most people's minds in the
stereotype cigar store wooden Indian.
As an Indian nation we cannot let the non-Indians continue treating us this way. We cannot let incidents like
these go by. We must take the responsibility in our hands
and show that we are better than second class citizens,
that we are the first and only true citizens of this country
they call Canada.
We must take a serious look at these injustices put
upon us as individuals and stand up to these professionals
who do not respect us as human beings. We cannot
tolerate these kinds of acThe National Committions any longer, we are at a
tee
for Cultural Education
crucial period in the history
Centres
has removed Indiof our Indian natins. We
an
artifacts
from the head
must take a firm stand for
office
of
DIA.
On Novemthe future of our children so
ber
5,
1980,
they
learned
they may stand proud as Inthat
ceremonial
masks
dian Nations. We must let
have
been
taken
off
the
them know that we refuse
to be a Vanishing Race and walls by employees and
that we are proud of our worn as Halloween masks.
DIA employees have put
heritage.
cigarettes
in the mouths of
In the end no one else is
these
masks.
"For us,"
going to do anything or care
Cultural
Education
Presiabout these incidents. It's
dent
told
the
Department's
up to us. It's up to us if we
want to let these things con- A . D . M . , "this represents
tinue and be pained, or we desecration of sacred obcan do something about it. jects". The way the objects
It may take the law courts, were displayed also showinvestigations,
enquiries, ed insensitivity. They will
but it's up to us to make the only be returned if they
can be properly respected.
changes..
INDIAN W O R L D 22
Running...
Short Story by Lawrence Commodore
Fog covering the main street of
Chilliwack, an early morning fog:
coldness and tears, running down the
fog covered street in the early morning. Behind me, what
I'm running from my drunken father and drunken and
bloody mother; the echo of her screams sounding in
the hotel corridor, down the street, in my mind,
threading through my memory.
I had squeezed through the chain-locked hotel room
door; the chain holding the door against my father's
angered attempts at entering. Standing behind my
father in the corridor, tears flowing and my body
quivering. My mother pleading, through her bloodied
mouth, for me to phone my grandfather; who would
offer a release from the violence, the madman, and the
drunken insanity in her own head.
Turning, then, and running down the corridor, the
stairs, through the door, down the street, running from
that terror and into the early morning fog. Running
fiercely my shoes smacking the pavement, running past
the closed stores, beer parlour, bus station, running on
into the strange atmosphere of fog. Not knowing where
to go, wanting to phone my grandfather, his phone
number in my pocket, given to me by my mother; but
not knowing how to phone, too small to reach the pay
phone, too frightened to know where to go. The streets
eerie and unfamiliar, the occasional car sounding off in
the distance. My footfalls echoing in the empty streets.
Finding myself by the
railway tracks, my breath
coming to me short and
fast, my sides aching;
running across the gravel,
ties and nails, to long grass
and trees; tripping and
falling and laying in
exhaustion and feeling, for
a short while: quieted, safe.
Sitting up, resting my back against a tree, my head
resting on my knees; feeling that if I close my eyes and
hide myself, it would all pass —falling into that belief,
forgetting all that has passed—until strangely finding
sleep.
Dreams coming to me and filling my mind like a fog;
confused, disembodied voices yelling and screaming,
faces tight with anger, the fierce destiny of fists;
bloodied mouths, noses, blackened eyes. The whole
dark reality coming together in my mind, building into
a fierce and raucous thundering, as though my head
were about to explode...
Then waking and hearing the dying sound of a train.
Waking and forgetting, the dream going from my
mind like the train's sound rumbling off into the
distance: the fog cleared, the sun coming down now
with warmth, filling me with an energy. Gazing about
Our Journey to the
East
We went across Canada because
as Indian people, we had been pushed to the limit. Just tike what happened in 1969, except in 1969 we
stayed in our own territories. This
time we forced our way back.
When we were on our journey
back east, we were met in Winnipeg
by a runner, who was representing
the Keeper of the Western Door and
the Western Water Drum. In a
sacred way they offered us tobacco
and accepted us into their territory.
When we were in Ottawa we met
with representatives of the Keeper of
the Fire Council. In a traditional
manner, we asked for permission to
be in their territory and, being in
their territory, we asked for their
help.
The following day we again met
with Ernest and Ira Benedict along
with Tom Porter. They came as the
Mohawk Iroquois Confederacy,
better known as the Keepers of the
Eastern Door. We asked for their
support and they said they were
really happy with the things we did
across Canada while on our way to
Ottawa. This event had been an
answer to one of their prophecies,
that we, the Thunder People, would
pay back a visit that one of their
ancestors had made long before the
coming of the white man.
In the prophecies there are three
battles or journeys that Indian
people were to go through.
In 1973, in South Dakota,
Wounded Knee took place, because
of poor conditions ignored by the
government.
In 1978 the Longest Walk
took
place, from San Francisco to
Washington, to tell the world about
an injustice done to our people in
the justice system. And it was also
to bring attention to all the
disrespect being showed to the
By Derek Wilson, Haisla Nation
and catching sight of a wild
rabbit a distance away; the
rabbit gazing back at me
with large, curious eyes.
Around him, the wild,
strange familiarity of grass,
trees, mountains clearly
defined against the blue
sky. It felt as though I were
in the garden of a new world.
I get up slowly, cautiously, feeling in me a warmth
and friendliness, calling to the rabbit, its ears pricking
up: its body tensing as I near it; then, darting away
into the long grass, deftly making its way, disappearing
and I feeling no disappointment. Forgetting the rabbit,
walking on into the long grass, cutting across through
the trees, until finding the railway tracks again,
walking along them, feeling that if I follow them they
would lead me somewhere.
Walking on and finding a fascination with the
strange, ugly flowers; large snarled clumps of
blackberry bushes, long grass and trees with paths
leading away. And I stepping away from the tracks,
following the paths, until coming on to backyards,
neighborhoods, playgrounds; turning away, feeling like
an exile from all such areas, turning back, finding and
following the tracks again.
There was a young adventurer
from the Iroquois people, who
I decided to find out where it was
that the Sun went down. He went as
far as he could on land. When he
reached the end of the land, he sat
on the shore and watched the sun
setting in the west. He could go no
further to follow the Sun.
At the same time there were
people living there that were very
kind to him. He stayed with them
for many years, and became very
attached to the people that lived in
the West.
At that time sickness had taken
the better of him so he decided to
come east once again. At that time
also he fell in love with a young girl
but she could not follow him east
for it was too far for her to travel.
The young man left a good
impression with the people of the
Western Region. The people told the
young man that there would be a
time when they would be able to
return the young man's visit, in a
great mass of people.
By Ernie Benedict, Mohawk Nation
Walking on and finding streams, sloughs, going
down to the streams, throwing stones and watching the
ripple of the water, watching for fish or frogs, snakes
or rabbits; the sun coming down with warmth and I
feeling no hunger, no fear, no thirst.
Resting on the tracks and watching the traffic off in
-the distance speeding down the 401: cars and trucks in
all colours and styles, with and without racks and
trailers, the singing of their tires, the whining energy of
their engines sounding clear across the wide fields of
alfalfa.. .all going somewhere, all gleaming in the clear
day.
Walking on, forgetting, coming into more trees and
long grass; until, far away, a faint roar, steadily
building, moving towards me. I standing still, gazing
back and seeing and realizing the fierce sound of a
train, coming into definition, looming larger and
larger, and then I running into the long grass, running
down through the gravel, remembering the whole dark
reality, running past a trickle of a stream, into the wild
green grass; and stumbling and falling, my knees
buckling up to my chest, my forehead pressing against
my knees, feeling that if I held myself in such a way I'd
be safe. The power of the train shaking the earth, and
I remembering and crying and too frightened to run,
while all around me, filling me, the thundering of the
train sounding like life
INDIAN W O R L D 23
about to sell the land. It was at this
point that our research uncovered the
fact that along the Fraser all but a few
tiny Yale reserves were privately
owned lands. Along the entire 5 mile
strip there are about 9 Yale reserves, 6
parcels of privately owned land and
the rest belongs to the Canadian
Pacific Railway.
BIRDIE PETERS
Fights For Her
Fishing Camp
For generations the people of the
Sto:lo Nation have fished on their
traditional and hereditary fishing,
grounds along the lower Fraser River.
Traditionally, fishing sites were
handed down through the families
and if a family relinquished its site it
would be taken over by another. This
is how Birdie Peters of the Seabird
Island tribe came into possession of
her site. It is located at Sawmill (5
Mile) Creek, where the creek joins the
Fraser, 5 miles upstream from Yale.
Birdie has her cabin there, her dryracks and her storage shed. She stays
at her cabin for a month or so every
summer and takes what salmon she
and her family need to last them
through the winter. She has fished
along the Fraser for as long as she can
remember.
INDIAN W O R L D 24
Fishing station—"Private
Property?"
During the off-season months
Birdie travels up to her fishing site
and checks on her cabin and belongings, as it usually gets broken into
and vandalized. In February of last
year on a visit to her site she found
the following note on her door:
"This is private property, either get
this cabin off my property or pay
for the use of my land
"
Birdie was shocked. Like the rest of
the people who fish along 5 Mile, she
had always believed that the shores
were Indian fishing grounds and not
owned by non-Indians. "Who would
want to live there?" she said. "It's all
rock and no good for anyone but Indians who fish there."
"Owner" sells land
The next day the legal people at the
UBCIC were notified of the event and
research began. The owner who left
the note was contacted but he held his
ground and demanded that the
"Shack" be removed because he was ,
Despite all our efforts, the land was
sold to a mart who was planning on
building a retirement home on the
same site where Birdie has her cabin.
During the meeting between the
new owner, the Yale Band, Seabird
Chief, Mrs. Peters and the UBCIC,
the new owner was given the facts and
the history related to the Sawmill
Creek site. His response was that
either a court of law would decide
who had the rights to the site or he
could sell the land and get rid of his
problem that way. He was quite mad
that neither the Real Estate Agent
who sold him the land, nor the last
owner, told him of the Indian people's claim to fish there.
In two months time, if the issue has
not been satisfactorily settled, court
action will begin against the present
owner.
THE HISTORY OF THE YALE
FISHERIES
Long before settlers came up the
Fraser River, Indian people have
fished there. About the time when the
railway started coming through and
non-Indians were discovering gold at
Yale, land was being taken up fast by
settlers, especially land along the
banks of the river. The government at
that point realized that if it didn't
reserve lands for Indian people soon,
it could well have a war on its hands.
The Indian Nations were not taking
lightly to the trespass of their lands.
Reserves allotted
In 1875, the federal and provincial
governments established a Joint
Indian Reserve Commission made up
of 3 men to define and establish
Indian reserves in the more densely
populated regions of the province.
The Commission also allotted grazing
lands, timber lands, water rights and
Indian Fisheries.
By 1877 the Commission was reduced, leaving a single man as the
Reserve
Commissioner, Gilbert
Sproat. He established and defined
over 300 Indian reserves, most of
which are still in existence today.
Freeze placed on land
After the meeting it was decided
that the only way to stop him from
selling the land was to file a caveat
(freeze) against the property which
would stop any transfer from taking
place
On Tuesday, January 13, we filed a
caveat in the name of the Yale Band
and Mrs. Peters, claiming: an easement over the land, and the exclusive
right to use and occupy the fishing
station, including the right to place
permanent
and
temporary
encampments on the land and the
exclusive right to fish.
Sto:lo Indians mis-named
In August 1897, Sproat travelled
up the Fraser and allotted reserves
and fisheries for the many tribes of
the Sto:lo Nation. At that time the
head Chief of this area was from the
Yale tribe and Sproat, without the
full understanding of the tribal government, called the Sto:lo Nation
"Yale Indians of the Lower Fraser
District," and each of the other tribes
he labelled "sub-groups." Sproat,
aware of the Indian dependency on
salmon, established three major
groups of fisheries: four small fishing
reserves for the Hope Indians, four
for the "Union-Bar Sub-Group of the
Yale Indians," and the Yale Fishing
grounds which he described as
follows:
Yale Indians: Lower Fraser District
The right of these Indians and
those who have resorted to the Yale
fisheries from time immemorial to
have access to and to encamp upon
the banks of the Fraser River
on both banks of the river for 5
miles up from Yale
Birdie Peters' site is situated at the tip
of this 5 mile strip.
Land cut-off called redefinition
Then in 1916 the Royal Commissioner on Indian Affairs (McKenna
McBride Commission) reduced the 9
small reserves from 107.5 acres to
58.18 acres. This reduction was not
listed as a cut-off, but merely a redefinition.
This is how the banks of the Fraser
River, along the 5 Mile fishing
grounds of the Sto:lo Nation got
alienated, and where Mrs. Peters'
problem stems from.
Squabble over fishing rocks
Photo: Peters
In 1904, A . W . Vowell was the Indian Reserve Commissioner for the
province of B.C. and it was at this
time that individual members of different tribes of the Sto:lo Nation who
fished at 5 mile, began to squabble
over who had "ownership" over fishing rocks. The Chiefs of the area,
being unable to settle the matter
amongst themselves, petitioned to
Ottawa and requested the help of the
Department of Indian Affairs to
settle the matter.
Reserve Commissioner Vowell was
then directed by Ottawa to go up to
Yale and settle the dispute between
the Indians. Vowell, although aware
of the Sproat allotment of the 5 Mile
fishery, completely disregarded it and
instead allotted 9 tiny fishing reserves
to the Yale Band. Basically what he
did then was to reduce the entire 5
Mile fishing ground of the Sto:lo
Nation down to 9 little fishing reserves consisting of 107.5 acres for
the Yale Band
INDIAN W O R L D 25
TRAINING NATIVE
COURTWORKERS
to supervise such training if that is the preference of the
By: The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association
employer.
On January 1, 1981, the Native Courtworker and
Counselling Association of B.C. will enter the second
year of its training project. During the past year, the
Association has developed a comprehensive training
curriculum for both prospective employees of the Association and those persons presently employed by the
N . C . C . A . The training program was initiated in response
to a need which was identified by the Association for
quality training which could occur in conjunction with
practical, on-the-job employment experiences. With the
assistance of funding from the Employment and Immigration Department of the Federal Government, the
Association was able to establish a curriculum development team.
During the past year, the team has developed training
materials on a variety of topics, all of which relate to the
training needs of Native Courtworkers and persons
employed in social service-type jobs. The topics have
been grouped under seven general headings:
Counselling, Legal Training, Education and
Prevention, Teaching Life Skills, Basic Office Practice,
Prison Liaison Work, and Consumer Education.
Each 'module', as the headings are called, contains a
Learner's Manual, an Instructional Manual and a
Trainer's Manual. The Instructional Manual contains the
training content; the Learner's Manuel contains learning
activities which aid the learner in mastering the
instructional material. The third manual is for the use of
the person who is responsible for overseeing the learner's
progress through the training material.
Each person entering the training program will be pretested in all of the subject areas. This will allow for the
design of an individualized training curriculum for each
person. The learner will only have to receive training in
those areas in which the pre-tests indicate training is
necessary. In short, the training program takes advantage
of the skills and experiences that the learner already
possesses, with the idea of helping the learner to meet the
requirements of his or her employment. In addition, the
Association is prepared to work closely with any prospective employer to identify the skills which a particular job
may require. If the employer tells the Association the job
which is available and what the person filling that job
should be able to do, then appropriate training material
can be made available. The Association is also prepared
INDIAN W O R L D 26
The training program of the Association uses the socalled 'distance-education' approach to the delivery of
training. Distance education basically means that the
training is taken to the learner and not the other way
around. The learner is allowed to work independently
through the training material at his or her own pace, with
the assistance, when required, of a trainer. The
advantage of a distance education is that the learner
doesn't have to leave his or her home in order to receive
training. Rather, training can occur at the person's place
of residence. This is practical, not only from an economic
standpoint, but also in terms of the obligations and
responsibilities which often make it extremely difficult
for an adult to leave home in order to take training.
One of the central concerns of the N . C . C . A . training
project is to improve employment opportunities for adult
Native Indian people. As such, the Association has taken
it upon itself to both recruit prospective learners and to
place those persons in positions of full-time employment
once their training has been completed. Some of the
learners will gain employment with the Association.
Others will be placed in other positions in the social
service area, possibly with Native Indian Organizations,
Bands or Government agencies.
A requirement of the Federal Government's funding is
that the training will be made available, at the cost only
of the training materials, to any unemployed adult Native
Indian. In addition, the Government has agreed to pay
the salaries of ten persons for a period of six months
while they take their training. It is expected that the first
ten people will begin training on July 1,1981.
While the training is occurring, the learners will be
expected to assume employment responsibilities with
either the Association or with other employers. This will
allow the learner to gain practical employment experience
along with his or her training.
The training project of the Association is unique in
Canada because of the combination of distance learning,
employment experience, and the emphasis on job
placement.
The curriculum content is
suitable for training anyone who is employed, or who is
seeking employment, in social service-type jobs.
the millions of people who frequent the movie houses as a
true characterization of our people. Although there have
also been numerous films portraying Indians in a much
more favourable light, these films still tend to portray a
very negative image of Indians in today's society.
I feel as many young Indian people in today's changing
world, that the only recourse we have to change the
negative images that portray us in that manner, is
through the very medium which is largely responsible for
this. This medium is the motion picture.
Review by Reg Percival
Produced by: Cinema Associates, Inc.
Written by: Ron Forcell
Directed by: Roy Williams
Narrated by: N . Scott Momaday
Dreamspeaker, a National Film Board production,
deals with a young runaway who cannot cope with being
locked up in an institution so he runs away. He is
befriended by an old Indian and his companion. The
young boy is eventually captured. The old man dies. His
companion, unable to cope without the old Indian,
commits suicide and the young boy hangs himself.
Cold Journey, another National Film Board
production, deals with an Indian boy in a residential
school, with which he can't cope. The Department of
Indian Affairs is experimenting with a boarding home
program in which the young Indian is placed. This he
cannot cope with either, so he runs away and steals a
snowmobile. With the stolen vehicle he visits a friend
who is a trapper. The runaway tries his luck at being a
trapper, at which he is a total failure. He is eventually
brought back to the residential school by the police,
where he is told that he is going to be sent away to reform
school. He doesn't approve of this so he runs away again,
only to freeze to death in the middle of winter along
railway tracks.
Throughout the history of the motion picture in North
America, Indians have been subjected to very cruel and
malicious treatment. We have been characterized as being
savage, drunk, lazy and incompetent. This list is by no
means complete, though it does bring to mind the images
that have been brought to the screen, and interpreted by
One such film is More Than Bows and Arrows. A l though this film is an American production, it projects
the very image that historians throughout the ages have
reserved for their counterparts, one of a Conquering
Hero. I believe that this film is the flip side of the coin, as
far as North American history is concerned. It deals with
very positive images of Indians before and after
European contact. This film shows the contributions we
have made to the development of medicine, drugs, architecture, agriculture, science, urban development, environmental use, transportation, show business and even to
form of government (U.S.) and national destiny.
For example there is an interview with the descendants
of the Iroquois chiefs who helped draft the first state
within a state government in North America. They tell
how Benjamin Franklin consulted with the League of
Five Nations before drafting documents that led to the
United States democratic republic.
Today's menu includes many vegetables and grains
first grown by Indians, such as the white potato. This was
unknown to the Europeans until contact but has
somehow become labelled as the Irish potato.
This film takes approximately 56 minutes to show, is in
colour, and is tailored for audiences from the upper
elementary grades through college and for people of all
ethnic backgrounds
I would highly recommend that this film be used and
shown in workshops or classrooms of all ethnic peoples,
of all ages.
This film may be rented or purchased from:
Cinema Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 9237
Seattle, W A 98109
Phone: (206) 622-7378
A l l Indian Bands in B.C. have free use of this film from:
Resource Centre
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
440 W.Hastings St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1L1
Phone (604) 684-0231
Please do not hesitate to contact us for a complete list
of films and video cassettes we have concerning Indians.
INDIAN W O R L D 27
UP-DATE
PETER J O H N - F I S H I N G CASE
Peter John was charged with illegally fishing in the
Fraser River with two nets.
He was found guilty by Judge Vamplew after lengthy
arguments. However, his sentence was suspended and his
fishing net was ordered returned. The judge did stress, as
have other judges recently, that the issue was not one to
be solved by the courts but that rather it was a complicated political issue that obviously should be dealt with in
the political arena.
SPOTTED L A K E
Negotiations between the DIA, on behalf of Indian
people, and the owners of Spotted Lake for the return of
the sacred medicine lake to the Indian people, have been
delayed until the property value was appraised. The
family of the late Ernie Smith, former owner, refused to
allow any officials or Indian people on to the land.
However, the appraisal was finally completed in the first
week of January and negotiations can now go ahead.
On the second front, Mrs. Smith has hired a lawyer to
put us on notice to speed things up. She can't receive any
benefits from her property because of the lease pendance
we put on the property to protect it from being rezoned
into a commercial tourist resort. That rezoning
application has been submitted again to Minister Vander
Zalm and is due to be heard very shortly.
The Workshop is being held in conjunction with the
Annual Cultural Week sponsored by the Saskatchewan
Indian Federated College. At a similar workshop held in
April, 1980, there was a recommendation that the C I L A
study various provincial legislation. Another recommendation suggested an increase in inter-agency communication, awareness and understanding and the clarification
of jurisdiction. C I L A will be making presentations on
these matters.
C I L A will be arranging for resource people who can
give examples of possible alternatives which Indigenous
peoples can pursue in the area of Indian children's rights.
Ms. Nancy Tuthill is an expert on the Indian Child
Welfare Act, 1978 which has given back to Tribal Councils jurisdiction over Indian children in New Mexico. Ms.
Tuthill will present an analysis as to how it meets the
Canadian situation. The C I L A has also been in contact
with Chief Wayne Christian of the Spallumcheen Band,
B.C.
At the current time C I L A does not have sufficient
finances to sponsor delegates and is encouraging all concerned Indigenous peoples and associations, Indian Governments and Social Service Agencies, private and governmental, to sponsor delegates. Those Indigenous
organizations that are not core-funded should nevertheless attempt to attend and if finances become available to
C I L A they will help cover all or part of delegates'
expenses.
INDIAN C H I L D C A R A V A N
Chief Wayne Christian will be meeting with DIA
Regional Director Walchli to confirm and develop
further the transfer payments so that Bands will have
complete control of child welfare funds. He is negotiating
the same kind of agreement that the Indian Child
Caravan forced from the Provincial Government last
October. The meeting will be held in Vancouver January
22nd.
C H I L D W E L F A R E WORKSHOP P L A N N E D
BY C A N A D I A N INDIAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
The C I L A is holding a three day National Workshop
on Indian Child Welfare Rights in Regina, Saskatchewan
from March 18 to 20,1981 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel.
INDIAN W O R L D 28
There is no registration fee. However, only 70 rooms
have been booked at the Sheraton Centre, therefore the
C I L A encourages those Indigenous peoples who are
attending to contact them so that arrangements can be
made for hotel reservations.
For more information please contact Clem Chartier,
President, Canadian Indian Lawyers Association OR
Sharon F. Carrier, Coordinator, Student Services,
Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, at the following
address:
C-4, Classroom Building,
University of Regina,
REGINA, Saskatchewan,
S4S 0A2
(306) 584-8333
INDIAN WORLD ADVERTISING RATES
AND DATA
Black and White:
$400.00
Full outside back cover
350.00
Full inside covers
300.00
Full page
260.00
2/3 page
200.00
1/2 page
160.00
1/3 page
115.00
1/4 page
75.00
1/8 page
Black plus colour: $75 for each additional colour.
Camera-ready copy preferred —25% surcharge for artwork and typesetting.
Four colour process extra—colour separations must be
supplied: $475.00.
Payment to be made within 30 days of billing.
Deadline: All advertising material must be submitted by
the 15th of each month for insertion in the following
issue.
G E N E R A L M A N A G E R FOR T H E B.C. INDIAN
RODEO A N D EXHIBITION ASSOCIATION
To administer the overall activities of the Association.
To hire and supervise staff.
To set up and maintain the accounting and record
keeping.
To maintain ongoing contact with local rodeo groups,
various government departments and agencies.
To prepare the operating budget of the Association
and to arrange an adequate level of funding.
Salary: To be negotiated.
Closing Date: February 20, 1981.
Send applications and resumes to ICG
225-744 W. Hastings, Vancouver, V6C 1A5 (682-7615)
Public Service
Canada
Fontion publique
Canada
NATIVE RECRUITMENT
These positions are open to both men and women who
are residents of the province of British Columbia.
In 1978 the federal government announced the details of
its policy to increase the representation of people of
Native Indian and Inuit ancestry in Canada's Federal
Public Service.
Since the announcement of the Native Employment
Policy, significant numbers of Native Indian, Metis,
Non-Status Indian and Inuit people have found
challenging and rewarding careers in the Federal Public
Service.
What follows is a list of job categories in the Federal
Public Service and the types of positions in each category.
1. Technical:
— ship's officer, photographer, radio operator, hospi-
tal technician, draftsman.
2. Operational:
— firefighter, printer, heavy equipment operator, correctional officer, woodworker, vehicle maintenance
worker.
3. Administrative Support:
—telex operator, secretary, computer operator, data
processor, bookkeeper.
4. Scientific and Professional:
— social worker, teacher, forestry officer, nurse.
5. Administrative and Foreign Services:
—translator, personnel administrator, financial administrator, information officer.
6. Executive:
—variety of senior executive positions.
These are not the only positions available. There are
many more and a great number of these positions involve
work promoting the interests of Native Indian and Inuit
people.
If you are interested in employment in either the Operational or Administrative Support categories we encourage
you to make your application at your nearest Canada
Employment Centre. Many of these centres have Native
Employment Officers on staff. You can also obtain
advice and assistance regarding your application from a
Native Outreach worker in your area.
The Public Service Commission of Canada plays the key
role in the recruitment and referral of Native Indian,
Metis, Non-Status Indian, and Inuit people to positions
in government through its advertising and maintenance
of an applicant inventory.
At this time the Public Service Commission is attempting
to build up the number of applications from Native
People in its inventories. Referrals to positions in the
Technical, Scientific and Professional, Administrative
and Foreign Services and Executive categories are made
from these inventories.
If you are interested in employment in any of the categories listed above, except for the Operational and Administrative Support categories, we want to hear from you.
In order to get into our inventories we require that you
fill out a Public Service Commission application form
which you can obtain from any Canada Employment
Centre. We ask that you also include a resume with your
application.
Upon receipt of your application and resume we will
assess your qualifications and advise you whether or not
you have been included in our inventories.
Send your application and resume to:
Ernie W. Crey, Coordinator of
Native Employment, B.C. District,
Public Service Commission of Canada
313-1575 W. Georgia St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6G 3A6
INDIAN W O R L D 29
CHIEFS COUNCIL
"If We're A Nation We Have To Act
Like One"
Chiefs Council met at the UBCIC office January 7
and 8. Representatives met in the evenings because of two
other meetings being held at the same time, the DIA's
Regional Management Committee, concerning new funding formula and the National Indian Brotherhood sponsored five day Think Tank of the newly formed Council
of Chiefs.
Finance committee organized
The administrator presented the financial report for
the first two quarters. It was suggested that the UBCIC
set up a finance committee with both Union staff and
people from the Bands, to look at becoming more financially independent, less reliant on government funding,
and with funds at our disposal to organize such urgent
events as the Constitution Express and the Indian Child
Caravan. Fund-raising ventures will be taking a more important role, the next one being a Buffy St. Marie concert
in Vancouver. A l l proceeds will go towards the Indian
Constitution Express. A few of the district representatives added that donations will also be sent in towards
the Express from their areas. Chiefs Council passed a
resolution to allow formation of a finance committee and
decided on Dennis Patrick, vice-president for the Northern Region, as chairman.
DIA interfering in Indian politics
Chief Tom Sampson reported to Chiefs Council on the
DIA meeting called, it was said, to discuss organizational
funding. He was worried that the DIA had used it to
ratify the whole DIA operational budget, to "sanction
and rubber-stamp the Department's activities". District
and Tribal Council representatives had voted to set up a
Task Force to adjust this budget, to place the money
where needed. However, members of Chiefs Council felt
that by establishing a "bottom-line" budget, deciding on
the money and then finding the problems, the Department was taking political decisions in economic matters.
Another closed vote had determined that organizational
funding go directly to Band Councils. Chiefs Council
agreed that Bands should decide who they wish to support.
However, the Council emphasized the concern that this
was a case where the Regional Director had interfered
again in Indian politics. By throwing the allotted amount
to those present, and having them decide on how to
divide the dollars between organizations through a majority vote, they felt he was trying to split the Indian people. They saw this as a familiar divide and conquer tactic.
INDIAN W O R L D 30
They felt all organizations have a right to survive and that
DIA has no right to try such strategies to shut any down
through lack of funds.
Chief Bill Roberts asked how come, after the
unanimous vote at the October Assembly, Walchli was
still there. The Minister continues to respond to such
questions that he has utmost confidence in Mr. Walchli's
abilities to serve the politics and policies of the government he serves. Chiefs Council continued to assert that he
sure doesn't serve those of the Indian people.
Legal views on nationhood
The Legal Task Force reported on the work concerning
the Constitution crisis that's been done in the past few
months and some of the options that are possible in the
future. One of the strongest points which came out of the
discussion that followed was about Nationhood. "Before
any country aids us in becoming internationally recognized, we're going to have to prove we are serious —we must
conduct ourselves as a nation would!"
Legal Research found that not all foreign nations, such
as the peoples of Tanzania, achieved nationhood status in
the United Nations through an application or other such
red tape. They simply acted as a nation, declared
themselves as such to the world, and eventually were
recognized.
It was pointed out that some Bands are already practic¬
ing nationhood by forming trade alliances with other
countries. Salmon, clams, oolichans, roe, other foods, as
well as crafts are being sold.
Constitution Express gathering planned
Bob Manuel led a discussion on how he perceived Nationhood, as it was expressed to him by the people who
travelled on the Constitution Express train to Ottawa. He
also presented to Chiefs Council a draft declaration of
the Constitution Express, based on Indian sovereignty
and nationhood. He expressed the need for gatherings of
the people who made the journey to Ottawa, as well as
any others, to further discuss nationhood and to have the
declaration officially endorsed as the Declaration of the
Constitution Express.
The Shuswap Nation will be having their gathering at
the Kamloops Residential School on March 27 to 29. Information will be going out to all those who travelled on
the Express, and to all Bands. Everyone will have to pay
their own expenses but everyone is welcome to attend
I THINK...
by Lynn Jorgensen
Editor of Nicola Indian
Reprinted "From the Pipe," Jan. '81.
The second A l l Chiefs Meeting held November 30th to
December 2nd in Ottawa was a turbulent, exhilarating
affair, marked by stormy debate. Once again, two
concepts which were alien to Indian people until introduced by European settlers dominated the proceedings —
time and money. We must not lose heart because of the
petty bickering and political in-fighting that occurred.
We are learning to accommodate our differences and
embrace our similarities, getting to know and appreciate
each other. Growing pains are a necessary part of the
native people's struggle to develop a unique political
identity in Canada
Perhaps the most striking trend to surface is the emergence of traditional Indian spiritualism as a viable
political force. Reserve people are telling Indian leaders
and bureaucrats they are tired of playing the white man's
game—it's time to try something different.
Further, as in other Canadian political forums, there
seems to be a distinct political line between east and west,
north and south. In southern Canada we've learned to
function with a non-native majority. Our northern
brothers don't have that problem, as they outnumber the
non-native population and retain greater control over
their traditional territory.
In the west, Indian people still bear fresh psychological
scars from the last wave of colonialism and enforced
assimilation which swept across the continent. Their
political movements are very bitter, aggressive and outspoken.
Back east, Indian people have been dealing with nonnatives for something like 300 years and have developed a
great deal of political sophistication as a result. This has
been misinterpreted by their western counterparts, who
accuse them of being "whitewashed", sellouts or worse.
This is not always the case. They've simply learned
subtler methods of achieving their goals. Clever manipulation and diplomacy are usually more effective weapons
than a bludgeon to the head, though each method has its
time and place.
If we can learn to use the energy and vitality of the
western nations in harmony with the qualities eastern
nations have to offer, we will be ten times closer to establishing ourselves as equals to other groups in Canada—
and get recognition from those groups as such. In
addition, efforts must be made to include Inuit
participation in this political rebirth.
There was also a certain undercurrent of scorn toward
those politicians who looked white, dressed white or
talked white. This is counter-productive. Native people
are masters of disguise, at blending in with their
environment, whatever their environment may be.
Just as one wouldn't dream of judging a person merely
on the basis of some physical deformity, one should
never discriminate against our paler brothers and sisters.
A person may have European features, but you cannot
know by this what they have in their heart. Though not as
common as in the past we all know of someone with
strong Indian physical characteristics who was ashamed
of their heritage and hid behind another racial identity.
Another difference which wasn't fully explored in
debate during the assembly was now different nations
view their descendants of mixed blood. British Columbia
and northern Canada Indians don't reject their children,
no matter what their origin or percentage. A n individual
of mixed blood may decide to follow their European
heritage and merge with Canadian society in general.
However, a person may be strongly influenced by their
native origins, and these are accepted by their relatives
and other native people as Indians (though this acceptance may not extend as far as allowing them to live on
reserve land).
In other areas, where the Hudson's Bay Company held
a firm sway, Metis and half-breeds were used as intermediaries and manipulated by the H B C into believing
they were different from, somehow superior to, their
Indian ancestors. Thus the two groups fiercely maintain
their separateness to this day.
If we can overcome some of these prejudices and
reverse the concept—use these descendants of white and
Indian parentage as intermediaries for natives to deal
with white people, we will have added a powerful weapon
to our arsenal. No matter how much independence is
finally assumed as Indian government comes into effect
across the land, we will always need intermediaries to
deal with the majority.
It was most illuminating to watch British M P and
Opposition Leader Bruce George speak to the chiefs. It
brought home with a great deal of impact how unsophisticated and inexperienced some Canadian federal politicians really are —many of whom are elected in outlying
rural areas with small populations. And by default, our
provincial legislatures are even more parochial and
lacking intellectual strength
In the final analysis, this writer was more encouraged
than discouraged by the course of events at the First
Nations Constitutional Conference. These are exciting
times we live in and a great challenge faces us as both
aboriginal peoples and citizens of Canada. It's absolutely
imperative that we come to a greater understanding of
each other. We have to meet regularly and we have to
meet often. We have to locate a capital and construct a
legislative building with plenty of room to accommodate
observers as well as politicians. And our leaders must not
be handicapped in the decision-making process by
financial and time limitations.
Anything truly worthwhile takes time and effort to
accomplish, and is worth waiting for. This is something
our ancestors knew —this is something we have to
remember.
INDIAN W O R L D 31
Thoughts on Nationhood
"All people have got to
relate to each other
through the land..."
By Wilfred Pelletier
Wilfred Pelletier, Elder from the Ojibway Nation, was
co-ordinator of the Nishnawbe Institute and Indian
Education and Cultural Centre. Author of the Book No
Foreign Land, Wilfred is currently involved with ecology
and the restoration of traditional Indian beliefs and
customs.
I really believe that nationhood has to do with several
things. Anything called a nation through Indian eyes
doesn't involve the present political aspects of things. For
example, sovereignty, which is a word that has no meaning without taking action. If there is action then
sovereignty is meaningful.
A people that are a nation have a definite relationship
to land. It isn't just a matter of trying to form a nation
which is a government. It is much more than that. It
means that all the people in a nation have got to relate to
each other through the land and through a concept of
cultural values that has a meaning to the people.
I don't think it's possible right now for the native people who are so segregated and segmented across the land,
to have one solid nation in this country. Secondly, even if
we talk about that in terms of the native people, who are
attempting to have a nation, my view is they're not using
their relationship with the land, but all the other values
and structures of this society that are foreign to them.
Some don't speak their own language, they don't consider
their children on to the next seven generations, but they
are looking to settle issues now, here and now. I just
don't see that as possible.
So I think there's more to nationhood than what the
people are talking about. As I heard it at the last allchiefs conference, they said they wanted a nation, to be a
nation of people. That means that the young people going to various institutions will have to stop going. They
will have to learn a whole value structure to their way of
life, all tied in with the land, to the trees, to the animals,
all the creatures that roam this land, the fish in the water,
and the skies. A nation isn't just something you can talk
about, because with it there is supposed to be sovereignty. But sovereignty you cannot get unless you take the
steps necessary to ensure it.
INDIAN W O R L D 32
One reality that I see is that the Canadian people will
not allow a nation within a nation. I think that's probably
because we would want sovereignty with it. What is a nation without sovereignty?
The vision of nationhood is so great that this is not
likely to happen in the near future. Should it bear fruit in
the years ahead, it can only be because the course has
been altered by government and the Indian people
themselves. The way I see it Indian organizations have
been gradually selling out our traditional ways.
There is now more than ever the need for the values
and customs that strengthened our nations in the past. I
see many divisions in our people that have come from
playing that white man's game. Nationhood can be a
reality but I see many fundamental changes in our thinking and our present ways.
"The threads that have
held our Nations
together have become
stout cords..."
By Ernie Benedict
Ernie Benedict from the Mohawk Nation currently
resides in St. Regis and is an Elder in residence with the
National Indian Brotherhood.
At this time of my life, when I had begun to look back
often and long, and the failures and sorrows of the past
had begun to cloud my vision. A great change took place
all around me. Here and there were fresh signs that the
long winter of our sorrow could only delay, could not
prevent the new life that must show itself.
Indeed each layer of snow has recorded the tracks of
those creatures who found their place in the cycle of time,
who did not see the hardships, who saw only opportunity. Those who kept awake and braved the cold darkness
and loneliness to bring to their society some measure of
comfort.
Each of our nations produced their leaded from
among their own members at the times of their greatest
need. Each of these heroes inherited seemingly impossible
tasks. Each bore a burden of responsibility for the continuation of his nation, and in many struggles of internal
strength and weakness they have led us to survival.
Then there were other events. There was the mass ap-
peal to the British Parliament and to the diplomats of
many nations of the world, no longer were we to be ignored.
The threads that held our nations together became
stout cords. The conference of the first nations are fast
becoming the full voice of a united people. We have been
forced to lengthen our stride to the limit in order to
overstep the pitfalls in this new pathway of politics. We
have indeed awakened to a new day of danger, but with
each danger and each new day, there is new opportunity.
During the time when we were nestled in our small
shelters, suffering the pains of forces against which we
seem to be unprotected, we tested our eternal ally, our
mother the earth, the creatures of the universe, seen and
un-seen, and the creator of all things. We have an advantage that no other people living in our land can match.
We have lived here, where our creator has made us, out
of the earth that supports our feet. We have preserved
that earth and have given it honour and gratitude. We
have stayed on this earth as the exploiters have attacked
and ruined her. We have shared her pain, and her shame.
That is the message we must proclaim by every means
that we can command. Let us tell our spokesmen that
they are not to forget their origins on this earth. Let us
tell the exploiters that the earth can be their mother too,,
in so far as they would give her honour and gratitude. Let
us all show how the love we have for the creator is proved
by the respect we have for every part of his creation. Yes,
there is still life at the roots of the tree, there is life in the
seeds that are stored for the spring. There is life in the
animal brothers, stirring about. There is new life in our
orators, in the councils of government. Let us each one
prepare to be a helper in the new season in the cycle of
our history.
+
INDIGENOUS NATIONS FORUM
The World Council of Indigenous Peoples is planning
to hold their 3rd General Assembly, April 27-May 1,1981
in Canberra, Australia.
WCIP is an international organization, founded in
1975 at Port Alberni, B.C. to fight for the rights of all in-
lndigenous Freedom Now
Theme of the Third Annual Assembly of the
World Council
of Indigenous Peoples
in Canberra, Australia
27th April to 1st May,
1981
The conference will deal with Indigenous Rights and
strategies for the liberation of indigenous people
around the world.
It will be an opportunity to get to know people
from all over the world a i d to make business
contacts with other Nations. Plans are being made
for a trip to the Aboriginal Homelands in Central
Australia after the conference.
Travel arrangements are being handled by ICG,
phone 682-7615 for information on costs and
itineraries, etc. We are also available to advise on
stopovers and holidays during your trip.
I.C.G.
(Indian Consulting Group) Ltd.
An Indianowned general
development
consulting
group
digenous peoples. George Manuel, President of the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, is also the President of the
WCIP and has been since the organization's beginning.
Indian people from Canada are urged to attend this international conference in order to gain support for our
struggle here in Canada. The Assembly will be the most
important event in the history of this young organization.
The theme of the conference is Indigenous Freedom
Now, and will deal with strategies for the liberation of indigenous nations around the world and with the ideology
and philosophy of our organization. Elections for President and Executive will be held.
National Aboriginal Conference of
Australia arranging cultural events
The Assembly will provide a varied range of opportunities for both delegates and observers in Sydney and
Canberra. The conference is an excellent opportunity to
meet people of other nations and to make possible international trade contacts.
The WCIP has developed largely through the commitment, leadership, and hard work of Indians in Canada.
The support of Indian Nations throughout both B.C. and
Canada is needed to build international support.
Funding and costs
The Indian Consulting Group of Vancouver has been
engaged to handle travel arrangements. The approximate
cost for air fare and accommodations is $2,000.00. ICG
is also hoping to raise some funds to assist drummers,
singers and dancers in attending the conference. Indian
Nations in B.C. are urged to start fund raising now if
they wish to send representatives to this important international conference.
More information on the WCIP General Assembly can
be obtained from Rod Jeffries at the UBCIC office
(604-684-0231) or Marie Marule, WCIP Secretariat at the
University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta
(403-329-2638).
INDIAN W O R L D 33
EDITORIAL
Self-sufficiency has become an important part of
Indian politics in the past few years. To see Indian
Government as a reality, we will have to once again
rely on our own resources. Nationhood can't fully
come into being until the people become dependent
only on themselves and their communities.
We at the Indian World magazine are also trying to
do our part in becoming self-sufficient and selfdependent. Because of present circumstances, much of
the production and distribution of the magazine is
done by companies outside our office. We depend on
those companies' services for our existence. However,
we are moving away from having to depend on others.
A few months ago we opened our darkroom, and we
now produce virtually all of our own photographs. We
can now get exactly the photos we want, when we need
them and done the way we need.
We are now taking that one step further. We hope to
do some limited contact work for Bands or individuals
who want photographs processed. The idea behind this
is to make enough money to cover the cost of
darkroom materials that must be purchased every
month. At that point, at least one area of our office
will be self-sufficient. It's a beginning.
However, there are other costs which include
printing, mailing, typesetting, salaries and others.
There are two ways by which those costs can be recovered—advertising and paid subscriptions. Although
thousands of Indian people receive copies of Indian
World each month, the number of people who actually
pay for the magazine, is quite a bit less!
Part of the reason is that last year we began
receiving Band mailing lists and sending one-year free
subscriptions to each home. We're now asking them to
pay the eight dollars for the coming year. Payment of
subscriptions will lead us to self-sufficiency.
In the past, we've taken very little advertising. There
were times we had to turn down the advertising that we
were offered, for example from the DIA and Federal
Fisheries. We feel that because we are working for the
Indian people, we can't take any advertising from a
company or body which is in direct conflict with the
Indian people. We believe that we would be compromising the position of our employers, the people. The
credibility of our magazine would also suffer.
There are many businesses and groups which would
be able to advertise their services or goods in the
Indian World magazine. Many people, for instance,
use the small coastal airlines and water transportation
to get around and to get supplies. Advertising,
possibly of the companies' schedules and prices, might
help those Indians. Advertising concerning farming
equipment, fishing supplies, employment opportunities, building supplies and other services could be suitable for Indian World, and could benefit Indian
people.
Because we haven't the staff to deal with soliciting
advertising, we hope to be able to depend on some of
you to handle it. We're now looking for a few Indian
people to find advertisers willing to buy space in
Indian World magazine.
The person selling advertising space would receive a
percentage of the cost of the advertising sold. This
commission is 20%. The advertiser, the ad seller and
Indian World can all benefit. (See page 27 for details.)
By way of paid subscriptions and more advertising,
Indian World hopes to get on the same path as the
many Bands which have been working so hard towards
self-sufficiency. With your help we can see success.
Darrell Ned, Editor.
INDIAN W O R L D 34
(from page 2.)
Quite the concert!
On the fourth day we had a
concert and many people shared
their songs, guitar picking and
comedy acts with us. One part of the
show that many people will never
forget is the "Computer dates". Half
of the people in the act did not know
that they were going to be called on
to entertain people. The first lucky
fellow to be called up to meet his
"dream date" was Derek Wilson.
We told the crowd that Derek had
sent in an application for a computer match-up and had requested an
"old farmer's wife type" that's what
the computer gave him in the form
of an eight year old girl stuffed with
pillows. She came wiggling out on
stage and dropped her hanky in an
effort to attract her date's attention.
Derek, being the gracious man that
he is, told his date to pick up her
own hanky. She did so with great
difficulty and Derek wouldn't even
help her up off the floor from where
she couldn't rise due to her plumpness. No wonder you needed a
computer to match you up Derek!!
Dorothy Jeff told our imaginary
computer that she wanted a man
that needed her to look after him
and support him so the computer
gave her the social outcast named
Egor. Dorothy didn't quite mean
someone that needy and tried to run
away from her computer date, but
Egor persistently followed her all
over the stage. When they finally
got together everyone was happy.
George Abbot was paired off with a
"lady of the evening" and acted as if
he'd been working his whole life
long to meet his computer date.
John Jules was matched up with
Miss Twinkle Toes —a very shy and
timid girl that he had to drag on
stage even to get a look at her. Barry
Wilson apparently wanted someone
who could give good hickies so he
got Miss Dracula who went straight
for his neck. There were many
others from the audience that were
called up to meet one character or
another and they did so willingly.
We'd like to thank them for taking
part in that act —if they didn't there
would have been no act.
Another act was Dean and Jerry.
The two of them put on a fine performance that had everyone in
stitches — who said Indian humour is
dead?
"Our Traditional Story"
The play was performed by the
young dancers of the Lillooet area.
The story began in 1492 when the
first white man came here .
We showed the
times when the government in Great
Britain respected and recognized us
as a Nation of people and made
legal agreements with us to prove.
We showed how the Queen recognized our ownership of the land as
demonstrated
in
the
Royal
Proclamation of 1763. We acted out
the making of the declaration of the
Lillooet Tribe, showed those terrible
years of alcohol and drug abuse,
family breakdown, assimilation,
loss of pride and cultural identity to
finally today—where our people are
coming back to life, rebuilding our
pride, self-respect and family unity
and strength. We demonstrated this
strength through the use of the
drum and the Declaration of Nationhood that was made in Ottawa.
The play finished off with the
group leading the constitution song
that was written on the Constitution
train. What a very powerful experience for the whole audience—it was
so powerful that a young girl of
eight years old broke down in tears
and cried her heart out.
There were other people who got
up and entertained with urging from
the crowd —thanks to those good
natured people and very talented
people.
As with every other pow-wow
night we danced until at least five in
the morning as is the traditional way
of our people.
The Stlatliemel people would
like to thank all the people that
came to share their songs,
dances, prayers, good feelings, and knowledge with us
and would like to invite you all
to our third anniversary celebration on April 16th to 19th,
1981.
F R O M : UNION O F B.C. Indian Chiefs
440 West Hastings St.,
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1L1
THIS MONTH:
Happy New Year! We hope you have had time to
catch your breath after the last 3 months of 1980.
That's what we've been doing at Indian World —figuring out what hit us! So this issue asks what was achieved by the Constitution Express (p. 6). Lyn Jorgensen,
editor of Nicola Indian, looks at the First Nations
A s s e m b l y - " A f t e r the Dust Has Settled" (p. 31). The
climax of that assembly was the Declaration of
Nationhood. What this means on a national and international level is the subject of our lead article (p. 4).
What does it mean to the Indian people across
Canada? Two Elders from the Six Nations, Ernie
Benedict and Wilfred Peltier, start off a dialogue on
the subject (p. 32). We hope you will continue the
discussion in the Indian World.
SECOND CLASS M A I L
REGISTRATION NUMBER 4983
VANCOUVER, B.C.
While this was all coming down, so was the rain.
John Williams sent us photos of the flood damage in
Mt. Currie and Wayne Williams sent pictures of
damage to the Chehalis spawning grounds (p. 13).
John Elliot of Tsartlip also sent pictures of damaged
spawning grounds. The reasons were not "natural". He
tells the story on page 14.
Archie Patrick, co-chairman of the Carrier-Sekani
Tribal Council, also has a story to tell of government
interference and mismanagement. He sent the pictures
to back up his story on page 21.
Training our own people to protect us from the
Canadian legal system is the subject of the article sent
in by the Native Courtworkers Association. See pages
26-27.
Larry Commodore is an Indian writer from
Chilliwack. His short story "Running" appears on p.
23. Angel Adolph of Fountain Band shows you don't
have to finish school to be a good writer. She's eight.
Her angry open letter to Trudeau is on page 7.
It's not an easy time for our young people, but the
Alert Bay BRATS make the best of it. Read their story
on pages 18 and 19. A n d if you're not feeling good
after that, read Marilyn Napoleon's account of the
Lillooet four-day pow-wow held over the New Year!
Roger Adolph was there and sent pictures.
Thanks to everyone! That's a lot of people out there
who worked to make a great issue to start 1981 off just
right.
eel
NEW YEAR®
POW-WOW >)
By Marilyn Napoleon
The Stlatliemel people (Lillooet)
hosted their third annual New
- Year’s cultural and spiritual gather-
ing from Dec. 31st, 1980 to Jan. 4,
1981 at the T-Bird Hall on the Lil-
looet Indian Reserve.
The gathering was a major success
and will remain in our memories for
many years to come.
The purpose of the gathering was
to start the next year off right with
good feelings and thoughts and
hopes for the future of our people
—all the Indian nations.
We, the Stlatliemel people, enjoy
the visits of all the other nations that
come to join us and share in our
celebrations.
Despite the floods and road
closures we had many guests here
who stayed for the entire four-day
gathering.
_A number of people talked about
the ill effects of alcohol on our
people and urged our people to
begin to live a sober life once again,
as was the way of our people before
the coming of the whiteman.
The gathering was a strong
spiritual gathering
It included sweats and ceremon-
ies. There were eight spiritual leaders
and pipe carriers present as well as
many excellent speakers who shared
their knowledge with the people.
- On the first day of the gathering
little Ulthla (Lloyd Napoleon Jr.)
had a coming-out dance—his first
dance and his first time using his
dance outfit. The whole family was
very proud of their youngest dancer.
Little Ulthla’s dance was witnessed
by five grandparents and one great
grandmother, many aunts and
uncles, cousins and other relatives.
Ulthia’s First Dance
The six sacred directions
On the second day Napoleon
Kruger put up the prints and ex-
plained them:
Yellow represents the direction of
the east from where the sun comes,
spring and the great golden eagle
vision,
Green represents the south,
summer and the little green mouse
that reminds us to be humble.
Black represents the west, fall and
black bear.
White represents the north, winter
and the White buffalo elk or
cariboo for strength and unity.
Blue represents the father sky,
star nations and sacred water.
Red represents the sacred mother
the earth, fire, and blood.
On the third day everyone cele-
brated “The George Abbot’s”
birthday with him and shared his
beautiful birthday cake. Each day
began with breakfast at about 11
o’cloek followed by free time to visit
and prepare for the evening pow-
wow. The spiritual leaders held
sweat lodge ceremonies in the after-
noon. The cooks were busy all day
cooking for the evening meal to feed
anywhere from three to five
hundred people. After dinner and
during the pow-wow many people
got up to share their thoughts and
information with us. We learned a
lot from their good words. For ex-
ample, some people talked about
the Constitution Express, the trip
across the country and what
happened in Ottawa.
(continued page 35).
INDIAN
VOLUME 3 NUMBER 9
Te |
A os
iM oe = a
a
: oo 2 ee UR
—"
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.
Table of Contents
New Year’s Pow-Wow ........0.00ceceeev eee ee eed
Indian Nations Seek World Support.............++ 4
- Constitution Express Reawakens
Our Indian Nations, << s625 30. < so ereaersi galas 6
Patriation Illegal Without Indian Consent
SEV PTI UUTETERL: 2 cas aiut spars elece, 04° oaT oh © ete Poe FAS 8
Indian Rights: Letter to Trudeau ................. 8
\ Amendments to Constitution .........-++ee+esees 9
a Be OT VV OLN: 0 ore ees 6a « Gta, ward acess o/s tserape n'a aie ate oinies 10
ae : f News News News .........+0005+ sate nt ne eee 12
a ) pA . Floods Destroy Spawning Grounds .............. 13
17 Photo; Brody. !Tue Caretakers of the Land
1981 and the stakes are getting higher!! Exercise Ownership ........0.+eseeeeeeeeee ..14
Federal Fisheries: “Saving our Taxpayers
4 Maney owe a eel Fewisins oeateeee evel teiws ne 16
| Co n trl b U to rs Wildlife Act No Meaning for Indians breterecralelstte tind 17
Ealtort Darrell Ned pa Whet Goel (s.r sic ca Ae
pes rane Feuline Dowels: DIA vs. S Bar K: DIA Scuttles another
Written Contributions: Chief Archie Patrick, John EnSAN COM DANY tei Seer erat bees eon -
Elliot, Marilyn Napoleon, Lynn Jorgensen, Angel We Don’t Have to take these Racist Jokes ......... 22
Adolph, B.R.A.T.S., Wilfred Pelletier, Ernie Running: A Short Story ...... Sree ee a 22
Benedict, Lucille Joseph, Larry Commodore, George Our J ourney to the East... vette eet e eee ees seas
Manuel, Lillian Basil, Reg Percival, Sharon Venne, Birdie Peters Fights for her Fishing Camp ......... aa
Julie Newman, Derek Wilson, Linda Jordan, Steve Training Native Courtworkersit (is. sca cvceues 26
Basil, Lorna'Bob, Norma Pierre, Brenda Leon, Movie Review .......... 52sec seen creer eee eees 27
Violet Birdstone, Carmen Maracle, Winona ° Updates... +. seeie secre ee nee cers ssrbltg Seca ae 28
Stevenson, Courtworkers Association. Advertising seen enna eee n tenes eens res ere seen 29}
Chiets council erscc oy .i<tess serena aise aie ale-a tare era ee 30
Photographs; UBCIC staff unless credited. I Think: “After the Dust Has Settled” ............ 31 |
Typesetting: Mary Schendlinger at Pulp Press. Thoughts on Nationhood................0002++-32
Illustrations: Carmen Maracle, Derek Wilson Witerriational FPOrnT: ficina acest sss See eee oe 33
Ecitoriall hesays oc ste steers anise oy aie saat ao Sate eels 34
OUR COVER: Jerry Hunter’s camp in northeastern B.C. This was taken during the people’s Land Use and Oc-
cupancy study that mapped the traditional hunting, trapping and gathering grounds of the Beaver, Cree and
Slavey Nations. The study was done to protect such national territories from ravages by the oil, gas and coal in-
dustries
\. S
INDIAN WORLD 3
By Sharon Venne
INDIAN NATIONS
SEEK WORLD
SUPPORT
Coordinator of Indian Government Portfolio
December, 1980.
our consent.
We are a sovereign people. We have international
rights under international law to determine our destin-
ation as a sovereign people. This is the message which
our delegation of people from British Columbia took |
to the United Nations in New York at the beginning of
In the short space of time from September until
December, 1981 the people of British Columbia have
achieved international support for our fight against
the Canadian Government which wants to extinguish
| our rights and bring us into Costedcrauon without
There is a history to ues story. Let
me fill you in,
As you may be aware, Canada is
trying to bring its constitution to
Canada from Great Britain. This ac-
tion by Canada will sever our Indian
link with the British Crown and
Government. We, as Indian people,
do not want this link broken without
our consent. We have approached
Canada with a plan for negotiating
our way into Confederation. At this
point in time, we are not Canadian
citizens. We are citizens of our own
Indian nations. We are Carrier. We
are Shuswap. We are Kwakiutl. We
are Kutenai. We are Cree. We are
Dene. We are definitely not Cana-
dian. We have never given ourselves
to the concept of being Canadian.
The Canadian Government would
like to brainwash us into thinking
that we are Canadian, to deny us our
rights as the original owners and
inhabitants of this land now called
Canada.
Our international action in New
York, Great Britain and in Rotter-
INDIAN WORLD 4
dam at the Russell Tribunal was
designed to let the world know of our
deadlock with the Canadian Govern-
ment. :
Indian Rights in International Law
In going to New York in
December, 1980, we appealed to the
United Nations to prevent the immi-
nent breaches of interrational law by
the Canadian Government in its bid
to patriate its constitution. If Canada
wants to patriate its constitution it
can do so—but leave Indian rights
with the British Crown. The British
Crown has promised to protect our
rights in the International law arena
since earliest contacts between the In-
dian and non-Indian. If the Indians
want to get in on the deal of patria-
tion then there must be an interna-
tional committee set up between
Great Britain, the Indian Nations,
and Canada to negotiate the way into
Canada. It is not the automatic pro-
cedure which Canada is trying to
force on the Indian.
One appeal to the United Nations,
an international body made up of
various countries from around the
world, was done as an Independent
nation with rights in International
law.
In the Bill of Particulars which was
presented to the Secretary-General of
the United Nations (by the way, the
Secretary-General is the head of the
United Nations. He is like a referee at
a hockey game, making sure the sides
play by the rules set down), we stated
our position under international law.
At the United Nations our actions
were planned to gain the maximum
benefit of our visit. We covered 14
countries which sit on the Special
Committee on Political Affairs and
Trusteeship and Decolonization. This
special committee of the United Na-
tions exists to look at the decoloniza-
tion of countries around the world.
Since we are closely connected with
Britain and the process of breaking
the ties with Great Britain would be
an act of decolonization, we can have
our case heard before the United Na-
tions. Such a hearing would help en-
sure that we are not railroaded by the
Canadian Government.
The countries which are part of the
decolonization committee are: Tan-
zania, India, Denmark, Australia,
Ireland, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, Iran,
Yugoslavia, Norway, Trinidad/
Tobago, Finland, United Pasion
and. Canada,
At each country, a statement of the
rights of Indian nations under inter-
. national law was made. It was then
drawn to the attention of the mission
why the Indian nations were seeking
support in the international arena.
indian Nation survives
century-long attack
When Canada became a country
in 1867, Great Britain gave a trust to
the Canadian government to deal
with the Indians of the land.
Canada has failed in this trust obli-
gation to the Indian Nations. Over
the years Canada has attempted to
take as much Indian land as possible
without just compensation. It has
taken the Indian children and strip-
ped them of their culture and at-
tempted to make ‘white’ Indians out
of them. They (Governments of the
non-Indian) tried to destroy the In-
dian governments of the people by
undermining their authority with
the Department of Indian Affairs.
Such activity is still continuing after
a hundred years. This to me means
that the Indian people have such a
strong concept of nationhood that
the non-Indian government has not
been able to wipe out the value. In
this light, we still assert our nation-
hood. We still have ownership of
over 40% of the land base of
Canada. This includes British Col-
umbia which is unsurrendered In-
dian land.
Destroying British
protection
We have repeatedly protested the
laws which Canada and British Col-
umbia made to take our lands. Our
Indian Nations throughout the 19th
and 20th Centuries have petitioned
both Britain and Canada to stop
these illegal acts. When challenged
by the Indian Nations the Canadian
Federal Government said our
remedy lay with Great Britain. Now
An artist's conception of a
Haisla. Nation passport, some-
thing Indian citizens will need as our
nations gain recognition.
Canada wants to sever this link,
which means we will have no
remedy when the non-Indian tries to
take the rest of our land.
Diplomatic mission to
decolonization committee
Our approach to the various
countries was a diplomatic ap-
proach, with our delegates presen-
ting our position to the various mis-
sions over the three days in New |
York, - ine
Tri-partite agreement on con-
stitution |
We proposed that there be a tri-
lateral negotiation of the rights of In-
dian nations within the area known as
Canada. It must be under interna.
tional supervision because we cannot
trust the Canadian and British Gov-
ernment to protect our rights in light
of the last two hundred years of inter-
action with these colonizing nations.
We need the international arena to
expose the Canadian Government’s
deliberate and systematic destruction
of our racial, cultural and political
rights as Indian Nations.
At this time the present non-Indian
leader of this land, Trudeau, is trying
to get international recognition as a
great leader of the free world. Our
land, our resources and our Ter-
ritory. He does not mention. these
facts in his travels: Instead he talks
about Canadians getting to develop a
keener interest in international issues.
We as Indian Nations are taking
the non-Indian to task. We are get-
ting to know the International scene.
We are asserting our rights in interna-
tional law. We are Indian Nations.
We own this land known as Canada.
Mr. Trudeau may not have wanted us
to voice our views. But Mr. Trudeau,
our great - great - great - great - great -
great--great-great-great-grandparents
lived in harmony with this land
before the arrival of the non-Indian
people. We have a sacred birthright
by the Creator which will not be
destroyed by the non-thinking non-
Indian. -
We are a Nation. Strong and.
proud. oe
INDIAN WORLD 5
|
ae
'
‘
-AWAKENED OUR NATION 5
by George > Manuel, President, Union of B.C. perro ee Chiefs
i YSIS
a
The Constitutional Express smashed the
most shameful disease that the Indians ever
had in British Columbia since the chicken pox
plague of the late 1800’s and that disease is
called “habit.” Habit has compelled us to
accept all policies and laws of the federal and
provincial governments regardless of what
misfortune, pain, sorrow and injustice they
imposed upon our people. It has slowly, but
quietly devoured our creative skill to live by our
own Code of discipline ane our own cherished
values.
It must be remembered that we have not lived as free
women and men in the past hundred years. We have only
survived within a prison of deprivation, poverty and
genocide. For too long now we have accepted freedom as
a gift and that always produces berries with poison in it.
in our struggle to have our own Indian
Government as a means to recover part of our
aboriginal rights, we have only two roads that
we can travel.
The rules on one road are to adjust, to cooperate, to be
silent, to submit, to obey, to betray, to compromise and
the rewards are deprivation, poverty and genocide for the
masses of our people and riches for a small
number of native Indians. The rules of the other road are
to fight, by any means and at any cost, to recover our
pride, our dignity, and our aboriginal rights, to re-create
and strengthen our Indian cultural, social, economic and
political institutions.
The Road of the Constitution Express
It is only when that victory is won that we will be able
to live as free people in our homeland, ready and willing
to be partners in making our country a strong Canada for
all peoples. There exists no cultural, social, economic or
political victories in the history of mankind, however,
that does not cost a price in hunger, sweat, blood, agony
and money. The children, their parents, our Elders, our
Indian youth, our leaders, our Chiefs, our staff, our non-
Indian supporters and the press, paid the price by
enduring many types of hardships during their travels to
Ottawa, Ontario and the United Nations in New York
City, New York. ‘
The Constitutional Express was faced with the impos-
sible task of lobbying the Governor General to persuade
INDIAN WORLD 6
the Imperial Crown of England not to patriate to the
Canadian Government those agreements and treaties,
made between the Indian Nations of Canada and the
Parliament of England, that form those sections of the
Canadian Constitution (BNA Act), that relate to Indian
rights as those of a distinct Nation of people.
Indian Nation refused tosee Constitution
Committee .
The House of Commons and Senate Constitutional
Committee invited the Constitutional Express to come
before their committee to submit evidence on the
resolution of the federal government to patriate the
Canadian Constitution. But our people refused their —
invitation because to appear before the committee would
have jeopardized our position on the legal evidence in our
possession that shows we are clearly recognized by the
British Crown as a Nation of people, as proclaimed by
‘King George the III in 1763. There is no record to show
; ‘that the Proclamation and treaties have been repealed.
Evidence shows that we are still a Nation of people that
has a legal right under International law to 40% of the
land base in Canada, that now is illegally controlled
either by the federal or provincial governments of
Canada, |
In terms of success, the Constitutional Express
was responsible for:
e Eqiedsions of the Constitution hearing date from
December 7, 1980 to February 8, 1981.
-® Provision to have the constitution committee hear
other Indian groups of Canada.
© Sensitize and generate support from non-Indians of
Ottawa and Canada on Indian rights.
e Politicized our people on the meaning of the ideology
of Indian government and Nationhood.
e Finally, the Constitutional Express sensitized third
world countries into realizing that they do have third
wcrid brothers in Canada, who suffer the same type of
exploitation from the same developed countries, using
the same type of economic and political techniques to
deprive our people of our land and resources. The
message was subtle but clear in this respect, when the
Prime Minister of Canada stepped off his 707 plane at
Lagos, Nigeria airport and was greeted not by the
President but by tribal dancers to remind him that
Nigerian people are aware of how Canada treats its
Indigenous brothers in Canada.
This is a message that the Federal Government wants
to hear. The response was to cast doubts on our very
existence in the new Amendments to the Constitution.
But it can’t erase the message of the Constitution Ex-
press and though they have tried everything, nobody
has been able to erase our Indian Nations off the map
of Canada. | com
INDIAN WORLD 7
“PATRIATION ILLEGAL
WITHOUT INDIAN ~—
CONSENT Says Tribunal
In the last week of November,
1980, the Fourth Russell Tribunal
met in Rotterdam, Netherlands to
hear from Indians of the Americas
_—North, Central and South.
Indians from British Columbia,
Alberta, Saskatchewan, Quebec and
Ontario. went to the Tribunal to
make various presentations on behalf
of their organizations and people.
The Union of British Columbia
Indian Chiefs made a presenta-
tion on the Constitution in rela-
tion to the international law
rights of Indians in British Col-
umbia.
This presentation was well
received by the jury of twelve people.
The jury came from different coun-
tries like Brazil, Mexico, Bolivia,
‘United States, Uruguay, Austria,
France, etc. The jury of twelve lis-
tened to the presentations by the
groups and then made its decision
‘known at the end of the week in a
written judgment on the cases.
The Russell Tribunal found
that Canada had been breaching
its international obligations to
its indigenous people.
It specifically stated that “treaties
and agreements made _ with
indigenous nations or groups shall
not be subject to unilateral abroga-
tion.” This is what Canada is at-
tempting to do by patriating the
constitution back from Britain with-
‘out the active involvement of the
Indian people of Canada.
The significance of having the
Russell Tribunal condemn Canada
for her actions centres around Can-
-ada’s image of itself overseas. The
Trudeau government always wants
to project a very humane and liberal
attitude to peoples of other coun-
tries, while the Indian people of the
_ country are ignored by the Govern-
INDIAN WORLD 8
ment and our rights are constantly
taken away.
A judgment against Canada in.
the international arena makes
sure that the Canadian govern-
ment has to be answerable to
the international world about its
treatment of Indian people.
Another major presentator from
Canada was the people from Grand |
Council Treaty No. 9. These nations
of Cree and Ojibway (Nishnawbe-
Aski Nations) come from the north-
ern part of present-day Ontario.
They stated at the Tribunal that
Treaty Number Nine is invalid, be--
cause the most important ingredient
of the transaction, namely consent,
was missing. The Indian people
could not consent, because the
actual terms of the treaty were not
fully explained to them. a
The Russell Tribunal found that
the actions of the Canadian Govern-
ment and the Ontario Government
violate the provision of interna-
tional law which prohibits the illegal
taking of land from the Nishnawbe-
Aski Nation.
The other presentatog from Can-
ada was the Conseil Attikamek
Montagnais from Quebec. This case
involved a unilateral extinguishment
of land rights of the people by legis-
lation and the violation of land-
rights of nations by the construction
of the hydro-electric project, James
Bay. eens
For this action the Federal and
Quebec governments were found
guilty of violating the rights of the
Indians from the area.
The end result of the Russell Tri-
bunal and its finds will depend on
the work to be done by the Union of
British Columbia Chiefs and its
members in the international arena.
The Russell Tribunal allowed us to
have an international voice. The rest
is up to us. 2-
i
Fountain E
How would you feel if Mr.
Trudeau was an Indian and you felt
left out. Think about it. That’s the
same way we feel about it. Lots of
our people are out there dying while
your people are out there living a
free life, enjoying theirself while we
are fighting for our rights, and they
are out there laughing their heads
off and we got a lot to worry about.
Just because you’re white you think
you’re smart, while all the Indians
need doctors’ treatment. My uncle
has cancer. It’s eating all his bones.
He will be in a wheel chair soon.
We are trying to find homes for
Indians. Lots of them are in foster
homes.
More and more are dying every
day just because you sold out the
west. You think you can sell out
Indian land. We own the Indian
land, while white people are. moving
in a thinking they are smart and
tough. We know their plan, it is to
try to get us off Indian land. How
would you like it if we tried to sell
out your land? Think about it.
We need care too, just because
your people are running free while
we have all the trouble. And when
we already own Indian land, when
we already own it, while we are
trying to learn how to Indian dance
while your people are laughing. We
don’t laugh at their dances. And
your people are flashing their money
around around thinking they are
smart.
SO I ASK YOU, PLEASE BEFAIR!
Constitutional Amendments:
Government Says We May Exist
The Constitutional Amendments
presented by Justice Minister Jean
Chretien has again showed the
Federal Government’s disregard for
the aspirations of Indian people.
The amendments introduced
January 12th read as follows:
(a) Any aboriginal, treaty or other
rights or freedoms that may per-
tain to the aboriginal peoples of
Canada, including any right or
freedom that may have been rec-
ognized by the Royal Proclama-
tion of October 7th, 1863, or
(b) Any other rights or freedoms
that may exist in Canada.”
This varies little in meaning or in-
tent to the original section 24 which
stated:
“The guarantee in this Charter of
certain rights and freedoms shall
not be construed as denying the ex-
istence of any other rights or free-
doms that exist in Canada, includ-
ing any rights or freedoms that
exist that peran to the Native peo-
ple of Canada.”
Indian Nations argued that the
original section did nothing to protect
or guarantee Indian rights. In repre-
sentation to the Parliamentary Stand-
ing Committee, many Indian Nations
asked that their treaty and aboriginal
rights be included in the constitution.
Other groups, including those Na-
tions represented by the Union of
B.C. Indian Chiefs, urged that the
government of Canada and Great
Britain enter into negotiations under
the supervision of the United Nations
to deal with all outstanding Indian
concerns before patriation.
A UBCIC spokesperson stated that
“had the federal government seriously
listened to our concerns, they could
have guaranteed that aboriginal and
treaty rights would be fully protected
against provincial and federal en-
croachment. The government does —
not prevent this encroachment. It
says we may not even have any of
these rights. We argued that the
original section 24 of the Charter did
not guarantee any of our rights and
that the government has still left it
uncertain as to whether they
recognize our rights: The new amend-
ment acknowledges that Indian peo-
ple may have rights which if proved,
the federal government would not
deny.”
“LET'S PUT Nee wea WAY. WE'LL
i oe Pe
JOU DONT EX!
Express. —
Twelve sua on A ea hone oe Hat sist 2, Se s
| Shuswap Nations by Barry Wilson.
Size: 20” x 12” and in colour.
‘10,00 each. All proceeds go to the Indian onstitution
Diesacsaske checiie on money oiler pasate A iionor
B.C. Indian Chiefs and send to Indian Government Port- _
SOR Os AO DSCNS Manco As oR: a
Inuit Critical
of
Constitutional
Amendments
Eric Togoona, Chairman of the In-
uit Committee on National Issues, ex-
pressed reservations about the con-
stitutional amendments presented by
Jean Chretien.
“Mr. Chretien has broadened
somewhat the section dealing with |
these aboriginal rights and freedoms
not affected by the Charter of Rights.
But there are still some areas where
we hope the parliamentary committee
will make additional adjustments.” |
Mr. Tagoona added that while Mr.
Chretien is starting to move in the
right direction, as far as Inuit con-
cerns go, “he has only taken small
steps towards meeting the needs of
the aboriginal peoples.”
In its brief to the parliamentary
Committee on the constitution, ICNI
addressed other issues, including
possible Inuit consent to amendments
which make specific references to]
them, rather than leave it to chance
after patriation.
Mark Gordon, ICNI éGGrdianti.
stated “The amending process and the
commitments to negotiation are real-
ly the key to the protection of
aboriginal rights. Mr. Chretien
doesn’t appear to appreciate that
recognizing that aboriginal rights and
freedoms is not too meaningful unless
the aboriginal peoples have a central
role in the amending process as it
directly affects them.
ICNI officials stated the govern-
ment’s new amendments will need
more study “before we can say for
certain where we now stand.”
INDIAN WORLD 9
Mrs. Irene Sheard of Port Hardy won the beautiful
chest that was carved by Bruce Boles. She works in the
Band office. “But when I heard I had won,” she said, “I
could hardly work that afternoon, I was so excited!” She
is putting the chest in the museum in town so that
everyone will be able to admire the artistry of the West
Coast carver, and know that their culture is alive and very
strong in the works of the artists and carvers of today.
. : press.
Mrs. Alice Smith of Kwik-
© sutaineuk Band drew the
{ winning ticket of the contest.
_ The proceeds went towards
™ the Indian Constitution Ex-
A Constitution Express
Potlatch will be held at the
old residential school at the
Kamloops Indian Band from |
March 27th to 29th.
THE JOB INTERVIEW
By Lorna Bob
It was Monday morning and I was
on my way to a job interview. I had |
all my recommendation letters toge-
ther, my high school diploma, my
typing and shorthand certificates and
my transcripts from college. I even
had a newspaper clipping telling of
the scholarship I had won for being a
top grade student.
I thought to myself, “I'll impress
the pants off of those people. How
could they not hire such a bright per-
‘son as me?” I had everything going
for me.
But the one thing I had forgotten to
do was study my family tree and his- |
tory before I left. Because when I
walked into the room they didn’t
seem the least bit interested in my cre-
dentials. They were more or less inter-
ested in my family and who was my
relatives.
As it turned out, somewhere in my |
past my family was linked to some of
the people on the board’s family. This
made everything really cool as far as
they were concerned. I was accepted
and they didn’t even take time to
really look at all the papers that I had
framed and dusted off especially for
that occasion. But, at least I got the
job.
INDIAN WORLD 10
>,
{
_ Photo: Nicola Valley
A shampoo and set for Elder Maggie
Shakelly, 80 years old, of the Nooitch
Band, is part of the job for Edna
Blankenship, Homemaker, and her
| supervisor Mary Lou Lausten!
A CAREER INTERVIEW
Norma Pierre interviewed Barbara Paul of
Mount Currie.
Barb, what sparked your interest in
hairdressing?
It was one of my English upgrading
assignments on how to set a hair-
dressing salon started.
What will you do when you finish the
- course?
[ am thinking of putting a shop in the
Xitolacw development plan in Mt.
Currie.
Barb Paul
m7
Is there a hairdresser in Mt. Currie?
One just moved back in September.
Before that our ladies had to go to
Squamish, Lillooet, or come to Van-
eouver.
How do you get your licence?
After a year of apprenticeship train-
ing, you go back to school for a
month, then write an exam and if you
pass that you get a licence, and renew
it every year.
NOTE: Barb withdrew from the
course because her education in
English and Science weren’t upgraded
enough. She is upgrading these in Mt.
Currie now. The other Indian hair- |
dresser, Loretta Pascal, is planning to
open a salon so Barb can do her ap-
prenticeship there.
FIFTH ANNUAL NATIONAL FINALS
ls the spectacular event of Indian Rodeo Top Ten
Cowboys from all over North America competed
against each other for the honour of being No. 1 in In-
dian Rodeo.
The scoring system used was the total points of all your
rides. So as long as you rode all your stock, roped all
your calves and wrestled all your steers you had a
chance to win the world: as the saying goes, “To the
Luck of the draw.”
Jim Jacobs of Porcupine South Dakota won the
Barebacks by riding all five bareback gorses.
Calf roping was won by Melvin Joseph of Lone Pine
California—he won by 2.1 seconds beating out Jim
Gladstone. So you can tell how close that was.
Steer wrestling Champ is Del Fritzler of Crow Agen-
cy—his total time was 47.3.
Team roping was won by Wayne and Wallace Den-
nison of Tohathie New Mexico. They had the fast time
of 72.2 on five head.
Ladies Barrel Racing was won by Lynn McGuire of
Pawkuska, Oklahoma who won by 4/100ths of a se-
cond over eleven-year-old Charlene Jackson of Tsaile,
Arizona.
Howard Hunter of Kyle, South Dakota won the Sad-
dle Bronc Riding averaging 72.2 points per ride.
Dale Bird of Browning, Montana won by a mere
margin of 69 points on 4 bulls while Burt Williams
_ rode 3 bulls successfully. He won the hearts of
thousands of Indians from his spectacular rides on the
fourth go-round. Burt drew a fantastic bull by the
name of #105. According to 5 time world champion
Donnie Gay, this bull is an eliminator.
He lost out on the buckle by 69 points, but you can
sure tell who B.C.’s pride and joy is in Rodeo.
By Lucille Joseph
NOTICE ‘i i
A general meeting of the B.C. Indian Rodeo and Ex-
hibition Association will be held on 21 February, 1981
at St. Joseph’s Mission in Williams Lake.
The agenda will include:
—approval of a new constitution
—election of directors
— planning for this year’s rodeo
All people who compete or who are working to present a
rodeo this year are urged to attend. For details phone
Joan Gentles, 392-3739.
Orpheum
| Theatre
Tickets available at Vancouver Ticket Centre putlels:
$10.00 $11.00 $12.00
Proceeds go to the Indian
Constitution Express.
The Constitution Express was a very important event in
the lives of most of those who rode it. We have had sug-
gestions that we put out a Special Edition on The Con-
stitution Express, written by the people who were there.
What did it mean? What did you learn? What is its place
in the history of your Nation? Our Nation? What now?
Many people took good pictures of special moments
and special people. These can say more than a thousand
words. Do you have ideas, interviews with people,
stories, analysis, a poem that you would like to include?
Send them to Communications Portfolio, UBCIC, 440
_W. Hastings, Vancouver, B.C. Pictures will be copied
and returned to you—please put your name and address
on the back!
INDIAN WRITERS’
WORKSHOP april ist, 2nd and 3ra, 1981
We have to do our own writing, tell our own history and
our own stories in our own way. We have special respon-
sibilities and we need to support each other.
There is a really nice camp site near the Neskainlith
Band’s arbour, which is where the workshop will be held.
The Band has started find-raising for helping out with
meals. There is also limited billeting for those who would
prefer it.
Maria Campbell, author of “Halfbreed”,
“Little Badger and the Firespirit”, will be giving the work-
shop.
For further information, call Diane Anthony of
Neskainlith Band or Communications Portfolio, UBCIC.
INDIAN WORLD 11
NEWS NEWS NEWS
HAIDA/NUU-CHAH-NULTH LAND AND SEA
CLAIM
Bands of the Haida and Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nations have
filed land claims with the government. Both claims are
based on traditional use and occupation of these areas.
The difference in these claims is that the Bands are also
claiming sea areas adjacent to the land. The Haidas are
trying to get back South Moresby Island, in the Queen
Charlotte Islands. Frank Collison, speaking for the
Massett Band, said that when reserves were allotted, the
Haidas got very little land. He said that the government’s
reasoning for this was because the Indian people there
depended for the most part on the sea, and that Govern-
ment didn’t feel they needed much land. However, Frank
said they do need the land and do have plans for it.
_ “We're not just making an unreal claim, we have
_ development plans for the land. We want to get involved
in some agricultural activities.”
The Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council, acting for that
nation, has laid claim to much of Vancouver Island and
the sea around it. There are about 15 Bands a part of that
action. George Watts, head of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth
Tribal Council, said that the claim of his people is not a
new one. The Elders of that area drew up a map in the
1800’s showing the area claimed. The people want to use
the area claimed to become economically self-sufficient.
He explained that about 50% of the fishermen in that
area have lost their occupations. The land and sea claim
would give the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation the power to
protect, as well as use the area.
“We hope to be sitting on some sort of management
committee,” he said. “We’re concerned about the super-
tankers and we want a say about them.”
PACIFIC FISHERY INQUIRY APPOINTED
The Federal Government has finally appointed a Com-
mission of inquiry into the West Coast Salmon
Resources. UBCIC expressed some worry that the Com-
mission may not have allowed enough time to gather all
of the evidence, and that the Commission Mandate
should be broad enough to include the concerns of the In-
dian people.
COUNCIL OF CHIEFS DELIBERATE |
The Council of Chiefs, a group formed by the
assembly of the First Nations Conference to discuss the
structures that need to be developed before a National
Provisional Indian Government can be set up, met in
Vancouver, January 8 to 12.
The Think Tank session during those days was not
“meant as a decision-making process, but as an opportuni-
ty for Indian leadership to exchange ideas and explain
how they think Indian people should move in the future.
The Council worked at defining nationhood, nations,
indigenous, and other basic terms, as well as the roles of
the Council of Chiefs, Assembly of First Nations, Coun-
cil of Elders and the Executive Council of the NIB.
The Council of Chiefs plans to hold another Think Tank
for further discussion. Then, the Council will make its
recommendations and report to the next First Nations
Conference.
SEWAGE OFFICIALS RUN OUT OF
COURT DURING UBCIC ACTION AGAINST
THEM
Charges under the Fisheries Act, against the Greater
Vancouver Regional District, Greater Vancouver
Sewerage and Drainage District, were filed by the Union
of B.C. Indian Chiefs last fall. The case was heard in
Richmond Court on January 19th, 1981.
The people being charged did everything they could to
get the case adjourned. So on February 4th the Union will
be again going to court to present their argument.
All in all their legal system will slow down the whole
process and our fishing resources will continue to be
polluted.
INDIAN WORLD 12
THE DENTAL CARE PLAN OF B.C.
DON’T USE YOUR CARDS YET!
“The staff of the Health and Social Development Port-
folio have been monitoring the Dental Care Plan of |
British Columbia since it was first proposed by the
Ministry of Health of B.C. earlier last year.
Some Band members have already received their blue
dental cards by mail along with basic information on the
coverage of the plan. Although the plan was to be
effective January 1, 1981, the basic details have not been
ironed out by the Federal Government and Provincial
Government on the process of dividing and deciding
upon the responsibilities of the plan regarding registered
Indians. The plan will be cost shared by both Federal and
Provincial Governments.
Dentists throughout B.C. should have received
information by now from Medical Services on the billing
procedures and types of coverage registered Indians
should be receiving. We will be giving further informa-
tion to the Bands when we receive it in our office but at
this time it would be advisable to refrain from using the
blue dental card till we get more information.
For the second year in a row we
have had this flooding problem. This
year one of our homes was just about
washed away. Villages flooded were
Quamichan #2 and Klem Klem Lutz.
Most people preferred to stay in their
homes, using canoes as a means of
getting around.
The fish hatchery seems to be okay,
but the natural fish eggs have been
completely destroyed.
Estimated amount of damage done
to dykes and roads comes to about
$25,000.00.
The Chehalis Indian Band for the
past three years have been working on
a Salmon Enhancement Program.
Incubation boxes were not affected
by the flooding, they estimate a 50%
to 80% survival out of their project.
Due to flooding they estimate a loss
of 50% natural fish eggs from
spawning grounds.
High waters caused the Lillooet
Lake to come over the banks. About
800 acres of land was covered by
flood waters, luckily no livestock
were affected. About 70% of people
in the Mount Currie area have been
affected by flood waters. People were
evacuated from the Number One Re-
serve.
Department of Indian Affairs have
sent in about five estimators for dam-
age done but have not said for what
reasons.
In 1936 we had a flood that des-
troyed one whole community. We
had to move to the existing site be-
cause of high ground level.
We had a bit of a mixed blessing, a
big log jam built up, holding back
thousands of gallons of water, that
were just waiting to pour down on us,
This year the flood waters in Bella
Coola were the highest the Indian
people have ever seen. Indian people
in the Bella Coola area have been
drastically affected. No damage was
done to homes, but several thousand
acres of land have been destroyed. So
how do you replace land? Estimated
damage done would be priceless.
New monies are needed too for
major overhauls and to build up the
rip rapping that was covered in some
places up to six feet of water.
The fish spawn was wiped right out
— the effects of this won’t be felt until
the four year cycle returns to spawn
to see exactly how much of the spawn
did survive.
INDIAN WORLD 13
True
Caretakers
of —
the Land
exercise
traditional
ownership.
i a an
$1
INDIAN WORLD 14
By John Elliott of Tsartlip Band
WJOLELP
Our people have been using Gold-
stream (Selektel) as a place of gath-
ering winter food for many genera-
tions. At the mouth of SELEKTEL |
there is a little island. The Saanich
name of this island is Tqetnet which
means “the fire went out.” Long ago,
there used to be a fire kept alight
there all the time. This was for people
to go ashore and borrow fire from,
on their way upstream. This was long
before our people came into contact
with white people. The fire was very
special to our people those days,
something that was well taken care
of. This is to show how long our peo-
ple have used SELEKTEL for a place
of gathering winter food.
SELEKTEL has always been a good
Dog salmon river. Dog salmon are
good smokers that dry well and keep
for a long time. Dog salmon and
Coho return to Selektel annually,
usually more Dog salmon than Coho.
In November, Thomas Sampson
received a phone call from Fisheries
notifying him that there were too
many salmon going upstream, and_
that if the Indian people didn’t get up
to the stream within two days, Fisher-
jes ould ae a seign boat to make a
set and get tid of the excess fish.
Thomas then called a meeting of the
Chiefs and Councils of the five Bands
concerned, WOLELP, STAUTW, R
BOKECEN, WSYKEM, MAELEEL,
to inform them of Fisheries’ intents.
The five councils then drafted up a
letter to Fisheries in Victoria, inform-
ing them that the people of Saanich
were not prepared to accept the phil-
osophy of the Fisheries Department
regarding the salmon at Goldstream,
SELEKTEL. In the letter, they told
Fisheries — that Goldstream had
managed itself quite well until the in-
terference by the non-Indian people. -
The next step taken by the five
councils was to hire Martin Cooper
from WJOLELP to police the mouth.
of Goldstream, with his troller. This
was to keep fisheries from making
their set. One morning while Martin
was there, Fisheries did have a seign
boat come in and do some sounding
to see where the salmon were. Martin
and a small group of people on his
boat stayed near the seign boat taking
photographs and obstructing any at-
tempt to make a set. Once it became
apparent that the Indian people
would not allow them to make a set,
the seign boat left the mouth of the
stream.
Told too long when
and how to fish
Another meeting, held on
November 26, was open to ll
Saanich people to inform them of
what had been happening at
SELEKTEL. Many people spoke that
night. Some told how they didn’t like
getting free hatchery fish delivered to
their doorstep. Some of it already
spoiled. They told how much better it
would be to fish for themselves and
get the pride and enjoyment doing so.
They decided they had been told for
too long when and where they could
fish on their traditional fishing
ground. They decided together to go
the next day and exercise their tradi-
tional ownership of the land and the
fishing left to them by their
forefathers.
These pictures are part of a slide show for the school children: Martin Cooper
patrolling the mouth of Goldstream to stop the Fisheries Seign boat; the dry
side streams, low water level and dead fish not yet spawned (p. 14), fishing in
our tradition and an old Indian house post still standing on the island at the en-
trance of Goldstream.
Tourists prefer Coho so Parks
Dept. dry out Dog Salmon streams
Many changes have taken place at
SELEKTEL since the Parks Depart-
ment has taken control. The water is
held back, the stream is narrow and
most of the side-streams are dry.
There are picnic areas, trails, parking
areas, public toilets, just to name a
few. This is why suddenly there isn’t
enough room in the stream for an
average run of salmon. Another
reason to narrow the stream would be
to make it a better Coho stream, and
cut down on the quantities of Dog
salmon. The Coho make for good
sports fishing in the Saanich Inlet, a
good tourist attraction for this area.
The thinking of the Parks Depart-
ment is control the water level, con-
trol the runs of salmon and make
more money for themselves ll
around. All this without any consent
from the true caretakers of the land.
Our people went out this year
together and hooked all the salmon
they wanted. We look forward to
next season when we can go again
together and enjoy our rights to the
land and fishing at SELEKTEL. -o-
INDIAN WORLD 15
\
By Harassing Our Elders?
FISHERIES
I would like to report a complaint against Federal
Fisheries in Terrace, B.C. On July 4, 1980 at 8:40 p.m. I
was just about to reach home on Queensbury Drive in
Thornhill. We had just come from the hospital for new
bandages for my son Paul’s injured hand. Fisheries was
_ nowhere in sight. Just before we reached home, they
- came out from a driveway and pulled us over. I had my
three kids and two babies with me. They witnessed what
_ the Fisheries were doing.
The officials never explained why they pulled us over,
and when I asked them, they said they were saving the
taxpayers some money. I don’t understand why they said
this.
My oldest daughter asked who they were, what their
names were. They just ignored her. They ordered my kids
out of the car. I asked just what was going on. I said the
kids were my passengers and my family, and the car my
private property. I tried to tell the kids to stay put, but
they were scared and so they moved out.
Fisheries searched the car
and pulled out the back
seat. One man asked me to
open the trunk. They must
have been trying to smell
for the scent of fish. The
man went again to the side
of the car, looked in again,
went to the trunk a second
time.
I asked again just what
they were looking for and
this man lifted the car jack
and looked at it. I said the —
jack belongs to the car. He put the jack down.
That’s when he pushed me with his right, brushed by
me, and almost knocked me down. He said that he was
doing his duty. He kept saying every time I asked what
they were looking for: they were doing their duty.
This is one of the many incidents I have encountered
with Fisheries. I have brought this complaint before the
Human Rights at Prince George at a meeting they held
in the Kermode Friendship Centre in Terrace on July
31, 1980. Yours truly,
“SAVING THE TAY
November 11, 1980. By Letting Illegally Confiscated Fish Rot?
Up to now, when Federal Fisheries stopped Indian
people on suspicion of food fishing violations, they
would practically always confiscate that person’s fish,
right then and there. The fish would be supposedly sold
toa “good cause” for $1.00, or it would be frozen until
the trial, for which it was thawed, refrozen while the
judge made a decision or thawed again for the next trial
date because fishing cases are often put off to a. later
date. That fish was rotten by then. _
During the last two or three years, we started fighting
back in the courts. Fisheries was losing case after case,
and the “Not Guilty” Indians were demanding back their
fish that was confiscated. They were not too happy at
receiving $1.00 or a garbage bag full of rotten fish.
Rita McCrae of Sardis was the first to test this situation
in court (Indian World, July 1980). The judge decided
that the Federal Fisheries policy of confiscating fish,
before the suspect was found guilty, was illegal. As a
result the UBCIC Legal Task Force asked Fisheries to
compensate those “Not Guilty” people for fish —
confiscated illegally, and sold or spoiled. Ralph George
will now be receiving 68 salmon, Donna Villeneuve 68,
Larry Ned, Herbert and Patrick Silver 10. The cases of
P.D. Peters and Frank Link are being considered, ae
Federal Fisheries will not disclose their new policy i in
this regard. However, according to the law, unless the
case is pretty extreme —like selling unmarked fish from a
truck in the middle of Kamloops—it is illegal for
Fisheries to confiscate your fish unless you are found
“Guilty as charged” in court.
SSS Seas :
\ St = im
>
Fi
3
a a
INDIAN WORLD 16
By tying up courts with political issues
Harrassment by the Federal Fisheries and the snail-like
movement of the court system becomes normal for any §-
Indian person who pleads not guilty and fights food
fishing charges.
Herman Thomas’ fishing case, since it began over three
years ago, has become a classic in fishing cases. It’s at a
point now where it seems ridiculous for Fisheries to pur-
sue the charges. The Federal Fisheries have put thousands
of dollars into Herman’s case and have accomplished on-
ly one thing—to make themselves appear both incompe-
tent and spiteful. Herman went to various courts, a total
of six times before he was properly heard. More than
once either the Judge or prosecutor, or both, didn’t show
up. Then, after Herman won the case, Fisheries appealed
it. So Herman has to prove to the courts again that he’s
innocent. But he’s even having trouble getting a chance to
do that.
Herman was to appear the latest time, in Matsqui
Court, January 17th. However, several days before, the
» court clerk there called him
___ and said he was to be in court
_ on that day. It was the first
_ time Herman and his lawyer
' had been informed of the
' change in court dates. He
_ also found out that there was
~ a bench warrant ready for his
arrest. The new court date
would be January 20th, he
was told.
When Herman and his
- lawyer went to the Matsqui
ae § court on the 20th, the crown
prosecutor wasn’t present and the Judge, through the
court clerk, told Herman that he “didn’t want to hear In-
dian food fishing cases any more” and told Herman to go
home. But, the problem still remains, what does that
mean for Herman’s case? The Judge didn’t refer the case
to another Judge and he didn’t throw out the case. He
just doesn’t want to hear about it. And, because he didn’t
show up at court, it doesn’t look like the prosecutor
wants to deal with it either.
CL
STNG II
Hunting is — that some Indian people have
been hesitant to do because of the Wildlife Act and the
penalties imposed on Indians. The deer, moose or other
animals which are being hunted are for food for the
family, not necessarily meaning only the immediate
family, but also the extended family. We, as Indians,
have always shared our food in many ways. The point I'll
try to make is who was the Wildlife Act made for? The
answer is, not for Indian people.
We have our own laws which our people have followed
for hundreds of years. We have, and do practice, the
most strict conservation methods today in many parts of
our land. But our laws are not understood or respected by
the white people today. In our forefathers’ time we didn’t
have certain times to go hunting for moose or deer and
we weren’t told how many we could or couldn’t harvest.
We knew how much we needed and when to go to harvest
our foods. We also knew where to hunt, which was
within our tribal boundaries as well as within our
national boundaries. There were and today are areas used
for harvesting food which are used by other tribes within
4 nation. Indian Nations have shared food Babar ie
areas both in hunting and fishing.
The Wildlife Act was drawn up by a people who are
part of a capitalist society who see nothing but money
and will stop at nothing if dollar signs are attached. Our
Indian leaders and people were not a part of making the
rules and regulations in the B.C. Wildlife Act. This is
something that our Elders have tried to tell us. It is now
up to us as Nations to return to our Elders and seek the
knowledge they have, which was passed down to them by
their Elders. We are a Nation that is determined to
become a self-governing body. In order to be respected
and listened to by other nations we have to practise our
ways traditionally, by our laws, which we built. The
beginning of that process will come from talking to our
Elders and sharing and practising the meaning of nation-
hood through our Indian Government. Only then will we
be heard and respected as the original peoples of this
land.
In our struggle for our rights today
INDIAN WORLD 17
Many of you may wonder what BRATS is all about.
We have a name, Best Recreation Activities for Teens.
We were formed about a year ago. -
We are capable young people who are able to carry out
the responsibilities of conducting our own meetings,
deciding what is best for us concerning activities as
teenagers on our reserve and in the community.
_ Membership consists of boys and girls between the ages
of twelve years to sixteen years. Most of us do go to
school, and two of our members have jobs. Our meeting
place is at the small gym at the high school.
INDIAN WORLD 18
1
=
Photo: The BRATS
"Floor is cleared for Tina and Drew. hh do Aw Y
suré [0
R Ad
As a young people’s group we are concerned with a
number of things. We realize that for our age group,
there are a number of kids needing a place to be. Our
reasons for belonging to the BRATS vary:
“I’ve never belonged to a group before.”
“Gives us something to do.”
“To keep kids off the street.”
“My friends were in there,”
“It’s a good place to be.”
“The kids in the group make it nice.”
Our Communite
iS
inrportant
==+EF US
ecause We live there...
We like to travel and go on field trips. Although we’ve
had a couple of disappointing trips. We enjoy ice-skating
at Port McNeill, swimming in Port Hardy, camping, and
going on picnics.
To do any of these we are sure to do our fund raising.
We do it through raffles, bingos and sponsoring dances
for teens and children, We are also involved in fun-nites,
a social gathering in our community. We cater to the
good things that keep us together.
of these. WERE
o OurFundraising
“We as individuals have a wide range of interests: some
of us babysit, play basketball, floor hockey, soccer,
Disco dancing, and watching TV.
Many of us are involved with learning our native
culture, historical legends, language and Indian dancing
at school and through the Kwakwala Arts & Crafts Socie-
ty. ) ,
We are aware that idle time can lead to no good for
Photo: The BRATS
BRATS participating in the May Day Parade. We won
Jirst prize (May 1980).
Photo: The BRATS
5
some of our kids and would like at this time to say that
the club is open for new membership. What you get out
of it is what you put into it. We do not agree that you
should show up only when there is a field trip being plan-
ned, but that you should come to all the meetings.
There are many things needed to function better
_ though. We need a meeting place that we could call our
own, although we know that space is hard to come by.
We need the total support of our community and parents
in all things. Although community plays a very important
role because most of us live there. We are aware that tak-
ing part in what is being planned for the community is
good. For example, we recently took part in a basketball
fun-nite up at our school, and in the near future we are
going to be part of the Volleyball Fun-nite. As a youth
club we own a few things like a stereo, records, T-shirts,
glitterball, canteen stuff, and most of all our bank ac-
count.
natu be thw m8 stringy
One important-event on our calendar is June Sports, a
three day native tournament sponsored by the Nimpkish
Band. We take our turns in running one of the concession
booths.
a 2
* a a Ty
BRATS First Anniversary Celebration. Our first yet
success!
Some of the goals that we will strive for:
to get more members into our club
to get more support from our community
to keep kids from getting into trouble
to visit a place that we’ve never been to before
being able to hold an open dance for the adults
to be participating members of our community
~we will work towards a better Recreation Centre.
We run into problems bur
we always manage +> solve them.
Our sponsor is Honey Jacobson, Recreation Director
of the Nimpkish,
Our President — Andrea Cranmer
Vice-President — Bonnie Alfred
Treasurer — Roberta Harris
Secretary — Angela Brown.
Presently our membership is: Andrea Cranmer, Rober-
ta Harris, Bernice Isaac, Lawrence Isaac, Billy Isaac,
Bonnie Alfred, Andrew Alfred, Shelly Cook, Colleen
Smith, Debra Beans, Arnold Hanuse, Kenny Robertson,
Norine Cranmer, James Taylor, Angela Brown, Sherry
Alfred, Andrea Alfred, Patricia Alfred, William
Wasden, James Humchitt.
Yours in Friendship,
B.R.A.T.S. ~|-
i
INDIAN WORLD 19
AT WHAT COsT?
NISHGAS DEMAND
PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO
AMAX MINING
PRACTICES
On January 15th, 1981, I
attended a meeting in Van-
B.C. between the
couver,
Anglican Church of Canada,
the Nishga Tribal Council F
and the multi-national cor- fs
poration of Amax.
Amax, as all other multina- J
_tionals, stands very firm in
their beliefs that the method |
by which they dispose of all
their effluent,. whether it be
in mining, molybdenum,
uranium or coal, is the very
best and safest for all parties
involved.
The issue at the meeting
was a public inquiry as to
whether or not the methods
of dumping the effluent from
the production of
molybdenum mining into
Alice Arm fishing grounds is
environmentally safe. Amax
claims that we, the Nishga
Indians, have nothing to
fear, that the salmon and
other foods which our people
‘depend on shall not be con-
taminated or, if so, it shall be
very minimal. They have
testified that they are willing
to eat our salmon from the
Nass River for as long as the
mine is in operation. Let us
not forget to remind them of
this statement. High levels of
molybdenum’s uranium-
based by-products in the
water supply is associated
with increased incidences of
cancer, blood diseases, high
blood pressure, digestive
system diseases, and birth
defects. “Let us believe them
and have nothing to fear”?
They gave us information
INDIAN WORLD 20
more meetings.
on the millions of dollars
Amax has spent in creating
an environment that would
be pleasant and comfortable
to the employees of their cor-
poration. Let us remind them
again that all the dollars in|
the world cannot give back to
us what they are taking from
us. They come to us and
speak of their profits. They
say if they can’t make a pro-
fit, the mine would no longer
be operational.
We the Nishga people shall
never be bought off.
. By Reg Percival
On January 22nd, a group of about 120
gathered at the %12 Highway and Upper Hat Creek
Junction to support a position presented to the NDP
Task Force which was touring the Thompson area. Their
position basically was opposition to the project because
of the damage the pollution would cause to the surround-
ing areas which would range in the hundreds of miles.
The position was made jointly by the Indians and non-
Indians of Lillooet. Members from Lillooet Band,
Cayoose Creek Band, Oregon Jack Band, Fountain,
Pavillion, Mt. Currie and Bonaparte were there. Other
groups came from Kamloops, Lytton, Cache Creek,
Ashcroft and Lillooet. The NDP made some statements
favourable to the opposition
members a tour of the Hat Creek Valley and were invited
to a public caucus in Ashcroft to show our slide show on
the effects of a similar coal mine operation in- Montana.
B.C. Hydro is planning to begin-testing the Thompson
River bottom for their pumping station. There will be
__ INDIANS AND NON-INDIANS
7%)” OF HAT CREEK AREA
“~ UNITE TO FIGHT PROJECT.
; oY 4 ‘
sete a
Mh f 7 *
i |
are €
eee ae
people
. We gave the NDP
SUPERTANKER TRIAL
RUN (AFTER ENVIRON-
MENTAL TESTS ARE
CANCELLED)
Since the Fishing Portfolio
first heard of the U.S. Coast
Guard’s plan for a super-
tanker trial run on Puget
Sound in territorial waters of
the U.S., we have been in
contact with the Tribes of
Washington State who have
voiced their concerns which
we support fully.
We realize the potential
dangers to fish stocks. The
river estuaries, shellfish and
marine environment of the
of ah
_J resources, and interferes with
i= | the lives of Indian people. It
eople Jis also a fact that the
es It
would involve bringing the
oil and gas in by barge which
could easily result in an oil
and gas spill. This is a direct
to the marine
C.V.R.D. has dealt very un-
fairly with the Paquachin In-
dian people. :|
Ever since the UBCIC
Fishing Portfolio has been
involved in opposing the pro-
posed industry, officials have
stated it will not harm.
anything; they say, in fact, it
is an asset to the community.
These people _ include
Chevron Canada, C.V.R.D.
and Fisheries representatives.
The decision = whether
Chevron Canada be allowed
or not is in the hands of Bill
Municipalities,
The people of the Pa-
quachin and Cowichan
Bands are planning a
demonstration at the site on
January 30, 1981. F
Puget Sound and Juan de
Fuca Strait have sustained
our peoples for thousands of
years.
A petition has been started
and addressed to Romeo
LeBlanc, Minister of Fisher-
ies and Oceans, on our feel-
ings on a matter which would
have a serious effect on our
dwindling salmon resource
should a massive oil spill oc-
cur.
ene A. Patrick
- SBarK Logging Co., employing 12
‘men at Stoney Creek Indian Band,
has gone broke as a direct result of
DIA meddling. S Bar K found that it
could not operate profitably when the
logging market collapsed at the end
of last summer. The logging opera-
tion manager, Don Liscum, ap-
proached the Band Council with a re-
quest for a lowering of the royalty
paid to the Band. The Council agreed
to lower the royalty, but the DIA
district manager Myler Savill vetoed
the Band Council resolution.
Mr. Liscum then appealed through
his M.P., Lorne McCuish, to the
Minister of Indian Affairs to in-
tervene and allow the Band Council
resolution to stand.. The Minister
agreed. However, the Minister’s deci-
sion was vetoed by the acting director
of reserves and trusts, a bureaucrat in
_ Ottawa. _
Mr. Liscum then asked Mr. Justa
Monk, Chairman of the Carrier-
Sekani Tribal Council, for help. Mr.
Monk, despite his best efforts, could
not help.
Mr. Liscum then went to the
media. The story was in most large
newspapers in British Columbia. The
story was reported in the radio sta-
tions, but the exposure did not have
any effect on the bureaucratic deci-
sion. Except for Mr. McCuish and
Mr. Monk, no politician either white
or Indian volunteered any help. The
Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council passed
a motion that the whole business bet-
ween S Bar K Logging and the DIA
be subjected to an enquiry. Mr.
Monk has asked several Provincial
Indian organizations for help in pur-
suing an enquiry, but to date has had
no response.
Twelve men are out of
work at Stoney Creek. Including the
families of the men, 54 people must
now be supported by Welfare or Un-
= a
Hea < ; taal 3 hag DIA meddles in S Bar employment Insurance. This is one.
hae ence ~ WIAC WORKSHOPS tees K: expensive equip- example of the tragedies that befall
‘Feb, 30h) eoluss at aks Forage Production Seem ment stands idle and Indians of British Columbia who try
Febs 4" - Stone Financial ' ‘Clarence Walkem 12 men are out of to participate in the mainstream. +>
ES BO, like eat work at Stoney Creek.
Feb, 6 Victoria Cul- Gabe Bartleman
tural Centre "
at 10 Kamloops Fineactad Mics Georg? Skddlemai
Feb. ith Berets Follow-up, Manage- JimmyQuaw
ment Training & 4H Ss ‘
Club ir Voters cs
Feb, rh "Chase Financial Management George Saddleman
Feb. 16-18 Redstone Mechanics Clarence Walkem
Feb. 17° Merritt Financial Management George Saddieman
Feb. 18 — Lytton Financial Management George Saddleman
‘Feb. 20 ~~ Oliver Band Orchard Development CecilLouis =|
Hall
Feb. 23-27 Mt. Currie & Farm Financial Mike Joseph
Darey Management
| . Short Course :
Feb, 25-27 Stone Mechanics Clarence Walkem -
Mar. 2-4, Williams Lake Calving Clarence Walkem —
Mar.4 BurnsLake = Follow-up, Manage- Jimmy Quaw
ment Training, Land |
Clearing, 4H .
-Mar.10 Kamloops Field Crops George Saddleman
Mar. 10 Lillooet Home Gardens Mike Joseph
Mar. 11 > Chase Field Crops George Saddieman ong
-Mar-11 SetonLake © Home Gardens Mike Joseph - _ = :
Mar.12 Creston Small Fruit Products, DanGravelle =| — aot
Tree Fruit Products ‘< sii
Photo: A. Patrick
INDIAN WORLD 21;
WE DON’T HAVE TO
TAKE RACIST JOKES
During the past few months a number of incidents of
outright racist attitudes by the medical profession
towards our Indian people have been brought to the at-
tention of the public: in a Winnipeg, Manitoba hospital
last December 3, 1980, a surgeon sewed beads ‘into the
sutures on an Indian woman’s chest as a joke; in our own
province the hospital administrator of a Prince George
hospital openly distributed racist jokes about Indian
employment. These attitudes of the medical profession
towards Indian people have not just sprung up recently,
they began years ago.
The majority of the public think that they, the tax-
payers, are paying for our health care and supporting us.
This is being done subtly by the various government
departments in that we are portrayed as only a social
responsibility. They are totally ignoring our aboriginal
rights.
We are treated as second class citizens, as people who
have no common sense or sensitivity, or as objects by
professional people who make life and death decisions.
We are still categorized in most people’s minds in the
stereotype cigar store wooden Indian.
As an Indian nation we cannot let the non-Indians con-
tinue treating us this way. We cannot let incidents like
these go by. We must take the responsibility in our hands
and show that we are better than second class citizens,
that we are the first and only true citizens of this country
they call Canada.
We must take a serious look at these injustices put
upon us as individuals and stand up to these professionals
who do not respect us as human beings. We cannot
i rie i
tolerate these kinds of ac->— 3
tions any longer, we areata} he National Commit-
crucial period in the history | t¢¢ for Cultural Education
of our Indian natins. We| Centres has removed Indi-
must take a firm stand for} #2 artifacts from the head
the future of our children so| Office of DIA. On Novem-
they may stand proud as In-| °** 7: .
dian Nations. We must let
them know that we refuse
to be a Vanishing Race and| ~**
that we are proud of our}
heritage. DIA ‘employees have put
In the end no one else is} “=***** in the mouths of
going to do anything or care these masks. “For us,”
about these incidents. It’s} Cultural Education Presi-
up to us. It’s up to us if we] dent told the Department’s
want to let these things con-
tinue and be pained, or we
can do something about it.
It may take the law courts,
investigations, enquiries,
but it’s up to us to make the
changes.
INDIAN WORLD 22
A.D.M., “this represents
desecration of sacred ob-
jects”. The way the objects
were displayed also show-
| ed insensitivity. They will
only be returned if they
can be properly respected.
| e-
yy Running sie uie
Short Story by Lawrence Commodore
AN Fog covering the main street of
i ~ | Hi” 6Chilliwack, an early morning fog:
coldness and tears, running down the
} NA yn I fog covered street in the early morn-
ANU il Wi ) ] ing. Behind me, what
I’m running from my drunken father and drunken and
bloody mother; the echo of her screams sounding in
the hotel corridor, down the street, in my mind,
threading through my memory.
I had squeezed through the chain-locked hotel room
door; the chain holding the door against my father’s
angered attempts at entering. Standing behind my
father in the corridor, tears flowing and my body
quivering. My mother pleading, through her bloodied
mouth, for me to phone my grandfather; who would
offer a release from the violence, the madman, and the
drunken insanity in her own head.
Turning, then, and running down the corridor, the
stairs, through the door, down the street, running from
that terror and into the early morning fog. Running
fiercely my shoes smacking the pavement, running past
the closed stores, beer parlour, bus station, running on
into the strange atmosphere of fog. Not knowing where
to go, wanting to phone my grandfather, his phone
number in my pocket, given to me by my mother; but
not knowing how to phone, too small to reach the pay
phone, too frightened to know where to go. The streets
eerie and unfamiliar, the occasional car sounding off in
the distance. My footfalls echoing in the empty streets.
Finding myself by the
VMN =» railway tracks, my breath
coming to me short and
fast, my sides aching;
running across the gravel,
| ikl Nl a ties and nails, to long grass
Ih. \ i) and trees; tripping and
7 i i ( ‘ | falling and laying in
NM AH i exhaustion and feeling, for
a short while; quieted, safe.
Sitting up, resting my back against a tree, my head
resting on my knees; feeling that if I close my eyes and
hide myself, it would all pass — falling into that belief,
forgetting all that has passed—until strangely finding
sleep.
Dreams coming to me and filling my mind like a fog;
confused, disembodied voices yelling and screaming,
faces tight with anger, the fierce destiny of fists;
bloodied mouths, noses, blackened eyes. The whole
dark reality coming together in my mind, building into
a fierce and raucous thundering, as though my head
were about to explode...
Then waking and hearing the dying sound of a train.
Waking and forgetting, the dream going from my |
mind like the train’s sound rumbling off into the
distance: the fog cleared, the sun coming down now
with warmth, filling me with an energy. Gazing about
all
—
_ time we forced o
We went across Canada
as. Indian people, we had heen
ed to the limit. Just like what
pened i in 1969, except
stayed in our oWn.te
‘When we We
back east, we ¥
by a run
the ‘Keepel >
the Western
sacred wayith
and accep
when ® we wer
with represental
the | Ire 00 c
manner, we
be in th
their territo Ys
help. —
f// government.
Washington, toy
. an injustice-ds
> » the justice
The followiai
with Ernest
with TomePe y came
oe Troquois Confederacy
yn
Ny Ni i
and catching sight of a wild
rabbit a distance away; the
rabbit gazing back at me
with large, curious eyes.
Around him, the wild,
strange familiarity of grass,
trees, mountains clearly
defined against the blue
sky. It felt as though I were
HAE r
HAAN P| in
1 get up slowly, cautiously, feeling in me a warmth
and friendliness, calling to the rabbit, its ears pricking
up: its body tensing as I near it; then, darting away
into the long grass, deftly making its way, disappearing
and I feeling no disappointment. Forgetting the rabbit,
walking on into the long grass, cutting across through
the trees, until finding the railway tracks again,
walking along them, feeling that if I follow them they
would lead me somewhere.
Walking on and finding a fascination with the
strange, ugly flowers; large snarled clumps of
blackberry bushes, long grass and trees with paths
leading away. And I stepping away from the tracks,
following the paths, until coming on to backyards,
neighborhoods, playgrounds; turning away, feeling like
an exile from all such areas, turning back, finding and
following the tracks again.
. wer tO one ror their propii
that we, ioe Thundetd
ad ade tof g be a
fe white man. ~~
ji iff Prnded Knee tog 0 Ei pl
Jia
In 1978 the Lemge
place, from Sans ire
bring attention ¢ 0 5 all the the
fespect eae she > ed to”
we By “Derek Wilken, B Nanie Nation
in the garden of a new world.
There was a young adventurer
from the Iroquois people, who
decided to find out where it was
tf that t he Sun went down. He went as
“ far@§ he could on land. When he
néach shed thevend of the land, he sat
2: sore and watched the sun
in the oT He could go no
oe a OW the Su
j
"By Ernie eeueaies Mohawk Nation
Walking on and finding streams, sloughs, going.
down to the streams, throwing stones and watching the
ripple of the water, watching for fish or frogs, snakes.
- or rabbits; the sun coming down with warmth and I
feeling no hunger, no fear, no thirst.
Resting on the tracks and watching the traffic off in
the distance speeding down the 401: cars and trucks in
all colours and styles, with and without racks and E
trailers, the singing of their tires, the whining energy of
their engines sounding clear across the wide fields of
alfalfa. ..all going somewhere, all gleaming in the clear
day.
Walking on, forgetting, coming into more trees and
long grass; until, far away, a faint roar, steadily
building, moving towards me. I standing still, gazing
back and seeing and realizing the fierce sound of a
train, coming into definition, looming larger and
larger, and then I running into the long grass, running
down through the gravel, remembering the whole dark
reality, running past a trickle of a stream, into the wild
green grass; and stumbling and falling, my knees
buckling up to my chest, my forehead pressing against
my knees, feeling that if I held myself in such a way I’d
be safe. The power of the train shaking the earth, and
I remembering and crying and too frightened to run,
while all around me, filling me, the thundering of the
train sounding like life >
INDIAN WORLD 23
Fights For Her
Fishing Camp
For generations the people of the
Sto:lo Nation have fished on their
traditional and hereditary fishing.
grounds along the lower Fraser River.
Traditionally, fishing sites were
handed down through the families
and if a family relinquished its site it
would be taken over by another. This
is how Birdie Peters of the Seabird
Island tribe came into possession of
her site. It is located at Sawmill (5
Mile) Creek, where the creek joins the
Fraser, 5 miles upstream from Yale.
Birdie has her cabin there, her dry-
_racks and her storage shed. She stays
at her cabin for a month or so every
summer and takes what salmon she
and her family need to last them
through the winter. She has fished
along the Fraser for as long as she can
remember.
INDIAN WORLD 24
Fishing statlon—‘‘Private
Property?’’
During the off-season
Birdie travels up to her fishing site
about to sell the land. it was at this
point that our research uncovered the
fact that along the Fraser all but a few
tiny Yale reserves were privately
owned lands. Along the entire 5 mile
strip there are about 9 Yale reserves, 6
parcels of privately owned land and
the rest belongs to the Canadian
Pacific Railway.
Despite all our efforts, the ends was
sold to a man who was planning on
building a retirement home on the
same site where Birdie has her cabin.
During the meeting between the
new owner, the Yale Band, Seabird
Chief, Mrs. Peters and the UBCIC,
the new owner was given the facts and
the history related to the Sawmill
Creek site. His response was that
either a court of law would decide.
who had the rights to the site or he
could sell the land and get rid of his
problem that way. He was quite mad
that neither the Real Estate Agent
who sold him the land, nor the last
owner, told him of the Indian peo-
ple’s claim to fish there. :
in two months time, if the issue has
not been satisfactorily settled, court
action will begin against the Present
Owner.
months
year on a visit to her site she found
the following note on her door:
“This is private property, either get
this cabin off my property or pay
for the use of my land....”
Birdie was shocked. Like the rest of §
the people who fish along 5 Mile, she
had always believed that the shores
were Indian fishing grounds and not
owned by non-Indians. “Who would
want to live there?” she said. “It’s all |
rock and no good for anyone but In-
dians who fish there.”
“‘Owner’’ sells land
The next day the legal people at the
UBCIC were notified of the event and
research began. The owner who left
the note was contacted but he held his ©
ground and demanded that the
“Shack” be removed because he was ,”
THE HISTORY OF THE YALE
FISHERIES
Long before settlers came up the
Fraser River, Indian people have
fished there. About the time when the
railway started coming through and
non-Indians were discovering gold at
Yale, land was being taken up fast by
settlers, especially land along the
banks of the river. The government at
that point realized that if it didn’t
reserve lands for Indian people soon,
it could well have a war on its hands.
The Indian Nations were not taking
lightly to the trespass of their lands.
Reserves allotted
In 1875, the federal and provincial
governments established a Joint
Indian Reserve Commission made up
of 3 men to define and establish
Indian reserves in the more densely
populated regions of the province.
The Commission also allotted grazing
lands, timber lands, water rights and
Indian Fisheries.
By 1877 the Commission was re-
duced, leaving a single man as the
Reserve Commissioner, Gilbert
Sproat. He established and defined
over 300 Indian reserves, most of
-which are still in existence today.
Freeze placed on land
After the meeting it was decided
that the only way to stop him from
selling the land was to file a caveat
(freeze) against the property which
would stop any transfer from taking
place. _
On n Tuesday, January 13, we filed a
caveat in the name of the Yale Band
und Mrs. Peters, claiming: an ease-
ment over the land, and the exclusive
right to use and occupy the fishing
Station, including the right to place
permanent and temporary
encampments on the land and the
exclusive right to fish.
Sto:lo Indians mis-named.
In August 1897, Sproat travelled
up the Fraser and allotted reserves
_and fisheries for the many tribes of
the Sto:lo Nation. At that time the
head Chief of this area was from the
Yale tribe and Sproat, without the
full understanding of the tribal gov-
ernment, called the Sto:lo Nation
“Yale Indians of the Lower Fraser
District,” and each of the other tribes
he labelled “sub-groups.” Sproat,
aware of the Indian dependency on
salmon, established three major
groups of fisheries: four small fishing
reserves for the Hope Indians, four
_ & the Yale Band
for the “Union-Bar Sub-Group of the
Yale Indians,” and the Yale Fishing
grounds which he described as
follows:
Yale Indians: Lower Fraser District
The right of these Indians and
those who have resorted to the Yale
fisheries from time immemorial to
have access to and to encamp upon
the banks of the Fraser River----
on both banks of the river for 5
miles up from Yale
Birdie Peters’ site is situated at the tip
of this 5 mile strip.
Land cut-off called redefinition
Then in 1916 the Royal Commis-
sioner on Indian Affairs (McKenna
McBride Commission) reduced the 9
small reserves from 107.5 acres to
58.18 acres. This reduction was not
listed as a cut-off, but merely a redef-
inition.
This.is how the banks of the Fraser
River, along the 5 Mile fishing
grounds of the Sto:lo Nation got
alienated, and where Mrs. Peters’
problem stems from,
Squabble over fishing rocks
In 1904, A.W. Vowell was the In-
dian Reserve Commissioner. for the
province of B.C. and it was at this
time that individual members of dif-
ferent tribes of the Sto:lo Nation who
fished at 5 mile, began to squabble
over who had “ownership” over fish-
ing rocks. The Chiefs of the area,
being unable to settle the matter
amongst themselves, petitioned to
Ottawa and requested the help of the
Department of Indian Affairs to
settle the matter. ,
Reserve Commissioner Vowell was
then directed by Ottawa to go up to
Yale and settle the dispute between
the Indians. Vowell, although aware
of the Sproat allotment of the 5 Mile
fishery, completely disregarded it and
instead allotted 9 tiny fishing reserves
to the Yale Band. Basically what he
did then was to reduce the entire 5
¥Mile fishing ground of the Sto:lo
§ Nation down to 9 little fishing re-
"userves consisting of 107.5 acres for
Sy!
INDIAN WORLD 25
=_
tie.
7a
By: The Native Courtworker and Counselling Association
On January 1, 1981, the Native Courtworker and
Counselling Association of B.C. will enter the second
year of its training project. During the past year, the
Association has developed a comprehensive training
curriculum for both prospective employees of the Asso-
ciation and those persons presently employed by the
N.C.C.A. The training program was initiated in response
to a need which was identified by the Association for
quality training which could occur in conjunction with
practical, on-the-job employment experiences. With the
assistance of funding from the Employment and Immi-
gration Department of the Federal Government, the
Association was able to establish a curriculum develop-
ment team.
During the past year, the team has developed training
materials on a variety of topics, all of which relate to the
training needs of Native Courtworkers and persons
employed in social service-type jobs. The topics have
been grouped under seven general headings:
Counselling, Legal Training, Education and
Prevention, Teaching Life Skills, Basic Office Practice,
_ Prison Lidison Work, and Consumer Education.
Each ‘module’, as the headings are called, contains a
Learner’s Manual, an Instructional Manual and a
Trainer’s Manual. The Instructional Manual contains the
training content; the Learner’s Manuel contains learning
activities which aid the learner in mastering the
instructional material. The third manual is for the use of
the person who is responsible for overseeing the learner’s
progress through the training material.
Each person entering the training program will be pre-
tested in all of the subject areas. This will allow for the
design of an individualized training curriculum for each
person. The learner will only have to receive training in
those areas in which the pre-tests indicate training is
necessary. In short, the training program takes advantage
of the skills and experiences that the learner already
possesses, with the idea of helping the learner to meet the
requirements of his or her employment. In’addition, the
Association is prepared to work closely with any prospec-
tive employer to identify the skills which a particular job
may require. If the employer tells the Association the job
which is available and what the person filling that job
should be able to do, then appropriate training material
can be made available. The Association is also prepared
INDIAN WORLD 26
= TRAINING NATIVE
COURTWORKERS
to supervise such training if that is ; the preference of the
employer.
The training program of the Association uses the so-
called ‘distance-education’ approach to the delivery of
training. Distance education basically means that the
training is taken to the learner and not the other way
around, The learner is allowed to work independently
through the training material at his or her own pace, with
the assistance, when required, of a trainer. The
advantage of a distance education is that the learner
doesn’t have to leave his or her home in order to receive
training. Rather, training can occur at the person’ s place
of residence. This is practical, not only from an economic
standpoint, but also in terms of the obligations and
responsibilities which often make it extremely difficult
for an adult to leave home in order to take training.
One of the central concerns of the N.C.C.A. training
project is to improve employment opportunities for adult
Native Indian people. As such, the Association has taken
it upon itself to both recruit prospective learners and to
place those persons in positions of full-time employment
once their training has been completed. Some of the
learners will gain employment with the Association.
Others will be placed in other positions in the social
service area, possibly with Native Indian Organizations,
Bands or Government agencies.
A requirement of the Federal Government’s funding is
that the training will be made available, at the cost only
of the training materials, to any unemployed adult Native
Indian. In addition, the Government has agreed to pay
the salaries of ten persons for a period of six months
while they take their training. It is expected that the first
ten people will begin training on July 1, 1981.
While the training is occurring, the learners will be
expected to assume employment responsibilities with
either the Association or with other employers. This will
allow the learner to gain practical employment experience
along with his or her training.
The training project of the Association is unique in
Canada because of the combination of distance learning,
employment experience, and the emphasis on job
placement. The curriculum content is
suitable for training anyone who is employed, or who is
seeking employment, in social service-type jobs. -
‘‘MORE THAN
BOWS
AND ARROWS”
Review by Reg Percival
Produced by: Cinema Associates, Inc.
Written by: Ron Forcell
Directed by: Roy Williams
Narrated by: N. Scott Momaday
Dreamspeaker, a National Film Board production,
deals with a young runaway who cannot cope with being
locked up in an institution so he runs away. He is
befriended by an old Indian and his companion. The
young boy is eventually captured. The old man dies. His
companion, unable to cope without the old Indian,
commits suicide and the young boy hangs himself.
Cold Journey, another National Film Board
production, deals with an Indian boy in a residential
school, with which he can’t cope. The Department of
Indian Affairs is experimenting with a boarding home
program in which the young Indian is placed. This he
cannot cope with either, so he runs away and steals a
snowmobile. With the stolen vehicle he visits a friend
who is a trapper. The runaway tries his luck at being a
trapper, at which he is a total failure. He is eventually
brought back to the residential school by the police,
where he is told that he is going to be sent away to reform
school. He doesn’t approve of this so he runs away again,
only to freeze to death in the middle of winter along
railway tracks.
Throughout the history of the motion picture in North
America, Indians have been subjected to very cruel and
malicious treatment. We have been characterized as being
savage, drunk, lazy and incompetent. This list is by no
means complete, though it does bring to mind the images
that have been brought to the screen, and interpreted by
the millions of people who frequent the movie houses as a
true characterization of our people. Although there have
also been numerous films portraying Indians in a much
more favourable light, these films still tend to portray a
very negative image of Indians in today’s society.
I feel as many young Indian people in today’s changing
world, that the only recourse we have to change the
negative images that portray us in that manner, is
through the very medium which is largely responsible for
this. This medium is the motion picture.
One such film is More Than Bows and Arrows. Al-
though this film is an American production, it projects
the very image that historians throughout the ages have
reserved for their counterparts, one of a Conquering
Hero. I believe that this film is the flip side of the coin, as
far as North American history is concerned. It deals with
‘very positive images of Indians before and after
European contact. This film shows the contributions we
have made to the development of medicine, drugs, archi-
tecture, agriculture, science, urban development, envir-
onmental use, transportation, show business and even to
form of government (U.S.) and national destiny.
For example there is an interview with the descendants
of the Iroquois chiefs who helped draft the first state
within a state government in North America. They tell
how Benjamin Franklin consulted with the League of
Five Nations before drafting documents that led to the
United States democratic republic.
Today’s menu includes many vegetables and grains
first grown by Indians, suchas the white potato. This was
unknown to the Europeans until contact but has
somehow become labelled as the Irish potato.
This film takes approximately 56 minutes to show, is in
colour, and is tailored for audiences from the upper
elementary grades through college and for people of all
ethnic backgrounds
I would highly recommend that this film be used and
shown in workshops or classrooms of all ethnic peoples,
of all ages.
This film may be rented or purchased from:
Cinema Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 9237
Seattle, WA 98109
Phone: (206) 622-7378
All Indian Bands in B.C. have free use of this fi Im f from:
Resource Centre
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
440 W. Hastings St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6B IL1
Phone (604) 684-0231 .
Please do not hesitate to contact us for a complete list
of films and video cassettes we have concerning Indians.
INDIAN WORLD 27
-UP-DATE
PETER JOHN — FISHING CASE
Peter John was charged with illegally fishing in the
Fraser River with two nets.
He was found guilty by Judge Vamplew after lengthy
arguments. However, his sentence was suspended and his
fishing net was ordered returned. The judge did stress, as
have other judges recently, that the issue was not one to
be solved by the courts but that rather it was a complica-
ted political issue that obviously should be dealt with in
the political arena.
SPOTTED LAKE
Negotiations between the DIA, on behalf of Indian
people, and the owners of Spotted Lake for the return of
the sacred medicine lake to the Indian people, have been
delayed until the property value was appraised. The
family of the late Ernie Smith, former owner, refused to
allow any officials or Indian people on to the land.
However, the appraisal was finally completed in the first
week of January and negotiations can now go ahead.
On the second front, Mrs. Smith has hired a lawyer to
put us on notice to speed things up. She can’t receive any
benefits from her property because of the lease pendance
we put on the property to protect it from being rezoned
into a commercial tourist resort. That rezoning
application has been submitted again to Minister Vander
Zalm and is due to be heard very shortly.
INDIAN CHILD CARAVAN
Chief Wayne Christian will be meeting with DIA
Regional Director Walchli to confirm and develop
further the transfer payments so that Bands will have
complete control of child welfare funds. He is negotiating
the same kind of agreement that the Indian Child
Caravan forced from the Provincial Government last
October. The meeting will be held in Vancouver January
22nd,
CHILD WELFARE WORKSHOP PLANNED
BY CANADIAN INDIAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION
The CILA is holding a three day National Workshop
on Indian Child Welfare Rights in Regina, Saskatchewan
from March 18 to 20, 1981 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel.
INDIAN WORLD 28
The Workshop is being held in conjunction with the
Annual Cultural Week sponsored by the Saskatchewan
Indian Federated College. At a similar workshop held in
April, 1980, there was a recommendation that the CILA
study various provincial legislation. Another recommen-
dation suggested an increase in inter-agency communica-
tion, awareness and understanding and the clarification
of jurisdiction. CILA will be making presentations on
these matters.
CILA will be arranging for resource people who can
give examples of possible alternatives which Indigenous
peoples can pursue in the area of Indian children’s rights.
Ms. Nancy Tuthill is an expert on the Indian Child
Welfare Act, 1978 which has given back to Tribal Coun-
cils jurisdiction over Indian children in New Mexico. Ms.
Tuthill will present an analysis as to how it meets the
Canadian situation. The CILA has also been in contact
with Chief ‘Wayne Christian of the Spallumcheen Band,
B.C.
At the current time CILA does not have sufficient
finances to sponsor delegates and is encouraging all con-
cerned Indigenous peoples and associations, Indian Gov-
ernments and Social Service Agencies, private and gov-
ernmental, to sponsor delegates. Those Indigenous
organizations that are not core-funded should neverthe-
less attempt to attend and if finances become available to
CILA they will help cover all or part of delegates’
expenses.
—_
There is no registration fee. However, only 70 rooms
have been booked at the Sheraton Centre, therefore the ~
CILA encourages those Indigenous peoples who are
attending to contact them so that arrangements can be
made for hotel reservations.
For more information please contact Clem Chartier,
President, Canadian Indian Lawyers Association OR
Sharon F. Carrier, Coordinator, Student Services,
Saskatchewan Indian Federated College, at the following
address:
C-4, Classroom Building,
University of Regina,
REGINA, Saskatchewan,
S48 0A2
(306) 584-8333
INDIAN WORLD ADVERTISING RATES
AND DATA
Black and White:
Full outside back cover $400.00
Full inside covers 350.00
Full page 300.00
2/3 page 260.00
1/2 page 200.00
1/3 page 160.00
1/4 page 115.00
1/8 page 75.00
Black plus colour: $75 for each additional colour.
Camera-ready ‘copy preferred—25% surcharge for art-
work and typesetting.
Four colour process extra—colour separations must be
supplied: $475.00.
Payment to be made within 30 days of billing.
Deadline: All advertising material must be submitted by
the 15th of each month for insertion in the following
issue.
GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE. B.C. INDIAN
RODEO AND EXHIBITION ASSOC! TATION
To administer the overall activities of the Association.
To hire and supervise staff.
To set up and maintain the accounting and record
keeping.
-To maintain ongoing contact with local rodeo groups,
| various government departments and agencies. .
To prepare the operating budget of the Association
and to arrange an adequate level of funding.
Salary: To be negotiated.
Closing Date: February 20, 1981.
Send applications and resumes to ICG
_ 225-744 W. Hastings, Vancouver, V6C 1A5 (682-7615)
ia a Public Service Fonction publique
Canada Canada
NATIVE RECRUITMENT
These positions are open to both men and women who
are residents of the province of British Columbia.
In 1978 the federal government announced the details of
its policy to increase the representation of people of
Native Indian and Inuit ancestry in Canada’s Federal
Public Service.
Since the announcement of the Native Employment
Policy, significant numbers of Native Indian, Metis,
Non-Status Indian and Inuit people have found
challenging and rewarding careers in the Federal Public
Service.
What follows is a list of job categories in the Federal
Public Service and the types of positions in each cate-
gory.
1. Technical:
—ship’s officer, photographer, radio operator, hospi-
tal technician, draftsman,
2. Operational:
— firefighter, printer, heavy equipment operator, cor-
rectional officer, woodworker, vehicle maintenance
worker.
3. Administrative Support:
—telex operator, secretary, computer CPeratoy, data
processor, bookkeeper.
4, Scientific and Professional:
— social worker, teacher, forestry officer, nurse. |
5. Administrative and Foreign Services:
—translator, personnel administrator, financial ad-
ministrator, information officer.
6. Executive:
— variety of senior executive positions.
These are not the only positions available. There are
many more and a great number of these positions involve
work promoting the interests of Native Indian and Inuit
people.
If you are interested in employment in either the Opera-
tional or Administrative Support categories we encourage
you to make your application at your nearest Canada
Employment Centre. Many of these centres have Native
Employment Officers on staff. You can also obtain
advice and assistance regarding your application from a ~
Native Outreach worker in your area.
The Public Service Commission of Canada plays the key
role in the recruitment and referral of Native Indian,
Metis, Non-Status Indian, and Inuit people to positions.
in government through its advertising and maintenance
of an applicant inventory.
At this time the Public Service Commission is attempting
to build up the number of applications from Native
People in its inventories. Referrals to positions in the
Technical, Scientific and Professional, Administrative
and Foreign Services and Executive categories are made
from these inventories.
If you are interested in employment in any of the categor-
ies listed above, except for the Operational and Admin-
istrative Support categories, we want to hear from you.
In order to get into our inventories we require that you
fill out a Public Service Commission application form
which you can obtain from any Canada Employment
Centre. We ask that you also include a resume with your
application.
Upon receipt of your application and resume we will
assess your qualifications and advise you whether or not
you have been included in our inventories.
Send your application and resume to:
Ernie W. Crey, Coordinator of
Native Employment, B.C. District,
Public Service Commission of Canada
313-1575 W. GeorgiaSt. Vancouver, B.C. V6G 3A6
INDIAN WORLD 29
CHIEFS COUNCIL
“If We’re A Nation We Have To Act
Chiefs Council met at the UBCIC office January 4
and 8. Representatives met in the evenings because of two
other meetings being held at the same time, the DIA’s
Regional Management Committee, concerning new fun-
ding formula and the National Indian Brotherhood spon-
sored five day Think Tank of the newly formed Council
of Chiefs .
Finance committee organized
The administrator presented the financial report for
the first two quarters. It was suggested that the UBCIC
set up a finance committee with both Union staff and
people from the Bands, to look at becoming more finan-
cially independent, less reliant on government funding,
and with funds at our disposal to organize such urgent
events as the Constitution Express and the Indian Child
Caravan. Fund-raising ventures will be taking a more im-
portant role, the next one being a Buffy St. Marie concert
in Vancouver. All proceeds will go towards the Indian
Constitution Express, A few of the district represen-
tatives added that donations will also be sent in towards
the Express from their areas. Chiefs Council passed a
resolution to allow formation of a finance committee and
decided on Dennis Patrick, vice-president for the Nor-
thern Region, as chairman.
DIA interfering In Indian politics
Chief Tom Sampson reported to Chiefs Council on the
DIA meeting called, it was said, to discuss organizational
funding. He was worried that the DIA had used it to
ratify the whole DIA operational budget, to “sanction
and rubber-stamp the Department’s activities”. District
and Tribal Council representatives had voted to set up a
Task Force to adjust this budget, to place the money
where needed. However, members of Chiefs Council felt
that by establishing a “bottom-line” budget, deciding on
the money and then finding the problems, the Depart-
ment was taking political decisions in economic matters.
Another closed vote had determined that organizational
funding go directly to Band Councils. Chiefs Council
agreed that Bands should decide who they wish to sup-
port.
However, the Council emphasized the concern that this
was a case where the Regional Director had interfered
again in Indian politics. By throwing the allotted amount
to those present, and having them decide on how to
divide the dollars between organizations through a ma-
jority vote, they felt he was trying to split the Indian peo-
ple. They saw this as a familiar divide and conquer tactic.
INDIAN WORLD 30
Like One”
They felt all organizations have a right to survive and that
DIA has no right to try such strategies to shut any down
through lack of funds.
Chief Bill Roberts asked how come, after the
unanimous vote at the October Assembly, Walchli was
still there. The Minister continues to respond to such
questions that he has utmost confidence in Mr. Walchli’s
abilities to serve the politics and policies of the govern-
ment he serves. Chiefs Council continued to assert that he
sure doesn’t serve those of the Indian people.
Legal views on nationhood
The Legal Task Force reported on the work concerning
the Constitution crisis that’s been done in the past few
months and some of the options that are possible in the
future. One of the strongest points which came out of the
discussion that followed was about Nationhood. “Before
any country aids us in becoming internationally recogniz-
ed, we’re going to have to prove we are serious — we must
conduct ourselves as a nation would!”
Legal Research found that not all foreign nations, such
as the peoples of Tanzania, achieved nationhood status in
the United Nations through an application or other such
red tape. They simply acted as a nation, declared
themselves as such to the world, and eventually were
recognized.
It was pointed out that some Bands are already practic-
ing*nationhood by forming trade alliances with other
countries. Salmon, clams, oolichans, roe, other foods, as
well as crafts are being sold.
Constitution Express gathering planned
Bob Manuel led a discussion on how he perceived Na-
tionhood, as it was expressed to him by the people who
travelled on the Constitution Express train to Ottawa. He
also presented to Chiefs Council a draft declaration of
the Constitution Express, based on Indian sovereignty
and nationhood. He expressed the need for gatherings of
the people who made the journey to Ottawa, as well as
any others, to further discuss nationhood and to have the
declaration officially endorsed as the Declaration of the
Constitution Express.
The Shuswap Nation will be having their gathering at
the Kamloops Residential School on March 27 to 29. In-
formation will be going out to all those who travelled on
the Express, and to all Bands. Everyone will have to pay
their own expenses but everyone is welcome to attend.’
I THINK...
by Lynn Jorgensen
Editor ‘<. Indian
Reprint ro} e Pipe,” Jan. 81.
The vi caus Meeting held November 30th to
December 2nd i was a turbulent, exhilarating
y debate. Once again, two
ndian people until intro-
heart because of the
ing that occurred.
Perhaps the
gence of traditio
political force. Reserv
and bureaucrats they
game-— it’s time to try some
Further, as in other Can
seems to be a distinct political
north and south. In southern Canada w
function with a non-native majori
brothers don’t have that problem, as t
non-native population and retain grea
their traditional territory.
In the west, Indian people still bear fresh ps
scars from the last wave of colonialism and
assimilation which swept across the continent.
political movements are very bitter, aggressive and-o
spoken.
Back east, Indian people have been dealing with non-
natives for something like 300 years and have developed a
great deal of political sophistication as a result. This has
been misinterpreted by their western counterparts, who
accuse them of being “whitewashed”, sellouts or worse.
This is not always the case. They’ve simply learned
subtler methods of achieving their goals. Clever manipu-
lation and diplomacy are usually more effective weapons
than a bludgeon to the head, though each method has its
time and place.
If we can learn to use the energy and vitality of the
western nations in harmony with the qualities eastern
nations have to offer, we will be ten times closer to estab-
lishing ourselves as equals to other groups in Canada—
and get recognition from those groups as such. In
addition, efforts must be made to include Inuit
participation in this political rebirth.
There was also a certain undercurrent of scorn toward
those politicians who looked white, dressed white or
talked white. This is counter-productive. Native people
are masters of disguise, at blending in with their
environment, whatever their environment may be.
Just as one wouldn’t dream of judging a person merely
on the basis of some physical deformity, one should
never discriminate against our paler brothers and sisters.
A person may have European features, but you cannot
know by this what they have in their heart. Though not as
common as in the past we all know of someone with
strong Indian physical characteristics who was ashamed
of their heritage and hid behind another racial identity.
Another difference which wasn’t fully explored in
debate during the assembly was now different nations
view their descendants of mixed blood. British Columbia
and northern Canada Indians don’t reject their children,
no matter what their origin or percentage. An individual
of mixed blood may decide to follow their European
heritage and merge with Canadian society in general.
However, a person may be strongly influenced by their
native origins, and these are accepted by their relatives
and other native people as Indians (though this accep-
tance may not extend as far as allowing them to live on
reserve land).
In other areas, where the Hudson’s Bay Company held
a firm sway, Metis and half-breeds were used as inter-
mediaries and manipulated by the HBC into believing
they were different from, somehow superior to, their
Indian ancestors. Thus the two groups fiercely maintain
ir separateness to this day.
e€ can Overcome some of these prejudices and
he concept — use these descendants of white and
ntage as intermediaries for natives to deal
le, we will have added a powerful weapon
No matter how much independence is
Indian government comes into effect
will always need intermediaries to
ating to watch British MP and
rge speak to the chiefs. It
of impact how unsophis-
anadian federal politi-
are elected in outlying
d by default, our
re parochial and
re encouraged
times we live in
aboriginal peoples a’
each other. We have to mee
meet often. We have to locate a capit
legislative building with plenty of room to accommodate
observers as well as politicians. And our leaders must not
be handicapped in the decision-making process by
financial and time limitations.
Anything truly worthwhile takes time and effort to
accomplish, and is worth waiting for. This is something
our ancestors knew—this is something we have to
remember. mae
INDIAN WORLD $1
Thoughts on Nationhood
“All people have got to
relate to each other
through the land...”
_ By Wilfred Pelletier
Wilfred Pelletier, Elder from the Ojibway Nation, was
co-ordinator of the Nishnawbe Institute and Indian
Education and Cultural Centre. Author of the Book No
Foreign Land, Wilfred is currently involved with ecology -
and the restoration of traditional Indian beliefs and
customs. —
I really believe that nationhood has to do with several
things. Anything called a nation through Indian eyes
doesn’t involve the present political aspects of things. For
example, sovereignty, which is a word that has no mean-
ing without taking action. If there is action then
sovereignty is meaningful.
A people that are a nation have a definite relationship
to land. It isn’t just a matter of trying to form a nation
which is a government. It is much more than that, It
means that all the people in a nation have got to relate to.
each other through the land and through a concept of
cultural values that has a meaning to the people.
_ I don’t think it’s possible right now for the native peo-
ple who are so segregated and segmented across the land,
to have one solid nation in this country. Secondly, even if
we talk about that in terms of the native people, who are
attempting to have a nation, my view is they’re not using
their relationship with the land, but all the other values
and structures of this society that are foreign to them.
Some don’t speak their own language, they don’t consider .
their children on to the next seven generations, but they
are looking to settle issues now, here and now. I just
don’t see that as possible. |
So I think there’s more to nationhood than what the
people are talking about. As I heard it at the last all-
chiefs conference, they said they wanted a nation, to bea
nation of people. That means that the young people go-
ing to various institutions will have to stop going. They
will have to learn a whole value structure to their way of
life, all tied in with the land, to the trees, to the animals,
all the creatures that roam this land, the fish in the water,
and the skies. A nation isn’t just something you can talk
about, because with it there is supposed to be sovereign-
ty. But sovereignty you cannot get unless you take the
steps necessary to ensure it.
INDIAN WORLD 32
One reality that I see is that the Canadian people will
not allow a nation within a nation. | think that’s probably
because we would want sovereignty with it. What is a na-
tion without sovereignty?
The vision of nationhood is so great that this is not
likely to happen in the near future. Should it bear fruit in
the years ahead, it can only be because the course has
been altered by government and the Indian people
themselves. The way I see it Indian organizations have
been gradually selling out our traditional ways.
‘There is now more than ever the need for the values
. and customs that strengthened our nations in the past. I
see many divisions in our people that have come from
playing that white man’s game. Nationhood can be a
reality but I see many fundamental changes in our think-
ing and our present ways.
“The threads-that have
held our Nations .
together. have become
stout cords. .:”’
By Ernie Benedict
Ernie Benedict from the Mohawk Nation currently
resides in St. Regis and is an Elder in residence with the
National Indian Brotherhood.
At this time of my life, when I had begun to look back
often and long, and the failures and sorrows of the past
had begun to cloud my vision. A great change took place
all around me. Here and there were fresh signs that the
long winter of our sorrow could only delay, could not
prevent the new life that must show itself.
Indeed each layer of snow has recorded the tracks of
those creatures who found their place in the cycle of time,
who did not see the hardships, who saw only opportuni-
ty. Those who kept awake and braved the cold’ darkness
and loneliness to bring to their society some megsure of
comfort.
Each of our nations produced their leadeté: from
among their own members at the times of their. ‘Bteatest
need. Each of these heroes inherited seemingly impossible
tasks. Each bore a burden of responsibility for the con-
tinuation of his nation, and in many struggles of internal
strength and weakness they have led us to survival.
Then there were other events. There was the mass ap-
peal to the British Parliament and to the diplomats of
many nations of the world, no longer were we to be ig-
nored,
The threads that held our nations together became
stout cords. The conference of the first nations are fast
becoming the full voice of a united people. We have been
forced to lengthen our stride to the limit in order to
overstep the pitfalls in this new pathway of politics. We
have indeed awakened to a new day of danger, but with
each danger and each new day, there is new opportunity.
During the time when we were nestled in our small
shelters, suffering the pains of forces against which we
seem to be unprotected, we tested our eternal ally, our
mother the earth, the creatures of the universe, seen and
un-seen, and the creator of all things. We have an advan-
tage that no other people living in our land can match.
We have lived here, where our creator has made us, out
‘of the earth that supports our feet. We have preserved
that earth and have given it honour and gratitude. We
have stayed on this earth as the exploiters have attacked
and ruined her. We have shared her pain, and her shame.
That is the message we must proclaim by every means
that we can command. Let us tell our spokesmen that
they are not to forget their origins on this earth. Let us
tell the exploiters that the earth can be their mother too,.
in so far as they would give her honour and gratitude. Let
us all show how the love we have for the creator is proved
by the respect we have for every part of his creation. Yes,
there is still life at the roots of the tree, there is life in the
seeds that are stored for the spring. There is life in the
animal brothers, stirring about. There is new life in our
orators, in the councils of government. Let us each one
prepare to be a helper in the new season in the cycle of
our history.
INDIGENOUS NATIONS FORUM
The World Council of Indigenous Peoples is planning
to hold their 3rd General Assembly, April 27-May 1, 1981
in Canberra, Australia.
WCIP is an international organization, founded in
1975 at Port Alberni, B.C. to fight for the rights of all in-
Indigenous Freedom Now
Theme of the Third Annual Assembly of the
World Council
of Indigenous Peoples
in Canberra, Australia
n April to Ist May, 19§
The conferet dea
strategies
around the world.
It will be an opp get to know people
from all over the v d to make business
contacts with other Na Plans are being made
for a trip tg boriginal H ands in Central
Australiz the calferenci
Travel arrangeni@itseateebe
phone 682-7615 for..intormat on costs and
itineraries, ete Wea 502 le to advise on
stopovers and holidays during your trip.
ts and
h Indj
people
handled by ICG,
An Indian-
owned general
development |
consulting
group
digenous peoples. George Manuel, President of the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, is also the President of the
WCIP and has been since the organization’s beginning.
Indian people from Canada are urged to attend this in-
ternational conference in order to gain support for our
struggle here in Canada. The Assembly will be the most
important event in the history of this young organization.
The theme of the conference is Indigenous Freedom
Now, and will deal with strategies for the liberation of in-
digenous nations around the world and with the ideology
and philosophy of our organization. Elections for Presi-
dent and Executive will be held.
National Aboriginal Conference of
Australia arranging cultural events
The Assembly will provide a varied range of oppor-
tunities for both delegates and observers in Sydney and
Canberra. The conference is an excellent opportunity to
meet people of other nations and to make possible inter-
“national trade contacts.
The WCIP has developed largely through the commit-
ment, leadership, and hard work of Indians in Canada.
The support of Indian Nations throughout both B.C. and
Canada is needed to build international support.
Funding and costs ;
The Indian Consulting Group of Vancouver has been
engaged to handle travel arrangements. The approximate
cost for air fare and accommodations is $2,000.00. ICG
is also hoping to raise some funds to assist drummers,
singers and dancers in attending the conference. Indian
Nations in B.C. are urged to start fund raising now if
they wish to send representatives to this important inter-
national conference.
More information on the WCIP General Assembly can
| be obtained from Rod Jeffries at the UBCIC office
(604-684-0231) or Marie Marule, WCIP Secretariat at the
University of Lethbridge in Lethbridge, Alberta
(403-329-2638). +
INDIAN WORLD 33
EDITORIAL
Self-sufficiency has become an important part of
Indian politics in the past few years. To see Indian
Government as a reality, we will have to once again
rely on our own resources. Nationhood can’t fully
come into being until the people become dependent
only on themselves and their communities.
We at the Indian World magazine are also trying to
do our part in becoming self-sufficient and self-
dependent. Because of present circumstances, much of
the production and distribution of the magazine is
done by companies outside our office. We depend on
those companies’ services for our existence. However,
we are moving away from having to depend on others.
A few months ago we opened our darkroom, and we
now produce virtually all of our own photographs. We
can now get exactly the photos we want, when we need
them and done the way we need.
We are now taking that one step further. We hope to
_ do some limited contact work for Bands or individuals
who want photographs processed. The idea behind this
is to make enough money to cover the cost of
darkroom materials that must be purchased every
month, At that point, at least one area of our office
will be self-sufficient. It’s a beginning.
However, there are other costs which include
printing, mailing, typesetting, salaries and others.
There are two ways by which those costs can be recov-
ered—advertising and paid subscriptions. Although
thousands of Indian people receive copies of Indian
World each month, the number of people who actually
pay for the magazine, is quite a bit less!
Part of the reason is that last year we began
receiving Band mailing lists and sending one-year free
subscriptions to each home. We’re now asking them to
I
N
INDIAN WORLD 34
pay the eight dollars for the coming year. Payment of
subscriptions will lead us to self-sufficiency.
In the past, we’ve taken very little advertising. There
were times we had to turn down the advertising that we
were offered, for example from the DIA and Federal
Fisheries. We feel that because we are working for the
Indian people, we can’t take any advertising from a
company or body which is in direct conflict with the
Indian people. We believe that we would be compro-
mising the position of our employers, the people. The
credibility of our magazine would also suffer.
There are many businesses and groups which would
be able to advertise their services or goods in the
Indian World magazine. Many people, for instance,
use the small coastal airlines and water transportation
to get around and to get supplies. Advertising,
possibly of the companies’ schedules and prices, might
help those Indians. Advertising concerning farming
equipment, fishing supplies, employment opportuni-
ties, building supplies and other services could be suit-
able for Indian World, and could benefit Indian
people.
Because we haven’t the staff to deal with soliciting
advertising, we hope to be able to depend on some of
you to handle it. We’re now looking for a few Indian
people to find advertisers willing to buy space in
Indian World magazine.
The person selling advertising space would receive a
percentage of the cost of the advertising sold. This
commission is 20%. The advertiser, the ad seller and
' [Indian World can all benefit. (See page 27 for details.)
By way of paid subscriptions and more advertising,
Indian World hopes to get on the same path as the
many Bands which have been working so hard towards
self-sufficiency. With your help we can see success.
Darrell Ned, E ditor.
a7
(from page 2.)
Quite the concert!
On the fourth day we had a
concert and many people shared
their songs, guitar picking and
comedy acts with us. One part of the
show that many people will never
forget is the “Computer dates”. Half
of the people in the act did not know
that they were going to be called on
to entertain people. The first lucky
fellow to be called up to meet his
“dream date” was Derek Wilson.
We told the crowd that Derek had
sent in an application for a compu-
ter match-up and had requested an
“old farmer’s wife type” that’s what
the computer gave him in the form
of an eight year old girl stuffed with
pillows. She came wiggling out on
stage and dropped her hanky in an
effort to attract her date’s attention.
Derek, being the gracious man that
he is, told his date to pick up her
own hanky. She did so with great
difficulty and Derek wouldn’t even
help her up off the floor from where
she couldn’t rise due to her plump-
ness. No wonder you meeded a
computer to match you up Derek!!
Dorothy Jeff told our imaginary
computer that she wanted a man
that needed her to look after him
and support him so the computer
gave her the social outcast named
Egor. Dorothy didn’t quite mean
someone that needy and tried to run
away from her computer date, but
Egor persistently followed her all
over the stage. When they finally
got together everyone was happy.
George Abbot was paired off witha
“lady of the evening” and acted as if
he’d been working his whole life
long to meet his computer date.
John Jules was matched up with
Miss Twinkle Toes—a very shy and
timid girl that he had to drag on
stage even to get a look at her. Barry
Wilson apparently wanted someone
who could give good hickies so he
got Miss Dracula who went straight
for his meck. There were many
others from the audience that were
called up to meet one character or
another and they did so willingly.
We'd like to thank them for taking
part in that act—if they didn’t there
would have been no act.
A
Another act was Dean and Jerry.
The two of them put on a fine per-
formance that had everyone in
stitches — who said Indian humour is
dead?
**Our Traditional Story”’
The play was performed by the
young dancers of the Lillooet area.
The story began in 1492 when the
first white man came here .
We showed the
times when the government in Great
Britain respected and recognized us
as a Nation of people and made
legal agreements with us to prove.
We showed how the Queen recog-
nized our ownership of the land as
demonstrated in the Royal
Proclamation of 1763. We acted out
the making of the declaration of the
Lillooet Tribe, showed those terrible
years of alcohol and drug abuse,
family breakdown, assimilation,
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Sf ak CS.
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& y aay
loss of pride and cultural identity to
finally today— where our people are
coming back to life, rebuilding our
pride, self-respect and family unity
and strength, We demonstrated this
strength through the use of the
drum and the Declaration of Nation-
hood that was made in Ottawa.
The play finished off with the
group leading the constitution song
that was written on the Constitution
train. What a very powerful experi-
ence for the whole audience—it was
so powerful that a young girl of
eight years old broke down in tears
and cried her heart out.
There were other people who got
up and entertained with urging from
the crowd—thanks to those good
natured people and very talented
people.
As with every other pow-wow
night we danced until at least five in
the morning as is the traditional way
of our people.
The Stlatliemel people would
like to thank all the people that
came to share their songs,
dances, prayers, good feel-
ings, and knowledge with us
and would like to invite you all
to our third anniversary cele-
bration on April 16th to 19th,
7.
FROM: UNION OF B.C. Indian Chiefs
440 West Hastings St.,
Vancouver, B.C. V6B ILI
Happy New Year! We hope you have had time to
catch your breath after the last 3 months of 1980.
That’s what we’ve been doing at Indian World —figur-
ing out what hit us! So this issue asks what was achiev-
ed by the Constitution Express (p. 6). Lyn Jorgensen,
editor of Nicola Indian, looks at the First Nations
Assembly —“After the Dust Has Settled” (p. 31). The
climax of that assembly was the Declaration of
Nationhood. What this means on a national and inter-
national level is the subject of our lead article (p. 4).
What does it mean to the Indian people across
Canada? Two Elders from the Six Nations, Ernie
Benedict and Wilfred Peltier, start off a dialogue on
the subject (p. 32). We hope you will continue the
discussion in the Indian World.
SECOND CLASS MAIL
REGISTRATION NUMBER 4983
VANCOUVER, B.C.
While this was all coming down, so was the rain.
John Williams sent us photos of the flood damage in
Mt. Currie and Wayne Williams sent pictures of
damage to the Chehalis spawning grounds (p. 13).
John Elliot of Tsartlip also sent pictures of damaged
spawning grounds. The reasons were not “natural”. He
tells the story on page 14.
Archie Patrick, co-chairman of the Carrier-Sekani
Tribal Council, also has a story to tell of government
interference and mismanagement. He sent the pictures
ta-back up his story on page 21.
Training our Own people to protect us from the
Canadian legal system is the subject of the article sent
in by the Native Courtworkers Association. See pages
26-27.
Larry Commodore is an Indian writer from
Chilliwack. His short story “Running” appears on p.
23. Angel Adolph of Fountain Band shows you don’t
have to finish school to be a good writer. She’s eight.
Her angry open letter to Trudeau is on page 7.
It’s not an easy time for our young people, but the
Alert Bay BRATS make the best of it. Read their story
on pages 18 and 19. And if you’re not feeling good
after that, read Marilyn Napoleon’s account of the
Lillooet four-day pow-wow held over the New Year!
Roger Adolph was there and sent pictures.
Thanks to everyone! That’s a lot of people out there
who worked to make a great issue to start 1981 off just
right.
ae
Part of Indian World - volume 3, number 9 (January 1981)