Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Up-Date (March/April 1987)

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1.06-01.07 UBCIC Up-Date

1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series

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February 1987

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1.06-01.07-04.01

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periodical

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U N I O N O F B.C. I N D I A N CHIEFS U P - D A T E

MARCH / APRIL

1987

ISSUE

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
P e r h a p s some o f u s h a v e b r e a t h e d a s i g h o f r e l i e f a t t h e
c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e F i r s t M i n i s t e r ' s C o n f e r e n c e on A b o r i g i n a l
Rights.
We b e l i e v e t h a t we came o u t o f t h a t p r o c e s s w i t h o u t
losing anying.
D i d we, i n d e e d , s u r v i v e u n s c a t h e d ?

As we a l l know t h e d a n g e r i n t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a m e n d i n g
f o r m u l a e i s t h e f a c t t h a t I n d i a n P e o p l e s do n o t h a v e a v o t e i n
that process.
The p r o v i n c e s had no p r e v i o u s v o i c e i n o u r a f f a i r s
b u t a s s t a t e d by t h e Prime M i n i s t e r , he f e e l s c o m p e l l e d t o
i n v o l v e t h e p r o v i n c e s due t o t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p r o c e s s r e q u i r i n g
p r o v i n c i a l involvement.
T h i s g a v e t h e government o f Canada an
o p p o r t u n i t y t o e m b r o i l t h e p r o v i n c e s i n o u r a f f a i r s and t h e
natural r e s u l t i s the c o l l a p s e of the constitution t a l k s .
What
we w i t n e s s e d i n f a c t was t h e F e d e r a l Government c a v i n g i n t o the
p r o v i n c i a l governments.

What d o e s t h i s mean t o u s a s I n d i a n N a t i o n s i n t h e W e s t ?
F i r s t o f a l l i t means t h e p r o v i n c i a l g o v e r n m e n t s now h a v e a
growing i n v o l v e m e n t with our a f f a i r s .
T h e i r s o l u t i o n s a r e i n the
o r d e r o f e n r i c h e d programs and l e g i s l a t i v e s o l u t i o n s .
In an
effort
to s o l i d i f y h i s p o s i t i o n the Premier
o f B.C. i s
c o n t e m p l a t i n g t h e f o r m u l i z i n g o f r e l a t i o n s w i t h A l b e r t a and
Saskatchewan t o a d d r e s s I n d i a n i s s u e s .

I n my m i n d t h i s i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e P r e m i e r s a r e a w a r e o f o u r
p r e c i s e p o s i t i o n w i t h r e s p e c t t o o u r A b o r i g i n a l T i t l e and R i g h t s
and t h a t t h e y ( P r e m i e r V a n d e r Zalm i n c l u d e d ) a r e making c o n s c i o u s
efforts to plead ignorance of or c l a i m to not understand the
Indian Peoples position.
I n f a c t a n e f f o r t i s b e i n g made t o
d i s c r e d i t t h e p o s i t i o n w h i c h was c l e a r l y c o n v e y e d
to the Premier
and t h e Prime M i n i s t e r t h r o u g h o u r s u b m i s s i o n t o them o f o u r
A b o r i g i n a l T i t l e and R i g h t s P o s i t i o n
Paper.

The c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i n i t i a t i v e h a s p u t u s a t g r e a t e r r i s k t o
p r o v i n c i a l p r o g r a m a n d l e g i s l a t i v e remedy.
A r e a l risk of
d e l e g a t e d s t a t u s as w e l l as s u b j e c t i o n t o the implementation o f
t h e N i e l s o n T a s k F o r c e R e p o r t recommendations.

Our t a s k s t h e n must be g e a r e d , o v e r t h e n e x t
determine c o u n t e r - a c t i o n s to these i n i t i a t i v e s .

few m o n t h s , t o

Your i d e a s a l o n g t h i s l i n e a r e welcome and I hope to have an
o p p o r t u n i t y t o d i s c u s s w i t h y o u some o f t h e p r e l i m i n a r y a c t i o n s I
have t a k e n .

Hope

2nd

to s e e o r hear

from you soon.

F l o o r , 73 Water S t . , Vancouver, BC

V6B 1A1

T e l . : 604-684-0231

COLONIALISM AND

INDIAN NATIONS:

We
present
this excerpt
f r o m B i s h o p R e m i de R o o ' s s p e e c h t o
the
U n i o n o f B.C.
Indian Chiefs 1 8 t h Annual G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y ,
because
i t
points
out
the
dangers
that
come w i t h
discussions
or
n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h the F e d e r a l and/or P r o v i n c i a l Governments.
If
you
r e a d t h e B i s h o p ' s s p e e c h and r e c a l l what h a p p e n e d t h r o u g h
the
First
M i n i s t e r ' s C o n s t i t u t i o n P r o c e s s on A b o r i g i n a l R i g h t s
over
t h e l a s t f i v e y e a r s ; you w i l l see t h e d a n g e r s
involved.

Your

comments

observations

these

issues

are

welcome.

"I k n o w y o u a r e c o n s c i o u s o f t h a t and l i s t e n i n g t o you,
Mr.
P r e s i d e n t t h i s morning, I got that note of concern from your t a l k
and
t h a t s h a r p r e m i n d e r t o e v e r y o n e t h a t we r e a l l y h a v e t o l o o k a
l i t t l e
d e e p e r b e n e a t h the e x t e r n a l a p p e a r a n c e s and
get at
the
c a u s e s and r e a l l y a s c e r t a i n what a r e t h e power r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t
c o n d i t i o n our
reality.

To u n d e r s t a n d t h a t a l i t t l e b e t t e r I want t o
b r i e f l y s o m e o f my own
perceptions
as t o what has
h i s t o r i c a l l y and
I n o t i c e that your President t h i s
a b o u t the c o l o n i a l p r o b l e m w i t h o u t g o i n g i n t o any
T o me i t i s v e r y i m p o r t a n t t o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t i s l y
expression
of c o l o n i a l i s m .

share with
you
been going
on
morning spoke
of the
detail.
i n g under that

C o l o n i a l i s m i s a r e s u l t o f t h e g r o w i n g irupres3ior. by
the
E u r o p e a n p e o p l e s t h a t somehow t h e y w e r e a s u p e r i o r c u l t u r e .
As a
r e s u l t t h e y c o u l d b e g i n t o e x t e n d t h e m s e l v e s and t o d o m i n a t e t h e
rest
of the world.
We
saw
that h i s t o r i c a l l y happening in a
number
of
c o u n t r i e s
India,
A f r i c a ,
L a t i n
America.
U n c o n s c i o u s l y , as f a r as many p e o p l e a r e c o n c e r n e d , t h e
same
thing
happened here
i n North America.
Maybe s l i g h t l y
more
s o p h i s t i c a t e d b u t b a s i c a l l y t h e p r o b l e m i s t h e same.
Underlying
t h i s idea of c o l o n i a l i s m there are r e a l l y s e v e r a l
ideologies.
M e a n i n g by i d e o l o g i e s , p a r t i a l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s t h a t a r e t a k e n f o r
the f u l l n e s s of t r u t h .
I am g o i n g t o m e n t i o n t o y o u b e c a u s e i t
i s i m p o r t a n t t o u n d e r s t a n d what t h i s b e a s t c o l o n i a l i s m , what t h i s
c r e a t u r e i s r e a l l y a l l about.

What i s i t t h a t c a u s e s t h i s c o l o n i a l a t t i t u d e ?
F i r s t of a l l
i t i s a whole view of c r e a t i o n .
We s o m e t i m e c a l l i t t h e
technoindustrial creation.
I t comes out of the r e n a i s s a n c e
and
the
enlightment.
T h a t p e r i o d i n h i s t o r y b r o u g h t us an a w f u l l o t o f
p r o g r e s s i n terms o f modern s c i e n c e . I t a l s o b r o u g h t us a l o t of
n a r r o w n e s s i n t e r m s o f o u r t h i n k i n g b e c a u s e t h r o u g h t h e new
found
powers of science,
p e o p l e began to l o o k upon n a t u r e , upon
the
w h o l e o f c r e a t i o n as
a k i n d of machine, something you
could

- 3 -

m a n i p u l a t e , something you c o u l d take a p a r t .
The p a r t s o f w h i c h
you c o u l d work w i t h and r e a s s e m b l e .
T h a t was a v e r y h e a d y t r i p
b e c a u s e i t g a v e t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t we c o u l d u l t i m a t e l y c o n t r o l
nature.
F o r s o m e t i m e we a c t u a l l y l i v e d w i t h t h a t i l l u s i o n ,
that
we h a d s o m u c h p o w e r we c o u l d a c t u a l l y d o w h a t we l i k e d
with
nature.
I t i s beginning
t o b a c k f i r e now b e c a u s e n a t u r e i s
s t a r t i n g t o r e - a s s e r t i t s e l f i n some s t r a n g e w a y s .
You h a v e a l l
had t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f s e e i n g t h e k i n d o f m o n s t r o s i t i e s t h a t b e g i n
t o a p p e a r i n n a t u r e w h e n we t a m p e r t o o m u c h w i t h i t s l a w s a n d
t h i n k we c a n r e - d i r e c t n a t u r e .

T h i s came i n t o o b v i o u s c l a s h w i t h t h e m o r e h o l i s t i c v i e w o f
c r e a t i o n which has a l w a y s been t h e h e r i t a g e o f the n a t i v e
peoples.
The E u r o p e a n p e o p l e a l s o f e l t t h a t somehow by
dominating
n a t u r e , by c o n q u e r i n g , by c o n t r o l l i n g , and i f need be
b y o p p r e s s i n g t h o s e p e o p l e s who s t o o d i n t h e i r w a y , t h e y c o u l d
e v e n t u a l l y s e t t h e m s e l v e s upon a path o f u n l i m i t e d p r o g r e s s and
you know t h a t s y m b o l o f p r o g r e s s became k i n d o f a g u i d i n g l i g h t
for the whole European Western C i v i l i z a t i o n .
N o w h e r e was i t
s t r o n g e r than here i n North America because of our tremendous
n a t u r a l resources and o u r f i n a n c e s and t h e i d e a l i s m and a l l t h e
e n e r g y o f t h e new p e o p l e s who came t o t h i s g r e a t l a n d , t h e y
fell
r i g h t into that trap of u n l i m i t e d progress.
T h e r e s u l t was t h a t
a n y o n e who s t o o d
i n t h e way o f s o - c a l l e d p r o g r e s s
was
just
r u t h l e s s l y shunted a s i d e .
B e c a u s e t h e r e was a t h i r d d i m e n s i o n o f
t h i s c o l o n i a l m e n t a l i t y , i t was k i n d o f a n i n t r u m e n t a l
reasoning.
T h i s i s v e r y c l e a r i n t h e a p p r o a c h t h a t t h e d e v e l o p e r s , t h e new
p e o p l e s who c a m e t o N o r t h A m e r i c a t o o k t o t h e l a n d .
Whereas
n a t i v e p e o p l e s , as you w e l l know, had seen t h e l a n d as t h e g i f t
o f t h e s p i r i t , as a h e r i t a g e t o p r o t e c t and t o t r a n s m i t as t h e
m a t r i x , one m i g h t s a y , o u t o f w h i c h c u l t u r e i t s e l f w o u l d a r i s e .
I r e m e m b e r l i s t e n i n g t o some o f t h e n a t i v e s c h i e f s who
presented
b r i e f s or papers to t h e Berger Commission t a l k i n g about Mother
E a r t h a n d how we a r e s o i n t i m a t e l y l i n k e d w i t h t h i s s o u r c e o f o u r
being.

That contrasted with t h i s c o l o n i a l
i d e a t h a t l a n d was
b a s i c a l l y a commodity, something a person c o u l d
possess,
s o m e t h i n g t h a t c o u l d be used as an i n s t r u m e n t and m a n i p u l a t e d a t
will.
F u r t h e r t o t h a t was a l s o a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g
of civilization
w h i c h came o u t o f t h e E u r o p e a n e x p e r i e n c e .
As i f t h e o n l y
c i v i l i z a t i o n was t h e W e s t e r n I n d u s t r i a l S o c i e t y a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y
t h e t e n d e n c y t o l o o k down o n a n y o t h e r c u l t u r a l e x p r e s s i o n o r a n y
o t h e r c i v i l i z a t i o n as l e s s than adequate.

O t h e r c u l t u r e s , c o n s e q u e n t l y were c o n s i d e r e d by t h e s e p e o p l e
with a colonial
m e n t a l i t y as s o m e t h i n g t o be
"modernized,
absorbed o r a s s i m i l a t e d . "
I f y o u w a n t t o k n o w why t h i s
constant
pressure f o r a s s i m i l a t i o n that you have had t o f i g h t a g a i n s t f o r
so
l o n g , w h e r e d o e s t h a t come f r o m ?
I t comes o u t o f t h a t
mentality.
I t i s good t o u n d e r s t a n d w h e r e t h e r o o t s o f a l l t h i s
lie.
Because then y o u w i l l be i n a b e t t e r p o s i t i o n to t r y to
take the unnecessary c o r r e c t i v e a c t i o n .

P e o p l e w i t h t h i s c o l o n i a l m e n t a l i t y w i l l l o o k upon c u l t u r e
and c i v i l i z a t i o n b a s i c a l l y as a b l e n d i n g t o g e t h e r o f a k i n d o f
homogeniety instead of respect f o r the d i v e r s i t y of c u l t u r e s .
T h a t i s w h e r e d i s c r i m i n a t i o n a n d r a c i s m w i l 1 come o u t o f . A n y o n e
that doesn't f i t i n t o t h a t w h i t e p a t t e r n , t h a t c o l o n i a l p a t t e r n ,
is then repressed
o r e f f o r t s a r e made t o t r y a n d a s s i m i l a t e
b e c a u s e u l t i m a t e l y a n d t h a t i s t h e f i n a l p o i n t i n t e r m s o f an
assessment i n terms o f t h i s c o l o n i a l m e n t a l i t y , t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s
in
a c o l o n i a l
mentality
a r e those o f d o m i n a t i o n and o f
dependence.

P e o p l e w i t h a c o l o n i a l m e n t a l i t y a r r i v e i n a c o u n t r y and t h e
c o n s i d e r t h e m s e l v e s t h e BOSS.
T h e p e o p l e who c a n o r d e r
other
p e o p l e around.
They c o n s i d e r t h e m s e l v e s t h e owners.
The r e s u l t
of i t i s t h a t e v e n i n r e l a t i o n s h i p s and n e g o t i a t i o n s you h a v e
c o n s t a n t l y a u n i l a t e r a l d e f i n i t i o n o f the terms o f r e l a t i o n s h i p
and t h o s e o f y o u who h a v e s t r u g g l e d w i t h g o v e r n m e n t s k n o w w h a t I
mean b y t h a t .
You a r e a l w a y s i n a l o s i n g race where t h e o t h e r
p a r t y i s a l w a y s r e d e f i n i n g t h e t e r m s a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r own s e l f
understanding.

I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o h a v e a g r a s p on t h a t a n d t o r e a l i z e t h e
d e p t h o f t h a t p r e s s u r e and t h a t m e n t a l i t y so t h a t when y o u h a v e
t o d e a l w i t h i t y o u don't l e t y o u r s e l f be m i s l e a d by s u p e r f i c i a l
appearances of changes of a t t i t u d e or of m e n t a l i t y .
It really
r u n s v e r y deep.

B e c a u s e o u r C a n a d i a n g o v e r n m e n t i s s t i l l i n many w a y s c a u g h t
up i n t h i s c o l o n i a l m e n t a l i t y we a r e g o i n g t o h a v e t o c o n s t a n t l y
take that i n t o
account.

For instance, the s e l e c t i v e d e a l i n g s with the u n i l a t e r a l
s e t t i n g o f terms f o r n e g o t i a t i o n s , the c l a i m s that the government
knows b e s t .
The c o n s t a n t b r i n g i n g back o f t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t i s e
and
the s e t t i n g aside the experience
of people as i f that
experience
i s n o t i n i t s e l f a g r e a t e r and p o s s i b l y a sounder
expertise.
The t e n d e n c y t o d i v i d e and c o n q u e r , t o l i m i t
i n f o r m a t i o n so t h a t y o u h a v e t o n e g o t i a t e k n o w i n g o n l y p a r t o f
what t h e o t h e r p a r t y h a s i n h a n d - a l w a y s w i t h a s t a c k e d d e c k o f
c a r d s a g a i n s t you as i twere.
The a t t e m p t t o s e t up p a r t i a l
t r e a t i e s a n d t h e n c l a i m o n t h e b a s i s o f some r a t h e r p r e s s u r i z e d
s o l u t i o n t o a l o c a l p r o b l e m t h a t a g e n e r a l s o l u t i o n h a s been
found f o r a l l the wider i s s u e s .
A l l these tendencies
come o u t o f
t h a t m e n t a l i t y a n d i t i s g o o d t o know w h e r e t h e y come from."

* * * * *

- 5 The f o l l o w i n g a r t i c l e e n t i t l e d "The F e d e r a l G o v e r n m e n t ' s P o s i t i o n
on A b o r i g i n a l T i t l e a n d R i g h t s " i s an e d i t e d v e r s i o n o f a p a p e r
done by C h i e f B e r n a r d C h a r l e s , a r t i c l i n g s t u d e n t w i t h t h e Union
o f B.C. C h i e f s .
I f y o u w i s h t o p u r s u e d i s c u s s i o n on t h i s i t e m I
am c e r t a i n t h a t B e r n a r d w o u l d b e h a p p y t o d i s c u s s t h e m a t t e r .
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON ABORIGINAL T I T L E AND RIGHTS"
Indian p e o p l e s have argued f o rdecades f o r t h e r e c o g n i t i o n
o f t h e c o n c e p t s o f A b o r i g i n a l T i t l e and R i g h t s w h i c h a r e commonly
r e f e r r e d t o as t h e " l a n d q u e s t i o n " w i t h i n B r i t i s h C o l u m b i a . I n
c o n t r a s t , t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t h a s i t s own c o n c e p t o f t h e s e
i s s u e s w h i c h we m i g h t c a l l " t h e o t h e r I n d i a n l a n d
question."
This
Federal
concept
i s a direct
denial o f t h e "trust"
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r Indian people and i saimed a t t e r m i n a t i o n o f
" s p e c i a l s t a t u s " f o r I n d i a n s i n modern Canada.
As a n e x a m p l e , t h e F e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t h a s c o n s t a n t l y t r i e d
to
reduce t h eRoyal
Proclamation
o f 1763 t o a mere " l a n d
management s c h e m e . "
The r a t i o n a l e o f t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t p o s i t i o n a p p e a r s
d e r i v e d from t h e i r i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e i n t e n t o f c o l o n i a l
authorities.
L e g a l a d v i s o r s i nthe F e d e r a l J u s t i c e Department
a r g u e t h a t t h e P r o c l a m a t i o n m e r e l y f u l f i l l e d t h e Crown's n e e d t o
e s t a b l i s h i t s t i t l e to land, provide c o n t r o l over a l l o c a t i o n s of
l a n d t o s e t t l e r s , a n d d e v e l o p a s y s t e m f o r a t a x a t i o n scheme.
The scheme was d e v e l o p e d t o p r o t e c t t h e C r o w n ' s i n t e r e s t
from t h e r i s k o f surrender
o f lands by Indians t o other
governments o r p r i v a t e p a r t i e s b u t t h e r e were few mechanisms t o
ensure that
Indian
rights
were p r o t e c t e d
when l a n d was
surrendered
t o t h e Crown.
In theopinion o f the Federal
Government,
t h e Royal
Proclamation
o f 1763 and subsequent
t r e a t i e s made i n C a n a d a a n d t h e USA, w e r e m e r e l y e a r l y r e a l
e s t a t e t r a n s a c t i o n s a n d n o t h i n g more.
They a r g u e t h a t t h e s c h e m e
p r o v i d e d v e r y l i t t l e i n t h e way o f p r o t e c t i n g I n d i a n r i g h t s .
The
e a r l y i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s and p r o v i s i o n s o f the Royal
P r o c l a m a t i o n o f 1763 w e r e c a r r i e d f o r w a r d t o t h e BNA A c t . T h e
b a s i c concept being a need f o r a c e n t r a l i z e d c o n t r o l o f l a n d .
The
BNA A c t a l l o c a t e d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r " I n d i a n s a n d L a n d s
r e s e r v e d f o r t h e I n d i a n s " t o t h e F e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t u n d e r S. 9 1
(24).
Today, t h e F e d e r a l government c o n t i n u e s t o a r g u e t h a t i t s
primary " t r u s t " r e s p o n s i b i l i t y under that s e c t i o n i s p r i m a r i l y t o
administer
" I n d i a n l a n d s , " w i t h l e s s emphasis on I n d i a n
peoples.
F o r e x a m p l e , t h e r e c e n t Supreme C o u r t o f C a n a d a d e c i s i o n i n
the G u e r i n c a s e h e l d t h a t t h e r e was a f i d u c i a r y
obligation
p l a c e d on t h e Federal government t o p r o t e c t t h e Indian i n t e r e s t
in land surrendered
f o rl e a s e purposes.
Also
an a n a l y s i s o f t h e i r
Indian
Acts
and policy
development i n d i c a t e c l e a r l y that both t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n and
l e g i s l a t i v e i n i t i a t i v e s a r e based on t h eg o a l s o f a s s i m i l a t i o n .
H i s t o r i c a l a n a l y s i s shows t h a t t h ec o n c e p t o f s p e c i a l "group
rights" contradicts individuals rights.
Viewed, i n t h i s
light,
one c a n r e a d i l y s e e why t h e F e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t h a s t r i e d , a n d
c o n t i n u e s t o t r y , t o remove i t s e l f from t h e " I n d i a n " b u s i n e s s .
They v i e w t h e d i f f e r e n c e s as i r r e c o n c i l a b l e t o t h e i r system.
C l a i m s s e t t l e m e n t s , a s proposed by t h e F e d e r a l
Government,
are aimed a t e n s u r i n g Crown c o n t r o l o v e r r e s o u r c e s r a t h e r than
c o n t r o l f o rp r o t e c t i o n and use by Indian Peoples.
I n most
instances,
o u t s i d e economic i n t e r e s t s r e c e i v e p r i o r i t y
over
I n d i a n needs and o b j e c t i v e s .
Control over resource
management
a r e more i m p o r t a n t t o g o v e r n m e n t t h a n t h e needs o f t h e I n d i a n
people.

If the "termination" goal o f the Federal authorities i snot
a c h i e v e d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y , they have another f o r k i n t h e i r twot r a c k p o l i c y t h a t has been designed
to operate
concurrently.
This i n v o l v e s developing the concept of a municipa1-form of
government delegated
from the F e d e r a l
authority to Indian
communities, with corresponding P r o v i n c i a l l e g i s l a t i v e i n i a t i v e s .
An e x a m p l e o f t h i s i s t h e S e c h e l t m o d e l .
This model f a l l s f a r
s h o r t o f t h e d i s t i n c t o r d e r o f g o v e r n m e n t a d v o c a t e d by I n d i a n
people.
The S e c h e l t B i l l p r o v i d e s f o r a f e e s i m p l e l a n d d e s i g n a t i o n
for
existing reserve
lands.
This has been p r o v i d e d t o
facilitate
e c o n o m i c f i n a n c i n g and b o r r o w i n g power.
The l a n d s
r e m a i n u n d e r S e c t i o n 91 (24) m a i n t a i n i n g t h e F e d e r a l
"trust"
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r Indian lands.
I t i s l e f t
f o r future
d e t e r m i n a t i o n whether or not t h e "freedom" i n t e r e p r e t a t i o n p l a c e d
upon t h e B i l l
can stand beside a "trust" o b l i g a t i o n f o rthe
Indian People o f Sechelt.
I t may be i n t e r p r e t e d t h a t t h e S e c h e l t
B i l l h a s t h e e f f e c t o f t r a n s f e r r i n g t h e S e c h e l t p e o p l e and t h e i r
l a n d s f r o m S 9 1 ( 2 4 ) t o S 35 o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n A c t 1 9 8 2 .
In t h e c o u r t c a s e s
i n v o l v i n g t h e G i t k s a n , Meares I s l a n d and
CN,
t h e F e d e r a l and/or P r o v i n c i a l Crown have been added as
defendants.
I f t h e r e was a n y d o u b t a b o u t t h e F e d e r a l p o s i t i o n i t
has been d i s s p e l l e d by t h e i r i n v o l v e m e n t
i n these cases.
Ifthe
F e d e r a l government recognized a t r u e " t r u s t " r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , you
would expect that they would support the Indian p o s i t i o n s i n
these cases or a t l e a s t remain n e u t r a l .
I t i s maddening to
Indian Peoples
t h a t the Federal Government i s t a k i n g a coo p e r a t i v e a p p r o a c h by t h e i r a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e P r o v i n c i a l p o s i t i o n
and i f t h e P r o v i n c e
o f B.C. s u c c e e d s i n t h e s e c a s e s , t h e F e d e r a l
p o s i t i o n o n o u t s t a n d i n g c o m p r e h e n s i v e c l a i m s w i l l b e amended t o
take t h i s into
account.

The I n d i a n View
Be M a r s h a l l e d

of Federal/Indian

Relations

- What S t r a t e g i e s

Can

I t i s g e n e r a l l y known t h a t t h e I n d i a n / C a n a d a r e l a t i o n s h i p i s
n o t a c c e p t a b l e t o I n d i a n s i n B.C.
The a g e n d a s a r e o u t o f o u r
c o n t r o l a n d i f I n d i a n p e o p l e a r e t o s u c c e e d we m u s t
develop
s t r a t e g i e s to achieve
control.
Formal agreements o r approaches t o counter the governmental
p o s i t i o n s must be e x p l o r e d .
This c o u l d be achieved through t h e
development and implementation
of the Treaty/Accord
process
a p p r o v e d a t t h e U n i o n o f B.C. I n d i a n C h i e f ' s A n n u a l
General
Assembly.
T h i s p r o c e s s o f f e r s a mechanism whereby I n d i a n N a t i o n s
w o u l d f o r m a l i z e a g r e e m e n t s on a r e a s o r i s s u e s t h a t t h e y c o u l d
m u t u a l l y support, thus e l i m i n a t i n g the f r a c t i o n a 1 i z a t i o n that
tends to hinder Indian people.
In this process
the mutual
agreements w o u l d n o t t h r e a t e n t h e autonomy of each n a t i o n but
w o u l d g i v e more s t r e n g t h o r i m p a c t t o o v e r a l l p o s i t i o n s .
The r e a s o n s b e h i n d t h e n e e d t o m a r s h a l 1 a c o n c e r t e d
effort
are e a s i l y understood but the p r a c t i c a l i t y of a c h i e v i n g t h i s g o a l
h a s so f a r e l u d e d u s . W h e t h e r t h e f i g h t be l e g a l , p o l i t i c a l o r
economic, t h e need f o r c o n c e r t e d , c o - o p e r a t i v e a c t i o n r e m a i n s .
The
l i m i t e d f i s c a l a n d human r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e i n e a c h N a t i o n
i n d i c a t e t h e need t o reach agreements t h a t w i l l
facilitate
e f f e c t i v e use of l i m i t e d resources.
F o r those present a t the
f o u n d i n g c o n f e r e n c e o f t h e U n i o n o f BC I n d i a n C h i e f s ,
t h e theme
" U n i t e d We S t a n d ,
D i v i d e d We P e r i s h " w i l l
s p r i n g t o mind.
Perhaps i n today's w o r l d o f f a s t - p a c e change these words have
added meaning.

* * * *

J O B

O P P O R T U N I T I E S

The
U n i o n o f B.C. I n d i a n
Chiefs
i s presently
accepting
a p p l i c a t i o n s t o f i l l t h e p o s i t i o n s o f H e a l t h C o n s u l t a t i o n Coordinator and Health L i a i s o n Officer.
A s t r o n g background, both
in
terms o f formal
t r a i n i n g and previous
experience, i s
preferred.
E q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t , i st h a t these i n d i v i d u a l s must
possess a thorough understanding
o f t h econcept o f s e l f government as i t r e l a t e s t o t h ew e l l - b e i n g , a n d t h e h e a l t h and
environmental
concerns o f our communities, along with the a b i l i t y
to communicate these c o n c e r n s o r a l l y and w r i t t e n .
We a r e a l s o c o m p i l i n g a r e s o u r c e l i s t o f N a t i v e I n d i a n P e o p l e who
a r e i n t e r e s t e d and a v a i l a b l e t o do p r o j e c t and/or c o n t r a c t work
in the area o f H e a l t h .
A g a i n we e n c o u r a g e i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h t h e
e q u i v a l e n t o f a c e r t i f i c a t e i nCommunity H e a l t h , a B a c h e l o r o f
Science degree o r b e t t e r , o r other r e l a t e d formal t r a i n i n g , t o
f o r w a r d t h e i r resume a l o n g w i t h a sample o f y o u r w r i t i n g .
For a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n and/or a f u l l
e i t h e r o f t h e above p o s i t i o n w r i t e t o :

j o b d e s c r i p t i o n on

Administrator
U n i o n o f B.C. I n d i a n C h i e f s
S u i t e 200, 73 Water S t r e e t
Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1
*

* * * *

WATER RIGHTS MEETING
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS' BOARDROOM
April

21, 1987

Experiencing d i f f i c u l t i e s with t h e Federal o r P r o v i n c i a l
Government's water a g e n c i e s ?
I f so y o u a r e welcome t o a t t e n d t h e
m e e t i n g t o be h e l d a t o u r b o a r d r o o m o n T u e s d a y , A p r i l 21; 1987
b e g i n n i n g a t 1 0 : 0 0 am. W a t e r f o r d o m e s t i c , a g r i c u l t u r a l a n d
i n d u s t r i a l u s e a r e welcome f o r d i s c u s s i o n .
I fyou are i n t e r e s t e d
p l e a s e c a l l o u ro f f i c e , 684-0231, t o i n d i c a t e o r c o n f i r m your
attendance.
*

* * * *

CHIEFS' COUNCIL MEETING
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS' BOARDROOM
April

22, 23, 24, 1987

Agenda items w i l l r e v o l v e around programs and s e r v i c e s p o l i c i e s ,
l e g i s l a t i v e p r o t e c t i o n s and/or i n i t i a t i v e s ,
a n d p o s t S e c t i o n 37
Constitution discussion.
A luncheon,
o r g a n i z e d b y t h e UBCIC s t a f f ,
i sscheduled f o r
Wednesday, A p r i l
22nd a t w h i c h time t h e v i d e o
tape o f t h e
G i t k s a n Wet S u w e t ' e n w i l l b e shown.
*

* * * *

- 8 -

Researching & Writing T r i b a l

Histories

Workshop

The A m e r i c a n I n d i a n I n s t i t u t e a t t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f O k l a h o m a i s
sponsoring
a workshop s p e c i f i c a l l y
designed
to
provide
i n f o r m a t i o n and s k i l l s t o I n d i a n people i n t e r e s t e d i n l e a r n i n g
how t o w r i t e , r e c o r d a n d r e s e a r c h h i s t o r y o f t h e i r t r i b e .
The

dates

f o r these
Session
Session

two s e s s i o n s a r e :

I - May 1 8 - 2 1 , 1 9 8 7
I I - May 25 - 2 8 , 1 9 8 7

The l o c a t i o n i s t h e C h a t e a u G r a n v i l 1 e H o t e l i n V a n c o u v e r a l t h o u g h
the a c t u a l r e s e a r c h i s scheduled
t o t a k e p l a c e a t t h e UBCIC
Resource Centre.
The c o s t f o r t h i s w o r k s h o p i s a p p r o x i m a t e l y
$225.00 p e r p a r t i c i p a n t , w h i c h i n c l u d e s i n s t r u c t i o n ,
resource
m a t e r i a l s and t h e t r a i n i n g manual "Researching a n d W r i t i n g T r i b a l
H i s t o r i e s , " w r i t t e n b y D u a n e K. H a l e , P h . D.
The U B C I C h a s a p p l i c a t i o n
interested.

forms

and pamphlets

f o r those

who a r e

* * * *

The
UBCIC v i d e o - t a p e d
t h e '87 C o n s t i t u t i o n a l t a l k s .
Bands
i n t e r e s t e d i n o b t a i n i n g a copy o r borrowing these, c a n c o n t a c t
our
office.

* * * * *

UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS UP-DATE

MARCH / APRIL 1987 ISSUE

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Perhaps some of us have breathed a sigh of relief at the
conclusion of the First Minister's Conference on Aboriginal
Rights. We believe that we came out of that process without
losing anying. Did we, indeed, survive unscathed?

As we all know the danger in the constitution amending
formulae is the fact that Indian Peoples do not have a vote in
that process, The provinces had no previous voice in our affairs
but as stated by the Prime Minister, he feels compelied to
involve the provinces due to the constitutional process requiring
provincial involvement. This gave the government of Canada an
Opportunity to embroil the provinces in our affairs and the
matural result is the collapse of the constitution talks. What
we witnessed in fact was the Federal Government caving in to the
provincial governments.

What does this mean to us as Indian Nations in the West?
First of all it means the provincial governments now have a
growing involvement with cur affairs. Their solutions are in the
order of enriched programs and legislative solutions. In an
effort to solidify his position the Premier of B.C. is
contemplating the formulizing of relations with Alberta and
Saskatchewan to address Indian issues.

Our tasks then must be geared, over the next few months, to
determine counter-actions to these initiatives.

Your ideas along this line are welcome and I hope to have an
Opportunity to discuss with you some of the preliminary actions I
have taken.

Hope to see or hear from you soon,

2nd Floor, 73 Water St., Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1 Tel.: 604-684-0231

COLONIALISM AND INDIAN NATIONS:

We present this excerpt from Bishop Remi de Roo's speech to the
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs 18th Annual General Assembly, because
it points out the dangers that come with discussions or
negotiations with the Federal and/or Provincial Governments. If
you read the Bishop's speech and recall what happened through the
First Minister's Constitution Process on Aboriginal Rights over
the last five years; you will see the dangers involved.

Your comments or observations on these issues are welcome.

"I Know you are conscious of that and listening to you, Mr.
President this morning, I got that note of concern from your talk
and that sharp reminder to everyone that we really have to look a
little deeper beneath the external appearances and get at the

causes and really ascertain what are the power relationships that
condition our reality.

To understand that a little better I want to share with you
briefly some of my own perceptions as to what has been going on
historically and I notice that your President this morning spoke
about the colonial problem without going into any of the detail.
To me it is very important to understand what is lying under that
expression of colonialism.

Colonialism is a result of the growing impression by the
European peoples that somehow they were a superior culture. As a
result they could begin to extend themselves and to dominate the
rest of the world. We saw that historically happening ina
number of countries - India, Africa, Latin America.
Unconsciously, as far as many people are concerned, the same
thing happened here in North America. Maybe slightly more
sophisticated but basically the problem is the same. Underlying
this idea of colonialism there are really several ideologies.
Meaning by ideologies, partial considerations that are taken for
the fullness of truth. I am going to mention to you because it
is important to understand what this beast colonialism, what this
creature is really all about.

What is it that causes this colonial attitude? First of all
it is a whole view of creation. We sometime call it the techno-
industrial creation. It comes out of the renaissance and the
enlightment. That period in history brought us an awful lot of
progress in terms of modern science. It also brought us a lot of
narrowness in terms of our thinking because through the new found
powers of science, people began to look upon nature, upon the
whole of creation as a kind of machine, something you could

Other cultures, consequently were considered by these people
with a colonial mentality as something to be “modernized,
absorbed or assimilated.” If you want to know why this constant
pressure for assimilation that you have had to fight against for
so long, where does that come from? Tt comes out of that
mentality. It is good to understand where the roots of all this
lie. Because then you will be ina better position to try to
take the unnecessary corrective action.

People with a colonial mentality arrive in a country and the
consider themselves the BOSS. The people who can order cther
people around. They consider themselves the owners. The result
of it is that even in relationships and negotiations you have
constantly a unilateral definition of the terms of relationship
and those of you who have struggled with governments know what I
mean by that. You are always in a losing race where the other
party is always redefining the terms according to their own self
understanding.

Because our Canadian government is still in many ways caught
up in this colonial mentality we are going to have to constantly
take that into riccount.

ke kek k ke

= § =

The following article entitled "The Federal Government's Position
on Aboriginal Title and Rights" is an edited version of a paper
done by Chief Bernard Charles, articling student with the Union
of B.c. Chiefs. If you wish to pursue discussion on this item I
am certain that Bernard would be happy to discuss the matter.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S POSITION ON ABORIGINAL TITLE AND RIGHTS"

Indian peoples have argued for decades for the recognition
of the concepts of Aboriginal Title and Rights which are commonly
referred to as the "land question" within British Columbia. In
contrast, the federal government has its own concept of these
issues which we might call "the other Indian land question."
This Federal concept is a direct denial of the "trust"
responsibility for Indian people and is aimed at termination of
"special status" for Indians in modern Canada.

As an example, the Federal government has constantly tried
to reduce the Royal Proclamation of 1763 to a mere "land
management scheme."

The rationale of the federal government position appears
derived from their interpretation of the intent of colonial
authorities. Legal advisors in the Federal Justice Department
argue that the Proclamation merely fulfilled the Crown's need to
establish its title to land, provide control over allocations of
land to settlers, and develop a system for a taxation scheme.

The scheme was developed to protect the Crown's interest
from the risk of surrender of lands by Indians to other
governments or private parties but there were few mechanisms to
ensure that Indian rights were protected when land was
Surrendered to the Crown. In the opinion of the Federal
Government, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 and subsequent
treaties made in Canada and the USA, were merely early real
estate transactions and nothing more. They argue that the scheme
provided very little in the way of protecting Indian rights.

The early interpretations and provisions of the Royal
Proclamation of 1763 were carried forward to the BNA Act. The
basic concept being a need for a centralized control of land.
The BNA Act allocated responsibility for "Indians and Lands
reserved for the Indians" to the Federal government under S. 91

(24). Today, the Federal government continues to argue that its
primary "trust" responsibility under that section is primarily to
administer “Indian lands," with less emphasis on Indian peoples.

For example, the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision in
the Guerin case held that there was a fiduciary obligation
placed on the Federal government to protect the Indian interest
in land surrendered for lease purposes.

Also an analysis of their Indian Acts and policy
development indicate clearly that both the constitution and
legislative initiatives are based on the goals of assimilation.
Historical analysis shows that the concept of special “group
rights" contradicts individuals rights. Viewed, in this light,
one can readily see why the Federal government has tried, and
continues to try, to remove itself from the "Indian" business,
They view the differences as irreconcilable to their system.

Claims settlements, as proposed by the Federal Government,
are aimed at ensuring Crown control over resources rather than

control for protection and use by Indian Peoples. In most
instances, outside economic interests receive priority over
Indian needs and objectives. Control over resource management

are more important to government than the needs of the Indian
people.

- &

If the "termination" goal of the Federal authorities is not
achieved constitutionally, they have another fork in their two-
track policy that has been designed to operate concurrently.
This involves developing the concept of a municipal-form of
government delegated from the Federal authority to Indian
communities, with corresponding Provincial legislative iniatives.
An example of this is the Sechelt model. This model falls far
short of the distinct order of government advocated by Indian
people.

The Sechelt Bill provides for a fee simple land designation
for existing reserve lands. This has been provided to
facilitate economic financing and borrowing power. The lands
remain under Section 91 (24) maintaining the Federal "trust"
responsibility for Indian lands. It if lett. for £ature
determination whether or not the "freedom" interepretation placed
upon the Bill can stand beside a "trust" obligation for the
Indian People of Sechelt. It may be interpreted that the Sechelt
Bill has the effect of transferring the Sechelt people and their
lands from S 91 (24) to S 35 of the Constitution Act 1982.

In the court cases involving the Gitksan, Meares Island and
CN, the Federal and/or Provincial Crown have been added as
defendants. If there was any doubt about the Federal position it
has been disspelled by their involvement in these cases. If the
Federal government recognized a true "trust" responsibility, you
would expect that they would support the Indian positions in
these casés or at least remain neutral. It is maddening to
Indian Peoples that the Federal Government is taking a co-
Operative approach by their acceptance of the Provincial position
and if the Province of B.C. succeeds in these cases, the Federal
position on outstanding comprehensive claims will be amended to
take this into account.

The Indian View of Federal/Indian Relations - What Strategies Can
Be Marshalled

Formal agreements or approaches to counter the governmental
positions must be explored. This could be achieved through the
development and implementation of the Treaty/Accord process
approved at the Union of B.C. Indian Chief's Annual General
Assembly. This process offers a mechanism whereby Indian Nations
would formalize agreements on areas or issues that they could
mutually support, thus eliminating the fractionalization that
tends to hinder Indian people. In this process the mutual
agreements would not threaten the autonomy of each nation but
would give more strength or impact to overall positions,

The reasons behind the need to marshall a concerted effort
are easily understood but the practicality of achieving this goal
has so far eluded us. Whether the fight be legal, political or
economic, the need for concerted, co-operative action remains.
The limited fiscal and human resources available in each Nation
indicate the need to reach agreements that will facilitate
effective use of limited resources. For those present at the
founding conference of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the theme
"United We Stand, Divided We Perish" will spring to mind.
Perhaps in today's world of fast-pace change these words have
added meaning.

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J oOsB OPPGCRTUNITIES

The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is presently accepting
applications to fill the positions of Health Consultation Co-
ordinator and Health Liaison Officer. A strong background, both
in terms of formal training and previous experience, is
preferred. Equally important, is that these individuals must
possess a thorough understanding of the concept of self-
government as it relates to the well-being, and the health and
environmental concerns of our communities, along with the ability
to communicate these concerns orally and written.

We are also compiling a resource list of Native Indian People who
are interested and available to do project and/or contract work
in the area of Health. Again we encourage individuals with the
equivalent of a certificate in Community Health, a Bachelor of
Science degree or better, or other related formal training, to
forward their resume along with a sample of your writing.

For additional information and/or a full job description on
either of the above position write ta:

Administrator
Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs
Suite 200, 73 Water Street
Vancouver, BC V6B I1AI1

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WATER RIGHTS MEETING
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS' BOARDROOM
April 21, 1987
Experiencing difficulties with the Federal or Provincial
Government's water agencies? If so you are welcome to attend the
meeting to be held at our boardroom on Tuesday, April 21; 1987
beginning at 10:00 am. Water for domestic, agricultural and
industrial use are welcome for discussion. If you are interested

please call our office, 684-0231, to indicate or confirm your
attendance.

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CHIEFS' COUNCIL MEETING
UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS' BOARDROOM

April 22, 23, 24, 1987
Agenda items will revolve around programs and services policies,
legislative protections and/or initiatives, and post Section 37
Constitution discussion.
A luncheon, organized by the UBCIC staff, is scheduled for
Wednesday, April 22nd at which time the video tape of the

Gitksan Wet Suwet'’en will be shown.

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Researching & Writing Tribal Histories Workshop

The dates for these two sessions are:

Session I +~ May 18 - 21, 1987
Session II - May 25 - 28, 1987

The location is the Chateau Granville Hotel in Vancouver although
the actual research is scheduled to take place at the UBCIC
Resource Centre. The cost for this workshop is approximately
$225.00 per participant, which includes instruction, resource
materials and the training manual "Researching and Writing Tribal
Histories," written by Duane K. Hale, Ph. D.

The UBCIC has application forms and pamphlets for those who are
interested.

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The UBCIC video-taped the '87 Constitutional talks. Bands
interested in obtaining a copy or borrowing these, can contact
our office.

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Union of BC Indian Chiefs Historic Newsletters