UBCIC Newsletter (March, 1991)

1.06-01.08 Union of BC Indian Chiefs Newsletter

1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series

March 1991

english

1.06-01.08-02.01

12

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

President's Message ....................................................... 1

LOW LEVEL FLIGHTS AND THE GULF WAR .................. 2

NICARAGUA/Miskito, Suma and Rama Peoples ............... 3

AIDS ................................................................................... 3-5

NEWS FROM THE NATIONS:

Kwakiutl Nation ................................................................... 6

Cheslatta Nation ................................................................. 7

Mohawk Land Question ...................................................... 7

UBCIC In-House Counsel News ......................................... 8

Chief Saul Terry

Nancy S

y

periodical

M A R C H , 1991 TABLE OF CONTENTS: PRESIDENT's LOW L E V E L MESSAGE 1 F L I G H T S A N D T H E G U L F WAR NICARAGUA/MISKITO, 2 SUMA A N D RAMA P E O P L E S 3 AIDS 3 - 5 NEWS FROM T H E N A T I O N S : KWAKIUTL CHESLATTA NATION 6 NATION 7 MOHAWK L A N D Q U E S T I O N UBCIC IN-HOUSE COUNSEL 7 NEWS 8 Union o f B.C. Indian C h i e f s 2 0 0 - 7 3 Water S t r e e t Vancouver, BC V6B 1A1 Telephone: (604) 684-0231 FAX: (604) 684-5726 March 1, 1991 P R E S I D E N T ' S MESSAGE: Much i s b e i n g made o f t h e r e c e n t r e p o r t r e l e a s e d b y Mr. Max Y a l d e n o f t h e C a n a d i a n Human R i g h t s C o m m i s s i o n , w h i c h p o i n t s o u t t h a t Canada i s f a i l i n g t h e I n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s . This f a i l u r e i s i n f a c t n o t new. Ten y e a r s e a r l i e r ( i n Rotterdam, 1980) t h e f o u r t h R u s s e l l T r i b u n a l made f i v e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w h i c h a r o s e o u t o f t e s t i m o n y from I n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s . The recommendations were t h a t : 1. Governments recognize Indian Peoples of the according t o t h e People's' understanding of themselves. 2. T r e a t i e s and agreements w i t h I n d i g e n o u s subject t o u n i l a t e r a l abrogation. nations shall Americas n o t be 3. T h a t s t a t e s must p r o h i b i t a l l a c t i o n s o r c o u r s e s o f c o n d u c t which r e s u l t i n t h e d e s t r u c t i o n , d i s i n t e g r a t i o n o r d e t e r i o r a t i o n of Indigenous nations. OR 4. otherwise these nations. threaten the national or cultural integrity of 5. e x i s t i n g laws which f o r c i b l y a s s i m i l a t e Indigenous peoples a g a i n s t t h e i r w i l l and v i o l a t e t h e i r b a s i c r i g h t s , as d e f i n e d by i n t e r n a t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s , s h o u l d be a n n u l l e d . Now, t e n y e a r s a f t e r t h a t T r i b u n a l , t h e C a n a d i a n Human R i g h t s C o m m i s s i o n e r , Mr. Max Y a l d e n r e p o r t s t h a t C a n a d a ' s t r e a t m e n t o f I n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s c o n t i n u e s t o be a n a t i o n a l t r a g e d y . The e x p r e s s message i n t h e r e p o r t i s t h a t Canada c a n n o t h o l d i t s ' head up i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l community b e c a u s e i t h a s f a i l e d i n i t s ' o b l i g a t i o n s t o t h e Indigenous peoples. While t h e Mulroney government has pledged a new r e l a t i o n s h i p ( 1 9 8 4 a n d 1 9 9 0 ) w i t h u s , a l l we r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e 1 9 8 4 p l e d g e w a s "Buffalo Jump" termination policies that accelerated the v i o l a t i o n o f o u r human r i g h t s . The second p l e d g e r e s u l t e d i n M u l r o n e y ' s " F o u r P i l l a r s " p o l i c y s t a t e m e n t o f l a s t f a l l , much o f which i s simple p l a t i t u d e s and a p u b l i c relations exercise t o t a l l y v o i d o f s u b s t a n t i v e change. I t i s very d i f f i c u l t t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e c u r r e n t government has the i n t e g r i t y t o uphold i t s ' o b l i g a t i o n s and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t o t h e I n d i g e n o u s p e o p l e s i n Canada. One n e e d o n l y l o o k a t t h e f e d e r a l government's r e c o r d over t h e past year t o see t h a t i t s ' a c t i o n s and f a i l u r e s speak louder than t h e i r words. The r e c o r d shows t h a t t h e f e d e r a l government i s c o n t i n u i n g i n i t s ' s t r a t e g y of l i e s , manipulation and i n t r i g u e . The Mulroney government not only has f a i l e d p e o p l e s i n Canada, i t h a s f a i l e d a l l Canadians. LOW LEVEL FLIGHTS AND THE GULF the Indigenous WAR GOOSE B A Y T R A I N I N G PROVES " V A L U A B L E " I N G U L F WAR. Many o f y o u r e c a l l C h i e f D a n i e l A s h i n i f r o m t h e I n n u , N i t a s s i n a n Nation speaking t o o u r assembly on " l o w l e v e l f l i g h t s " . They have been p r o t e c t i n g t h e i r Nation against these intruders f o r many y e a r s . The Innu, a s w e l l a s many o t h e r Nations are protecting their "homelands" i n various ways. These a r e e x c e r p t s from t h e Innu Resource Centre Newsletter. "Comments r e : t h e War . . . t h e y s p e a k f o r t h e m s e l v e s : . . . . B r i t i s h W i n g Commander E r s k i n e Crum, CFB G o o s e B a y : " . . . Yes, t h e p e o p l e t h a t t r a i n e d here a r e t h e f r o n t l i n e o f t h e a i r f o r c e s we're u s i n g i n t h e G u l f . t o that extent t h e t r a i n i n g they've had here i s obviously extremely valuable." The L a b r a d o r i a n , J a n . 22/91. Elizabeth Penashue, I n n u Woman: "Our r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e military on o u r l a n d i s e v e n more t h a n p r o t e c t i n g o u r own futures. We a l s o t h i n k a b o u t p r e v e n t i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l damage and w a r s t h a t w o u l d a f f e c t t h e whole w o r l d . " S y l v e s t e r Andrew, I n n u Man: "Now t h e l e a d e r s o f H a p p y V a l l e y G o o s e B a y who s u p p o r t e d L L F ( l o w l e v e l f l i g h t s ) w i l l r e a l i z e t h e d e s t r u c t i o n t h a t comes f r o m i t . " Letter 1991: from Peter Penashue, President, Innu Nation, February I t h a s b e e n w i t h g r e a t d i f f i c u l t y t h a t we I n n u f r o m Sheshatshit and Utshimassit came to a decision t o begin preliminary n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h t h e governments o f Canada and Newfoundland t o implement o u r r i g h t s i n N i t a s s i n a n . We h a v e s t r u g g l e d l o n g a n d hard, s u f f e r i n g p r i s o n and separation from loved ones i n an effort t o protect our land. Our e f f o r t s have met w i t h some s u c c e s s ; p r e s s u r e has been a p p l i e d t o governments, and thousands o f N o r t h A m e r i c a n s a n d E u r o p e a n s h a v e b e e n made a w a r e o f o u r struggle. Unfortunately, military training i s c o n t i n u i n g , and p o s s i b l y expanding. Many o t h e r m a j o r d e v e l o p m e n t s a r e p r e s s i n g i n on u s as w e l l . I n a d d i t i o n t o a l a r g e h y d r o - e l e c t r i c p r o j e c t and i t s transmission lines, there i s a skidoo t r a i l and t h e TransL a b r a d o r H i g h w a y , b o t h o f w h i c h w i l l c u t t h r o u g h l a n d w h i c h we continue t o use. F o r e s t r y companies a r e p r e p a r i n g p l a n s f o r major l o g and p u l p o p e r a t i o n s l o c a l l y , and non-Innu c o n t i n u e t o b u i l d p r i v a t e and commercial h u n t i n g and f i s h i n g c a b i n s i n t h e interior. A l l t h e w h i l e other a b o r i g i n a l groups a r e p r o g r e s s i n g i n " l a n d c l a i m " n e g o t i a t i o n s t h a t w i l l have major impacts on o u r homeland. We a r e i n no way r e l e n t i n g i n o u r e f f o r t s t o p r o t e c t w h a t i s ours. We s h a l l c o n t i n u e o u r s t r u g g l e . B u t we f e l t t h e t i m e was r i g h t t o b e g i n d i s c u s s i o n s w i t h g o v e r n m e n t s a s p a r t o f t h e s e efforts. Our p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h i s p r o c e s s i s toward a v e r y s p e c i f i c purpose: t h a t we do n o t e n d up w i t h a " r e s e r v e " , b u t t h a t I n n u h a v e a r e a l h o m e l a n d , a h o m e l a n d w h e r e we h a v e a d i g n i t y and power t o l i v e as a p e o p l e and as a n a t i o n . We i n s i s t t h a t a l l s t e p s i n t h e p r o c e s s be u n d e r s t o o d a n d r a t i f i e d by t h e p e o p l e . We h o p e t h a t Canada a n d N e w f o u n d l a n d a r e s e r i o u s l y committed t o r e s o l v i n g t h i s o u t s t a n d i n g i s s u e . Y o u r c o n t i n u e d s u p p o r t i s more i m p o r t a n t now t h a n i t h a s n e v e r e v e r been. B o t h we, a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t s n e e d t o b e c e r t a i n t h a t y o u a r e b e h i n d u s when we s a y , "We a r e a n a t i o n , we w i l l n o t e x t i n g u i s h o u r r i g h t s and t i t l e t o o u r l a n d . " Thank y o u f o r y o u r s u p p o r t y o u h a v e shown u s , we o n l y a s k t h a t i t c o n t i n u e . * * * NICARAGUA - MISKITO, SUMA A N D RAMA PEOPLES: Brooklyn R i v e r a a n d many o t h e r political leaders from t h e M i s k i t o , Suma a n d Rama r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r h o m e l a n d s a f t e r t h e e l e c t i o n i n Nicaragua. B r o o k l y n i s now M i n i s t e r a n d D i r e c t o r of t h e Nicaraguan I n s t i t u t e o f D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e Autonomous R e g i o n s (INDERA) a n d s i t s on t h e N i c a r a g u a n L e g i s l a t u r e . The U n i o n o f B.C. I n d i a n C h i e f s h a s b e e n r e q u e s t e d by t h e M i s k i t o , Suma a n d Rama I n d i a n s o f t h e A t l a n t i c C o a s t i n N i c a r a g u a to a s s i s t them i n a r e c o v e r y program a f t e r t h e c i v i l war and h u r r i c a n e damages. The U n i o n o f B.C. I n d i a n C h i e f s f o r m e d a working committee t o begin raising funds and s e a r c h i n g f o r d i f f e r e n t avenues f o r d o n a t i o n s o f s u p p l i e s and m a t e r i a l s . The Indian peoples i n the Atlantic Coast need the following desperately: o food o o o o o medicine medical supplies portable sawmills t o o l s (hammers, saws, n a i l s , f i s h i n g r o d s a n d l i n e s , machetes, s h o v e l s , hoes) seeds F i n a n c i a l d o n a t i o n s may b e made p a y a b l e t o t h e UBCIC - INDERA Fund and a r e t a x d e d u c t i b l e . A s p e c i a l a c c o u n t has been opened f o r t h i s purpose. L e t t e r s should a l s o go t o t h e Hon. J o e C l a r k , M i n i s t e r o f E x t e r n a l A f f a i r s i n Ottawa u r g i n g him t o g e t i n v o l v e d and p r o v i d e i m m e d i a t e a i d t o t h e M i s k i t o , Suma a n d Rama I n d i a n s . I f y o u w o u l d l i k e t o v o l u n t e e r , d o n a t e o r w a n t more c a l l UBCIC ( M i l l i e P o p l a r ) a t 6 8 4 - 0 2 3 1 . information * * * AIDS: AIDS I s A B i g T h r e a t To N a t i v e W r i t t e n by P h i l i p Raphals, Canadians: Montreal. AIDS represents a major threat to the future of native c o m m u n i t i e s , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h e number o f a b o r i g i n a l s w i t h AIDS i n Canada i s s t i l l s m a l l . T h i s was t h e m e s s a g e h e a r d b y a l m o s t 600 I n d i a n s a n d I n u i t f r o m a c r o s s Canada a t t e n d i n g a t h r e e - d a y m e e t i n g h e r e l a t e l a s t month on A I D S . But s p e a k e r s a l s o s t a t e d t h e s t r e n g t h o f f a m i l y and community t i e s i n n a t i v e s o c i e t y make i t p o s s i b l e t o meet t h e c h a l l e n g e o f t h e d i s e a s e , i f s t r o n g s t e p s a r e u n d e r s t a k e n now. W h i l e many o f t h e p e o p l e a t t h e c o n f e r e n c e were i n v o l v e d i n h e a l t h c a r e , p r e v e n t i o n and e d u c a t i o n i n t h e i r c o m m u n i t i e s , most had o n l y a p a s s i n g knowledge o f AIDS. " I h a d no i d e a how s e r i o u s t h i s p r o b l e m i s , " was a comment h e a r d over and over again. B u t o n c e t h e p o i n t was made t h a t AIDS i s n o t j u s t a w h i t e man's d i s e a s e , t h e a u d i e n c e h a d no d i f f i c u l t y f o c u s i n g on t h e g r a v i t y o f t h e t h r e a t . " E p i d e m i c s a r e n o t h i n g new t o n a t i v e c o m m u n i t i e s , " s a i d Ron R o w e l l , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f t h e N a t i o n a l N a t i v e A m e r i c a n AIDS P r e v e n t i o n C e n t e r i n O a k l a n d , Ca. " T u b e r c u l o s i s and s m a l l p o x d e v a s t a t e d t h e I n d i a n p o p u l a t i o n r e d u c i n g o u r numbers f r o m f i v e m i l l i o n b e f o r e t h e E u r o p e a n s a r r i v e d t o 250,000 t o d a y . " AIDS (con't) I n one v i l l a g e , s i n g l e epidemic, the p o p u l a t i o n he a d d e d . "And on o u r time i s not went s i d e , " he from 3,000 t o s a i d o f t h e AIDS 100 during a epidemic. " U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e i s no g o o d e s t i m a t e o f t h e number o f n a t i v e p e o p l e w i t h AIDS o r HIV," s a i d Dr. J a y Wortman o f I n d i a n and Northern Health S e r v i c e s , p a r t of the medical s e r v i c e s branch of H e a l t h and W e l f a r e Canada, " b u t we know t h a t t h e t h r e a t i s v e r y grave." O n l y 24 AIDS c a s e s h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d among n a t i v e s , b u t t h i s i s j u s t t h e t i p o f t h e i c e b e r g , he s a i d . The number i s i n a c c u r a t e f o r a number o f r e a s o n s : u n t i l two y e a r s ago, no p r o v i n c e e x c e p t Quebec r e p o r t e d r a c e w i t h AIDS d a t a , and when r a c e i s r e p o r t e d , i t i s often reported incorrectly. I n f a c t , Dr. Wortman c o n s i d e r s t h i s f i g u r e t o be so " i t w o u l d be b e t t e r n o t t o h a v e any number a t a l l . " Among I n d i a n s l i v i n g i n m a j o r p r o b l e m , and HIV Turvey, c o - o r d i n a t o r of S o c i e t y n e e d l e exchange Turvey s a i d native. almost misleading u r b a n c e n t r e s , I.V. d r u g u s e h a s become a i s f o l l o w i n g i n i t s f o o t s t e p s , s a i d John t h e Down Town E a s t S i d e Y o u t h A c t i v i t i e s program i n Vancouver. half the people who use their services are "Only 1.4% of the people using our needle exchange have seroconverted i n t h e l a s t two y e a r s , " s a i d T u r v e y , " b u t 80% o f t h o s e h a v e b e e n n a t i v e women." F u r t h e r m o r e , he s a i d n a t i v e s e r o p o s i t i v e s g e t s i c k and f a s t e r t h a n do m i d d l e - c l a s s w h i t e s e r o p o s i t i v e s who a r e healthy. d i e much otherwise " I ' v e s e e n I n d i a n s d i e w i t h i n two y e a r s o f i n f e c t i o n , " he s a i d , " b e c a u s e t h e y ' r e a l r e a d y immunocompromised, t h a n k s t o p o v e r t y and malnutrition." T u r v e y s a i d o f t h e m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s b e i n g s p e n t on AIDS, o n l y a l i t t l e a c t u a l l y r e a c h e s t h e p e o p l e a t r i s k , and he e x c o r i a t e d the l a c k o f f i n a n c i a l support f o r programs t h a t a c t u a l l y i n t e r a c t one-to-one w i t h people from a t r i s k p o p u l a t i o n s . I n d e e d , p o v e r t y i t s e l f i s a m a j o r r i s k f a c t o r f o r HIV, s a i d Dr. G e o r g e Conway, an e p i d e m i o l o g i s t f r o m t h e U.S. C e n t e r s o f D i s e a s e Control i n Altlanta. M a l n u t r i t i o n and p o o r h e a l t h c a r e t e n d t o q u i c k e n t h e p r o g r e s s i o n f r o m HIV t o A I D S , and t h e h i g h p r e v a l e n c e of s e x u a l l y t r a n s m i t t e d diseases common i n p o o r communities g r e a t l y f a c i l i t a t e s t r a n s m i s s i o n , he s a i d . N a t i v e c o m m u n i t i e s a r e among t h e p o o r e s t i n C a n a d a , and most e x p e r t s b e l i e v e t h e s p r e a d o f HIV i n n a t i v e c o m m u n i t i e s w i l l be a c c o r d i n g t o w h a t i s know a s P a t t e r n I I . S e e n i n A f r i c a and t h e Caribbean, heterosexual transmission is the most common transmission route i n Patter I I . W h i l e many t h i n k o f AIDS a s an u r b a n p r o b l e m , r u r a l native communities are a l s o at great r i s k , s a i d Ida W i l l i a m s , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r of the Montreal's Native Friendship Centre. " T h e r e a r e more t h a n 12,000 n a t i v e p e o p l e i n M o n t r e a l , " she said. "Most o f them come t o t h e c i t y - maybe f o r a w e e k e n d , maybe f o r a few m o n t h s - and t h e n go b a c k t o t h e i r c o m m u n i t i e s . A l li t t a k e s i s one i n f e c t e d p e r s o n t o b r i n g HIV b a c k home, and t h e n t h e whole community i s a t r i s k . AIDS: (con't) CONDOMS P a r t o f a n a t i o n w i d e network, t h e M o n t r e a l N a t i v e F r i e n d s h i p C e n t r e d i s t r i b u t e s a b o u t 100 condoms a day (when i t c a n g e t them) and a l s o e x c h a n g e s n e e d l e s f o r I.V. d r u g u s e r s . The m o s t m o v i n g moment o f t h e c o n f e r e n c e came Monday a f t e r n o o n when f o u r a b o r i g i n a l p e o p l e w i t h AIDS o r HIV t o l d t h e i r s t o r i e s . K e c i a L a r k i n , a 1 9 - y e a r o l d f r o m A l e r t Bay a t t h e n o r t h e r n t i p o f Vancouver I s l a n d , t o l d o f h e r l i f e o f p r o s t i t u t i o n and d r u g abuse a f t e r r u n n i n g away f r o m home a t t h e age o f 15 t o e s c a p e p o v e r t y and s e x u a l a b u s e . " I knew t h e r i s k s , b u t I k e p t b e l i e v i n g me," s h e s a i d . "What y o u d o n ' t know w i l l i t wouldn't k i l l you." happen to Ken Ward, a 3 4 - y e a r o l d C r e e f r o m A l b e r t a was t h e f i r s t C a n a d i a n n a t i v e t o "go p u b l i c " a b o u t b e i n g s e r o p o s i t v e . Two y e a r s ago, he f o u n d e d t h e F e a t h e r o f Hope A b o r i g i n a l S o c i e t y f o r AIDS P r e v e n t i o n , t o w a r n n a t i v e p e o p l e o f t h e d a n g e r AIDS p o s e s t o them. Ward s t r e s s e s the importance of t r a d i t i o n a l spirituality in m e e t i n g t h e c h a l l e n g e s o f A I D S , b o t h f o r t h e i n d i v i d u a l and f o r his or her family. "We w a n t t o go home," he s a i d , a theme t h a t was o f t e n e c h o e d during the three-day conference. "Our f a m i l i e s and c o m m u n i t i e s must r e a c h o u t t o c a r e f o r t h e i r c h i l d r e n who a r e s i c k , n o t p u s h them away." L i k e L a r k i n , Ward Indian communities t r a v e l s i n c e s s a n t l y , s p e a k i n g a b o u t AIDS i n around Canada. Asked about h i s e x h a u s t i n g s c h e d u l e , he s a i d h e was a n x i o u s t o g e t t o a s many c o m m u n i t i e s a s p o s s i b l e w h i l e he was s t i l l h e a l t h y e n o u g h t o do s o . Much o r t h e E m p h a s i s i n t h e c o n f e r e n c e r e l i a n c e i n AIDS p r e v e n t i o n work. was on native self- "You d o n ' t n e e d a m a s t e r ' s d e g r e e t o t e a c h p e o p l e a b o u t a v o i d i n g A I D S , " s a i d J a c k i e M c P h e r s o n , o f t h e L i t t l e B l a c k R i v e r Band i n M a n i t o b a , who d e s c r i b e s h e r s e l f a s t h e "Condom G r a n n y . " She gave condoms. a hands-on workshop on how I don't use b i g words because I can't laughing. t o teach people t o use p r o n o u n c e them," s h e s a i d * * * NEWS FROM T H E N A T I O N S : KWAKIUTL NATION: Congratulations t o the Kwakiutl Band for their efforts i n defending/protecting t h e i r t e r r i t o r y by t h e p e r s e v e r a n c e and determination i n their presentation to the Port Hardy Ferrochromium Review Panel. The panel has concluded that: GENERAL CONCLUSIONS: From o u r m a n d a t e , w h i c h was t o c o n s i d e r t h e t e c h n o l o g y , t h e environmental i s s u e s and t h e s o c i a l i s s u e s , and i n c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f a l l t h e e v i d e n c e b e f o r e u s , we h a v e d r a w n t h e f o l l o w i n g t h r e e general conclusions: (1) Technology: The t e c h n o l o g y o f t h e p r o p o s e d p l a n t i s f e a s i b l e , although refinements and c l a r i f i c a t i o n s w i l l be n e c e s s a r y , as set f o r t h i n our r e p o r t , i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e a s a t i s f a c t o r y f i n a l design; (2) Environment: Provided t h e c o m p r e h e n s i v e and stringent conditions set f o r t h i n our r e p o r t are a p p l i e d t o the d e s i g n , c o n s t r u c t i o n , operation and monitoring of the Sherwood plant, its environmental i m p a c t s a r e e x p e c t e d t o be m a n a g e a b l e and a c c e p t a b l y low, h o w e v e r t h e s e l e c t e d s i t e n e a r B e a r Cove i s not ideally suited due to the general environmental s e n s i t i v i t y o f H a r d y Bay; and (3) S o c i a l Issues: a) General Provided the environmental impacts are managed in accordance w i t h t h e recommendations of t h i s r e p o r t , the Sherwood p l a n t w o u l d y i e l d a n e t s o c i a l b e n e f i t t o P o r t Hardy, based upon i t s l o c a l economic v a l u e . b) Native The B e a r Cove s i t e i s n o t a c c e p t a b l e i n l i g h t o f n a t i v e issues which must be resolved by litigation or settlement. I n l i g h t o f t h e f o r e g o i n g , t h e p r o p o n e n t and government may c h o o s e t o s e e k an a l t e r n a t i v e l o c a t i o n , p o s s i b l y i n t h e Port Hardy v i c i n i t y , t h a t i s s u i t a b l e t o a l l p a r t i e s . : Various issues l i k e t h i s arise i n various Nations. They o f f e r j o b s , d o l l a r s i n t o t h e c o m m u n i t y , e t c . b u t we h a v e a l l s e e n t h e d e v a s t a t i o n some i n d u s t r i e s h a v e c a u s e d t o t h e l i v e l i h o o d o f our peoples (Alcan i n Kitamaat t e r r i t o r y , pulp m i l l s , etc.). Our p e o p l e s n o t o n l y h a v e t o f i g h t i s s u e s l i k e t h i s f o r t h e i r own t e r r i t o r y but p r o t e c t i o n f o r the areas white people l i v e i n a l s o . The e n v i r o n m e n t has a l w a y s b e e n an o n g o i n g i s s u e when i t comes t o p r o t e c t i o n of our lands. * * * CHESLATTA C A R R I E R NATION: The C h e s l a t t a C a r r i e r N a t i o n a n n o u n c e d t o d a y t h a t n e g o t i a t i o n s t o s e t t l e an o u t s t a n d i n g S p e c i f i c C l a i m w i t h t h e f e d e r a l government h a v e b r o k e n down a n d a r e f i l i n g s u i t i n BC Supreme C o u r t . Chief Marvin Charlie, representing t h e 14 0 members o f t h e C h e s l a t t a C a r r i e r N a t i o n , l o c a t e d south o f Burns Lake, noted l a c k of fairness and co-operation, on behalf of the federal government, as t h e main r e a s o n f o r h i s d e c i s i o n . Chief Charlies s a i d , "The D e p a r t m e n t o f I n d i a n A f f a i r s h a s c o n s t a n t l y l i m i t e d our r e s o u r c e s w h i c h would a l l o w us t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a f a i r and proper n e g o t i a t i o n process. W h i l e t h e DIA h a s u n l i m i t e d a c c e s s to f i n a n c i a l and l e g a l r e s o u r c e s o f t h e Canadian government t o a s s i s t them, we h a v e n o t h i n g . " The S p e c i f i c C l a i m , f i l e d w i t h t h e DIA i n 1984 a n d a c c e p t e d f o r n e g o t i a t i o n s i n 1987, i s b a s e d on t h e f o r c e d s u r r e n d e r and r e l o c a t i o n o f t h e C h e s l a t t a Band i n 1952 a f t e r t h e A l u m i n u m Company o f C a n a d a c o n s t r u c t e d a dam on t h e C h e s l a t t a L a k e s y s t e m . It was o n l y a f t e r t h e dam was c o m p l e t e , a n d t h e C h e s l a t t a R e s e r v e s b e i n g f l o o d e d , d i d t h e Department o f I n d i a n A f f a i r s i n f o r m t h e Band t h a t t h e y w o u l d h a v e t o s i g n a s u r r e n d e r a n d immediately evacuate t o h i g h e r ground. The Band h a s a l w a y s c o n t e n d e d t h a t t h e s u r r e n d e r was i l l e g a l a n d i n v i o l a t i o n o f t h e I n d i a n A c t . Since filing the Specific Claim, the Cheslatta Nation has i n c u r r e d d e b t s o f n e a r l y $200,00 w h i l e t h e DIA h a s a d v a n c e d on $2 0,000 p e r y e a r s i n c e 1987, t o c o v e r e x p e n s e s . These advances a r e t a k e n o f f t h e t o p when a s e t t l e m e n t i s r e a c h e d . "The w h o l e p r o c e s s i s a sham.", s a y s C h i e f C h a r l i e , " B r i a n M u l r o n e y and Tom Siddon a r e l i a r s when t h e y say t h a t they a r e c o m m i t t e d on s e t t l i n g S p e c i f i c Claims. Our a t t e m p t s t o r e a s o n w i t h t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t h a v e c o n s t a n t l y f a l l e n u p o n d e a f e a r s a n d we are s i c k o f i t . How a r e we s u p p o s e d t o n e g o t i a t e a s e t t l e m e n t w i t h t h e same p e o p l e t h a t l e n d u s money f o r n e g o t i a t i o n s ? One way o r a n o t h e r , t h e y h a v e a l w a y s f o u n d a way t o h o l d u s b a c k . T h i s h a s f o r c e d u s t o s e e k l e g a l r e d r e s s f o r t h e way we h a v e b e e n treated. Once t h e f a c t s o f t h i s c a s e a r e p u b l i c , t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c i s g o i n g t o be d i s g u s t e d w i t h t h e way t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s t r e a t e d us over t h e l a s t f o r t y y e a r s . The c o l d , h a r d f a c t s w i l l be v e r y embarrassing." The C h e s l a t t a C a r r i e r N a t i o n w i l l c o n t i n u e t o h o l d s m a l l b i n g o s , r a f f l e s a n d b a k e s a l e s i n an a t t e m p t t o k e e p a b r e a s t o f t h e i r mounting expenses. "The p e o p l e o f t h e C h e s l a t t a C a r r i e r N a t i o n a r e c o m m i t t e d t o s e e i n g j u s t i c e done," says C h i e f C h a r l i e s , "When o u r t e r r i t o r y was flooded, we lost o u r homes, o u r t r a p l i n e s , o u r h i s t o r y and o u r c u l t u r e , e v e r y t h i n g . We h a v e nothing else t o lose." * * * MOHAWK L A N D QUESTION: C h i e f S a u l T e r r y , P r e s i d e n t w i l l be making a p r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h e 'Mohawk C r i s i s ' t o t h e S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e o n A b o r i g i n a l A f f a i r s i n O t t a w a o n T u e s d a y , M a r c h 5, 1991. A r e p o r t on t h i s w i l l be i n our next n e w s l e t t e r . The Haudensosaunee Crisis Committee, i n cooperation with Barricade Productions, Inc. and TVI Video has produced a 3 0 m i n u t e v i d e o t h a t p r e s e n t s a n a t i v e v i e w o f t h i s summer's s i e g e o f t h e Mohawk N a t i o n . The v i d e o i s t h e o n l y v i d e o t h a t h a s b e e n p r o d u c e d w i t h t h e a u t h o r i z a t i o n o f t h o s e who p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h i s summer's e v e n t . "Voices From Oka - A N a t i v e Recounting o f t h e Mohawk Siege o f 1990" i s a v a i l a b l e a t a c o s t o f $25.00 p e r c o p y . Discount f o r bulk orders. This p r i c e includes postage. Allow t h r e e weeks f o r d e l i v e r y . P l e a s e s e n d payment t o : Barricade. Productions, I n c . PO Box 292, Kahnawake, PQ, J O L 1B0 o r c a l l(514)635-809 UBCICIN-HOUSELEGALCOUNSEL NEWS: I n May 1989 t h e C h i l c o t i n J u s t i c e C o u n c i l i n Williams Lake a p p r o a c h e d t h e U n i o n r e q u e s t i n g a s s i s t a n c e i n s e t t i n g up a l a w c e n t r e i n t h e C h i l c o t i n C o u n t r y w h i c h w o u l d s e r v i c e t h e Bands west o f t h eFraser R i v e r . Those p e o p l e comprise t h e C h i l c o t i n and t h e C a r r i e r n a t i o n s . The C o u n c i l h a d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m t h e A l e x a n d r i a , A l e x i s C r e e k , Anaham, N e m a i a h , S t o n e , T o o s e y a n d U l k a t c h o Bands. The C o u n c i l d i r e c t e d me t o i n c o r p o r a t e them u n d e r t h e S o c i e t y A c t and o n c e t h a t was a c c o m p l i s h e d n e g o t i a t i o n s b e g a n i n e a r n e s t f o r f u n d i n g from the A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l ' s Department. A Society Act i n c o r p o r a t i o n c o u l d b e a n e a s i l y a c c o m p l i s h e d t a s k f o r some r e g u l a r s o c i e t y b u t t h e C o u n c i l w a n t e d C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d By-Laws t h a t w o u l d b e a r e f l e c t i o n o f t h e i r way o f t h i n k i n g a n d t h e i r way of l i f e . They c h o s e a s t h e i r name "Nenqay D e n i Y a j e l h t i g " Law C e n t r e S o c i e t y w h i c h t r a n s l a t e s i n C h i l c o t i n t o "The P e o p l e o f t h e W o r l d Speak." The C o u n c i l d e c i d e d t h a t t h e name e x p r e s s e d t h e i r d e s i r e t o speak o u t and have c o n t r o l over t h e j u s t i c e i s s u e s i n t h e i r communities a f t e r years o f o u t s i d e c o n t r o l by a s y s t e m t h a t was a l i e n t o t h e i r c u l t u r e . We met o v e r a n e x t e n d e d p e r i o d o f t i m e a n d a f t e r many d r a f t s came o u t w i t h a s e t o f By-Laws w h i c h a r e r e a d a b l e t o t h e o r d i n a r y person. The J u s t i c e C o u n c i l c o m p r i s e s o f t e n members w i t h t h e c a p a c i t y t o form o t h e r committees s u c h a s an E l d e r s C o u n c i l w h i c h w i l l s i t t o help resolve contentious matters. The l a w c e n t r e i s s i t u a t e d on t h e Anaham R e s e r v e a n d w i l l p r o v i d e l e g a l a s s i s t a n c e t o t he p e o p l e i n t h e C h i l c o t i n . While the centre w i l l provide much n e e d e d l e g a l a i d t h e C o u n c i l d o e s n o t want t o s e e t h e c e n t r e become j u s t a n o t h e r l e g a l a i d o f f i c e . To t h i s e n d t h e y a r e planning p u b l i c l e g a l education geared toward keeping their people out o f the penal i n s t i t u t i o n s . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e y w i l l be d o i n g r e s e a r c h on t h e i r t r a d i t i o n a l methods b a c k i n t o u s e . j u s t i c e system t o b r i n g those The C e n t r e h a d i t s g r a n d o p e n i n g on F e b r u a r y 1, 1 9 9 1 o n t h e Anaham R e s e r v e . The c e r e m o n i e s w e r e c o n d u c t e d i n t h e C h i l c o t i n language and i n t e r p r e t e d f o r us n o n - C h i l c o t i n ' s . The E l d e r s l e d t h e c e l e b r a t i o n w i t h songs and p r a y e r s . A f t e r speeches and g i f t exchanges by r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s from t h e government and t h e p e o p l e we h a d t r a d i t i o n a l f e a s t f o l l o w e d b y a s h o r t game o f l a h a l . Former A t t o r n e y General Bud S m i t h , H i s H o n o u r J u d g e C u n l i f f e B a r n e t t , A s s i s t a n t A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l , G.R. M a r t i n ; NDP, MLA f r o m t h e C a r i b o o C h i l c o t i n , Dave Z i r n h e l t , S o c r e d MLA N e i l V a n t ; a n d Marg A r t h u r , N a t i v e J u s t i c e P r o j e c t P o l i c y A n a l y s t were c a l l e d u p o n t o j o i n t h e game w i t h a t h r e a t o f a s e v e r e p e n a l t y i f t h e y refused. The C o u n c i l i s s t i l l t a k i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s f o r a l a w y e r t o o p e r a t e t h e c e n t r e f o r t h e p o s i t i o n t o s t a r t o n A p r i l 1, 1 9 9 1 . The deadline f o r submitting application i s March 8, 1991; s h o r t l i s t i n g w i l l t a k e p l a c e on M a r c h 1 1 t h a n d i n t e r v i e w s on March 15th. You c a n s u b m i t y o u r a p p l i c a t i o n s t o : Chilcotin Justice Council c/o Anaham Band O f f i c e General D e l i v e r y A l e x i s C r e e k , BC VOL 1A0 o r f o r more i n f o r m a t i o n c a l l Ms. J o a n G e n t l e s (work) o r (604) 659-5634 (home). Nancy Sandy In-House Counsel, UBCIC * * * a t (604) 392-3345  MARCH, 1991 TABLE OF CONTENTS: PRESIDENT! S MESSAGE . 1 LOW LEVEL FLIGHTS AND THE GULF WAR 2 NICARAGUA/M1sk1To, SUMA AND RAMA PEOPLES 3 AIDS 3-5 NEWS FROM THE NATIONS: KWAKIUTL NATION 6 CHESLATTA NATION 7 MoHAWK LAND QUESTION 7 UBCIC In-House Counset News 8 Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs 200 - 73 Water Street Vancouver, BC V6B 1Al1 Telephone: (604) 684-0231 FAX: (604) 684-5726  March 1, 1991 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE: Much is being made of the recent report released by Mr. Max Yalden of the Canadian Human Rights Commission, which points out that Canada is failing the Indigenous peoples. This failure is in fact not new. Ten years earlier (in Rotterdam, 1980) the fourth Russell Tribunal made five recommendations which arose out of testimony from Indigenous peoples. The recommendations were that: Le Governments recognize Indian Peoples of the Americas according to the People's' understanding of themselves. Be Treaties and agreements with Indigenous nations shall not be subject to unilateral abrogation. ce That states must prohibit all actions or courses of conduct which result in the destruction, disintegration or deterioration of Indigenous nations. OR 4. otherwise threaten the national or cultural integrity of these nations. 5. existing laws which forcibly assimilate Indigenous peoples against their will and violate their basic rights, as defined by international standards, should be annulled. Now, ten years after that Tribunal, the Canadian Human Rights Commissioner, Mr. Max Yalden reports that Canada's treatment of Indigenous peoples continues to be a national tragedy. The express message in the report is that Canada cannot hold its' head up in the international community because it has failed in its' obligations to the Indigenous peoples.  While the Mulroney government has pledged a new relationship (1984 and 1990) with us, all we received from the 1984 pledge was "Buffalo Jump" termination policies that accelerated the violation of our human rights. The second pledge resulted in Mulroney's "Four Pillars" policy statement of last fall, much of which is simple platitudes and a public relations exercise totally void of substantive change. It is very difficult to believe that the current government has the integrity to uphold its' obligations and responsibilities to the Indigenous peoples in Canada. One need only look at the federal government's record over the past year to see that its' actions and failures speak louder than their words. The record shows that the federal government is continuing in its' strategy of lies, manipulation and intrigue. The Mulroney government not only has failed the Indigenous peoples in Canada, it has failed all Canadians. LOW LEVEL FLIGHTS AND THE GULF WAR GOOSE BAY TRAINING PROVES "VALUABLE" IN GULF WAR. Many of you recall Chief Daniel Ashini from the Innu, Nitassinan Nation speaking to our assembly on "low level flights". They have been protecting their Nation against these intruders for many years. The Innu, as well as many other Nations are protecting their "homelands" in various ways. These are excerpts from the Innu Resource Centre Newsletter. "Comments re: the War . . . they speak for themselves: .. . British Wing Commander Erskine Crum, CFB Goose Bay: Moe @ « Yes, the people that trained here are the front line of the air forces we're using in the Gulf. to that extent the training they've had here is obviously extremely valuable." The Labradorian, Jan. 22/91. Elizabeth Penashue, Innu Woman: "Our resistance to the military on our land is even more than protecting our own futures. We also think about preventing environmental damage and wars that would affect the whole world." Sylvester Andrew, Innu Man: "Now the leaders of Happy Valley - Goose Bay who supported LLF (low level flights) will realize the destruction that comes from it." Letter from Peter Penashue, President, Innu Nation, February LOOLS It has been with great difficulty that we Innu from Sheshatshit and Utshimassit came to a decision to begin preliminary negotiations with the governments of Canada and Newfoundland to implement our rights in Nitassinan. We have struggled long and hard, suffering prison and separation from loved ones in an effort to protect our land. Our efforts have met with some  success; pressure has been applied to governments, and thousands of North Americans and Europeans have been made aware of our struggle. Unfortunately, military training is continuing, and possibly expanding. Many other major developments are pressing in on us as well. In addition to a large hydro-electric project and its transmission lines, there is a skidoo trail and the Trans- Labrador Highway, both of which will cut through land which we continue to use. Forestry companies are preparing plans for major log and pulp operations locally, and non-Innu continue to build private and commercial hunting and fishing cabins in the interior. All the while other aboriginal groups are progressing in "land claim" negotiations that will have major impacts on our homeland. We are in no way relenting in our efforts to protect what is ours. We shall continue our struggle. But we felt the time was right to begin discussions with governments as part of these efforts. Our participation in this process is toward a very specific purpose: that we do not end up with a "reserve", but that Innu have a real homeland, a homeland where we have a dignity and power to live as a people and as a nation. We insist that all steps in the process be understood and ratified by the people. We hope that Canada and Newfoundland are seriously committed to resolving this outstanding issue. Your continued support is more important now than it has never ever been. Both we, and the governments need to be certain that you are behind us when we say, "We are a nation, we will not extinguish our rights and title to our land." Thank you for your support you have shown us, we only ask that it continue. ek & & NICARAGUA - MrskrtTo, SUMA AND RAMA PEOPLES: Brooklyn Rivera and many other political leaders from the Miskito, Suma and Rama returned to their homelands after the election in Nicaragua. Brooklyn is now Minister and Director of the Nicaraguan Institute of Development of the Autonomous Regions (INDERA) and sits on the Nicaraguan Legislature. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has been requested by the Miskito, Suma and Rama Indians of the Atlantic Coast in Nicaragua to assist them in a recovery program after the civil war and hurricane damages. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs formed a working committee to begin raising funds and searching for different avenues for donations of supplies and materials. The Indian peoples in the Atlantic Coast need the following desperately: Oo food  oO medicine oO medical supplies oO portable sawmills oO tools (hammers, saws, nails, fishing rods and lines, machetes, shovels, hoes) Oo seeds Financial donations may be made payable to the UBCIC - INDERA Fund and are tax deductible. A special account has been opened for this purpose. Letters should also go to the Hon. Joe Clark, Minister of External Affairs in Ottawa urging him to get involved and provide immediate aid to the Miskito, Suma and Rama Indians. If you would like to volunteer, donate or want more information call UBCIC (Millie Poplar) at 684-0231. AIDS: AIDS Is A Big Threat To Native Canadians: Written by Philip Raphals, Montreal. AIDS represents a major threat to the future of native communities, despite the fact the number of aboriginals with AIDS in Canada is still small. This was the message heard by almost 600 Indians and Inuit from across Canada attending a three-day meeting here late last month on AIDS. But speakers also stated the strength of family and community ties in native society make it possible to meet the challenge of the disease, if strong steps are understaken now. While many of the people at the conference were involved in health care, prevention and education in their communities, most had only a passing knowledge of AIDS. "T had no idea how serious this problem is," was a comment heard over and over again. But once the point was made that AIDS is not just a white man's disease, the audience had no difficulty focusing on the gravity of the threat. "Epidemics are nothing new to native communities," said Ron Rowell, executive director of the National Native American AIDS Prevention Center in Oakland, Ca. "Tuberculosis and smallpox devastated the Indian population reducing our numbers from five million before the Europeans arrived to 250,000 today."  AIDS (con't) In one village, the population went from 3,000 to 100 during a single epidemic, he added. "And time is not on our side," he said of the AIDS epidemic. "Unfortunately, there is no good estimate of the number of native people with AIDS or HIV," said Dr. Jay Wortman of Indian and Northern Health Services, part of the medical services branch of Health and Welfare Canada, "but we know that the threat is very grave." Only 24 AIDS cases have been reported among natives, but this is just the tip of the iceberg, he said. The number is inaccurate for a number of reasons: until two years ago, no province except Quebec reported race with AIDS data, and when race is reported, it is often reported incorrectly. In fact, Dr. Wortman considers this figure to be so misleading "it would be better not to have any number at all." Among Indians living in urban centres, I.V. drug use has become a major problem, and HIV is following in its footsteps, said John Turvey, co-ordinator of the Down Town East Side Youth Activities Society needle exchange program in Vancouver. Turvey said almost half the people who use their services are native. "Only 1.4% of the people using our needle exchange have seroconverted in the last two years," said Turvey, "but 80% of those have been native women." Furthermore, he said native seropositives get sick and die much faster than do middle-class white seropositives who are otherwise healthy. "T'yve seen Indians die within two years of infection," he said, "because they're already immunocompromised, thanks to poverty and nalnutri tion. ™ Turvey said of the millions of dollars being spent on AIDS, only a little actually reaches the people at risk, and he excoriated the lack of financial support for programs that actually interact one-to-one with people from at risk populations. Indeed, poverty itself is a major risk factor for HIV, said Dr. George Conway, an epidemiologist from the U.S. Centers of Disease Control in Altlanta. Malnutrition and poor health care tend to quicken the progression from HIV to AIDS, and the high prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases common in poor communities greatly facilitates transmission, he said.  Native communities are among the poorest in Canada, and most experts believe the spread of HIV in native communities will be according to what is know as Pattern II. Seen in Africa and the Caribbean, heterosexual transmission is the most common transmission route in Patter II. While many think of AIDS as an urban problem, rural native communities are also at great risk, said Ida Williams, executive director of the Montreal's Native Friendship Centre. "There are more than 12,000 native people in Montreal," she said. "Most of them come to the city - maybe for a weekend, maybe for a few months - and then go back to their communities. All it takes is one infected person to bring HIV back home, and then the whole community is at risk. AIDS: (con't) CONDOMS Part of a nationwide network, the Montreal Native Friendship Centre distributes about 100 condoms a day (when it can get them) and also exchanges needles for I.V. drug users. The most moving moment of the conference came Monday afternoon when four aboriginal people with AIDS or HIV told their stories. Kecia Larkin, a 19-year old from Alert Bay at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, told of her life of prostitution and drug abuse after running away from home at the age of 15 to escape poverty and sexual abuse. "T knew the risks, but I kept believing it wouldn't happen to me,'"' she said. "What you don't know will kill you." Ken Ward, a 34-year old Cree from Alberta was the first Canadian native to "go public" about being seropositve. Two years ago, he founded the Feather of Hope Aboriginal Society for AIDS Prevention, to warn native people of the danger AIDS poses to them. Ward stresses the importance of traditional spirituality in meeting the challenges of AIDS, both for the individual and for his or her family. "We want to go home," he said, a theme that was often echoed during the three-day conference. "Our families and communities must reach out to care for their children who are sick, not push them away." Like Larkin, Ward travels incessantly, speaking about AIDS in Indian communities around Canada. Asked about his exhausting  schedule, he said he was anxious to get to as many communities as possible while he was still healthy enough to do so. Much or the Emphasis in the conference was on native self- reliance in AIDS prevention work. "you don't need a master's degree to teach people about avoiding AIDS," said Jackie McPherson, of the Little Black River Band in Manitoba, who describes herself as the "Condom Granny." She gave a hands-on workshop on how to teach people to use condoms. I don't use big words because I can't pronounce them," she said laughing. NEWS FROM THE NATIONS: KWAKIUTL NATION: Congratulations to the Kwakiutl Band for their efforts in defending/protecting their territory by the perseverance and determination in their presentation to the Port Hardy Ferrochromium Review Panel. The panel has concluded that: GENERAL CONCLUSIONS: From our mandate, which was to consider the technology, the environmental issues and the social issues, and in consideration of all the evidence before us, we have drawn the following three general conclusions:  (1) Technology: The technology of the proposed plant is feasible, although refinements and clarifications will be necessary, as set forth in our report, in order to achieve a satisfactory final design; (2) Environment: Provided the comprehensive and stringent conditions set forth in our report are applied to the design, construction, operation and monitoring of the Sherwood plant, its environmental impacts are expected to be manageable and acceptably low, however the selected site near Bear Cove is not ideally suited due to the general environmental sensitivity of Hardy Bay; and (3) Social Issues: a) General Provided the environmental impacts are managed in accordance with the recommendations of this report, the Sherwood plant would yield a net social benefit to Port Hardy, based upon its local economic value. b) Native The Bear Cove site is not acceptable in light of native issues which must be resolved by litigation or settlement. In light of the foregoing, the proponent and government may choose to seek an alternative location, possibly in the Port Hardy vicinity, that is suitable to all parties. Various issues like this arise in various Nations. They offer jobs, dollars into the community, etc. but we have all seen the devastation some industries have caused to the livelihood of our peoples (Alcan in Kitamaat territory, pulp mills, etc.). Our peoples not only have to fight issues like this for their own territory but protection for the areas white people live in also. The environment has always been an ongoing issue when it comes to protection of our lands.  CHESLATTA CARRIER NATION: The Cheslatta Carrier Nation announced today that negotiations to settle an outstanding Specific Claim with the federal government have broken down and are filing suit in BC Supreme Court. Chief Marvin Charlie, representing the 140 members of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, located south of Burns Lake, noted lack of fairness and co-operation, on behalf of the federal government, as the main reason for his decision. Chief Charlies said, "The Department of Indian Affairs has constantly limited our resources which would allow us to participate in a fair and proper negotiation process. While the DIA has unlimited access to financial and legal resources of the Canadian government to assist them, we have nothing." The Specific Claim, filed with the DIA in 1984 and accepted for negotiations in 1987, is based on the forced surrender and re- location of the Cheslatta Band in 1952 after the Aluminum Company of Canada constructed a dam on the Cheslatta Lake system. LG was only after the dam was complete, and the Cheslatta Reserves being flooded, did the Department of Indian Affairs inform the Band that they would have to sign a surrender and immediately evacuate to higher ground. The Band has always contended that the surrender was illegal and in violation of the Indian Act. Since filing the Specific Claim, the Cheslatta Nation has incurred debts of nearly $200,00 while the DIA has advanced on $20,000 per year since 1987, to cover expenses. These advances are taken off the top when a settlement is reached. "The whole process is a sham.", says Chief Charlie, "Brian Mulroney and Tom Siddon are liars when they say that they are committed on settling Specific Claims. Our attempts to reason with the federal government have constantly fallen upon deaf ears and we are sick of it. How are we supposed to negotiate a settlement with the same people that lend us money for negotiations? One way or another, they have always found a way to hold us back. This has forced us to seek legal redress for the way we have been treated. Once the facts of this case are public, the general public is going to be disgusted with the way the government has treated us over the last forty years. The cold, hard facts will be very embarrassing." The Cheslatta Carrier Nation will continue to hold small bingos, raffles and bake sales in an attempt to keep abreast of their mounting expenses. "The people of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation are committed to seeing justice done," says Chief Charlies, "When our territory was flooded, we lost our homes, our traplines, our history and our culture, everything. We have nothing else to lose."  MOHAWK LAND QUESTION: Chief Saul Terry, President will be making a presentation of the 'Mohawk Crisis' to the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs in Ottawa on Tuesday, March 5, 1991. A report on this will be in our next newsletter. The Haudensosaunee Crisis Committee, in cooperation with Barricade Productions, Inc. and TVI Video has produced a 30 minute video that presents a native view of this summer's siege of the Mohawk Nation. The video is the only video that has been produced with the authorization of those who participated in this summer's event. "Voices From Oka - A Native Recounting of the Mohawk Siege of 1990" is available at a cost of $25.00 per copy. Discount for bulk orders. This price includes postage. Allow three weeks for delivery. Please send payment to: Barricade. Productions, Inc. PO Box 292, Kahnawake, PQ, JOL 1BO or call UBCIC’ In-House LEGAL CouNSEL News: In May 1989 the Chilcotin Justice Council in Williams Lake approached the Union requesting assistance in setting up a law centre in the Chilcotin Country which would service the Bands west of the Fraser River. Those people comprise the Chilcotin and the Carrier nations. The Council had representatives from the Alexandria, Alexis Creek, Anaham, Nemaiah, Stone, Toosey and Ulkatcho Bands. The Council directed me to incorporate them under the Society Act and once that was accomplished negotiations began in earnest for funding from the Attorney General's Department. A Society Act incorporation could be an easily accomplished task for some regular society but the Council wanted Constitution and By-Laws that would be a reflection of their way of thinking and their way of life. They chose as their name "Nengay Deni Yajelhtig" Law Centre Society which translates in Chilcotin to "The People of the World Speak." The Council decided that the name expressed their desire to speak out and have control over the justice issues in their communities after years of outside control by a system that was alien to their culture. We met over an extended period of time and after many drafts came out with a set of By-Laws which are readable to the ordinary person. The Justice Council comprises of ten members with the capacity to form other committees such as an Elders Council which will sit to help resolve contentious matters. The law centre is Situated on the Anaham Reserve and will provide legal assistance tot he people in the Chilcotin. While the centre will provide much needed legal aid the Council does not want to see the centre become just another legal aid office. To this end they are planning public legal education geared toward keeping their people out of the penal institutions. In addition, they will be  doing research on their traditional justice system to bring those methods back into use. The Centre had its grand opening on February 1, 1991 on the Anaham Reserve. The ceremonies were conducted in the Chilcotin language and interpreted for us non-Chilcotin's. The Elders led the celebration with songs and prayers. After speeches and gift exchanges by representatives from the government and the people we had traditional feast followed by a short game of lahal. Former Attorney General Bud Smith, His Honour Judge Cunliffe Barnett, Assistant Attorney General, G.R. Martin; NDP, MLA from the Cariboo Chilcotin, Dave Zirnhelt, Socred MLA Neil Vant; and Marg Arthur, Native Justice Project Policy Analyst were called upon to join the game with a threat of a severe penalty if they refused. The Council is still taking applications for a lawyer to operate the centre for the position to start on April 1, 1991. The deadline for submitting application is March 8, 1991; shortlisting will take place on March 11th and interviews on March 15th. You can submit your applications to: Chileotin Justice Council c/o Anaham Band Office General Delivery Alexis Creek, BC VOL 1A0 or for more information call Ms. Joan Gentles at (604) 392-3345 (work) or (604) 659-5634 (home). Nancy Sandy In-House Counsel, UBCIC