Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Newsletter (Spring 1996)

1.06-01.08 Union of BC Indian Chiefs Newsletter

1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series

March 1996

english

1.06-01.08-07.01

16

INSIDE THIS ISSUE...

2. Message from the President

3. IIG Graduation

4. Non-Insured Health Benefits

6. Shauna Leigh Maloney
IIG Student

7. IIG Graduation-Pictorial

8. Global Healing '96

9. Resource Center Update

10. Education Update

11. Child Family & Community
Service Act (BUI C-46)

- Proposed Firearms Regulation

12. UBCIC Specific Claims Research
Program

- Cheslatta Carrier

13. Canadian Federation of Students

14. Abuse, Murder and Corruption:
two survivors tell their story

-Arrests and Violence Disrupts
Navajo Gathering

Chief Saul Terry

Chief Allen Stager

Shauna-Leigh Maloney

periodical

Union ofB. C. Indian Chiefs NEWSLETTER SPRING 1996 Institute of Indigenous Government Honors First Graduation Class of 1996 May 17, 1996 marked the first Graduation of Institute of Indigenous Government students. Family and friends, faculty and staff gathered at Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre in Vancouver to celebrate their achievements. INSIDE THIS ISSUE... 2. Messagefromthe President 3. EG Graduation 4. Non-Insured Health Benefits 6. Shauna Leigh Maloney EG Student 7. EG Graduation-Pictorial 8. Global Healing '96 9. Resource Center Update 10. Education Update 11. Child Family & Community Service Act (BUI C-46) - Proposed Firearms Regulation 12. UBCIC Specific Claims Research Program - Cheslatta Carrier 13. Canadian Federation of Students 14. Abuse, Murder and Corruption: two survivorstelltheir story -Arrests and Violence Disrupts Navajo Gathering SPRING 1996 Nirkuschin (Glen Douglas), Resident Elder of the IIG, drummed the Academic Procession into the theatre. Bemice Heather, Instructor and Student Development Coordinator, wore traditional dress as she followed custom by greeting and announcing each person in the procession. After the Faculty and Elders took their places, the Colour Guard placed the flags on stage with due honours. The Colour Guard were represented by Art Eggros, Harry Lavallee, and Vince Shea, all members of the Native Veterans Association. Nirkuschin (Glen Douglas) then opened the ceremonies with a prayer of thanks followed by a welcome from Paul Chartrand, Interim President of the IIG. Mr. Chartrand spoke of the widespread desire for education and the empowerment of people through education. He also extended congratulations from people who were unable to attend. These included Ethel Blondin-Andrew (Secretary of State), Elija Harper (M.P. Churchill), the Tsilhqot'in National Government Council of Chiefs, Dara Culhane (Simon Fraser University), Paul Ramsey (Minister, Education, Skills and Training), and John Cashore (Minister, Aboriginal Affairs). Chief Saul Terry gave the Graduation Address. He related the early planning for the EG and the motion made in October 1991 to begin the Institution. He then spoke about the number of people who have since become excited about "coming aboard the decolonization express the E G " . He stated his opinion that "what is being built here once again is a strong foundation upon which people can move forward and once again build their society, and rebuild societies that are almost broken and disappeared''. He stated that this applies to the "various cultures across this land, across the Americas and across the planet". Chief Terry provided each student with a commemorative Pin from the UBCIC to honor their participation in the first year of the IIG. Dean Dan Gottesman announced each student and their nations as they came on stage. The following students were called although some could not attend because they were working or out of town. Congratulations for all their hard work to: Trevor Blind Chris Sullivan Michelle Oleman Melissa Meyer June Clearsky TeresaThomasCooper Daniel Peters Rose Dejarlais Randolph Timothy Theodore Francis Agnes Wells Johnny Philbrick Bruce Polchres Gwen Gaddie (IIG GRADUATION Cont'd on Page 3) UBCIC NEWS Message From The President: Address to media at Vancouver Press Conference (May 9, 1996) T he Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs invited Aboriginal People to meet and witness the press conference because the aboriginal rights of health and education is on the firing line for Federal termination. We recognize there are many Canadians who face hardships due to Federal changes to the social program policy in this country and we share the Canadian citizens' anxieties. The Indian Nations, however, have constitutionally protected aboriginal rights yet we have a history of dispossession and poverty. Canadian citizens have always enjoyed the bounties off our unceded lands and experience good health. No one can say the same for Indian people. At one point in our history we were forced on reserve but now many of our people are being forced off the reserves seeking education, employment opportunities, and better living conditions while leaving behind families, community support and the support of their political leaders. For that our people have been denied many of their aboriginal rights, economic opportunities become limited, and too often in the end they are forced onto welfare dependence under the provincial governments. The Federal Government and the Canadian Human Rights Commission report that the aboriginal population is growing well above the national average but their lives will remain physically and emotionally depressed: suicide among young aboriginal people aged 15 to 24 is five times that of young Canadians. In 1994, 38% of all people living on-reserve depended on social assistance to provide them with the basic necessities of life, compared to 7% of other Canadians. This brings us to the plans National Health and Welfare has imposed upon our people: (1) in the fiscal year 1994/95, Medical Services Branch capped health funding nationally and regionally. (2) in the fiscal year 1995/96 introduced First Nations to the new Federal budget and the introduction of the 6-3-3% limited spending growth until 1997/98 fiscal year. Last year, Medical Services Branch held a program review which was designed to cut 15% funding and identified 6 Options to reduce spending. The primary focus of these Options was to reduce, limit and cut our Non-Insured Health Benefits. In late summer the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs resolved to inform all of our people, regardless of their residency, of changes to their medical plan because by October 1995, Health Canada had began implementing policy changes to the dental schedules, applying fees and other charges. On March 13, 19% Medical Services Branch, Pacific Region stated to a gathering of aboriginal people from greater Vancouver 2 and Chiefs Council of the U.B.C.I.C. that status Indian people living off reserve would not have their medical benefits affected by policy change. The problem we face is the erosion of our aboriginal rights. The 1995 Federal Government introduced B i l l C-76, the Canada Health and Social Transfer Act which will replace existing Federal/ Provincial transfer funding arrangements. This will determine how the B.C. Government will carry out social assistance of health and post-secondary education policy. This will affect our people who are already suffering the ravages of the federal cut-backs and are now expected to pay for mental health, dental and over-thecounter drugs. This Government is making changes to basic rights of our people and we are denied information on those changes. Furthermore, the federal government actions in social policy change is a blantant attempt to force provincial governments to take on constitutional responsibilities which righfully belong to Canada. Through all this, the Federal Liberal Government continue to wave their Red Book and extol the virtues of a new relationship with the Aboriginal People. This is paper talk - it is not fact. Furthermore, the Department of Indian Affairs actually brags in their report "Framework for Action'' that through their partnership with Indian people, the implementation of inherent right of selfgovernment is the most progressive recognition of Aboriginal Rights to be found anywhere in the world. Based on their methods in dealing with our health benefits, and education the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs state there will be no partnership, and no land question settlement as long as the policy of denial, avoidance, manipulation and determination exists. May 9, 19% Attn: Chief Saul Terry, President Re: May 9. 19% Press Conference The Mount Currie Chief and Band Council are in full support of your office taking the initiative to publically voice the First Nations situation in regards to the cut-backs and changes to policy with the Non-Insured Health Benefits and Dental Plan. The federal government has been attempting to dissolve their fiduciary responsibility through the devolution process by way of the White Paper Policy of 1%9. By standing in unity can we ever hope to see justice come to the First Nations of this country. The Mount Currie Band Council stand with you on this initiative. Chief Allen Stager Mount Currie SPRING 1996 UBCIC NEWS (IIG GRADUATION Cont'dfromPage 1) Audra Wesley Brenda Wesley Leora Wilson Cindy Wishart Morgan Young Melanie Gladstone Shannon Hanson Beverley Kelly Shauna-Leigh Maloney Brenda Red Star Holly Robinson Michelle Sault Dana Simeon The IIG wishes to acknowledge and thank PriceWaterhouse, Aboriginal Services Division for their generous contribution toward the Dean's Prizes. Dr. Sylvia Walsh, Director of Program Planning and Development and Associate Professor, then read a selected reading of student work. This excellent piece was written by Paul Chartrand presented a gift to the Institute to Shaugh-Leigh Maloney as an answer to an exam question. It is commemorate the first class of students at the IIG. The gift is a presented on page 6 of this Newsletter. picture of a trapper, Elder Daniel Spence, which was taken Following the reading, Paul Chartrand invited when Mr. Spence was 102 years of age. Tsimalano (Elder Vincent Stogan) of the Musqueam Nation to Dr. Gottesman then introduced Kla-lelaweik (Flora conduct the formal Calling of the Witnesses. In this Traditional Dawson), Resident Elder at the IIG. The following awards and part of the ceremony, which according to custom is neither certificates were presented by Elders and Faculty Members. photographed nor taped, Elder Nirkuschin pinned the speaker's blanket on Tsimalano and Elder Kla-lelaweik tied his scarf. CERTIFICATE IN INDIGENOUS GOVERNMENT STUDIES Tsimalano then calledfivepeople to witness. Theodore Andrew Francis According to North West Coast tradition, the witnesses Shauna-Leigh Maloney were of all ages, male and female. Reflecting the IIG's Mission Statement, their roots were in many continents and nations, Each of the following students received a book, a Dean's including Indigenous and incoming peoples. Each person was Prize and a cash award tied with red ribbon and cedar boughs. called and stood. This is part of the living oral tradition that is The prizes were: thousands of years old. Each person later spoke strongly and evocatively of their acceptance to be witnesses, their promises to OVERALL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT remember the proceedings and their willingness to speak as (2 Semesters - Full Time Studies) formal witnesses should the need ever arise in the future. Theodore Andrew Francis Tsimalano then spoke to the students and the audience. Shauna-Leigh Maloney He gave words of praise, encouragement and guidance to all the people gathered together in this celebration. Kla-lelaweik OVERALL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT conducted the closing remarks and prayer followed by the (1 Semester - Full Time Studies) retiring of the Colours and the Recessional. Everyone later Melissa Ann Meyer assembled to enjoy traditional foods. Holly Ellen Robinson Congratulation to all the students - to those who Randolph George Timothy graduated, to those who have accomplished their goals and to Morgan Elyse Young those who have taken their first steps. Well done! OVERALL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (Part-Time Studies) Christopher Edward Lloyd Sullivan Nirkuschin Elder Glen Douglas Arlene L. Guerin, IIG Tsimalano Kla-lelaweik Elder Vincent Stogan Elder Flora Dawson Interim President Paul Chartrand with picture of a trapper, Elder Daniel Spence at 102 years of age SPRING 1996 3 UBCIC NEWS FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS WITH CUTBACKS TO THE NON-INSURED HEALTH BENEFITS 1. THREAT OF ASSIMILATION: The Federal Government is destroying their Trust Relationship with the Indian Nations in Canada. At the same time they will accomplish the neutralization of Indian Nations Governments. How Will The Government Achieve This? a. Finalizing self-government agreements with various Indian Bands. Canada receives consent from these Indian Bands by negotiating away their Aboriginal Title to their lands. They must give up their aboriginalrightsto Canada in exchange for a piece of their traditional lands and specific rights. This process is dangerous because the Government will define aboriginal rights and treaties in their Constitution in this way. Self-government agreements are final and these Indian Bands become part of the provincial or territorial municipal government system. The trust responsibility of the Federal Government will be broken forever and transferred to Chiefs and Council of these Indian Bands. Changes to the Non-Insured Health Benefits is part of an overall strategy to assimilate the Indian Nations. It will not happen tomorrow, next year or five years from now but it will happen. b. Transferring programs to Indian Bands or Tribal Councils and calling it "self-government" which is not "self-determination" of the people. The transfer of health delivery programs is not self-determination, it is simply Indian people administering Federal programs. Indian people will end up administering their own poverty. While this is going on in the health field, other strategies are taking place through such initiatives as the First Nations Land Management Act, Indian Taxation 4 Advisory Board, and Self-Governrnent Agreements. c. Delegating civil-servant driven programs to aboriginal committees to trim or cut-off funding for essential services. Transferring programs relieves the Government from making decisions and adequately funding essential programs. The programs are not based on Indian Government goals of self determination. Indian Governments become Federal civil servants under these program transfers. The goals of the Federal Government are implemented instead of allowing the Indian people to implement their nationhood. This is another arm of the Government being trained to take over their fiduciary role. These actions weaken Indian Nations capacity to negotiate Nation to Nation treaties and will affect their negotiating powers at the national and international level. d. Thirteen Chiefs signed a Framework Agreement on Land Management This Agreement provides for the complete transfer from the Department of Indian Affairs to an Indian Band of all responsibilities concerning reserve land management. The Agreement allows Indian Bands to get out from under the weight of DIA bureaucracy. This route for improving reserve land transactions allows the Crown to escape their fiduciary duties. True to their goals of assimilation of Indian Nations into mainstream Canadian society, the DIA finds Indian people willing to act as "working groups" and empower them to map the way to termination of Indian Nations through this process. e. Creating "working groups", "boards", "committees", "task forces" and "commissions" of Indian people to carry out advisory work for the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments. These Boards are dangerous for Indian Nations as they hide from Indian peoples the real purpose of their initiatives. The first stage of these kinds of transactions is always the fact that the Minister of Indian Affairs getsridof his administrative responsibilities as set out in the Indian Act. Once the land goes, everything else collapses. These factions are called "advisor" to the Minister of Indian Affairs strengthening the Federal Government goals to terminate Aboriginal Title, Rights, and Treaties of Indian Nations. The work of these "consulting groups'' over the years, has not liberated Indian Nations from the impact of colonization. In fact there is little evidence that the social conditions, housing,education, health, and aboriginal rights of Indian Nations have changed for the better. Putting Indian people in the role of "advising" the government has not produced recognition of the Aboriginal Title and Rights of Indian Nations because the Government will not accept the recommendations of our people if they pursue self-determination. The Federal Government only accepts the initiatives of these "advisors" when they endorse Government initiatives leading to extingushment of Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaties. 2. THE FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL ALLIANCE The Federal Government can make unilateral decisions on FederalProvincial spending powers. HEALTH (Continued on page 5) SPRING J 996 UBCIC NEWS HEALTH (Continuedfrompage 4) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs takes exception to National Health and Welfare's cut-backs to the Non-Insured Health Benefits. In 1995, the Federal Government introduced Bill C-76 the Canada Health and Social Transfer. This new block funding scheme requires provinces to decide upon support for health care, social programs and post-secondary education and places these three essential services in direct competition with each other. The Government uses good words like "inherent right of self government"; "building a new relationship"; "negotiating treaties"; "up-holding the honor of the crown" but they are being dishonest with the Indian people. They hide behind these words while actively using processes that "terminate" Indian rights. Indian Nations interpret these words to mean "recognition" of Indian rights not just in Canada but world-wide. 3. NON-INSURED HEALTH BENEFITS Cancel, Change, Cut-Backs The bureaucrats of National Health and Welfare decided on changes to the N.I.H.B. a long time ago then released their five Options to the Assembly of First Nations. With the help of the Department of Justice, Health and Welfare ensure they can change, cancel, and cut-back essential services such as health and stay within the law in order not to be criticized by the Human Rights Commission in Canada and at the United Nations. Lately Health and Welfare boldly announced that they don't have the mandate to provide health care according to the Treaties with the Crown. They are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. The actions of Medical Services Branch during the Non-Insured Health Benefit crisis is a good example of how lightly they take their role as the representatives of the Crown. First of all, it is a human rights violation to abandon the original inhabitants of any land after their way of life has been disrupted and devastated by dominant society. The decision-makers at Medical Services Branch did not trust the Indian Leaders to deal with this issue. Timeframes were not taken into consideration; information-communication tactics was at its worst; and there was double-talk on the dental program with the Canadian Dental Association and the Indian leaders. The handling of the three C's, ie, Cancel, Change and Cut-back to the NIHB is evidence that it makes no difference to Medical Services Branch and National Health and Welfare if Indian people end up with substandard human rights in the future. Their actions, and decisions are setting up the Indian people to fail 0in the health transfer program. They will transfer, transfer, and transfer until they get out of the health business. UBCIC Newsletter Deadline If you have any material that you would like to see in the next edition of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Newsletter, please forward to our Vancouver office by fax or mail as soon as possible to the attention of "UBCIC N E W S L E T T E R " . We would appreciate the volume of information be kept to aminimumso others can benefit from this service. Please do not fax business cards. Suggestions or comments are always welcome. Next deadline is June 21, 1996. Remember, our new address is 5th Floor - 342 Water Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1B6. Our phone and fax number remain the same. Phone (604) 684-0231 Fax:(604) 684-5726. SPRING 1996 The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs would like to congratulate Ardith Walkem on her successful completion of the bar exams. Ardith will now be working at Mandell Pinder. Best wishes! First Nations Education Services Street Address: 97HE-FIFTH STREET SIDNEY, B.C. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 69 SAANICHTON, B.C. V8M 2C3 Phone: (604) 656-6894 Fax: (604)656-6834 Healing Our Spirit B. C. First Nations Aids Society New Mailing Address: 415 B WEST ESPLANADE NORTH VANCOUVER B.C. V7M 1A6 Street Address: 319 Seymour Blvd. North Vancouver, B.C. Phone: (604) 983-8774 Fax: (604) 983-2667 5 Shauna -Leigh Maloney Full Time Studies Student - Institute of Indigenous Government This confidence signifies the student's own progress By concentrating on a daily basis on the on a personal journey to self-determination and issues of decolonization and education for nationempowerment. hood, students will not only incorporate these Students learn in the comfortable atmosphere concepts into their schoolwork, but entrench them of the IIG to work closely with each other and the IIG in their system of values. The IIG's objective is to facility. Many students overcome, during the semestrain First Nations to become leaders of their ter, feeling of inequity, shyness and a fear or resentpeople, empowering these students with knowledge. ment of authority. Most students, at the time of enrolment into the IIG So as students learn to lead their people to selfoften feel devalued, or "cheated" by previous school sysdetermination, they are empowering themselves to do the tems or workplaces to which they have been exposed. same. They arrive in theirfirst classes, looking for a sense ofvalidity, Since the commencement of classes at the IIG and of belonging. The IIG provides the necessary affirmation, during the subsequent two semester, I have seen growth an through culturally relevant courses that validate First change among my classmates. Bitter, argumentive students Nations identity. The history of the colonization or aborigihave become more less defensive and open-minded; listennal peoples is taught, providing the students with ing to and accepting the views of others without taking a conscientization, or the realization of their own oppression personal offence and then expressing their as Indigenous persons, the mechanisms used to create this own. power to oppress, and their position as Aboriginals in Painfully shy students have learned to today's society. express their views andfeelings. Those Cultural awareness classes are part of the curricuwho trusted in the established norms lum, where students can learn learned to question the status quo. about the cultures of other I, for one, became less frusIndigenous nations, and can trated withfeeling that I would participate in sharing their never make change. It is imown. Students learn to take possible to feel fertile when pride in and see the value of studying at the IIG, concenFirst Nations culture and trating on pathways to personal world views. and National self-determinaAs they learn to emtion. Classes involving the power their people in their struggle for First Nations have social and economic develbecome demystified; I am now opment or decolonization and able to participate in political self-determination classes banter with my father and his (thesearejust2examplesfrom politicalfriends. I have gained self-government facilitating the respect of others outside of curriculum), students are bemy accepted circle of family ginning to gain faith in their and friends, and through moown abilities to make change. ments of 'clarity', realized that Selected Reading of Student Work this approval of others is irrelDr. Sylvia Walsh, Director of Program Planning evant to my happiness. 1 Color Guards: Harry Lavallee, Vince Shea and Art Eggros 6 Leora Wilson and Melissa Meyer SPRING 1996 UBCIC NEWS Institute of Indigenous Government Academic Achievement Awards Melissa Ann Meyer Andres Liz Lopez and Christopher Sullivan Alejandro Palacios and Holly Robinson Overall Academic Achievements (2 Semesters - Full Time Studies) Theodore Andrew Frances Shauna Leigh Maloney Bernice Heather and Theodore Frances (1 Semester - Full Time Studies) Melissa Ann Meyer Holley E. Robinson Randolph George Timothy Morgan Elyse Young (Part-time Studies) Christopher Edward Lloyd Sullivan Theo Collins and Morgan Young photos by Lisa Sullivan and Arlene L. Guerin Dr. Dan Gottesman, Elder Flora Dawson, Shauna Leigh Maloney, Chief Saul Terry SPRING 1996 7 UBCIC NEWS ...A Call To All Nations Of The World World Peace and Prayer Day Global Healing:June 21, 1996 It has been deLooking cided, according to the Horse, 19th Star Knowledge, that Generation Keeper of the June 21st is the time to Sacred White Buffalo Calf pray. Indigenous peoPipe for the Lakota, Daple of Turtle Island will kota and Nakota Nation begin their spiritualjourasks that all Nations upon ney on h o r s e b a c k Mother Earth declared from Wahpeton, SasJune 21st, 1996 World katchewan, Canada, on Peace and Prayer Day. May 3rd, 1996. There, According to spiritual Indigenous people will leaders and Elders who pray with the Sacred gathered in the United Bundle Keepers, to beNations to present their "If we do not do this our children will suffer"gin the restoration of Prophecies - again at Six peace and balance. We - Arvol Looking Horse Nations, Canada - the ask all Peoples to begin "signs" of Indigenous peoc^anizing their own cerple's prophecies have shown themselves. The prophecies tell us emonies at their sacred sites or in the manner which they pray so it is time to begin Mending the Sacred Hoop and begin global that they will be praying at the same time as we are from their own healing by working towards world peace and harmony. spiritual center. Arvol The birth of the White Buffalo Calf lets us know We are at the crossroads - either return to balance or face global disaster. It is our duty to return back to the sacred places and pray for world peace - if we do not do this our children will suffer. At Grey Horn Butte, before the White Buffalo Woman brought the Sacred Pipe to our ancestors, a Seer was travelling in the Sacred Black Hills - PaHa Sapa, "heart of everything that is". The Seer came upon a large tipi. When he went in the dpi, he saw the Sacred Pipe in the North and the Sacred Bundle of Bows and Arrows in the South. According to the Star Knowledge there are six stars which designated six sacred sites within the Black Hills - these places are sacred places to pray. We are told there is a sacred place every hundred miles around Mother Earth. We ask all people to return to these places and pray from their hearts with us. The ceremony begins 10:00 a.m. South Dakota (Mountain) Time. So far, we have to spoken to leaders from around the world and each has committed to work towards supporting June 21st, 1996. We ask all people of all faiths to respond and support our efforts towards world peace and harmony - our circle oflife where there is no ending and no beginning. May peace be with you all. Arvol Looking Horse 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe DONATIONS FOR THE UNITY RIDE A N D FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Canada - McMaster University Indigenous Studies, Hamilton Ontario (905) 525-9140 ext. 27426 - Bonnie Freeman U.S. - Gladys Looking Horse Box 687 Eagle Butte, South Dakota (605) 964-8439 All material submitted and used in the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Newsletter is: FREE OF CHARGE Contact our Vancouver office for more information 604 - 684-0231 8 SPRING 1996 UBCIC NEWS UBCIC RESOURCE CENTRE Automated Resource Centre Catalog We recently completed the upgrade of the library application software we use in the Resource Centre from the DOS version to the new Windows version. The Windows version provides for much easier data entry in building the automated library catalog and better access screens and report formats for users of the automated catalog. There is now an OPAC (On-line Public Access Catalog) in the Resource Centre for library users. The library materials which are on the automated catalog can be accessed by keyword, author, title or subject, and users can print off a bibliography of library materials that they want to look for in the Resource Centre. The recataloguing and reclassifying of the collection is an ongoing project and the automated database will grow as we complete more of this project. Paul Chartrand Private Book Collection Paul Chartrand, the Interim President of the IIG, has donated his private book and document collection to the UBCIC Resource Centre. This collection was valued by a certified book appraiser at a value of $27,000. We are currently creating basic records of the book portion of this donated collection in the automated catalog. Plans for the Summer of 1996 Resource Centre staff will be busy with collection development over the summer to meet the new IIG curriculum demands for the 1996/97 school year. We will be adding another OPAC station for library users and another CD-ROM tower with new CD-ROM products to be in place for September. We will also continue with our preservation/conservation of the collection with items being sent to the bindery and a selection of materials being put onto microfiche. Cataloguing will be ongoing. Sometime over the summer staff also hope to fit in some holiday time. The Resource Centre will remain open all summer and there will always be a Full-Text Canadian News CD-ROM Now in Resource minimum of one full-time staff person and the summer student on Centre hand to help library users. A full-text keyword searchable CD-ROM product called CANNEWS is now available in the Resource Centre for contemporary news items. We have full-text news for all major Canadian newspapers as well as CTV & CBC Current Affairs for 1992 - 1995. Users can search by keyword, name, date, type of byline, etc. and either print off individual articles or download articles to their own disk to print off or read on their home computers. The 1996 CANNEWS CDROM will be available early in 1997. In the meantime, we use the UBCIC Newsclipping Service and a current newspaper subscription to access the most current news. Because we are on the same floor as the IIG, the Resource Centre is on the IIG phone system. You can reach the Resource Centre at 602-9555. Ask for Wendy, Sarah or Lorraine. If it is more convenient, you can still fax us at the UBCIC fax number684-5726. Mathew needs your help now!!! Summer Student We are interviewing this week for a summer student to work for twelve weeks in the Resource Centre under the federal government Career Placement program. We rely on summer students to help with the many long term projects ongoing in the Resource Centre. This summer we will use our student to help with our vertical files and to help cerlox bind a backlog of materials. Video Collection Growing We have been able to acquire many new video titles this past year to assist the IIG instructors and students. These videos are available for viewing in the Resource Centre at a new VCR station purchased this past winter. I attended a two-day multi-media showcase at Capilano College this past week and previewed pre-selected videos for two full days. There are some very good videos available on First Nation issues and concerns. If you are looking for videos on particular topics, I have a much better idea of what is available after attending the Showcase, and, you can call me anytime for information or suggestions. SPRING 1996 9 UBCIC NEWS Education Update There has been numerous calls regarding the cut backs to students already attending post-secondary institutions. As we know, the support provided falls below the standard of living. A single parent with one dependant receives $1045 a month! From this, the student has to pay for rent, groceries, travel, utilities, clothing, school fees and activities or day-care for child, laundry and pastime. A student l i v i n g i n Vancouver w i l l need approximately $2,450.00. Students need an increase of 43% to their living allowances to successfully complete their training. Another concern is the Local Education Agreements. Section 104(3) of the School Act (1989) provides for the opting out of the Master Tuition Agreement at the local level by allowing for the entry into agreements by Boards and Bands, or Councils of Bands. Under these local education agreements, the federal government provides tuition costs to individual bands and the band purchase services from a school. The intent of these agreements is to encourage meaningful consultation with First Nations communities. There has been numerous complaints from the First Nations communities about these agreements being disrupted from payments made from the Department of Indian Affairs to the School Boards. Delegates from these bands have stressed that it is important that DIA work with the Indian Bands rather than complicating the situation by making direct payments to the school boards. It is their (DIA's) fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the interest of the people are upheld. On May 14, 19%, the Vancouver School Board hosted a meeting with the Aboriginal Education Branch. Dixon Taylor and Gloria Raphael, who are both co-ordinators, discussed the First Nations Studies 12, First Nations K-10 Cirriculum, direct funding, local education agreements and the "Aboriginal Support Workers" handbook. Allan Haig-Brown focused on the Aboriginal Network (Abnet) on the Internet. F o r more information on how you can "get connected" phone (604) 5206748. The First Nations support workers (elementary & secondary) expressed some their concerns and updated on their cirriculum and services provided to First Nations students. The planning stages of the Union of B . C . Indian Chiefs International Conference "Visions of the Peoples: The Spirit of Justice, A World Gathering of Indigenous Peoples" is underway. The purpose of this gathering is to bring together grassroots people, leaders, elders, chiefs and individuals committed to creating positive change in their communities, traditional territories and nations. The conference will focus on traditional and contemporary issues in relation to Aboriginal justice, self-determination, legal, political, economic and social structures, education, health, etc. The proceedings will provide opportunities for participants to present their ideas, experiences and visions of justice through a variety of expression: oration, music, art, crafts, film, dance, presentation of papers, etc. We are expecting participants from around the world. The conference is scheduled to take place in the summer of 1997. Students who participated in the " O n to Ottawa'' trek have not yet returned. Many First Nations students from B.C. joined the Canadian Federation of Students trek to Parliament H i l l in protest 10 to the Post-secondary and the Canadian Social Transfer cutbacks. ' 'First Nations students will no longer tolerate the unjust conduct of DIA," was the message from First Nations students. Jennie Blankinship, UBCIC Education Policy Co-ordinator. T he Indian Homemakers Association held a fund raising "Benefit Night" on April 26, 1996. Over 200 p e o p l e j o i n e d the d i n n e r a n d entertainment. Winners of the Raffle are: 1. H A M P E R S : "Traditional Foods" Teresa Rickman, Vancouver "Turkey" - Susie Guss, Vancouver " H a m " - Kelsey Hall, Vancouver. 2. STAR QUILT M i m i Dent, Vancouver 3. " T R A D I T I O N A L B U C K S K I N D R E S S " Rain On Your Face Caprian, Merritt B.C. 4. " K W A ' K W A B A L A S D O L L " Frank Boucher, Quesnel B.C. 5. " E A G L E CUSHIONS' Monica McCoy - Enderby, B . C . 6. " S T A R C U S H I O N S " Hertha Holland. T H A N K Y O U T O A L L W H O C O N T R I B U T E D TO OUR M A N Y DOOR PRIZES A N D DONATIONS. Thank you to the following organisations and people: The Vancouver Indian Friendship Society The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Institute of Indigenous Government Renae Morriseau, Master of Ceremony The list ofall who volunteered and entertained is extensive. A complete list of all the entertainers and volunteers will be acknowledged in our IHA newsletter. We gratefully appreciate the commitment and dedication of those who participated with the efforts in making our families and communities stronger. The Indian Homemakers Association of B . C . is located at #208 - 175 E. Broadway, Vancouver B . C . Phone (604) 876-0944, fax (604) 876-1448. Thank you all again, from Jennie Blankinship, President. The Indian Homemakers Association is looking for representatives from all nations within British Columbia. Nominations, by letter, will be accepted at our office. Our Annual General Meeting will be i n July or August of 19%. If you have concerns in your community and would like support from other First Nations women, please forward names (up to 5) to the Indian Homemakers Association. There are twenty-three (23) distinct nations within B . C . alone, we need your voice to address the concerns of our families and communities. A l l First Nations women qualify. If you have any questions, please call Jennie Blankinship, President or Wanda Sandy, Administrator at (604) 876-0944. SPRING 1996 UBCIC NEWS Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services was enlisted as the Designated Representative for Vancouver Area and the Lower Mainland. The community has come together to discuss the new act. The meetings have been taking place at least once per month. The Vancouver Aboriginal & Family Submitted by the Indian Homemakers Association of B. C. Services have been contacting people at different agencies to take part with the discussions. The community is a very This act came into effect January 29, 1996, which important part of the act, especially for our Native replaced the old Family and Child Services Act. The changes Families. It is crucial that information be distributed to came into effect so that we may be able to help the people by all communities. If you have any questions or concerns, using the community resources as well as the Ministry please call Renee Robert, Executive Director, at 689-2402. Resources. The Ministry of Social Services made a Declaration: "That the Ministry of Social Services recognizes the inherent responsibility and authority of aboriginal nations/ communities for the well-being of their members, and is Department of Justice committed to Supporting Aboriginal Nations/communities in their development and delivery of social services. PROPOSED FIREARMS REGULATIONS ON HOLD The act entails the following: OTTAWA, M A Y 8, 1996 - Allan Rock, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today gave notice + The act highlights the critical importance of kinship he will not proceed with draft regulations supporting the relations, extended family ties, and children's connections to Firearms Act put before Parliament on May 2, 1996. A new specific communities and specific cultures. set of regulations will be tabled at a later date for a thirty day sitting period. + Notice of hearing is to be served to the BAND or to This action follows a request from the Chair of the designated representatives. This notice is to be given to both Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, that that parent's bands. Committee be given a longer period of time to prepare for its examination of the regulations. + The Act emphasizes the taking of a child into care as a last "I want to ensure that the draft regulations receive a resort, if the child is in immediate danger. Other less disruptive measures MUST be considered before a child is very thorough examination," said Minister Rock. "We will taken into care. The Act provides for a number of less proceed in re-tabling the first set of regulations only after the intrusive measures which allow workers to provide support extensive consultations with members of the Caucus and to families. other interested stakeholders. I have already begun to receive many suggestions on how the regulations can be improved. + The Act requires the Ministry to be accountable to children, This first set of draft regulations are the first of those families and communities whenever it is involved in a child required to implement the Act. The remaining provisions of welfare matter. the Act not yet in force will be brought into effect in early 1997. The new licensing requirements for individuals will + Cultural identity of aboriginal children should be preserved. begin at that time. + Aboriginal people are to be involved in planning and the delivery of services to aboriginal families and their children. -30This also means the community which will include the resources. Ref. : Jennifer Lang Ministers Office (613) 992-4621 + Family Conferences can take place if this is what the family would like to set up. The Child, Family & Community Services Act - Bill 46 + The definition of' 'Aboriginal Organisation'' will be developed in policy in consultation with aboriginal people. Identified aboriginal organizations are prescribed in the regulations for the purpose of this section. An Indian Band may be an aboriginal organization for this purpose or the Indian Band may identify a specific tribal council, aboriginal child welfare agency or any other organization for this purpose. STRING 1996 11 UBCIC NEWS Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Specific Claims Research Program Top Quality Research and Legal Analysis at No Direct Cost! How does the you know that the UBClC's SpecificClaims What is a Specific Claim? Union of B . C . Indian Research Program work? Chiefs has a specialized The starting point is a research/legal team devoted The federal government has defined two separate policies and B C R from a Band to the development of specific processes for claims - "comprehensive" and "specific". authorizing the Union to claims? Did you know that Comprehensive claims are based on the idea ofcontinuing aboriginal do the necessary research any Band in B.C. is eligible rights and title which have not been dealt with by treaty or other lawful and legal work on the to participate i n this means. These claims concern traditional territories as well as traditional specific claims issues it program? use and occupancy of land. identifies. When The UBCIC's Specific claims do not deal with unextinguished aboriginal title. necessary, the Union will Specific Claims Research Specific claims are about whether the federal government fulfilled its contact the Band for Program stems from lawful obligations as defined by treaties, the Indian Act or other federal clarification of the mandates provided to laws. Specific claims relate mostly to a Band's reserve land base. Most specific claims request U B C I C by B C Bands to commonly they involve the loss of reserve lands without lawful surrender and an indication of the undertake specific claims by the Band, or the government's failure to pay adequate compensation urgency of the issues. research on their behalf. It is in cases where lands were taken with legal authority. They can also include Researchers collect all the a Band-driven program failure to compensate for alienated or damaged reserve lands and assets. relevant documentation, wherein the Bands direct the The resolution and settlement of specific claims most commonly involves which they analyze and research and legal work on land or money. forward with a report to their specific claims through There are a number of different kinds of specific claims. These the legal staff. The legal the UBCIC. The U B C I C ' s include: "cut-off' lands, unlawful alienations (land sales, surrenders), staff review these team cannot be matched for "Douglas" treaties and pre-Confederation "Douglas" reserves, reserve its B C specific claims materials and prepare a boundaries, rights-of-way, fishing stations, graveyards and water rights, expertise - it has been dealing legal opinion for the land accretions, etc. with every type of specific Band's review. A meeting claim since the establishment of this process. The U B C I C team with the Band generally follows. A l l further activities by the consists of experienced full-time archival researchers who work research/legal team are directed by the Band. There is no obligation exclusively on specific claims, while legal analysis and support for the Band to settle claims through this process. services are provided by the Vancouver law firm, Mandell Finder. A l l research and legal activities are carried out by U B C I C under the strictest confidentiality. A l l documents gathered for The aim of the UBCIC's Specific Claims Research Program specific claims belong to the claimant Band. Frequently, the is to provide maximum research and legal support to members, information gathered by the U B C I C ' s Specific Claims Research given the limited program dollars available. Our umbrella approach Program is helpful to the Band in areas other than specific claims, allows research to proceed to completion with no funding such as community education or planning. interruptions and with no need for up-front money or administrative If you would like to know more about the U B C I C ' s Specific costs - Member Bands benefit from the specific claims expertise of Claims Research Program, please feel free to call 1-604-684-0231 our research/legal team ah year-round, year after year at no direct or drop by the Vancouver office any time. cost Did Letter from the Cheslatta Carrier Nation April 11, 1996 Dear Chief and Council: Cheslatta is currently involved in a precedent-setting federal/provincial environment assessment of the proposed Huckelberry open-pit copper mine. We would like to share our experience with you and have you share your experience with us. In this way, we can deal with the common problems we face on environmental assessments. Here are some questions we are interested in having answered: Is your Nation involved in an environmental assessment? What companies/corporations are proposing the project? Is the company/corporations using divide and conquer tactics? 12 Please contact us if you need more information. Sincerely, Chief Marvin Charlie P.O. Box 909, Burns Lake, B.C. V 0 J 1E0 Tel: (604) 694-3334 Fax: (604) 694-3632 SPRING 1996 UBCIC NEWS CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS (SEVEN STUDENTS ARRESTED IN HULL, QUEBEC) ABORIGINAL STUDENTS OCCUPY DEPARTMENT OFThe students have a list of demands which they were tr INDIAN AND NORTHERN to present to Minister Ron Irwin, Prime Minister Jean AFFAIRS Chretien and Finance Minster Paul Martin. May 10, 19%, Ottawa - The Federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in Hull has just been occupied by Aboriginal Students and their supporters. They are demonstrating against the implementation of the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) and funding cuts to social programs. The protesters are calling on the Liberal Government to live up to their Red Book promises, including the removal of the cap on the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Support Program, the development of a comprehensive aboriginal study curriculum, the initiation of a comprehensive health policy and Aboriginal involvement in policy and budgetary decisions. "This occupation seems to be the only way to get the government's attention, "says Renee Shilling, National Aboriginal Students Representative for the Canadian Federation of Students. "We had aboriginal students on a hunger strike in British Columbia for 19 days in February, without any response from Jean Chretien or Ron Irwin," she adds. Protesters are also demanding that the government honour its fiduciary and constitutional obligations to all Aboriginal Peoples, as found in the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the British North American Act of 1867 and the Canadian Constitution as amended in 1982. "The cuts which are being implemented under the CHST are going to have a devastating effect on Aboriginal peoples' health, education and social well-being," expresses Shilling. "Yet there has been no consultation with Aboriginal people at all. It's our future at stake, and we're not going to just sit by SPRING 1996 and watch it be destroyed" she emphasizes. Aboriginal people will also be speaking out against the CHST as part of the Canadian Federation of Students' On to Ottawa Trek Tomorrow at a demonstration on Parliament Hill at 2:30 Ovide Mercredi of the Assembly of First Nations and Jim Sinclair of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples will be speaking at a demonstration. -30For more information please contact Renee Shilling at 795-54% May 10, 19%, Ottawa - Seven students were arrested in Hull, Quebec today following a peaceful occupation of the lobby of Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Ron Irwin's office. The Canadian Federation of Students regrets that students were arrested during this nonviolent protest. The purpose of the sit-in was to protest against cuts to social assistance, health care and post-secondary education being implemented through the Liberal government's Canada Health and Social Transfer. The students have a list of demands which they were trying to present to the Minister Irwin, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Finance Minister Ron Irwin. The demands are: - Honour promises presented in the Federal Liberal Red Book, such as remove the cap to the Aboriginal PostSecondary Student Support Program - Develop a comprehensive Aboriginal Study Curriculum; - Initiate a comprehensive health policy, and budgetary decisions. - Return the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Program to a needs-based program with adequate funds to cover all educational and living expenses. - Honour Federalfiduciaryand constitutional obligations to all Aboriginal Peoples. - Legislate a Higher Education Act to define the Federal role in the Aboriginal organizations, Aboriginal students and communities. - Act on the Canadian Federation of Students' demands for the On to Ottawa Trek. - Release Marcel Masses Program. Review of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The student's demands are reasonable, and have yet to be met by Minister Irwin or Prime Minister Chretien. Aboriginal students have made efforts to raise their concerns with the Minister through other avenues, including a 19-day hunger strike in British Columbia in February, with no response from the Federal Government. The Federation and the Aboriginal Students' Constituency Group will continue to lobby the government to have their demands met, we will continue to use peaceful, non-violent forms of protest against the devastating impacts of the Liberal government's Canada Health and Social Transfer. -30For more information please contact Cassandra Koenen, National Treasurer, Canadian Federation of Students at (603) 232-7394. 13 UBCIC NEWS ABUSE, MURDER AND CORRUPTION: Two Survivors of the Native Residential School and Church Tell Their Story and Seek Justice For immediate Release - May 24, 1996 Harriet negligence, pedophilia and Nahanee is a First Nations woman who murder in the church-run west "The voices of murdered children are endured years in the United coast native schools. crying out forjustice" Church Residential School in These revelations come Port Alberni, B.C., and who -Harriett Nahaneeat an especially important witnessed the murder there of a time, now that a class action fellow student. lawsuit has been launched by fifteen Port Alberni men against Kevin Annett is a United Church Minister who was the United Church and federal government, for severe damages wrongfully dismissed from his church in Port Alberni in 1995 suffered by them at the Alberni Residential School. when he helped to uncover this murder and other unknown "There are a lot of skeletons in the United Church abuses at the school. He is on the verge of being expelled from closet, quite literally," says Kevin. "At least three children were the United Church for his outspoken public opposition to the killed in the Alberni Ahousat schools, and probably more. We'd corruption and cover-up still operating within that church. like to know where their bodies are, and how the church got Harriett and Kevin will be commencing a public speakaway with murders for decades." ing tour in June, 1996 to share with others their story and build This speaking tour is designed to raise support and support for their campaign to hold a "Citizens' Commission of money for the Commission of Inquiry and a related Legal Inquiry" into the United Church and its relation to First Nations Defense Fund. People. This Commission will also investigate the destructive To book Harriet and Kevin as speakers, or to find out effects of both government and corporate actions in the Port more information about this campaign, contact them directly at Alberni region. the number below in Vancouver. "The voices of murdered children are crying out for justice" says Harriet. "This church got away with killing them, Harriett Nahanee 985-5817 and it's time the truth came out." Kevin Annett 224-3201 As part of his research into the Residential School abuses, Kevin has uncovered previously-concealed correspondSponsored by the Justice in the Valley Coalition ence between the federal government, and the United Church Port Alberni, B.C. which reveals a decades-long collusion to cover up criminal Arrests and Violence Disrupt Navajo (Dine') Gathering For immediate Release - May 25. 1996 B.I.A. Rangers in cooperation with the Hopi and local law enforcement officials have blockaded a gathering of Traditional Dine' and their supporters on the disputed territories of the Hopi Partitioned land. Hopi Rangers have disrupted a traditional pipe ceremony and manhandled several elders from the area. The residences of Louise Benally and Ruth Benally in the community of Big Mountain, Arizona and the surrounding area, are now covered with scores of law enforcement personnel. Many Navajo Elders are now resisting arrest as their children and supporters have already been taken into custody for attempting to attend the annual Spring gathering. Violence has been reported by several area residents as police have used batons and force to take gathering participants into custody. Police are now preparing to use tear gas at the site. The situation escalated as a group of Elder women prevented the arrest of a Dine' youth. Police then attempted to arrest the Elders who sat and clung to each other to avoid being taken into custody. Supporters and family members continue to arrive and confront the Hopi Rangers. The Traditional Elders have called on the media and the American public to come and witness the violence and the occupation of their ancestral homelands. Please make inquiries and register complaints with the office: Senator John McCain (602) 952-2410 Washington, D.C. (202)224-3121 14 Hopi Chairman, Ferrrell Secakuku 520-734-2441 SPRING 1996 UBCIC NEWS MAP OF THE SOVEREIGN TERRITORIAL INDIGENOUS BOUNDARIES: JUNE, NATIONS 1993 The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs' map of the Sovereign Indigenous Nations Territorial Boundaries is the only contemporary map that accurately shows the traditional tribal territories of the 23 Indian Nations in British Columbia. The six colour map measures 28" x 36". The tribal territories are the homelands of distinct Nations, within which their respective peoples share a common language, culture and traditional forms of political and social organization. These homelands have been occupied by the Indian Nations since time immemorial. Up to the present, the Indian Nations in British Columbia have never surrendered their ownership of their homelands (aboriginal title), nor have they surrendered their original sovereignty as nations to govern their homelands (inherent jurisdiction). Information on the territorial boundaries was compiled by the Union's research portfolio and President's office between July, 1990 and April, 1993 from archival research and information provided by elders, chiefs, and tribal councils. Chief Saul Terry, President of the Union and a graduate of the Vancouver College of Art (now the Emily Carr College of Art and Design), prepared the working drafts for the map. Design and cartography for the June, 1993 map was done by David Sami, chief cartographer of Multi Mapping Ltd. in Vancouver, B.C., using a 1:2,000,000 scale base-map from the Surveys and Environment Branch of the British Columbia Ministry ofEnvironment, Lands and Parks. A l l territorial boundaries shown on the map are subject to further revision, as additional information becomes available. Contact the Union of B . C . Indian Chiefs at (604) 684-0231 for ordering information. 28" 136" / Scale: 1:2 000 000 / Six Colours SPRING 1996 15 UBCIC NEWS UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS SUBSCRIPTION F O R M NAME: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY DATE RECEIVED: ADDRESS: CHEQ/M.O. # EXPIRY DATE: POSTAL/ZIP CODE: PROVINCE/STATE: 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION NLETTER INDIVIDUALS: $35.00 NCLIPPING MEMBER BANDS: $75.00 TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED Please make cheque or money order payable to: INDIVIDUALS: $100.00 $ UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS, 5TH FLOOR - 342 WATER STREET, VANCOUVER, B.C., V6B 1A1 CHIEFS MASK BOOKSTORE & GALLERY ARTS & CRAFTS BOOKS - JEWELLY (GOLD AND SILVER) -FIRST NATIONS - ABORIGINAL ISSUES -POTTERY - INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS -PRINTS - LAND CLAIMS - T-SHIRTS -LAW -LEATHERWORK -ART -MASKS - CHILDREN'S BOOKS -BEADWORK - TEACHING AIDS - TRADITIONAL MUSIC -POETRY CALL, WRITE OR DROP IN TODAY! - AND MUCH MORE! CONSIGNMENT ITEMS ACCEPTED Owned and operated by the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs - 5th Floor 342 Water Street in Gastown (604) 684-0231 16 SPRING 1996  Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs NEWSLETTER SPRING 1996 Institute of Indigenous Government Honors First Graduation Class of 1996 Nf» 17, 1996 marked the first ‘ Graduation of Institute of Indigenous Government students. Family and friends, faculty and staff gathered at Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre in Vancouver to celebrate their achievements. INSIDE THIS ISSUE... . Message from the President . IG Graduation . Non-Insured Health Benefits nN Fe WwW WH . Shauna Leigh Maloney IG Student 7, UG Graduation-Pictorial 8. Global Healing '96 9. Resource Center Update 10. Education Update 11, Child Family & Community Service Act (Bill C-46) - Proposed Firearms Regulation 12. UBCIC Specific Claims Research Program - Cheslatta Carrier 13. Canadian Federation of Students 14. Abuse, Murder and Corruption: two survivors tell their story -Arrests and Violence Disrupts Navajo Gathering Nirkuschin (Glen Douglas), Resident Elder of the IIG, drummed the Academic Procession into the theatre. Bernice Heather, Instructor and Student Development Coordinator, wore traditional dress as she followed custom by greeting and announcing each person in the procession. After the Faculty and Elders took their places, the Colour Guard placed the flags on stage with due honours. The Colour Guard were represented by Art Eggros, Harry Lavallee, and Vince Shea, all members of the Native Veterans Association. Nirkuschin (Glen Douglas) then opened the ceremonies with a prayer of thanks followed by a welcome from Paul Chartrand, Interim President of the IIG. Mr. Chartrand spoke of the widespread desire for education and the empowerment of people through education. He also extended congratulations from people who were unable to attend. These included Ethel Blondin-Andrew (Secretary of State), Elija Harper (M.P. Churchill), the Tsilhgot’in National Government Council of Chiefs, Dara Culhane (Simon Fraser University), Paul Ramsey (Minister, Education, Skills and Training), and John Cashore (Minister, Aboriginal Affairs). Chief Saul Terry gave the Graduation Address. He related the early planning for the IIG and the motion made in October 1991 to begin the Institution. He then spoke about the number of people who have since become excited about “‘coming aboard the decolonization express - the IIG’’. He stated his opinion that “‘what is being built here once again is a strong foundation upon which people can move forward and once again build their society, and rebuild societies that are almost broken and disappeared’’. He stated that this applies to the ‘‘various cultures across this land, across the Americas and across the planet’’. Chief Terry provided each student with a commemorative Pin from the UBCIC to honor their participation in the first year of the IIG. Dean Dan Gottesman announced each student and their nations as they came on stage. The following students were called although some could not attend because they were working or out of town. Congratulations for all their hard work to: Trevor Blind Melissa Meyer Chris Sullivan June Clearsky Michelle Oleman TeresaThomas- Cooper Rose Dejarlais Daniel Peters Randolph Timothy Theodore Francis Johnny Philbrick Agnes Wells Gwen Gaddie Bruce Polchres (IG GRADUATION Cont'd on Page 3) SPRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS Message From The President: Address to media at Vancouver Press Conference (May 9, 1996) F he Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs invited Aboriginal People to meet and witness the press conference because the aboriginal rights of health and education is on the firing line for Federal termination. We recognize there are many Canadians who face hardships due to Federal changes to the social program policy in this country and we share the Canadian citizens’ anxieties. The Indian Nations, however, have constitutionally protected aboriginal rights yet we have a history of dispossession and poverty. Canadian citizens have always enjoyed the bounties off our unceded lands and experience good health. No one can say the same for Indian people. At one point in our history we were forced on reserve but now many of our people are being forced off the reserves secking education, employment opportunities, and better living conditions while leaving behind families, community support and the support of their political leaders. For that our people have been denied many of their aboriginal rights, economic opportunities become limited, and too often in the end they are forced onto welfare dependence under the provincial governments, The Federal Government and the Canadian Human Rights Commission report that the aboriginal population is growing well above the national average but their lives wil! remain physically and emotionally depressed: suicide among young aboriginal people aged 15 to 24 is five times that of young Canadians. In 1994, 38% of all people living on-reserve depended on social assistance to provide them with the basic necessities of life, compared to 7% of other Canadians. This brings us to the plans National Health and Welfare has imposed upon our people: (1) in the fiscal year 1994/95, Medical Services Branch capped health funding nationally and regionally. (2) in the fiscal year 1995/96 introduced First Nations to the new Federal budget and the introduction of the 6-3-3% limited spending growth until 1997/98 fiscal year. Last year, Medical Services Branch held a program review which was designed to cut 15% funding and identified 6 Options to reduce spending. The primary focus of these Options was to reduce, limit and cut our Non-Insured Health Benefits. In late summer the Union of B.C, Indian Chiefs resolved to inform all of our people, regardless of their residency, of changes to their medical plan because by October 1995, Health Canada had began implementing policy changes to the dental schedules, applying fees and other charges. On March 13, 1996 Medical Services Branch, Pacific Region siated to a gathering of aboriginal people from greater Vancouver and Chiefs Council of the U.B.C.LC. that status Indian people living off reserve would not have their medical benefits affected by policy change. The problem we face is the erosion of our aboriginal rights. The 1995 Federal Government introduced Bill C-76, the Canada Health and Social Transfer Act which will replace existing Federal/ Provincial transfer funding arrangements. This will determine how the B.C. Government will carry out social assistance of health and post-secondary education policy. This will affect our people who are already suffering the ravages of the federal cut-backs and are now expected to pay for mental health, dental and over-the- counter drugs. This Government is making changes to basic rights of our people and we are denied information on those changes. Furthermore, the federal government actions in social policy change is ablantant attempt to force provincial governments to take on constitutional responsibilities which righfully belong to Canada. Through all this, the Federal Liberal Government continue to wave their Red Book and extol the virtues of a new relationship with the Aboriginal People. This is paper talk - it is not fact. Furthermore, the Department of Indian Affairs actually brags in their report ‘Framework for Action’’ that through their partnership with Indian people, the implementation of inherent right of self- government is the most progressive recognition of Aboriginal Rights to be found anywhere in the world. Based on their methods in dealing with our health benefits, and education the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs state there will be no partnership, and no land question settlement as long as the policy ofdenial, avoidance, manipulation and determination exists. May 9, 1996 Attn: Chief Saul Terry, President Re: May 9. 1996 Press Conference The Mount Currie Chief and Band Council are in full support of your office taking the initiative to publically voice the First Nations situation in regards to the cut-backs and changes to policy with the Non-Insured Health Benefits and Dental Plan. The federal government has been attempting to dissolve their fiduciary responsibility through the devolution process by way of the White Paper Policy of 1969. By standing in unity can we ever hope to see justice come to the First Nations of this country. The Mount Currie Band Council stand with you on this initiative. Chief Allen Stager Mount Currie 2 SPRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS (GiG GRADUATION Cont'd from Page 1) Audra Wesley Melanie Gladstone Brenda Red Star Brenda Wesley Shannon Hanson Holly Robinson Leora Wilson _ Beverley Kelly Michelle Sault Cindy Wishart Shauna-Leigh Maloney Dana Simeon Morgan Young Paul Chartrand presented a gift to the Institute to commemorate the first class of students at the IG, The gift is a picture of a trapper, Elder Daniel Spence, which was taken when Mr. Spence was 102 years of age. Dr. Gottesman then introduced Kla-lelaweik (Flora Dawson), Resident Elder at the IIG. The following awards and certificates were presented by Elders and Faculty Members. CERTIFICATE IN INDIGENOUS GOVERNMENT STUDIES Theodore Andrew Francis Shauna-Leigh Maloney Each of the following students received a book, a Dean’s Prize and a cash award tied with red nbbon and cedar boughs. The prizes were: OVERALL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (2 Semesters - Full Time Studies) Theodore Andrew Francis Shauna-Leigh Maloney OVERALL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (1 Semester - Full Time Studies) Melissa Ann Meyer Holly Ellen Robinson Randolph George Timothy Morgan Elyse Young OVERALL ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT (Part-Time Studies) Christopher Edward Lloyd Sullivan Kla-lelaweik Nirkuschin Tsimalano Elder Glen Douglas Elder Vincent Stogan Elder Flora Dawson The IJG wishes to acknowledge and thank Price- Waterhouse, Aboriginal Services Division for their generous contribution toward the Dean’s Prizes. Dr. Sylvia Walsh, Director of Program Planning and Development and Associate Professor, then read a selected reading of student work. This excellent piece was written by Shaugh-Leigh Maloney as an answer to an exam question. It is presented on page 6 of this Newsletter. Following the reading, Paul Chartrand invited Tsimalano (Elder Vincent Stogan) of the Musqueam Nation to conduct the formal Calling of the Witnesses. In this Traditional part of the ceremony, which according to custom is neither photographed nor taped, Elder Nirkuschin pinned the speaker’s blanket on Tsimalano and Elder Kla-lelaweik tied his scarf. Tsimalano then called five people to witness. According to North West Coast tradition, the witnesses were of ali ages, male and female. Reflecting the IIG’s Mission Statement, their roots were in many continents and nations, including Indigenous and incoming peoples. Each person was called and stood. This is part of the living oral tradition that is thousands of years old. Each person later spoke strongly and evocatively of their acceptance to be witnesses, their promises to remember the proceedings and their willingness to speak as formal witnesses should the need ever arise in the future. Tsimalano then spoke to the students and the audience. He gave words of praise, encouragement and guidance to all the people gathered together in this celebration. Kla-lelaweik conducted the closing remarks and prayer followed by the retiring of the Colours and the Recessional. Everyone later assembled to enjoy traditional foods. Congratulation to all the students - to those who graduated, to those who have accomplished their goais and to those who have taken their first steps. Well done! Arlene L. Guerin, IG Interim President Paul Chartrand with picture of a trapper, Elder Daniel Spence at 102 years of age SPRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS FUNDAMENTAL PROBLEMS WITH CUTBACKS TO THE NON-INSURED HEALTH BENEFITS l. THREAT OF ASSIMILATION: The Federal Government is destroying their Trust Relationship with the Indian Nations in Canada. At the same time they will accomplish the neutralization of Indian Nations Governments. How Will The Government Achieve This? a. Finalizing self-government agreements with various Indian Bands. Canada receives consent from these Indian Bands by negotiating away their Aboriginal Title to their lands. They must give up their aboriginal rights to Canada in exchange for a piece of their traditional lands and specific rights. This process is dangerous because the Government will define aboriginal rights and treaties in their Constitution inthis way. Self-government agreements are final and these Indian Bands become part of the provincial or territorial municipal government system. The trust responsibility of the Federal Government will be broken forever and transferred to Chiefs and Council of these Indian Bands. Changes to the Non-Insured Health Benefits is part of an overall strategy to assimilate the Indian Nations. It will not happen tomorrow, next year or five years from now but it will happen. b. Transferring programs to Indian Bands or Tribal Councils and calling it ‘‘self-government”’ which is not ‘*self-determination’’ of the people. The transfer of health delivery programs is not self-determination, it is simply Indian people administering Federal programs. Indian people will end up administering their own poverty. While this is going on in the health field, other strategies are taking place through such initiatives as the First Nations Land Management Act, Indian Taxation Advisory Board, and Self-Government Agreements. c. Delegating civil-servant driven programs to aboriginal committees to trim or cut-off funding for essential services. Transferring programs relieves the Government from making decisions and adequately funding essential programs. The programs are not based on Indian Government goals of self - determination. Indian Governments become Federal civil servants under these program transfers. The goals of the Federal Government are implemented instead of allowing the Indian people to implement their nationhood. This is another arm of the Government being trained to take over their fiduciary role. These actions weaken Indian Nations capacity to negotiate Nation to Nation treaties and will affect their negotiating powers at the national and international level. d. Thirteen Chiefs signed a Framework Agreement on Land Management. This Agreement provides for the complete transfer from the Department of Indian Affairs to an Indian Band of all responsibilities concerning reserve land management. The Agreement allows Indian Bands to get out from under the weight of DIA bureaucracy. This route for improving reserve land transactions allows the Crown to escape their fiduciary duties. True to their goals of assimilation of Indian Nations into mainstream Canadian society, the DIA finds Indian people willing to act as ““working groups’’ and empower them to map the way to termination of Indian Nations through this process. e. Creating “‘working groups”’, ‘‘boards’’, ‘‘committees’’, ‘‘task forces’’ and ‘‘commissions’’ of Indian people to carry out advisory work for the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments. These Boards are dangerous for Indian Nations as they hide from Indian peoples the real purpose of their initiatives. The first stage of these kinds of transactions is always the fact that the Minister of Indian Affairs gets rid of his administrative responsibilities as set out in the Indian Act. Once the land goes, everything else collapses. These factions are called ‘‘advisor’’ to the Minister of Indian Affairs strengthening the Federal Government goals to terminate Aboriginal Title, Rights, and Treaties of Indian Nations. The work of these ‘‘consulting groups’’ over the years, has not liberated Indian Nations from the impact of colonization. In fact there is little evidence that the social conditions, housing,education, health, and aboriginal rights of Indian Nations have changed for the better. Putting Indian people in the role of ‘‘advising’’ the government has not produced recognition of the Aboriginal Title and Rights of Indian Nations because the Government will not accept the recommendations of our people if they pursue self-determination. The Federal Government only accepts the initiatives of these ‘‘advisors’’ when they endorse Government initiatives leading to extingushment of Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaties. 2. THE FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL ALLIANCE The Federal Government can make unilateral decisions on Federal- Provincial spending powers. HEALTH (Continued on page 5) 4 SPRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS HEALTH (Continued from page 4) The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs takes exception to National Health and Welfare’s cut-backs to the Non-Insured Health Benefits. In 1995, the Federal Government introduced Bill C-76 the Canada Health and Social Transfer. This new block funding scheme requires provinces to decide upon support for health care, social programs and post-secondary education and places these three essential services in direct competition with each other. The Government uses good words like “‘inherent right of self government’’; ‘‘puilding a new relationship’’; “‘negotiating treaties’’; ‘‘up-holding the honor of the crown’’ but they are being dishonest with the Indian people. They hide behind these words while actively using processes that ‘‘terminate’’ Indian rights. Indian Nations interpret these words to mean “‘recopnition”’ of Indian rights not just in Canada but world-wide. 3. NON-INSURED HEALTH BENEFITS Cancel, Change, Cut-Backs The bureaucrats of National Health and Welfare decided on changes to the N.I.H.B. a long time ago then released their five Options to the Assembly of First Nations. With the help of the Department of Justice, Health and Welfare ensure they can change, cancel, and cut-back essential services such as health and stay within the law in order not to be criticized by the Human Rights Commission in Canada and at the United Nations. Lately Health and Welfare boldly announced that they don’t have the mandate to provide health care according to the Treaties with the Crown. They are doing it out of the goodness of their hearts. The actions of Medical Services Branch during the Non-Insured Heaith Benefit crisis is a good example of how lightly they take their role as the representatives of the Crown. First of all, itis a human rights violation to abandon the original inhabitants of any land after their way of life has been disrupted and devastated by dominant society. The decision-makers at Medical Services Branch did not trust the Indian Leaders to deal with this issue. Time- frames were not taken into consideration; information-communication tactics was at its worst; and there was double-talk on the dental program with the Canadian Dental Association and the Indian leaders. The handling of the three C’s, ie, Cancel, Change and Cut-back to the NIHB is evidence that it makes no difference to Medical Services Branch and National Health and Welfare if Indian people end up with substandard human nghts in the future. Their actions, and decisions are setting up the Indian people to fail Oin the health transfer program. They will transfer, transfer, and transfer until they get out UBCIC Newsletter Deadline of the health business. If you have any material that you would like to see in the next edition of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Newsletter, please forward to our Vancouver office by fax or mail as soon as possible to the attention of "UBCIC NEWSLETTER". We would appreciate the volume of information be kept to a minimum so others can benefit from this service. Please do not fax business cards. Suggestions or comments are always welcome. Next deadline is June 21, 1996. Remember, our new address is 5th Floor ~ 342 Water Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 1B6. Our phone and fax number remain the same. Phone (604) 684-0231 Fax: (604) 684-5726. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs would like to congratulate Ardith Walkem on her successful completion of the bar exams. Ardith will now be working at Mandell Pinder. Best wishes! First Nations Education Services Street Address: 9711E - FIFTH STREET SIDNEY, B.C. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 69 SAANICHTON, B.C. V8M 2C3 Phone: (604) 656-6894 Fax: (604) 656-6834 Healing Our Spirit B.C. First Nations Aids Society New Mailing Address: 415 B WEST ESPLANADE NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C. V7M 1A6 Street Address: 319 Seymour Blvd. North Vancouver, B.C. Phone: (604) 983-8774 Fax: (604) 983-2667 SPRING 1996  By concentrating on a daily basis on the issues of decolonization and education for nation- hood, students will not only incorporate these concepts into their schoolwork, but entrench them in their system of values. The IIG's objective is to train First Nations to become leaders of their people, empowering these students with knowl- edge. Most students, at the time of enrolment into the IIG often feel devalued, or "cheated" by previous school sys- tems or workplaces to which they have been exposed. They arrive in their first classes, looking for a sense of validity, ofbelonging. The IG provides the necessary affirmation, through culturally relevant courses that validate First Nations identity. The history of the colonizationor aborigi- nal peoples is taught, providing the students with conscientization, or the realization of their own oppression as Indigenous persons, the mechanisms used to create this power to oppress, and their position as Aboriginals in today’s society. lum, where students can learn about the cultures of other Indigenous nations, and can participate in sharing their own. Students learn to take pride in and see the value of irst Nations culture and world views. As they learn to em- power their people in their ocial and economic devel- opment or decolonization and elf-determination classes these are just 2examples from self-government facilitating rriculum), students are be- pinning to gain faith in their own abilities to make change. \ INSTITUTE OF 7: 6 Color Guards: Harry Lavallee, Vince Shea and Art Eggros Cultural awareness classes are part of the curricu- Selected Reading of Student Work Dr. Sylvia Walsh, Director of Program Planning Shauna -Leigh Maloney Full Time Studies Student - Institute of Indigenous Government This confidence signifies the student's own progress on a personal journey to self-determination and empowerment. Students learn in the comfortable atmosphere of the IIG to work closely with each other and the IIG facility. Many students overcome, during the semes- ter, feeling of inequity, shyness and a fear or resent- ment of authority. So as students learn to lead their people to self- determination, they are empowering themselves to do the same. Since the commencement of classes at the IIG and during the subsequent two semester, I have seen growth an change among my classmates. Bitter, argumentive students have become more less defensive and open-minded; listen- ing to and accepting the views of others without taking a personal offence and then expressing their P Own. Painfully shy students have learned to express their views and feelings. Those who trusted in the established norms learned to question the status quo. I, for one, became less frus- trated with feeling that] would never make change. It is im- possible to feel fertile when studying at the IJG, concen- trating on pathways to personal and National self-determina- tion. Classes involving the struggle for First Nations have become demystified; I am now able to participate in political banter with my father and his political friends. I have gained the respect of others outside of my accepted circle of family and friends, and through mo- ments of ‘clarity’, realized that this approval of others is irrel- evant to my happiness. bs “ae Leora Wilson and Melissa Meyer SPRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS Institute of Indigenous Government Academic Achievement Awards Be Andres Sess ses = PO Alejandro Palacios and Holly Robinson NG ‘96 AWARDS Overall Academic Achievements (2 Semesters - Full Time Studies) Theodore Andrew Frances Shauna Leigh Maloney (1 Semester - Full Time Studies) Melissa Ann Meyer Holley E. Robinson Randolph George Timothy Bernice Heather and Theodore Frances Morgan Elyse Young (Part-time Studies) Christopher Edward Lloyd Sullivan Taal ee Theo Collins and Morgan Young Photos by Lisa Sullivan and Arlene L, Guerin Dr. Dan Gottesman, Elder Flora Dawson, Shauna Leigh Maloney, Chief Saul Terry SPRING 1996 7  UBCIC NEWS A Call To All Nations Of The World World Peace and Prayer Day Global Healing: June 21, 1996 It has been de- —= wae rv01 Looking a BF Horse, 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe for the Lakota, Da- kota and Nakota Nation asks that all Nations upon Mother Earth declared June 21st, 1996 World Peace and Prayer Day. According to spiritual leaders and Elders who gathered in the United Nations to present their Prophecies - again at Six Nations, Canada - the "If we do not do this our children will suffer" - Arvol Looking Horse - cided, according to the Star Knowledge, that June 21st is the time to pray. Indigenous peo- ple of Turtle Island will begin their spiritual jour- ney on horseback from Wahpeton, Sas- katchewan, Canada, on May 3rd, 1996, There, Indigenous people will pray with the Sacred Bundle Keepers, to be- gin the restoration of peace and balance. We ask all Peoples to begin organizing their owncer- "signs" of Indigenous peo- ple's prophecies have shown themselves. The prophecies tell us it is time to begin Mending the Sacred Hoop and begin global healing by working towards world peace and harmony. The birth of the White Buffalo Calf lets us know we are at the crossroads - either return to balance or face global disaster. It is our duty to return back to the sacred places and pray for world peace - if we do not do this our children will suffer. At Grey Horn Butte, before the White Buffalo Woman brought the Sacred Pipe to our ancestors, a Seer was travelling in the Sacred Black Hills - PaHa Sapa, "heart of everything that is". The Seer came upon a large tipi. When he went in the tipi, he saw the Sacred Pipe in the North and the Sacred Bundle of Bows and Arrows in the South. According to the Star Knowledge there are six stars which designated six sacred sites within the Black Hills - these places are sacred places to pray. We are told there is a sacred place every hundred miles around Mother Earth. We ask all people to return to these places and pray from their hearts with us. The ceremony begins 10:00 a.m. South Dakota (Mountain) Time. emonies at their sacred sites or in the manner which they pray so that they will be praying at the same time as we are from their own spiniual center. So far, we have to spoken to leaders from around the world and each has committed to work towards supporting June 21st, 1996. We ask all people of all faiths to respond and support our efforts towards world peace and harmony - our circle of life where there is no ending and no beginning. May peace be with you all. Arvol Looking Horse 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe DONATIONS FOR THE UNITY RIDE AND FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Canada - McMaster University Indigenous Studies, Hamilton Ontario (905) 525-9140 ext. 27426 - Bonnie Freeman U.S. - Gladys Looking Horse Box 687 Eagle Butte, South Dakota (605) 964-8439 All material submitted and used in the © Union of B.C.. Indian Chiefs. Newsletter. is: FREE OF CHARGE re Contact our Vancouver office for more’ tnfonemiion 604 ~ 684-0231 SPRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS UBCIC RESOURCE CENTRE Automated Resource Centre Catalog We recently completed the upgrade of the library application software we use in the Resource Centre from the DOS version to the new Windows version. The Windows version provides for much easier data entry in building the automated library catalog and better access screens and report formats for users of the automated catalog. There is now an OPAC (On-line Public Access Catalog) in the Resource Centre for library users. The library materials which are on the automated catalog can be accessed by keyword, author, title or subject, and users can print off a bibliography of library materials that they want to look for in the Resource Centre. The recataloguing and reclassifying of the collection is an ongoing project and the automated database will prow as we complete more of this project. Full-Text Canadian News CD-ROM Now in Resource Centre A full-text keyword searchable CD-ROM product called CANNEWS is now available in the Resource Centre for contemporary news items. We have full-text news for all major Canadian newspapers as well as CTV & CBC Current Affairs for 1992 - 1995. Users can search by keyword, name, date, type of byline, etc. and either print off individual articles or download articles to their own disk to print off or read on their home computers. The 1996 CANNEWS CD- ROM will be available early in 1997, In the meantime, we use the UBCIC Newsclipping Service anda current newspaper subscription to access the most current news. Summer Student We are interviewing this week for a summer student to work for twelve weeks in the Resource Centre under the federal government Career Placement program. We rely on summer students to help with the many long term projects ongoing in the Resource Centre. This summer we will use our student to help with our vertical files and to help cerlox bind a backlog of materials. Video Collection Growing We have been able to acquire many new video titles this past year to assist the IG instructors and students. These videos are available for viewing in the Resource Centre at anew VCR station purchased this past winter. I attended a two-day multi-media showcase at Capilano College this past week and previewed pre-selected videos for two full days. There are some very good videos available on First Nation issues and concerns. If you are looking for videos on particular topics, I have a much better idea of what is available after attending the Showcase, and, you can call me anytime for information or suggestions. Paul Chartrand Private Book Collection Paul Chartrand, the Interim President of the IIG, has donated his private book and document collection to the UBCIC Resource Centre. This collection was valued by a certified book appraiser at a value of $27,000. We are currently creating basic records of the book portion of this donated collection in the automated catalog. Plans for the Summer of 1996 Resource Centre staff will be busy with collection development over the summer to meet the new IG curriculum demands for the 1996/97 school year. We will be adding another OPAC station for library users and another CD-ROM tower with new CD-ROM products to be in place for September. We will also continue with our preservation/conservation of the collection with items being sent to the bindery and a selection of materials being put onto microfiche. Cataloguing will be ongoing. Sometime over the summer staff also hope to fit in some holiday time. The Resource Centre will remain open all summer and there will always be a minimum of one full-time staff person and the summer student on hand to help library users. Because we are on the same floor as the IIG, the Resource Centre is on the IEG phone system. You can reach the Resource Centre at 602-9555. Ask for Wendy, Sarah or Lorraine. If it is more convenient, you can still fax us at the UBCIC fax number 684-5726. Mathew needs your help now!!! Please seed popes ‘or — books on Indian : “chBS> ac Indions. Some the "Indians. ore ans Bes} ———— Wa atirew “eahiet Box TI QrySon Quebec — DJex (HO SPRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS Education Update There has been numerous calls regarding the cut backs to students already attending post-secondary institutions. As we know, the support provided falls below the standard of living. A single parent with one dependant receives $1045 a month! From this, the student has to pay for rent, groceries, travel, utilities, clothing, school fees and activities or day-care for child, laundry and pastime. A student living in Vancouver will need approximately $2,450.00. Students need an increase of 43% to their living allowances to successfully complete their training. Another concern is the Local Education Agreements. Section 104(3) of the School Act (1989) provides for the opting out of the Master Tuition Agreement at the local level by allowing for the entry into agreements by Boards and Bands, or Councils of Bands. Under these local education agreements, the federal government provides tuition costs to individual bands and the band purchase services from a school. The intent of these agreements is to encourage meaningful consultation with First Nations communities. There has been numerous complaints from the First Nations communities about these agreements being disrupted from payments made from the Department of Indian Affairs to the School Boards. Delegates from these bands have stressed that it is important that DIA work with the Indian Bands rather than complicating the situation by making direct payments to the school boards. It is their (DIA’s) fiduciary responsibility to ensure that the interest of the people are upheld. On May 14, 1996, the Vancouver School Board hosted a meeting with the Aboriginal Education Branch. Dixon Taylor and Glona Raphael, who are both co-ordinators, discussed the First Nations Studies 12, First Nations K-10 Cirriculum, direct funding, local education agreements and the ‘‘ Aboriginal Support Workers’’ handbook. Allan Haig-Brown focused on the Aboriginal Network (Abnet) on the Internet. For more information on how you can “‘get connected’’ phone (604) 520- 6748. The First Nations support workers (elementary & secondary) expressed some their concerns and updated on their cirriculum and services provided to First Nations students. The planning stages of the Union of B.C. Indian Chief's International Conference ‘‘Visions of the Peoples: The Spirit of Justice, A World Gathering of Indigenous Peoples’’ is underway. The purpose of this gathering is to bring together grassroots people, leaders, elders, chiefs and individuals committed to creating positive change in their communities, traditional territories and nations. The conference will focus on traditional and contemporary issues in relation to Aboriginal justice, self-determination, legal, political, economic and social structures, education, health, etc. The proceedings will provide opportunities for participants to present their ideas, experiences and visions of justice through a variety of expression: oration, music, art, crafts, film, dance, presentation of papers, etc. We are expecting participants from around the world. The conference is scheduled to take place in the summer of 1997. Students who participated in the ‘‘On to Ottawa’’ trek have not yet returned. Many First Nations students from B.C. joined the Canadian Federation of Students trek to Parliament Hill in protest to the Post-secondary and the Canadian Social Transfer cutbacks. ‘‘First Nations students will no longer tolerate the unjust conduct of DIA,’’ was the message from First Nations students. Jennic Blankinship, UBCIC Education Policy Co-ordinator. S Vhe Indian Homemakers Association held a fund raising ‘“Benefit Night’’ on April 26, 1996. Over 200 people joined the dinner and entertainment. Winners of the Raffle are: 1. HAMPERS: “*Traditional Foods”’ Teresa Rickman, Vancouver “‘Turkey’’ - Susie Guss, Vancouver **Ham’’ - Kelsey Hall, Vancouver. 2. STAR QUILT Mimi Dent, Vancouver 3. “‘TRADITIONAL BUCKSKIN DRESS”’ Rain On Your Face Caprian, Merritt B.C. 4. “KWA’KWA BALAS DOLL”’ Frank Boucher, Quesnel B.C. 5. ‘““EAGLE CUSHIONS’ Monica McCoy - Enderby, B.C. 6. ‘‘STAR CUSHIONS’’ Hertha Holland. THANK YOU TOALL WHO CONTRIBUTED TO OUR MANY DOOR PRIZES AND DONATIONS. Thank you to the following organisations and people: The Vancouver Indian Friendship Society The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Institute of Indigenous Government Renae Morriseau, Master of Ceremony The list ofall who volunteered and entertained is extensive. A complete list of all the entertainers and volunteers will be acknowledged in our IHA newsletter. We gratefully appreciate the commitment and dedication of those who participated with the efforts in making our families and communities stronger. The Indian Homemakers Association of B.C. is located at #208 - 175 E, Broadway, Vancouver B.C, Phone (604) 876-0944, fax (604) 876-1448. Thank you all again, from Jennie Blankinship, President. The Indian Homemakers Association is looking for representatives from all nations within British Columbia. Nominations, by letter, will be accepted at our office. Our Annual General Meeting will be in July or August of 1996. If you have concems in your community and would like support from other First Nations women, please forward names (up to 5) to the Indian Homemakers Association. There are twenty-three (23) distinct nations within B.C. alone, we need your voice to address the concems of our families and communities, All First Nations women qualify. If you have any questions, please call Jennie Blankinship, President or Wanda Sandy, Administrator at (604) 876-0944. 10 P 1996  UBCIC NEWS The Child, Family & Community Services Act - Bill 46 Submitted by the Indian Homemakers Association of B.C. This act came into effect January 29, 1996, which replaced the old Family and Child Services Act. The changes came into effect so that we may be able to help the people by using the community resources as well as the Ministry Resources. The Ministry of Social Services made a Declaration: ‘That the Ministry of Social Services recognizes the inherent responsibility and authority of aboriginal nations/ communities for the well-being of their members, and is committed to Supporting Aboriginal Nations/communities in their development and delivery of social services. The act entails the following: + The act highlights the critical importance of kinship relations, extended family ties, and children’s connections to specific communities and specific cultures. + Notice of hearing is to be served to the BAND or to designated representatives. This notice is to be given to both parent’s bands. + The Act emphasizes the taking of a child into care as a last resort, if the child is in immediate danger. Other less disruptive measures MUST be considered before a child is taken into care. The Act provides for a number of less intrusive measures which allow workers to provide support to families. + The Act requires the Ministry to be accountable to children, families and communities whenever it is involved in a child welfare matter. + Cultural identity of aboriginal children should be preserved. + Aboriginal people are to be involved in planning and the delivery of services to aboriginal families and their children. This also means the community which will include the resources. + Family Conferences can take place if this is what the family would like to set up. + The definition of ‘‘Aboriginal Organisation’’ will be developed in policy in consultation with aboriginal people. Identified aboriginal organizations are prescribed in the regulations for the purpose of this section. An Indian Band may be an aboriginal organization for this purpose or the Indian Band may identify a specific tribal council, aboriginal child welfare agency or any other organization for this purpose. Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services was enlisted as the Designated Representative for Vancouver Area and the Lower Mainland. The community has come together to discuss the new act. The meetings have been taking place at least once per month. The Vancouver Aboriginal & Family Services have been contacting people at different agencies to take part with the discussions. The community is a very important part of the act, especially for our Native Families. It is crucial that information be distributed to all communities. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Renee Robert, Executive Director, at 689-2402. Department of Justice PROPOSED FIREARMS REGULATIONS ON HOLD OTTAWA, MAY 8, 1996 - Allan Rock, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today gave notice he will not proceed with draft regulations supporting the Firearms Act put before Parliament on May 2, 1996. A new set of regulations will be tabled at a later date for a thirty day sitting period. This action follows a request from the Chair of the Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, that that Committee be given a longer period of time to prepare for its examination of the regulations. “I want to ensure that the draft regulations receive a very thorough examination,” said Minister Rock. “We will proceed in re-tabling the first set of regulations only after the extensive consultations with members of the Caucus and other interested stakeholders, I have already begun to receive many suggestions on how the regulations can be improved. This first set of draft regulations are the first of those required to implement the Act. The remaining provisions of the Act not yet in force will be brought into effect in early 1997, The new licensing requirements for individuals will begin at that time. -30- Ref. : Jennifer Lang Ministers Office (613) 992-4621 SPRING 1996 11  UBCIC NEWS Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Specific Claims Research Program Top Quality Research and Legal Analysis at No Direct Cost! [ Jia you know that the J” Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs has a specialized research/legal team devoted. tothe development of specific claims? Did you know that any Band in B.C. is eligible to participate in this program? The UBCIC’s Specific Claims Research Program stems from mandates provided to UBCIC by BC Bands to undertake specific claims research on their behalf. It is a Band-driven program wherein the Bands direct the research and legal work on their specific claims through the UBCIC. The UBCIC’s team cannot be matched for its BC specific claims expertise - it has been dealing with every type of specific @ The federal government has defined two separate policies and processes for claims - ‘‘comprehensive’’ and ‘‘specific’’. Comprehensive claims are based on the idea of continuing aboriginal rights and title which have not been dealt with by treaty or other lawful means. These claims concern traditional territories as well as traditional use and occupancy of land. Specific claims do not deal with unextinguished aboriginal title. Specific claims are about whether the federal government fulfilled its lawful obligations as defined by treaties, the Indian Act or other federal laws. Specific claims relate mostly to a Band’s reserve land base. Most commonly they involve the loss of reserve lands without lawful surrender by the Band, or the government’s failure to pay adequate compensation in cases where lands were taken with legal authority, They can also include failure to compensate for alienated or damaged reserve lands and assets. The resolution and settlement of specific claims most commonly involves land or money. There are a number of different kinds of specific claims, These include: ‘‘cut-off’ lands, unlawful alienations (land sales, surrenders), ““Douglas’’ treaties and pre-Confederation ‘‘Douglas’’ reserves, reserve boundanies, rights-of-way, fishing stations, graveyards and water rights, land accretions, etc. What is a Specific Claim? How does the UBCIC’s Specific Claims Research Program work? The starting point is a BCR from a Band authorizing the Union to do the necessary research and legal work on the specific claims issues it identifies. When necessary, the Union will contact the Band for clarification of the specific claims request and an indication of the urgency of the issues. Researchers collect all the relevant documentation, which they analyze and forward with a report to the legal staff. The legal staff review these materials and prepare a legal opinion for the Band's review. A meeting claim since the establishment of this process. The UBCIC team consists of experienced full-time archival researchers who work exclusively on specific claims, while legal analysis and support services are provided by the Vancouver law firm, Mandell Pinder. The aim ofthe UBCIC’s Specific Claims Research Program is to provide maximum research and legal support to members, given the limited program dollarsavailable. OQurumbrella approach allows research to proceed to completion with no funding interruptions and with no need for up-front money or administrative costs - Member Bands benefit from the specific claims expertise of our research/legal team all year-round, year after year at no direct cost, with the Band generally follows. All further activities by the research/legal team are directed by the Band. There is no obligation for the Band to settle claims through this process. All research and legal activities are carried out by UBCIC under the strictest confidentiality. All documents gathered for specific claims belong to the claimant Band. Frequently, the information gathered by the UBCIC’s Specific Claims Research Program is helpful to the Band in areas other than specific claims, such as community education or planning. If you would like to know more about the UBCIC’s Specific Claims Research Program, please feel free to call 1-604-684-0231 or drop by the Vancouver office any time. Letter from the Cheslatta Carrier Nation April 11, 1996 Dear Chief and Council: Cheslatta is currently involved in a precedent-setting federal/provincial environment assessment of the proposed Huckelberry open-pit copper mine. We would like to share our experience with you and have you share your experience with us. In this way, we can deal with the common problems we face on environmental assessments. Here are some questions we are interested in having answered: Is your Nation involved in an environmental assessment? What companies/corporations are proposing the project? Is the company/corporations using divide and conquer tactics? Please contact us if you need more information. Sincerely, Chief Marvin Charlie P.O, Box 909, Burns Lake, B.C. VOJ 1EO Tel: (604) 694-3334 Fax: (604) 694-3632 12 PRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS CANADIAN FEDERATION OF STUDENTS (SEVEN STUDENTS ARRESTED IN HULL, QUEBEC) ABORIGINAL STUDENTS OCCUPY DEPARTMENT OF INDIAN AND NORTHERN AFFAIRS May 10, 1996, Ottawa -- The Federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs in Hull has just been occupied by Aboriginal Students and their supporters. They are demonstrating against the implementation of the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) and funding cuts to social programs. The protesters are calling on the Liberal Government to live up to their Red Book promises, including the removal of the cap on the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Support Program, the development of a comprehensive aborigi- nal study curriculum, the initiation of a comprehensive health policy and Abo- riginal involvement in policy and budgetary decisions. "This occupation seems to be the only way to get the government's atten- tion, “says Renee Shilling, National Aboriginal Students Representative for the Canadian Federation of Students. "We had aboriginal students on a hunger strike in British Columbia for 19 days in February, without any response from Jean Chretien or Ron Irwin," she adds. Protesters are also demanding that the government honour its fiduciary and constitutional obligations to all Aboriginal Peoples, as found in the Royal Proclamation of 1763, the British North American Act of 1867 and the Canadian Constitution as amended in 1982. "The cuts which are being implemented under the CHST are going to have a devastating effect on Aborigi- nal peoples’ health, education and social well-being,” expresses Shilling. "Yet there has been no consultation with Aboriginal people at all. It's our future at stake, and we're not going to just sit by The students have a list of demands which they were trying to present to Minister Ron Irwin, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Finance Minster Paul Martin. and watch it be destroyed” she empha- SiZeS. Aboriginal people will also be speaking out against the CHST as part of the Canadian Federation of Students' On to Ottawa Trek Tomorrow at a demon- stration on Parliament Hill at 2:30 Ovide Mercredi of the Assembly of First Nations and Jim Sinclair of the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples will be speaking at a demonstration. -30- For more information please contact Renee Shilling at 795-5496 May 10, 1996, Ottawa - Seven students were arrested in Hull, Quebec today following a peaceful occupation of the lobby of Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Ron Irwin's office. The Cana- dian Federation of Students regrets that students were arrested during this non- violent protest. The purpose of the sit-in was to protest against cuts to social assistance, health care and post-second- ary education being implemented through the Liberal government's Canada Health and Social Transfer. The students have a list of demands which they were trying to present to the Minister Irwin, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Finance Minister Ron Irwin. The demands are: - Honour promises presented in the Federal Liberal Red Book, such as remove the cap to the Aboriginal Post- Secondary Student Support Program - Develop a comprehensive Aboriginal Study Curriculum; - Initiate a comprehensive health policy; and budgetary decisions. - Return the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Program to a needs-based program with adequate funds to cover all educational and living expenses. - Honour Federal fiduciary and constitu- tional obligations to all Aboriginal Peoples. ~ Legislate a Higher Education Act to define the Federal role in the Aboriginal organizations, Aboriginal students and communities. - Act on the Canadian Federation of Students' demands for the On to Ottawa Trek. - Release Marcel Masses Program. Review of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. The student's demands are reasonable, and have yet to be met by Minister Irwin or Prime Minister Chretien. Aboriginal students have made efforts to raise their concerns with the Minister through other avenues, including a 19-day hunger strike in British Columbia in February, with no response from the Federal Government. The Federation and the Aborigi- nal Students’ Constituency Group will continue to lobby the government to have their demands met, we will continue to use peaceful, non-violent forms of protest against the devastating impacts of the Liberal government's Canada Health and Social Transfer. -30- For more information please contact Cassandra Koenen, National Treasurer, Canadian Federation of Students at (603) 232-7394, OPRING 1996 13  UBCIC NEWS HEUSE, MURDER AUD CORRUPTION: Two Survivors of the Native Residential School and Church Tell Their Story and Seek Justice For immediate Release - May 24, 1996 negligence, pedophilia and Li arriet Nahanee is a First J) Nations woman who endured years in the United Church Residential School in Port Alberni, B.C., and who witnessed the murder there of a "The. voices of murdered children are crying out for justice" -Harriett Nahanee- murder in the church-run west coast native schools. These revelations come at an especially important time, now that a class action fellow student. Kevin Annett is a United Church Minister who was wrongfully dismissed from his church in Port Alberni in 1995 when he helped to uncover this murder and other unknown abuses at the school. He is on the verge of being expelled from the United Church for his outspoken public opposition to the cormption and cover-up still operating within that church. Harriett and Kevin will be commencing a public speak- ing tour in June, 1996 to share with others their story and build support for their campaign to hold a "Citizens' Commission of Inquiry" into the United Church and its relation to First Nations People. This Commission will also investigate the destructive effects of both government and corporate actions in the Port Alberni region. "The voices of murdered children are crying out for justice” says Harriet. “This church got away with killing them, and it's time the truth came out." As part of his research into the Residential School abuses, Kevin has uncovered previously-concealed correspond- ence between the federal government, and the United Church which reveals a decades-long collusion to cover up criminal lawsuit has been launched by fifteen Port Alberni men against the United Church and federal government, for severe damages suffered by them at the Alberni Residential School. "There are a lot of skeletons in the United Church closet, quite literally," says Kevin. "At least three children were killed in the Alberni Ahousat schools, and probably more. We'd like to know where their bodies are, and how the church got away with murders for decades." This speaking tour is designed to raise support and money for the Commission of Inquiry and a related Legal Defense Fund. To book Harriet and Kevin as speakers, or to find out more information about this campaign, contact them directly at the number below in Vancouver. 985-5817 224-3201 Harriett Nahanee Kevin Annett Sponsored by the Justice in the Valley Coalition Port Alberni, B.C. Arrests and Violence Disrupt Navajo (Dine') Gathering For immediate Release - May 25, 1996 B.I.A. Rangers in cooperation with the Hopi and local law enforcement officials have blockaded a gathering of Traditional Dine’ and their supporters on the disputed territories of the Hopi Partitioned Jand. Hopi Rangers have disrupted a traditional pipe ceremony and manhandled several elders from the area. The residences of Louise Benally and Ruth Benally in the community of Big Mountain, Anzona and the surrounding area, are now covered with scores of law enforcement personnel. Many Navajo Elders are now resisting arrest as their children and supporters have already been taken into custody for attempting to attend the annual Spring gathering. Violence has been reported by several area residents as police have used batons and force to take gathering participants into custody. Police are now preparing to use tear gas at the site. ‘The situation escalated as a group of Elder women prevented the arrest of a Dine' youth. Police then attempted to arrest the Elders who sat and clung to each other to avoid being taken into custody. Supporters and family members continue to arrive and confront the Hopi Rangers. The Traditional Elders have called on the media and the American public to come and witness the violence and the occupation of their ancestral homelands. Please make inquiries and register complaints with the office: Senator John McCain (602) 952-2410 Washington, D.C. (202) 224-3121 Hopi Chairman, Ferrrell Secakuku 520-734-2441 14 SPRING 1996  UBCIC NEWS MAP OF THE SOVEREIGN INDIGENOUS NATIONS TERRITORIAL BOUNDARIES: JUNE, 1993 The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs’ map of the Sovereign Indigenous Nations Territorial Boundaries is the only contemporary map that accurately shows the traditional tribal territories of the 23 Indian Nations in Bnitish Columbia. The six colour map measures 28" x 36". The tribal territories are the homelands of distinct Nations, within which their respective peoples share a common language, culture and traditional forms of political and social organization. These homelands have been occupied by the Indian Nations since time immemorial. Up tothe present, the Indian Nations in British Columbia have never surrendered their ownership of their homelands (aboriginal title), nor have they surrendered their original sovereignty as nations to govern their homelands (inherent jurisdiction). Information on the territorial boundaries was compiled by the Union’s research portfolio and President’s office between July, 1990 and April, 1993 from archival research and information provided by elders, chiefs, and tribal councils. Chief Saul Terry, President of the Union and a graduate of the Vancouver College of Art (now the Emily Carr College of Art and Design), prepared the working drafts for the map. Design and cartography for the June, 1993 map was done by David Sami, chief cartographer of Multi Mapping Ltd. in Vancouver, B.C., using a 1:2,000,000 scale base-map from the Surveys and Environment Branch of the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. All territorial boundaries shown on the map are subject to further revision, as additional information becomes available. Contact the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs at (604) 684-0231 for ordering information. 28" x 36" / Scale: 1:2 000 000 / Six Colours  UBCIC NEWS UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS SUBSCRIPTION FORM NAME: FOR OFFICE USE ONLY ADDRESS: DATE RECEIVED: CHEQ/M.O. # EXPIRY DATE: PROVINCE/STATE: POSTAL/ZIP CODE: 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION NLETTER INDIVIDUALS: $35.00 NCLIPPING MEMBER BANDS: $75.00 INDIVIDUALS: 3100.00 TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED 3 Please make cheque or money order payable to: UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS, STH FLOOR - 342 WATER STREET, VANCOUVER, B.C., V6B 1A1 CHIEFS MASK BOOKSTORE & BOOKS ARTS & CRAFTS - FIRST NATIONS G A | ! = R Y - JEWELLY (GOLD AND SILVER) - ABORIGINAL ISSUES - POTTERY - INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS - PRINTS - LAND CLAIMS Ke 2 - T-SHIRTS - LAW AS jee Ry - LEATHERWORK - ART \@xe - CHILDREN'S BOOKS - BEADWORK - TEACHING AIDS - TRADITIONAL MUSIC - POETRY CALL, WRITE OR - AND MUCH MORE! DROP IN TODAY! CONSIGNMENT ITEMS ACCEPTED Owned and operated by the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs - Sth Floor 342 Water Street in Gastown (604) 684-0231 16 SPRING 1996