Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Newsletter (January 1978)

1.06-01.03 Nesika: UBCIC News

1.06.-01 Newsletters and bulletins sub-series

January 1978

english

1.06-01.03-02.01

10

READ INSIDE FOR
v
U.B.C.I.C..
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
April 18-21, 1978

v
U.B.C.I.C.
Socio-Economic Development
Conference to 1980
MARCH 1-3, 1978

v
TREATY 8 WORKSHOP
AT FORT ST. JOHN
FEBRUARY 2 & 3, 1978

JANUARY 1978

George Manuel

Robert Manuel

Philip Paul

Don Moses

Archie Patrick

Raymond Jones

periodical

 UNION OF BC.INDIAN CHIEFS Vv U.B.C.1.¢. GENERAL ASSEMBLY ARRIL | Ge dl, 1977 6.4.5.0 Soc 10- Economic Develog ment ConPerence to 1980 Magecrl 1-3,1979 E TREATY ¥ WORKSHOP AT FOLT ST. TORN FEBRUALS 2 ¢3, 141% JANUARY 1978  HEAD OFFICE ITEMS: Located at 303 East Esplanade, North Vancouver. /Mailing address: P.O, Box 86003, North Vancouver, B.C, V7L 45 Telephone: 986-2236. Telex 04 - 352579 WE APOLOGIZE We would Like to extend our apology from this Newsletter to Raymond Jones, Vice- President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, people with concerns in Social Development and our Band members for an ERROR we published in the Last cssue of this Newsletter. Ray Jones 45 NOT the Portfolio director for Soctal Development. He £5 responsible for Federal/Provincial Relations for the Unton of B.C. Indian Chieks. George Manuel has the portfolio for Social Development and has assigned Exnie Wilkie to work in this area, At this date, there 4 very ttle to report and we hope to have better news in the February issue. We're Sorry f0r our mistake and hope this corrects the situation. Rosalee Tizya & Jackie Seward 3 DON 7 FORGET! the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is having an ART fCONTEST for a PERMANENT LOGO to represent all parts of the PROVINCE. A logo is a design or symbol used by organizations to put on their letters and reports or anything else belonging to them. The logo usually shows in its design what the ORGANIZATION REPRESENTS. THIS ART CONTEST IS OPEN TO ALL INDIAN PEOPLE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA AND THE WINNERS WILL BE AWARDED AS FOLLOWS: FIRST- -$150,00 SECOND -$100.00 ‘ THIRD -$75.00 RULES FOR THIS CONTEST ARE: 1. The design must be an Indian motif 2. The drawing should be done in color 3. The drawing should be the size of this page 4, It must be representative of all Tribal areas in British Columbia 5. If possible,have appropriate words to go with the design 6. Your entry should be postmarked no later than FEBRUARY 15,1978 The WINNING design will become the OFFICIAL LOGO for the Union of B.C, Indian Chiefs and will be used on all our letters, stationery, call- cards, the Newsletter and other U.8.C,3.€. preperty.  INDIAN GOVERNMENT WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS ON INDIAN GOVERNMENT WILL BE HELD AROUND THE PROVINCE TO DISCUSS THESE IDEAS AND INPUT WILL BE NEEDED FROM BAND MEMBERS ALL OVER B.C. UNION OF B. C. INDIAN CHIEFS POSITION PAPER ON INDIAN RESERVE LANDS AND INDIAN GOVERNMENT (BAND COUNCILS) INTRODUCTION The objective of this position paper is to present the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs' position on Indian Reserve lands and !ndian Government (Band Councils) as they pertain to aboriginal rights. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, has for a number of years now, been engaged in the process of developing a comprehensive position on Aboriginal Rights. The process has primarily involved an indepth study of all the issues of concern to our people in B.C. The principle purpose of this study has been to determine a common bond between all the issues and the maincause of all the problems we are experiencing. A few of the issues that were covered in the study included Band Councils, education, economic development, unemployment, forestry, hunting, fishing, trapping, water, lands, roads, social services, health, legal services and membership. In reviewing each of these issues it became quite obvious that none of these problems would be adequately resolved until existing circumstances changed drastically. The areas we refer to that require change are the size of our existing Indian Reserve land base and the powers or authority our Indian Governments (Band Councils) have over specific areas of jurisdiction. We are basically saying that as long as Indian Reserve lands remain at their present size and our Indian Governments (Band Councils) continue to have the existing authority they possess which is practically none, no real change can be expected. The Indian Reserve land base we presently possess is far too small to adequately provide for the basic needs of all of our people. Because of this fact, we experience many provlems in the area of economics, unemployment, social services, housing, etc. Our Indian Governments (Band Councils) cannot now begin to adequately address these problems. The study, although difficult to do, and depressing at times, did reconfirm the importance of our people's Aboriginal Rights struggle as a priority. This position paper has been developed with the realization that it may be some time before our people's Aboriginal Rights will be fully realized and appreciated. We state this because we do not expect that present non-Indian government attitudes regarding Aboriginal Rights will change in the near future. The important point at this stage is to clarify to our people and to governments where we stand and what we stand for; because we all need to understand that Indian Reserve land and Indian Government (Band Councils) form the foundation on which to build and develop our Aboriginal Rights. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, in clarifying this position, has defined in more specific terms our Aboriginal Rights: the direction we are going and the scope of our definition: "ABORIGINAL RIGHTS MEANS THAT WE COLLECTIVELY, AS INDIAN PEOPLE’, HAVE THE RIGHT WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE CANADIAN CONSTITUTION, TO GOVERN, THROUGH OUR OWN UNIQUE FORM OF GOVERNMENT (BAND COUNCILS) AN EXPANDED VERSION OF OUR INDIAN RESERVE LANDS, THAT IS SUFFICIENTLY LARGE ENOUGH TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS OF ALL OUR PEOPLE."  Indian Goyernment cont... The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, has come to the conclusion that a stand or position needs to be made to protect the foundation of our people's Aboriginal Rights. The position we have prepared and now present on Indian Reserve Lands and Indian Government (Band Councils) is designed to protect the foundation on which we expect to build and develop our Aboriginal Rights. Indian Reserve land at it's present size seems to be secure, although we all realize it needs to be increased to give us the resources for economic independance. Our Indian Government or Band Councils, however, do not now have the kind of authority needed. U.B.C.1.C. POSITION PAPER ON INDIAN RESERVE LANDS The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs recognizes that some people regard Indian Reserve Lands as undesireable and a negative place to live; but the fact remains that they (Indian Reserve Lands) are very sacred and form the foundation on which to build and develop our Aboriginal Rights. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs therefore resolves and declares as our position that: a) Indian Reserve Lands are to be maintained and protected, never to be alienated from our people; and b) Indian Reserve Lands are to be expanded sufficiently to provide for the economic, educational, social, cultural and spiritual well-being of all Indian people (including those referred to as non-status). The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs recognizes there are some who regard our legitimate Indian Government (Band Councils) with contempt, but the fact remains that: 1. Our Aboriginal Rights struggle is rooted back before European invasion at which time our people recognized Chiefs and Councils as the legitimate governing authority, as our unique form of government. 2. Chiefs and Councils to this day, have been maintained by our people as our own unique governing authority, distinct in Canada from other forms of government. 3. Chiefs and Councils are one living evidence of our unique way of life, therefore, they form part of the foundation on which to build and develop our Aboriginal Rights. 4, When our people's Aboriginal Rights are finally realized, they will have to be channelled through a legitimate governing authority of our people. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs therefore resolves and declares as our position that: 1. Chiefs and Councils must be maintained as the recognized legal governing authority of our people. 2. Chiefs and Councils' range of jurisdiction must be broadened to encompass all those areas of concern to our people. 3. Chiefs and Councils' authority must be expanded to allow our people's legitimate governing authority to address their problems adequately.  PORVPOLIO Ra PORWS GEORGE MANUEL - President WEST COAST OIL PORTS INQUIRY It seems that the Government is trying to kill the West Coast Oi] Ports Inquiry. The Union is fighting hard to keep the Inquiry going. Because of the importance of all the issues involved, we are trying to persuade Dr. Andrew Thompson to re-open hearings immediately. This appears especially urgent to us -as Kitimat Pipeline Ltd. has put in another application, as the Union had predicted it would, but this time for an even bigger of! port and wider pipeline. The Union will continue to oppose any oilports and supertankers in order to protect our way of life and our food. Please feel free to write to our office for copies of statements made by our own people to this inquiry. Because of the importance of this issue to our people, we held a Provincial Fishing Forum on December 15th & 16th, 1977. A special report about this meeting is enclosed with this newsletter. TREATY 8 WORKSHOP - FT. ST. JOHN The people in the North East District have asked our Union to co-ordinate a Workshop on Treaty 8 - to bring in resource people. So far, we have arranged to bring in our Lawyers and experts from other provinces who are also covered by Treaty 8. The people want to be sure of what rights they have under this Treaty and how they can use these rights to protect what they do have. The people in the North East are being threatened by a number of corporate developments at the moment. On February 2nd and 3rd, 1978, Richard Lightning and Bennett McCardle from Alberta; Anita Gordon from Federation of Saskatchewan Indians; and Father R. Fumeleau from the North West Territories and author of ''As Long As This Land Will Last'', will be sharing their information and experience with the people of the Ft. St. John area. We hope that some people from the Dene Nation will also be able to come. ROBERT MANUEL -Indian Government & Youth Development ATTENTION: YOUNG PEOPLE LET US SHARE OUR VIEWS: The purpose of this article is one way to provide the opportunity for young people to establish contact with other young people in other parts of the Province who share similar interests and experiences. Young people need to develop a better understanding of what is happening in different parts of British Columbia; this can happen through direct contact with others of the same age and interests. The way we propose to provide this opportunity is by leaving space in our newsletter specifically for the youth of B.C. The space will be provided for such things as the advertisement of youth activities, reports on local youth activities, and a list of names and addresses of those who wish to contact others of the same age and interest in B.C. We will accept and print all kinds of things: your stories, poems, jokes, and your special news items, write us to tell what is happening in your community. We encourage all young Indian people to participate in this effort to get to know each other better, share your thoughts, feelings and ideas with others. Write in, provide name, address, age and interests, we will try to put you in contact with other young people in British Columbia who share your particular interests.  PHILIP PAUL- Vice-President M.T.A. WORKSHOP Our first education workshop on the Master Tuition Agreement took place in Vancouver on January 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th, 1978. The Master Tuition Agreement (M.T.A.) iS an agreement between the Dept. of Indian Affairs and the Province, without our approval. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and the Co-Ordinating Indian Education Committee worked together to plan this workshop, There were about forty people from all over the province of B.C. at this workshop. They were chosen because of their background in Education, and because they already had some knowledge of the Master Tuition Agreement. This first workshop on the M.T.A. was an information workshop. The resource people who attended it will carry back information to their Chiefs, Band Councils, Band Members, Education Committees and District Councils. This is just a beginning. We hope that more and more people will become involved as resource people on the question of the M.T.A. - an agreement which openly violates the policy of Indian Control of Indian Education. It will be the Band Members who will say what they want done about the M.T.A. Then at the General Assembly of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs to be held in Penticton on April 18th, 19th, 20th and 21st, 1978, the Chiefs will make a decision concerning the M.T.A. on behalf of the member government (Band Councils) of the U.B.C.1.C. We hope that workshops on the M.T.A. at the District and Band level will be organ- ized between now and the end of March 1978. We realize that there will be short notice for some of these workshops because of the deadline of the U.B.C.I.C. General Assembly in April. We hope you will understand. We would like to thank the people who attended the workshop. They had to leave their families and jobs at short notice. They came on their own time, and they worked very hard during the four days of the Workshop. It is that kind of dedication which will help us Master the Tuition Agreement. If you want more information about the M.T.A., write to us and we will send you a | booklet on the subject. NOTE: ALL CHIEFS AND BAND COUNCILS WILL RECEIVE A REPORT ON THIS INITIAL WORKSHOP, PLUS THE NAMES OF THE EDUCATION RESOURCE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED IT. kRkek*k ke kk ek Rk OK NEW STAFF: Ronald Dan from Mount Currie has been hired as Education Assistant for the U.B.C.1.C. We wish him well and are pleased to have him on staff. RRA kek RAK KK OK CULTURAL EDUCATION A meeting of the Cultural Education Centres was held January 13th & 14th, at the U.B.C.1.C. office in Vancouver. An advisory committee, with Clarence Pennier of Coqualeetza, Karen Edgar of Bella Coola Cultural Centre, Mary L Williams of Mount Currie and Irvine Harry of Fish Lake Cultural Centre, was set up to plan a Provincial Workshop of Band Members and Cultural Centres people, to discuss the Cultural Educ- ation Program and a long range plan to put together goals, priorities, resources, how program funding will be used and how all Bands' Cultural Education needs can be served, The workshop is also to share spiritually, culturally, and educationally, the achievements that the already established centres have made. So far the dates set for the workshop are February 22nd, 23rd, 24th and possibly the 25th if more time is needed. All Bands will be notified of further details.  BAND MANAGEMENT. TRAINING PROGRAM The Education Portfolio has also. begun talks with the Department of Indian Affairs concerning the takeover of the BAND MANAGEMENT TRAINING PROGRAM. To this end the discussions have centered around the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs organizing a workshop of Band people around the Province to discuss the future possibilities of what this program can do. We will inform you of further discussions as we continue them. No decisions have been made as yet and none will be until we have had discussions at the Band level. DON MOSES - Vice-President The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs will be sponsoring a conference on Socio-Economic Development to 1980 from March Ist - 3rd, 1978. The conference will be held in downtown Vancouver at the Vancouver Hotel. The purpose of the conference is to promote a general discussion and evaluation of current developments in the socio-economic field by Indian leaders from all areas of the province. Representatives of several federal and provincial departments involved with funding development projects will be on hand. Some of the topics that will be considered are: - Land claims and their implications for development. - National perspectives to socio-economic development. - Sectoral programs. - Planning for reserve development. - Impediments to development facing urban bands. - Policy changes within the Department of Indian Affairs. All Bands have been invited to send delegates. Other provincial Indian Organizations have been invited to participate as well. Registration fees are $20.00. This fee covers a package of background information on the topics which will be mailed to each delegate as well as a banquet to be held on the 2nd of March. Anyone requiring further information or wishing to suggest other topics for the agenda are asked to call the U.B.C.1.C. office at 986-2236, ARCHIE PATRICK- Vice-President At the last CHiefs Council meeting, which was held on December 6, 1977 in Vancouver, B.C., Archie presented his resignation as Vice-President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, in order to be able to put all his energies into running for the New Democratic Party in his area. His resignation was accepted by the Chiefs Council with their best wishes for his success in entering Canadian politics. We would bike to thank Archie for all his help to both the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and the Band members that he represented as a regional Vice-president. His participation and support at the meetings is much appreciated and we'l] miss the input he has been able to share with us. We wish you good health, hap- piness and success. -The staff of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs.  RAYMOND: JONES-Vice-President COURTWORKERS ASSOCIATION | have had the opportunity to attend the last two Board meetings of the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association. The first one that | attended was at the Chateau Granville, in early December 1977. | attended on behalf of the Union as an official observer. Since that meeting, Chiefs Council] appointed me to head a Council Committee to come up with some guidelines and terms of reference for our Union representatives by our next Chiefs Council meeting in February 1978. In the past, our Board members have been very weak in communicating the activities of the Native Courtworkers Board. | also attended the Kamloops Courtworker Board meeting on January 2Ist & 22nd, the Union had only one voting representative present, while the Union had three vacancies due to the non-recognition of the appointments made. For the Northern area, | was accepted on as an interim Board member for that day only. On January 24th, 1978, our Executive Council appointed George Coutlee, a member of the Nicola Band, and a lawyer, to represent the Shuswap/Okanagan/Kootenay Districts. Ken Luggi was appointed to represent the Tahltan/Ft. Nelson and Chilcotin Area, and | was appointed to represent the Northern area. Doris Ronenburg has been representing the Southern Fraser area, around Vancouver since last year. We wish to acknowledge our appreciation to Ms. Ronenburg for her commitment to justice issues for Indian people; she has been serving the intrests of our people well on the Board of the Native Courtworkers. Ray Harris, Chief of Chemainus Band was appointed last year, and will continue to represent the Vancouver Island and from Squamish to the Bella Coola area. All our representatives are subject to review at our next Native Courtworker Board meeting. | hope that our Board members will have the kind of interest and energy to devote themselves to attend these meetings, not only to attend them, but to be aware of the problems and policies of the Native Courtworker & Counselling Assoc., so that they serve the Indian people properly in this program, and that this program will not be jeopardized. In other words, the Union would like to have a strong representation on their part, so that the '"'petty politics'' that go on with Boards of this nature will be curtailed. kek kek Ke OK OF FEDERAL/PROVINCIAL RELATIONS George Manuel and | will be meeting with F. J. Walchli and other representatives from the Department of Indian Affairs on January 30, 1978 to discuss their position paper and ars. (Consultation/Information Process). Further information on this will be in the next issue of our Newsletter. wee AK AK KKK HK GITKSAN-CARRIER. TRIBAL COUNCIL FISHING CASES The cases are still pending before the Courts. But in the Victor Mowatt case, the sentence will be handed down on February 3, 1978. The Hyzyims case, wherein there was some scuffling with the personnel from the Dept. of Federal Fisheries - the Court found no evidence of proof that the Fisheries Officer was on duty at the time this incidence occurred. The chard has been reduced to common assault and like the Mowatt case, sentencing will be handed down on February 3rd, 1978.  THE PUBLIC SERVANTS LAMENT! IF | EXPRESS MYSELF ON A SUBJECT, I'M TRYING TO RUN THINGS. IF 1'M SILENT, |'M DUMB OR HAVE LOST INTEREST. IF 1'M USUALLY AT THE OFFICE, WHY DON'T | GET OUT AND LEARN WHAT'S GOING ON? LF°1'M OUT WHEN THEY CALL, WHY AM | NOT TENDING TO BUSINESS? IF 1'M NOT HOME AT NIGHT, I'M OUT CAROUSING. 1F | AM HOME, I'M NEGLECTING IMPORTANT OUTSIDE CONTACTS AND ACTIVITIES. 1F | DON'T DO WHAT |'M REQUESTED, |'M A DARN POOR OFFICIAL. 1F | DON'T AGREE WITH THEM, I'M BULLHEADED. IF | DO AGREE, | DON'T HAVE IDEAS OF MY OWN. IF | DO WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M PAID FOR. 1F | GIVE SOMEONE A SHORT ANSWER, THEY WANT TO CUT DOWN MY BUDGET. 1F | ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN THE PROS AND CONS OF AN ISSUE, |'M LONG-WINDED. IF | AM WELL-DRESSED, THEY THINK |'M A BIG SHOT. IF | AM NOT, THEY THINK THAT I'M A POOR REPRESENTATIVE OF MY DEPARTMENT. 1F | AM ON THE JOB A SHORT TIME, I'M INEXPERIENCED. IF |'VE BEEN THERE A LONG TIME, IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE, EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES NEWS RELEASE THE UNION OF B.C. INDIAN CHIEFS WILL HOLD ITS ANNUAL GENERAL ASSEMBLY AT THE PEACH BOWL CONVENTION CENTRE IN PENTICTON, APRIL 18 - 2Ist, 1978. THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CONFERENCE IS TO ACQUIRE AN UNDERSTANDING OF INDIAN GOVERN- MENT AUTHORITY, AS IT RELATES TO LANDS, EDUCATUON,FISHING,ECONOMICS, ETC., AND DISCUSS HOW EACH BAND MEMBER CAN PARTICIPATE IN CONTRIBUTING TO ITS ESTABLISHMENT WITHIN A SPECIFIC TIME FRAME. WHILE ONLY THE CHIEFS CAN VOTE AT THE ASSEMBLY, THE UNION WANTS TO ENCOURAGE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE PARTICIPATION BY BAND MEMBERS IN THE DISCUSSIONS ON INDIAN GOVERN- MENT. TO FACILITATE THIS, WORKSHOPS WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 18th, PRIOR TO THE | CONVENING OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND DURING EACH EVENING. ALL BAND MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE WORKSHOPS. Ba ate ahs whe oe lhe ole ole ols whe ole ole ake ote alle ols whe ole ole ole he ole ote he ole ee ee ee eee ee ee ee ee eee ey THERE WILL BE MORE DETAILS IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER OF THE UNION OF B.C. ale ahs alls wll alls alls whe ols ale als ols alls alls alls als alls als alle lls ols ole ofa ale ole alle of ae id SPR TR PS EL TS PR PR TR PS RS PE PR TR PPR ES eR PR PR INDIAN CHIEFS.  GENERAL ASSEM BLY PENTICT ON {}) ) APRIL 18 -21,1978