otters to the &ditor The good old days To the editor, I love natives. As a matter of fact, my daughter is native, my former son-in-law is native, my three grand- children are native, my best friends and relatives at the Nass are native, and do I ever love them! My wife is Jewish. It is clear that I am not a racist. But nobody ts above criticism. I criticize myself, my own race and other persons or races if necessary. As long as we criticize in love, trying to build up and not to break down, then there is nothing wrong with criticism. Cultural identity is im- portant, but can also become an idol. If either western or native culture contradicts the Word of God, the Will of God, it must change. My fore- fathers in Holland wor- shipped Donar, Wodan, Fria and a whole bunch of other ‘‘gods'’. The men would play games, while the women worked like slaves. There was always fighting and kill- ing. Not a very ‘‘care- free’ life indeed. Christianity changed that. Thank God. To- day, the Northern Native Broadcasting and our Kermode Friendship House directors tend, in my estimation, to be To clarify To the editor, There needs to be a clarification in your report on the Kitimat Stikine Regional Dis- tricts’ brief to the Wilderness Committee. Director Murphy of Telegraph Creek was our designated speaker, and he made the presenta- tion, and very ably, I might add, All I did was to emphasize the point that once parks are designated, they must be properly staffed and ad- ministered. I also added some comments on the Gitnadoix river. L. Watmough Regional District, Kitimat Stikine. Terrace, B.C, Thank you To the editor, We wish to thank our many friends and ac- quaintances for all their support, floral tributes and expression of sym- pathies at our time of grief, The Vandenbroek Family Terrace, B.C. idealizing the past. I think they tend to prop- agate the old lifestyle. They seem to want to turn the clack back, Not so progressive I think. Perhaps they want to do away with Christiani- ty and bring back the Spirit of the woods, the Shamans, etc. etc. I love Indian culture and art. I love to listen to the native languages. These precious things should not get lost. But if there is a possibility they are interwoven with a pagan religion, they should be given a new content. A native friend of mine came back from an Indian feast in Van- couver. She reported on what she believed ap- peared to be a Satanic character of the native dances over there. This woman said she was physically kept in bond- age. She was not allowed to leave the building. The doors were locked. She could no longer take it. She felt the presence of evil spirits. The dances were a way of communicating with the spirits of the under- world, It drove her almost insane. Back in Terrace she said, ‘I don’t want anything to do with that anymore’. I love to study history. One can learn so much from the past. It keeps us from making the same old mistakes today. There is often a hidden wisdom in the experi- ences of our ancestors. We do not have to start from scratch, like lots of young folks seem to think, but build further on the foundations laid by former generations. However, I don’t be- lieve that these early days in the Pacific Northwest were so care-free before Christianity was in- troduced. There were tribal wars, men were killed, girls and posses- sions stolen, houses burned, there was a low life expectancy, an early death rate, a high per- centage of children dying young. The real trouble came when the rum peddlers alrived, the spreaders of small pox, the gold and girl hunters, the people released from jails in Europe. Christianity tried to stop this rape and exploitation of our native peoples. Father Duncan, Father Tomlin- son and Father Morice (to name a few) fought a real hard battle with whites over these issues. They were not the destroyers of native culture, but the protec- tors of the people. Do not get brain- washed by the Com- munists, who try to force you in their ‘‘religion’’. They want Christianity out of the way. It must make room for their state-religion. No land claims, everything state- owned, and ‘you your- selves their slaves. Do you know that when Communism would take over this country the state will do all the think- ing and decision-making for you? Then you have to forget about any religion, either Chris- tianity, Native, Sikhs or any other sect or cult. They want an _ atheist society, where only the party or the state is god. People are complaining now, They talk about their rights every day on TY. But when Com- munism or Marxism takes over our country, all rights and freedoms will be taken away from us. Ask any natives how happy and care-free they are by knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as their per- sonal saviour and liber- ator. He set them free - from alcoholism, suicide attempts, fights and other sins and diseases. True freedom and care- free life is only ob- tainable through a love- relationship with Him who gave His life for you on that terrible cross. Try Him today. Bill Homburg Terrace, B.C. Police On Tuesday, Feb. 4, Ter- race RCMP charged a local woman with im- paired driving and no driving licence, She was charged after being checked for erratic driv- ing. Police said the woman is to appear in court at a later date. «ee * Police are investigat- ing a number of business breakins which took place in the early morn- ing hours of Friday, Feb. 7 in Terrace. Businesses victimized were North- ern Nissan, Terrace Chrysler and Northwest Pipe. The total amount of items taken has not yet been determined, said RCMP. ee ok A Terrace man was ar- rested on Thursday, Feb. 6 after violating condi- tions of a peace bond. He is to appear in court this week, To the editor, I read the Letters to the Editor section of your Jan. 29 edition in which a Mr. Bill Hom- burg attacks the NDP in such a way that I really wonder whether he is liv- ing in the same province that the rest of us in- habit. Mr. Homburg seems to view the NDP as a col- lection of negative peo- ple who have little else to do but complain about the valiant efforts of Bill Bennett. Well, Mr. Homburg, you might do well to take a closer look at the New Democrats in B.C. I feel the NDP par- ty has been the voice of reason in this province for quite some time now. Residents of B.C. have witnessed the growth of poverty in a land that has tended to see growing wealth for those who are already wealthy. From its inception, the NDP and its predeces- sor, the Canadian Com- monwealth Federation (CCP), has spoken out against intolerable in- equities in our society. Perhaps Mr. Homburg feels that it is not the du- ty of good Christians to speak out on behalf of f Terrace Review — Wednesday, Feb. 12, 1986 5 People of courage needed those who have been denied justice. Thank heavens there are respon- sible Christians like Bishop Remi DeRoo of the Catholic Church who have the courage of their beliefs and are not afraid to. tell the rich and powerful that they have a responsibility to the poor. And thank heav- ens also that the NDP is not afraid to defend those who have been forced to suffer so that Bill Bennett can move from one prospect to the next, and perhaps risking HIGHT HAE RE DREVENTION Valentine Special putting more and more of our neighbors into the poor house. I, for one, am proud of the NDP card I carry in my wallet. It is in. times like these when people of courage are needed to speak out and to point towards a better future where over a quarter of the popula- tion is reduced to pover- ty while -the wealthy receive tax breaks along with soaring income in- creases. Bill Goodacre Terrace, B.C. Wideman) we will clean _ ANY RED 4% fe rt % PRICE ON Feb 13, 14 and 15, 1986 a po or hickards Cleaners ALIS yuete . 3223 Emerson St., vate x Terrace, B.C. VBG 2R9 Phone 635-5119 GARMENT Mid=Winter Service Special A Change engine oil 1 Replace oil filter A Lubricate chassis A Check all fluid levels A Safety inspection Totem Gulf Service a PETROCANADA ® N & J Services Ltd. 4711 Lakelse Ave., Terrace 635-4515 ee 5