CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD

The Mail Bag

Dear Sir:

Having followed Bill Hom-
burg’s - previous letters to the
editor with some contempt, | feel
_ | must respond to his latest screed
' (This writer defends residendal

" schools,’” Nov, 24, 1993),
» Mr: Homburg epitomizes the
_very ethnocentric Euro-Canadian
“perspective that prior io contact,
_ BAC, was an empty land devold of

“law, society, and civilization ar-—

_fived.
‘This perspective basically
-sbelleves that civilization arrived
“on the northwest coast once the
British flag went up the pole.
However, Mr. Homburg couldn’!
_ be farther from the truth,
’ British Columbia (and the rest
of. North America) was not
empty”? prior to the arrival. of
Europeans. On the contrary, all of
the land was intensively used,
- tlanaged, and controlled by First
Nations, If anything, the land be-
came ‘‘widowed”’ as a result of
‘fiiness and* disease brought by
"Europeans...
Asa non-native person who has
- had experience with many native
‘{nstitutions (the extended family,
- The’ feast: system, talking/healing
" circles), I can assure Mr. Hom-
burg: that native society is far
_from stone age.
As a matter of fact, {€ non-
: natives’ would only open them-
: selves, they would have much to
tear from native society.
' Mr. Homburg adopts the. ‘SAME
: policy of assimilation (or integra-
‘tion) which the federal govern-
ment has followed since before
. Confederation. However, why
should. the sophisticated systems
“which: First Nations have ¢volved
‘ qvbr'the centuries be ‘inlegrated
into non-native society?

Remember, First Nations were °

i here first7if Mr. Homburg wished .
* to-preach the policy of assimila-
“tion, perhaps non-native, society
i should assimilate inte t the native
© Elifestyle, FA PTT Ee
“3 When ‘the federal government
‘ could not encourage assimilation
of. native peoples voluntarily, it

turned to coercive measures. The —

-gesidential school systems was
‘one of these measures (there were

‘Miner |
wants -
probe ©

" Dear Sir:

- Tam writing concerning 8 news.

-atticke Of Nov. 10, 1993, titled

“ “Gov't Ombudsman Asked to

Probe Labour Official.””

-'T-am gied Mr. Helmut Gics-
‘ brecht has asked ‘the Ombudsman.
.4o conduct an investigation into:

‘this matter, However, Mr, Gies-
; brecht atated in the article that he

“did -his own investigation and
“qeferred it to the labour ministry

. “ they did theirs,

I am quite curious as to what
of. ‘investigation either of

"them “did, as.it appears no Cheni

S employee’ who were direcily in-

volved were ever contacted,

‘oT is: my’ opinion that if the truth
‘is to be known, the people who -_
 know-what the trutir is ‘should’ be’
-included: in the investigation. The
nvestigations done on this matter

: tiust'have been quite one sided.

“However, if anyone wishes to”
405 ‘complete investigation, they .
“gan contact myself as well as.
know what took

“others he do know

« place,

~ We were there.
‘Yours sincerely,
John Hall, —
~Ralsos BC.

pollution
from resi¢ential
* «wood smoke

‘ond duilo ‘emissions with tips
‘from the Association. .

: B.C, Lung Association
"Box 34009, Station D
fanconver, B.C. V6) 4M2
Uden. debater)

sit, 3

many olber coercive assimilation
tactics).

lf Mr, Homburg enjoyed his
boarding school experience, I
would suggest that they were his
experiences only, and that he not
project these feelings onto other
people.

For.many, the residential school
was & traumatic and devastating
experience.

live a different culture, eat a dif-
ferent dict, and talk a different
language. =. ,

These residential schools were
often centers of spiritual, physi-
cal, and sexual torment, the ¢f-
fects. o£ which were to live
forever. ;

Residential schools were so
destructive in fact, that recently
spiritual leaders of many
denominations publicly apologize
for their use and for showing dis-
respect towards native culture and

Torn from their.
families, Joved ones, and cultures,
native children were forced to.

Bill doesn’t get it

spirituality.

So why, Mr. Homburg, do you.
continue to promote them? In
doing do you personify the same
disrespect which the Church has
only recently attempted to over-
come.

I do not know Mr. Homburg,
and do not know his level of edu-
cation. However, I da know that
his views and opinions are based
on ignorance and a lack of under-
standing native society.

Before he picks up his pen in
the future, Mr. Homburg might
consider becoming better in-
formed of native society and the

. collective issues they face.

To do otherwise is a disservice
not only to native peoples, but to
the readers of this newspaper who
must wallow through his rhetoric.

Tom Weegar,

Instructor/Co-ordinator,

Native Public Adminis-
tation Programme,

Terrace, B.C.

EGG NOG

Lucerne.
Regular or
Light. °

2 Litre

| BONELESS HAM

Canadion Pride.
Approx. 10 lb.
Limit 1.

fFROZEN
TURKEYS

Grade A

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 22, 1993 - A7

LUCKY DOLLAR BINGO

DECEMBER 1993 PALACE DECEMBER 1993

Si SUNDAY ~MON DAY

mn TEESDAY io

WEDNE

sDAY tr THURSDAY: S

“FRIDAY”

; “SATURDAY!

TAT AS Skeona Valey |
| pee 2 cal 3 Breltars 4 Recycling
eaks ' ' { Kinsmen imen Club
* Kitsumk alum
Gymnastics Sisterhood (SCC UTI
Club nt poverty re dare Shams Mountain
Torrace Art
5 6 Terrace 7 8 Terrace J rae 1 O canastan 1 1 Association,
Parents Coulton Minor Kermode Kitimat Theatre Paraplegic Terrace
Advancament Hockey Friendship Shrine Terrace Nisga'a Tribal Youth Soccer
of Education Association Soclety Club Anti-Poverty | Council-Tarraca ase
Order of
1 2 | 3 Terrace 1 4 1 5 1 6 Royal 1 ¢ Canadian 1 Cul
Patents Conlon Minor Kermode Terrace Purple Paraplegte Can Parents ‘or
Advancement Hocke Friendship & District Terrace Nisge'a Tribal saneh
In Teirace Assoclatlon Society §.P.C.A. Anti-Poverty | Council-Tertace Tavrace Figite
Kermod
19 20 Terrace 2 “Friend 22 23 Elks 24 25
Parr catton Minor Sotiely Terrace A425
Advancement Hockey Tor. Peaks Blueback Terrace CLOSED |. CLOSED
of Edvcatien Associalion | Gymnastics Swim Club Anti-Poverty
26 27 Terrace 28 2g 30 Alngatte 31
Parents Goatifon Minor Kermode Terrace Association
Advancement Baseball Friendship Blueback Tewnos CLOSED
ej eticaton 1 Association | Society | Swim Club | antipaverty
Sat. Afternoon Games Doors 11:30 a.m. Games 12:45
Evening Games Doors 4:30 p.m. .Games 6:15

Thurs., Fri., Sat. Late Night Games Doors 9:30 p.m.
Family Bingo 1st Saturday of Every Month

T.V. MONITORS

SMOKE REMOVAL

Games 10:00 p.m.

AISLE CONCESSION

635-2411

4410 Legion, Terrace

FRESH
YAMS

Jumbo Size.
California Grown.

71¢/kg

2.5 kg box. Limit 1 with ham :
purchase. While Stocks Last. §
Product of China.

Merry Christmas from everyone at Safeway!

To allow our employees time to enjoy
Christmas with their family and friends
your Neighbourhood Safeway store will be

closed at 6:00 p

_m. Christmas Eve

a/(Dec. 24) and will re-open December 27

regular store hours. ©
ee Have a safe and Merry Christmas and

please dont drink and drive!

Advertised prices in effect until 6:00 p.m. Friday Dec. 24, 1993 at your
Neighbourhood Safeway Store. Quantity rights reserved.

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