New Nisga’a government building open By KEITH FREEMAN THE TREATY is enacted, the government structure is in place, and jast Thursday marked one of the final touches on homegrown self- government for the Nisga’a Nation — the open- ing of their new government building Wilp Si’ayuukhl. The building, which incorporates elements of traditional Nisga'a culture along with all the modern necessities required for today's gov- ernment, was officially opened before hun- eds under sunny skies in New Aiyansh Sept. 14, “There is unity in these walls, a common bond,” said- Kevin McKay, the master of cere- monies and speaker of the Nisga’a Lisims gov- ernment, addressing the crowd of residents and guests that gathered outside the entrance. “Welcome to Nisga’a territory, I call it the land of the free,” declared Nisga’a Nation Pre- sident Joe Gosnell. “Anyone who's lived under the Indian Act will understand that.” Shortly afterwards, the building, both out- side and in, was blessed by local clergy from the Anglican Church and Salvation Army. Then four Nisga’a matriarchs and girls cut the ribbon, which was a strip of cedar bark tied to the two entrance posts. Guests honoured by the Nisga’a included several area MLAs as well as a representative of the Australian government, the federal par- liamentary secretary to the Ministry of Indian Affairs and Northern Development John Find- lay and the Bloc Quebecois native affairs cri- tic Claude Bachand. “I’m French Quebecois, so I guess I’m a member of the frog clan,” Bachand joked later. “But in all seriousness, it’s a wonderful building, but the people working in it and liv- ing around it are even more beautiful and won- derful.” Elders dressed up in traditional costumes and masks as well as youths fram the four Nass villages then named the building by fa- cing the entrance and calling out in turn “Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisga’a!” Then, Anglican Bist:op John Hannen knocked on the glass doors three times, and Gosnell formally invited him in, with the Nisga'a words “Ts’inin.” Among the government representatives at the opening was the speaker of the pravincial legislature in Victoria, Bill Hartley, who said that the government is going to present the Nisga’a with a new speaker’s chair. The chambers have in them a large oval table with chairs for government members and a large bowl in the middle, symbolizing unity, sharing and the common good. There is also. eT GRE ‘gallery seating. Oo The 82 room building was designed by Ro- berto Pacheco of David Nairne and Associ- ates, a North Vancouver architectural firm. Ph: (250) 635-3362 E-mail: merin@karmoda.net Pendragon Comp uters YGae. 403-4716 Lazelle Ave., Tarrace, B.C. Fax: (260) 365-6383 Web: www.pendragoncomputers.com Pendragon Gomputers Gne. © Terrace & District Credit Union Team up again to bring you great systems and loans at Prime Rate ({oac). PLUS, buy a Computer through your Terrace & District Credit Union Account and receive up to 1500 Canadian Plus Points! Also you wil be entered into a draw in December for a trip to ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA!" “WILP S!AYUUKHL Nisga‘al" calls out hereditary chief Bert McKay of Greenville durin The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 20, 2000 - A3 News In Brief ters naming ceremonies of the Nisga’a government building in New Aiyansh on Thursday. “It incorporates the feeling of the forest,” Pacheco said. “It also acknowledges the lava beds as you come into the main floor.” Pacheco said that the building, which re- sembles a huge traditional longhouse with more of a contemporary, modern feel to it, took almost two years to conceive and con- struct, and finished a week ahead of schedule. In the evening, most of the guests and gov- ernment members gathered at the New ’ Aiyansh recreation céntre for a traditional feast hosted by respected Nisga’a elder and Nation ambassador Rod Robinson. “] think we have the longest langhouse in Canada today,” said Gosnell, one of many who delivered speeches during the dinner. Gosnell emphasized the need for the Nisga’a people to ‘realize that they control their own destiny, adding that it might be hard to grasp at first. “It’s difficult to let go of things that have been dictated to us for so many years,” he said. “We have to perhaps look back to where we came from and.what happened to us when Europeans came to this great land.” The building will be the workplace for more ‘than 40 Nispa’a government employees, along with the president and government members. Labour council endorses minimum wage hike THE KITIMAT-Terrace and District Labour Coun- cil is giving the thumbs up to the raising of B.C.’s minimum wage. ‘ In a press release, First Vice-President Larry Huntus said that wages should be tied to cost of living, and pointed to Washington State’s mini- mum wage of $9.75 Cdn an hour. A few weeks ago, the provincial government announced that it was raising the wage from $7.15 pet hour to $7.60 per hour effective Nov. 1. In No- vember, 2001 the wage will rise to $8 an hour. Greens score again in old growth battle ANDERSEN Corp. of Seattle, a wood window and patio door manufacturer, is the latest in a string of companies to announce a phase-out of use of wood from “endangered forests.” The company, at the urging of environmental groups, pledged last weck to increase the use of independently certified wood, giving preference to ihe Forest Stewardship Council standard favoured by greens. Meanwhile the Coastal Rainforest Coalition’s Tzeporah Berman continued to pressure north coast holdout companies to rejoin talks with environ- mental groups over future logging on the coast. “Some Canadian logging companies, including ' West Fraser and Interfor, are not participating in the negotiations and continuing to clearcut ancient forests,” she said. “We will continue to request that companies making a commiiment to forest protection not buy from these companies. West Fraser has now sold its north coast wood licence, saying the aclion now removes it from the negotiations with environmental groups. Flu shots available soon at the health clinic FLU SEASON is just around the corner and public health nurses are once again making flu vaccina- tions available to the public. Flu clinics start the week of Oct. 16. Flu shots are available free to people 65 and older, those with chronic health conditions like diabetes, asthmas and heart disease, health care workers, and ambulance attendants, police and firefighters. For others the cost is $6. Flu shots reduce illness and death, particularly among the most frail and elderly. Margaret McKelvie, assistant administrator of public health nursing here, said an annual flu vac- cination prevents up to 70 per cent of hospitaliza- tions for flu and pneumonia among the elderly alone. People aged 65 and up will receive a pneumo- coccal shot this year if they haven’t already had one, she added. 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