ve Pee FROM PAGE ONE some months now I have been concerned over the question Mr. Tom Berger broke over the news media on Friday. When, last fall, I saw two of our pupils with black eyes and bruises and asked them what happened they told me their story. I discounted the story as the type of running into a | door. pupils of the school told me similar stories, such as the 15-year-old boy being taken from home while all other members of the family were absent I began to give cre- dence to these stories. “After conversation and ob- servation I wish to state that I believe these charges to be true—here in our wonderful country of Canada. “I feel so strongly about this I have written both our provincial and federal repre- sentatives. “Tf anyone wishes to query me my address is 1732 Marine Drive, Gibsons and my phone number 886-9981.” Other whites in the com- munity point out that it is no co-incidence that the RCMP detachment was changed eighteen months ago. Prior to that, excellent co-operation existed between the police and the native Indians. They argue that this fact alone should substantiate the charges and warrant an im- THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL AT SECHELT, located on.the ten acres of valuable land — ST. MARY’S HOSPITAL a OOP eS ee given by the Native Indians to the community for one dollar-to show their desire to co-operate with the whites in the community’s affairs. In return for the land, they were promised that a certain percentage of the hospital’s staff — which employs 54 — would be Native Indian. The promise was ignored and today, one nurse’s aid works full time and another is given a day’s work every three or four months. mediate and unbiased investi- gation., They state that the Native Indians have always partici- pated-in community affairs in Sechelt and demonstrated a genuine desire to co-operate with their white neighbours: They cited a number of ex- amples of this co-operation in- cluded in which was the gift by the Indians of ten acres of valuable land for the Village of Sechelt to build its hospi- tal. A token payment of one dollar was charged for’ the land. | In return, the native In- dians were promised that a number of their people would be employed at the hospital. To date, one nurses’ aid is em- ployed full time and one other nurses’ aid part time, out of the hospital’s work force of fifty-four people. Mr. Clarence Jde Sr., one of the most respected Indian leaders in Canada, told this writer that his eleven-year- old grandson was taken to jail and lifted off the ground by his neck by an RCMP officer, when he denied stealing thir- ty-two car tires. His eighteen year-old-son, a high school student, was ar- rested and kept six days in jail before coming to trial. On FINANCIAL APPEAL FOR LOCAL 1-206 STRIKERS An appeal for financial as- sistance has been made by the Regional Council to IWA Lo- cal Unions to aid members of Local 1-206 IWA Alberta, now in their fourteenth week of strike against the Crest- brook Forest Industries Ltd. (Fort Plywood Division) . The hundred employees of TOM BARNETT IWA members in the federal rid- ing of Comox-Alberni have a chance to elect an IWA brother and show the Liberal government what they think of its present pol- icies by voting for Tom Barnett in the by-election April 8. Tom is a long-time officer and member of Local 1-85, I|WA, Port Alberni, and was the sitting NDP-MP for the riding for a number of years. the operation were locked out last December 17, after futile negotiations with the Comp- any following the expiration of the contract last August. ‘Base rate for males in the operation is $1.84 per hour and $1.72 an hour for female workers. Regional Ist Vice-President Jack MacKenzie, spokesman for the Local Union, reports that the strikers have been subjected to pressures from the news media and town of- ficials in an attempt to stam- pede them into accepting an inferior settlement. He stated that the cost of Theta in the Fort Macleod, area is higher than in Van- couver where the base rate in the lumber industry is $2.94 an hour. He went on to say that it was obvious the Com- pany, the Town Council and the government of Alberta were not interested in justice for the workers but only con- cerned with maintaining Southern Alberta as a low- wage area. MacKenzie pointed out that prior to the recent negotia- tions in the Interior of British Columbia, the spread between Fort Macleod basic rate and that of the B.C. Interior was 43 cents an hour. This spread has now been increased to 88 cents an hour. In many other categories an even greater wage spread exists. He gave as an example the rate paid a Raimann operator in B.C. who receives $3.06 cents an hour as compared to a Raimann operator at Fort Macleod who receives $1.77 an hour, or $1.29 an hour less for exactly the same type of work. — He cited other examples to ‘show that the Company — which competes with B.C. In- terior companies in the same markets — was getting away with murder with their em- ployees. He stated, however, that the strikers were determined to hang tough until they had won a decent settlement and this is why it’s imperative that the other Local Unions contri- bute generously to the Reg- ion’s financial appeal. “LOCAL 1-71 REQUESTS INVESTIGATION” appearing in court he had two black eyes, a badly bruised nose and a broken rib. A seventeen-year-old_ girl was picked up on a _ theft charge and was allegedly kicked so hard on the back- side that it was impossible for ker to sit down when she re- turned home. Other incidents were re- lated of children eleven and twelve years of age being ar- rested and held without the parents being notified. Mr. Clarence Joe pointed out that of all the arrests in the eighteen months, the police were only able to get two convictions. Following these incidents, Mr. Clarence Joe requested the Attorney General to in- tercede. His request was ig- nored and the matter lay dor- ment until raised in the Leg- islature. Now that the Sechelt na- tive Indians have made their allegations against the RCMP, other native Indians in other areas of the province are mak- ing similar charges. Leaders of five provincial and national Indian organiza- tions representing a quarter of a million native Indians, meeting in Sechelt early in March called for a B.C.-wide RCMP probe. They claim the same bru- tality is inflicted on native In- dians at Prince George, Prince Rupert, Williams Lake and Smithers, who have re- mained silent only through fear of receiving worse treat- ment if they complained. Whether these claims are true or not, the fact remains the matter is so explosive and controversial now that the government has no alterna- tive but to order an immedi- ate and impartial investiga- tion. This is what the IWA is re- questing and believes should’ be forthcoming from any gov- ernment holding: a sense of responsibility to the people. ..give yourself LUCKY break Sse COMING DOWN WITH A BIG THIRST? 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