A8 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 4, 1994 Feast fails to end land claims overlap RELATIONS BETWEEN two native groups claiming the same territory have taken a step back- ward, says a chicf from one of the groups. Guy Morgan, the chief council- lor from Gitanyow, said an April 22 feast between ‘his village and the Nisga’a of the Nass Valley didn’t turn out as expected. The Nisga’a and the Gilanyow both claim territory in the Cran- berry area north of Gitwangak. Several atlempts over the past years to deal with the overlap have failed, . The overlap is considered to be a stumbling block to an eventual conclusion of land claims negoti- ations now going on between the Nisga’a and the federal and provincial governments. ‘ Upward of 300 Nisga’a and 75 Gitanyow attended the feast. Morgan said the Nisga'a were expecting to hear a former Gitanyow official apologize for remarks made more than a year ago. ‘Glen Williams, recently dis- missed from working for the Gitanyow hereditary chiels, said once there was a prospect of war between the Gitanyow and the Nisga’a because of the claims overlap, _ ‘Morgan said several members of the Nisga’a Tribal Council leadership were visibly agitated when Williams did not make an apology during a speech he made at the feast. “What he did was to clarify what he had said, to make people who were not familiar with what had happened aware of what he said,’’ said Morgan. “Some of these people were Nisga’a and they were hearing what he (Williams) said for the first time,”’ said Morgan. ‘Because of that some of the b PITCH-IN CANADA! (Nisga’a) tribal council leaders did not really like that,’’ he con- tinued. The contentious issue between the Nisga’a and the Gitanyow keys on the names of hereditary chiefs, Each chief is responsible for an area of land and the name is passed from one generation to the next But there has been intermin- ging of the Nisga’a and Gitanyow lo the point where two people have the same name. That means a person in the Nass Valley and a person in Gitanyow can both claim the same area of land, causing problems when the two groups press their claims with the provincial and federal governments. Nisga’a: Tribal Council presi- dent Joc Gosnell, one of those who spoke up at the feast demanding that Williams apologize, said the Gitanyow will have a hard time with their land claim unless the overlap problem was solved. Gosnell also handed out copies of a press release at the feast out- lining eligibility requirements for Nisga’a citizenship. This is a key part of the Nisga’a land claim because the size and scope of the settlement will in “part be determined by how many people are considered to be Nisga’a. Registered Nisga’a will be eligible for benefits but cannot collect under two claims settle- menis at the same time. Gitanyow chief Morgan said the press release distribution wasn’t welcomed by ihe Gitanyow at the feast. But Gosnell said later there are quite a number of people living in various places who may qualify for Nisga’a citizenship. He said it would help clear up what he called the misunderstand- ing over the overlap if large num- bers of Gitanyow signed up under the Nisga’a claim. “People tend to forget their roots, so we have to remind them,” said Gosnell. . nw McElhanney | B@ Subdivisions @ Lot Postings @ Site Surveys British Columbia and Canada Lend Surveyors Legal and Generai Surveys ® Mineral Claims M Mortgage and Building Certificates Contact: A.S. Dozzi, B.C.LS., C.LS., Terrace, B.C Phone: 635 7163 Fax: 635 9586 @ Rights of Way @ Land Act Surveys C.O.R.E. COURSE HUNTER’S SAFETY “ merchandise with the value of Ss $10.00 or more oe Oly 2 or! {Including sale ttame) S '/eo-op TERRACE CO-OP Family Fashions Dept. Only |_EXPIIRES MAY 7, 1994 i |e We also have a home centre and bulk fuel depot conveniently located nearby. GAS BAR & BULK PETROLEUM 4821 Hwy. 16 GAS BAR: Monday - Friday,........8 am. + 6 pm, Saturday, sss BM, + 6 pm. GAS BAR: SUNDAY....11 am, - 5 pm. 635-7419 the optical shop Co-op Mali Concourse C0-0P FARM& GARDEN CENTRE 4617 Greig Ave, STORE HOURS: TERRACE CO-OP HOME CENTRE 2912 Molitor St. STORE HOURS: MONDAY THAU SATURDAY Bam.-Epm. OPEN SUNDAYS 11:00 AM - 4 PM 695-9505 TERRACE CO-OP DEPARTMENT STORE 4617 Grelg Ave, + Lottery Contre STORE HOURS: shard & Houseware * Sporting Goods * Appllancea & Electronics * Groceries +Caletela +Family Fashions +Post Oillce SHARP CUT BARBER “Keenleyside Insurance ‘Services Ltd. ~-Gonrplele Anger ‘Geruice fda... OPEN SUNDAYS 11:00 AM -5:00 PM 635-6347 suis rf a.m. -6 p.m, 635 6347