Al2- The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 24, 1999 Protests muted at Nisga’a treaty hearings held here By JEFF NAGEL PARLIAMENTARY beut- ings into the Nisga'a trealy began here last Monday bul the eruption uf discon- tent with the treaty Refor- mets hoped for didn’ l ma- leriafize. There were no signs, no picketing and Nisga‘a people and their supporters outnumbered treaty oppo- nents among the more than 80 people who showed up for the hearings of the House of Commons. stund- ing committce on aborigi- nal affairs. “It's a done deal,” said Terrace resident Noel Martel, adding many. lo- cals feel there's little point opposing a treaty that’s neatly passed in front of a committee that he. said the Liberals have stacked with treaty supporlets. He and . others. said they're also. reluctant to be identified as opposed to the treaty. “lf you say anything you're # redneck,” Mattel said, “Nobody wants to come out for fear of being called a bigot,” added local resi- dent Michelle Rodger. “1 don’t want to insult my na- tive friends either ~- I'm not tacist but [ haye con- cerns about this treaty.” The committee heard from local mayors who said area residents are ready to move fotward with the treaty and focus insléad on its implementa- tion. The deal gives the Nisga’a 2,000 square kily- metres of land and re- sources in the Nass valley, around $250 million, and a range of self-government powers. Terrace mayor Jack “Nobody wants to come out for fear of being called a bigot,” said Mi- chelle Rodger, Talstra said there are mixed feelings about the trealy in Terrace, but ar- gued jt will bring certainty and finality. “We believe in the Nisga’a treaty and we be- lieve the focus should now be on implementation,” he said. “The people who are opposed to the treaty con- tinue to behave in a con- descending manner to the aspirations of the Nisga’a people,” Talstra said. “They will tell the Nisga'a ‘what. should be in their .trealy, That’s not life in “the 1940s,” Prince Rupert mayor “Jack Mussallem said his cily afso backs the trealy, although there are con- cems about its effects on the forest and fishing indu- stries. “The majority of people are in favour af if,” he said. “We work together. We play together. we enjoy this country and its tesolrces together.” The committee also heard from Frank Barton, a ‘Nisga’a man born in Kin- ‘colith now fiving in Rich- - mond, Barton maintains most of the Kincolith traditional lands didn’t make it into the treaty because the vil- lage was sold out by the Nisga‘a leadership, who he Says proceeded with the treaty and its’ ratification Without proper internal’ all. thority. “f call ita modern day robbery of land on the Kin- culith people,” Said, “This is nol fair to the 1,700 band members of the Kincolith band.” Philip Bidsvik, of the B.C, Fisheries Survivat Coalition attacked ‘the fisherigs components of The War amps GAIN: N EVE R A Video Serins “In y war, everyone ivfters.,, rt Musl neyal lat happen again, Te cae b piger limiting, yi ty Wad alte at WwW.warrinips, ca. ; ff, la Of order & pamphiel by e@iling iat 1-B00-: +B00-250-3030. Barton. - the treaty and called for a referendum on the deal, “The: Nisga'a didn’t have to trust their politi- cians,” he suid. “They got a fair voic,” An attempt by Martel to ask a question of the com- Mittee was quickly cut off by Liberal MP John O'Re- illy. “We're only in B.C, be- cause of a tactic by the Reform: Party to hijack it,” ~ OReilly said. “This tittle song and dance is: costing, | faxpayers $500,000. We're _ only here because of the Reform Party.” Skeena Reform MP Mike Scott, who urged lo- cals’ in advance to’ make their voices heard, | said Terrace is su close to the - {reaty area.and the Nisga’ a. that many people in the city are - uncomfortable about opposing it. “People feel that re- gardless of what happens we're all neighbours here,” he said, adding -he didn’t expect open. protests here. “There’s concern that the community is going to be able to stay united down the road.” The committee’s next stop in Smithers heard Gi- it d time, get the ‘most powerful savings of Canada’s most p pow See your’ neighbourhoo © The #1 selli #15" Alumi Stabilizer #3 year or Frank Barton lanyow call the Nisga’a treaty an “act of. aggression” be- - cause of the land claim overlap. between the two groups. The Gitanyow say. 84 per cent of the area they claim’ is ‘affected by ‘fish and wildlife components of. ‘the Nisga’a treaty and they want amendments to. the treaty lo protect Gilanyow rights. “We believe the Nisga’a Final Agreement is an invasion to our birth- right, our homeland,” said Gitanyow chief Darlene Vegh. Dodge Dakota, winner of Strategic Vision’s 1999 Total Quality Award" for best compact pickup ownership experience” * LEASE FOR 298 a month for 346 months. or equivalent trade ond $150 security deposit. $715 fick indeed ing pickup in its class?* 238 Package includes: «3.91 Magnum V6 engine *5-speed manual transmission *Air conditioning ; *Next-Generation dual alr bags *AM/FM stereo cassette inum wheels #3900 Ib. towing capacity *Fog lamps bar - front and rear 60,000 km warranty representatives. Plus $3,875 downpayment ane Only in Prince George did the committee face a major protest from audi- - ence members for the de- cision to limit speakers to a list determined in ad- vance. ‘Reform supporters there exploded into protest, complaining that the hear- Ings were stacked with treaty. supporters -and that only one approved speaker was. from Prince George. ‘Liberal MPs. said. the — Reformers were. misrepre- senting the treaty's con- tenis and the hearings ‘into it. “That is a tolal unmili- gated ‘lie,” . responded Scolt. “lam taking away one feeling and that is a feeling of being stunned at the ‘utter arrogance ~ io hold public hearings and ‘then to not allow the. pub- ‘lic to “speak. Liberal MP Davidl Ift- ody. said several prominent trealy-opponents aré:-being y allowed to make presenta- tions to the hearings. The: governing: Liberals have said they plan to use their majority to’ ensure Parliament passes~ the treaty ~ hopefully before Christmas. 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