A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, May 4, 1994

: John Cashore

ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS minis-
ter John Cashore won’t comment
on the breaking of an information
ban by Nisga’a Tribal Council
president Joe Gosnell last week.

“T respect Mr. Gosnell’s right
to report to his people. I’m- nat
going to comment on that,’’ said
Cashore of Gosnell’s release’ of
the amount of land being offered
by lhe province.

The information ban “is “con-
tained in a 1991 deal signed by
ihe federal and provincial govern-
ments and {he Nisga’a Tribal
Council on how the latter's land

claim should be negotiated,

The confidentiality clause has
been used repeatedly by all three
parties as a reason to not give in-
formation about negotlations,

But that ended, at least for the
Nisga’a last weck, when Gosnell
said the province has offered the
Nisga’a three per cent of their tra-
ditional territory as part of a pro-
posed land claims settlement,

“Tm not going to confirm or

deny anything to do with the ne-
gotialing —_— positions,’ said
Cashore. “‘We have a con-
fidentiality agrrement.”’

Gosnell back as president

JOSEPH GOSNELL SR. was re-
tlecied president of the Nisga’a
Tribal Council for a one-year
term al its 37th annual convention
last week in Prince Rupert.

He edged Alvin McKay by a
close 430 lo 373 margin in what
convention officials called the
highest voter turnout in conven-
tion history. '

This is the second time Gosnell
has defeated McKay, the super-
intendent of the school district in
the Nass Valley.

McKay .was president until
Gosnell won election for the first
time last year.

Ed Wright was returned as
tribal council secretary-ireasurer,

From front

‘determine the

defeating several contenders.

Wright ran unopposed at last
year’s convention.

Also up for re-election was
Kevin McKay who held the posi-
tion of executive chairman,

He faced a number of chal-

lengers for the position.
kkk kK
In other convention news,

aboriginal affairs minister John
Cashore announced a_ pine
mushroom pilot project for this
fail, ;
There'll be research to
impact — of
mushroom picking on the forest,
research to determine’ the» eco-

. Homic impact of mushtoom pick-

Province, Nisga’a

When such action is taken will
depend on circumstances, said
Gosnell. ‘We have to weigh
whal’s going on before any action
is taken.’” _

If the executive decides it’s
pecessary to get results, he added,
the Nisga’a will completely shut
down logging and other activit
in the Nass,

Gosnell said so far the province

has not reacted favourably to
talks of joint management of
resources.

no response.

Provincial negotiator Jack Eb-
bels would not talk about the
amount of land under negotiation.
-“T’'m not going to comment on
even what or whose proposals are
on the table,” he said Saturday.
“We've got a confidentiality ob-
ligation under the framework
agreement.”

Ebbels says the Nisga’a frustra-
tion with the delay is understand-
able.

““Heil, I’m frustrated. at how
long it seems to take,’’ he said,
“It’s taken a lot longer than I ex-
pected or hoped.””

Ebbels said the signing of a new
framework agreement to govern
the talks and then the negotiation
of an Interim Measures Protection
Agreement chewed up much ne-
gotiating time alter triparlite talks
began in 1991,

“*The frustralion level is under-

Bridge -
going in

A VEHICLE bridge wanted for
years by Tesidents of
Gitwinksiblkw will be buill and
open by the fall of 1995,

Access to the village on the
north side of the Nass River is
now by baal or by crossing a nar-
row footbridge: considered old
and dangerous.

The project is expected to cost
$4 million, including design
work, highways ministry costs
and some material,

Part of the project includes 2km
of access roads.

The bridge will be single-lane
and 120 metres long.© = 2 -

Money for the project is being
provided by the Transportation
Financing Authority, a new crea-
lion of the provincial government
using money raised by gas laxcs

and borrowing for capital
projects,

The project is expected to go to
tender in May.

Part of the construction pro-
gram Includes hiring and training
Nisga’a in road and bridge con-
struction. -

Thal’! be handled -through: the
Nisga’a House of Learning, @
new post-secondary — institution
based in the Nass Valley. -

Workers on the project will be
paid under the provincial govern-
ment’s fair wage policy,

Thal provides for wages and
benefits 10 per cent below. those
of union contracts.

slandable,”” he said “We're
going as fast as we can.

He said he doesn’t believe the
criticism of the province is fair.

"*] believe we’ve made a con-
siderable amount of progress
since the province joined the ne-
gotiations, We've made progress
on a lot of topics.”

**If we all keep our nose to the
grindstone I think there’s a real

ing, the setting up of an official
picking camp to control matters
such as garbage and the hiring of
Nisga’a to patrol the study area.
The provincial government is
providing $30,000 for a study of

shellfish along the coast claimed .

by the Nisga’a.

As well, the interim protection
measures put into place for the
length of the land claims talks has
been extended, °

The agreement doesn’t give the
Nisga’a power to block develop-
ments but docs give them a say in
how development should take
place.

The extension is effective to th
end of March 1995. | .

possibility that we can have an
agreement in principle within a
year, perhaps ven sooner.”

“Tf we haven’t, F believe we’ll

maybe reach the point where we .

realize there isn’t an agreement-
in-principle to be had,”’

Ebbeis said there’s a chance the
three parties will discover they’re
**just not in the same ball park
and aren’t ever going to be.’’

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Cashore mum on Nisga’a

But Cashore defended Gos-
neil’s right to speak.

“You have to remember. This
occurred af their (the Nisga’a) an-
nual convention. He’s reporting
to his membership, to his people,
Pm not expressing dismay with
‘what he said. He has a right to
say that,’ said Cashore.

When asked if he would report
in a fashion similar to that of Mr.
Gosneil, Cashore said he would
be speaking to the provincial cab-
inet, -

“In the matter of the public in-

‘terest, Some of this must be con-

fidential. 171] be reporting when |
go back. I'll be speaking to my
people and they'll be reporting to
me,’’ said Cashore.

He said the provincial govern-
ment does release information on
occasion, adding that the recent
announcement on  Nisga’a
citizenship is one such example.

And Cashore was confident
there will be progress at the nego-
tiating table.

“T fully expect we'll have an
agreement in principle by the end
of this year,”’ he said.

21185)

The 40th Anniversary
of Christ Lutheran Church

3229 Sparks Street, will be celebrated June 3-5, 1994,

Anyone who has past ties with the Church are invited to join the happy
occasion. There will be activities Friday night, Saturday starting at 10:00
am, and there will be a dinner ar the Elks Hall at 6:00 pmiat a cost of $15.
per person, Pastoc David Kaiser will be the Guest speaker. Sunday Serv-
ice will be at 11:00 am followed by a closing lunch,

For further information, and reservations for Dinner, please contact
638-7906, 635-5520 or 635-5397 before May 15th.

Royal Canadian Legion
Branch 13 - Terrace

FINEST STEAK
NIGHT IN TOWN

First Friday of Every Month
Juicy steak - Baked potato - Salad
5:00 pm servings

~

\_ Members & Bonafide Guesis Welcome y,

Music Every Weekend.

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$5 635-1700 i
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ROAD REPORT

Motorists are advised to watch for frost heaves and rough and muddy sections as ff -
the frost leaves the ground. Expect winter conditions during night time hours. Watch
for malntenance crews patching and repairing other winter damage.

To report road hazards call 638-8383 during office hours,

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