Stewart gets to have its sa Land claims al STEWART -— Negotiators for the Nisga’a jand claim heard arguments ranging from there being no need for treaties to pleas for an equitable settlement at two May 25 ‘meetings held in this small community. _ More than 80 people attended an afternoon session hosted by the Stewart/Hyder Chamber of Commerce and slightly more than that were at an open house in the evening, Federal, provincial and Nisga’a officials had the first opportunity to lay ont their positions with all three parties saying the point of the negotiations was to end un- certainty. ‘Their arguments were based on successive court decisions and government policies which have ‘leading toward stronger native rights, - responsibilities and authority. . But thal didn’t sit well with some of the other presenters, some of whom who not only doubted the need for talks. but op-’ posed the lack of information stemming from them. , “The more we dig up the more we find ont the more. our argu- ment is with the senior politicians | of the federal and provincial " governments who are proceeding ” with a process that’s questionable in-our mind,’ said Andy Burton of ihe chamber of commerce’s land claims committee. He called for the abolishment of the Indian Act and more openness in negotiations. Paddy Greene, a member of the B.C: Fisherics Survival Coalition who lives in Prince Rupert and a member of the provincial third party advisory committee on land claims, said he worries about agreements between governments and natives that are not communi- cated with others. “Tm in agreement that you can’t have third parties at the table. We've asked to be in the room to get non-filtered informa- tion,’’ he said, Greene also called for referendums on proposed agree- ments before they could become final. , invited guest, said governments seem to be acting on their own without first talking to peopic about land claims, **T don’t think there’s anyone in this room, aboriginal or other- wise, who doesn't feel the same way,’’ he said. Gitanyow hereditary chief spokesman Glen’ Williams told the meeting his people and others can make arrangements without the need for negotiators or law- yers. “We. are working on co- management agreements,” he said of talks with forest com- panics. A former constitutional adviser to the former Social Credit government said court cases are working against land claims while governments are trying to negotiate settlements. - “To negotiate land claims in that context is a breach of public duty,”’ said Mel Smith, _And he said Stewart should be at the Nisga’a negotiating table. Chief provincial negotiator Jack Ebbels said that the three partics are negotiating under an agree- ment which calls for con- fidentiality of information. - But he did say the province has created six specific and one gen- eral commitice made up of north- west people who do- hear’ in- formation on the claims. He said Stewart mayor Darlene Cornell sits on the general com- mittee and the one on taxation and government, “If you feel you are not getting ‘adequate representation on that commitice, I. hope I would hear aboutit,’” he said. Associate chief negotiator Chris Thomas called settlements of claims one way to determine pre- dictability . ‘There has ta be peace in the _ valley — a_ situation where people can live fogether,’’ he . said. Nisga’a Tribal Council presi- dent Joe Gosnell said justice and not the Nisga’a are on trial. “We still. have a lot of faith in that system,’’ he said. Gosnell said. the, Nisga’a will Be ES red out up north ot The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 2, 1993 - Page A3 FEDERAL NEGOTIATOR Chris Thomas (left) hunkers down with several Stewart residents at a Nisga’a land claims information meeting In the community last week, Not everybody, including ne- gatiators for the federal and provincial governmen . 1 ts and the Nisga'a were happy with the results. Meetings prove upsetting STEWART — Nobody liked what went on at several land claims information meetings in Stewart last week and those there didn’t agree on much. But those involved said there'll be more efforts made to give resi- dents of the small community more information on the Nisga’a land claim. “We felt very uncomfortable. We felt we had been set up,”’ said Judy Birch, an official with the provincial aboriginal affairs min- istry, of the May 25 meetings. “T said to our guys, let’s roll with the punch. We can’t be run- ning out the door. It would be suicide,’ said Nisga’a Tribal Council executive director Rod Robinson. The first of the two mectings, held in a crowded and hot up- stairs room at the Stewart Com- munity Centre, was sponsored by Stewarl/Hyder Chamber of Com- merce and billed as. a question and answer period. _ The second was a night session on the centre’s cooler arena floor. It was termed an open house at which there were displays and an opportunity for people there to speak with federal, provincial and Nisga’a land claims negotiators. But the problem was that those wanting a question and answer period didn’t get one at either ses- sion. “‘What happened just wasn’t good enough. It’s pointless. Ab- solutely pointless. What we needed was an open forum so that people could ask questions and the answers would be the same for everyone,’’ said Andy Burton, who helped organize the meetings for the chamber of commerce. And those expecting a private amaceting with chamber of com- instead listening to a series of presentations, including ones by people from out of town. Both Birch and Robinson said they believed the afternoon ses- sion would be limited to chamber members and negotiators. **We didn’t expect that the pub- lic would be invited and that the media would be invited. We were looking for a frank exchange of presentations,’ said Birch. Robinson said the Nisga’a were surprised when Gitanyow repre- sentatives arrived. The Gitanyow and the Nisga’a are in disagree- ment over the boundaries to their respective land claims, | But Birch and Robinson say the negotiators plan to retum to Stewart in expectations of a more successful session. .. They said there’s been no deci- sion yet on what kind of mecting Dispute help seen TERRACE — Two native groups who can’t agree on their boundarics may ask for a mediator. | The Nisga’a and the Gitanyow. both claim land in the Meziadin area and reaching into the Nass Valley. Moves to settle the overlap have increased recently: now that the Nisga’a are negotiating their land claim with the provincial and fcderal govern- ments. That’s important because the governments have said that final claims trealies can’t be signed until ‘overlaps are settied. ‘ But the Nisga’a and- the Gitanyow have had trouble set- fing up discussions which in- volved listening to each other's oral law on the affected terri- tory. So Nisga’a Tribal Council presi- dent Joe Gosnell told a land ‘claims meeting in Stewart last week that it is willing ta con- sider third party involvement. “We're prepared to go the mediation route,”” he said. Yet he also said the Nisga’a have been frustrated in first agrecing on meetings and then having them canccled by the Gitanyow. Glen ‘Williams, the chief councillor for Gitanyow and spokesman for its hereditary chiefs, seid a mediator is also possible. Williams said there should never have been a dispute over territory. a “We've been occupying that territory and continue to oc- cupy that territory,’? he said, And he noted that the Nisga’a claim has expanded over the years to include land claimed by the Gitanyow.- Williams said the situation began when people from Gitanyow moved to the Nass Valley in the late 1800s, But he said native law states people can’t take territory with "Bill Wimpney, of the BC “‘teimain where thoy ave beckige” * onsore ‘L them if they move away.” oe wee Pare Se ee ee: we IM hehe . ms-comumi sheep ait +~ Wildlife--Federation and “another: +» they have-no place else-to gov we ony Hie lang, claims: co} pelle of the 18 . ; a Deh oo pv eatin ney : will iake place or on what date ( merce membersfound themsclyeas might happen. @ w s#nom ~ vias : Q oe me OME a TE eit Mantel oe eet uaeswue & Yhe bin. od _ RT ad ; vy: TERRACE BC NOW OPEN ... 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