TRUS Laer cebeeer eaetaisemem ene

graveyard, a,

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a tae,

* 2S ES ERG ATR BS

WHAT WAS once a road through a graveyard has now been

restored to its original pastoral setting on the upper reaches of
Kitksumkalum village. That’s Kitsumkalum band member Alex
Bolton, ane of the negotiatars working on a settlement to redress

Two graveyards destroyed

THE KITSUMKALUM Band
didn’t give up easily when the
railway arrived in 1908,

Although the band’s land base
had already been drastically
reduced by the reserve system,

- the Grand Trunk Pacific — which

ended at Prince Rupert —- wanted
more of what was left.

Rail crews entered band land
without consent of the band and
timber for the railway and gravel
for the track bed was cither sold
far too cheap or understated on
sale documents.

But most importantly the Kit-
sumkalum band protested the de-
cision of railway eagineers to
build the line

f

through “its”

That resulted in a stand off of
more than a month in 1908 while
the band argued for a new route
and while the railway pressured
the federal government to inter-
vene,

“The superintendent (of Indian
Affairs) in Vancouver issued a
press release saying the Kitsum-
kalum were savages,” recalls
Alex Bolton, one the band’s ne-
goliators working on a settlement
of the issue,

“He said he was coming up to

Straighten them out or put them in’

jail.”

The Kitsumkalum were joined
by their close relations, the Kit-
selas, in going to the graveyard
arid stopping the railway, albeit,

what occurred when the road was built during th the Second World
War. The talks also include adequate payment for land taken

back in 1908 tor the railway.

temporarily,

Jn the end the band was paid an
amount as compensation for dis-
lurbing and moving the
graveyard,

The stories of that time have
now been repeated for three or
more generations, says Bolton,

And it’s these stories which
now form the resolve of the Kit-
sumkalum in addressing the past
wrongs, he adds.

The band went through a
similar experience during the
Second World War when, in
1941, the federal War Measures
Act was used to take more land
for a road to, Prince Rupert, |

~ Again, a portion of a graveyard
“the one moved back in 1908

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ry

— was taken when it became part
of the road route.

Also galling to the Kitsum-
kalum was the wholesale removal
of gravel for railbed ballast.

The amount taken was recorded
as affecting just one acre and the
payment was only $40, said
Bolton.

The end result was a depression
large enough to contain the
band’s new subdivision on the
upper teaches of Kitsumkalum
village, he adds,

More about the railway and
the Kitsumkalum band is avait-
able at the Terrace Public Li-

ne through ¢ an article written

‘MeDénala’”* ‘tied

James *

pleating Dig and Night.””...°.,;

- From front

Close to

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 19, 1994 - A3

Band payments
said inadequate

THE FEDERAL goverment
didn’t do all it should have when
land was taken by the Kitsum-
kalum band for the railway and
highway that now run through the
village, says its negotiator work-
ing ona settlement.

Peter Vranjkovic said that while
all the proper paperwork proce-
dures were followed, there was
inadequate compensation paid.

“Canada didn’t use the
diligence it should have and
that's what we're addressing,’ he
said.

To do so the federal govern-
ment established what it thought
was a fair price for what should
have been paid in 1910.

Included in the calculations
were the value of the timber and
gravel removed from Kitsum-
kalum land.

The amounts that were paid
were deducted from the new fig-
ure, leaving the difference.

This difference was increased
by the amount of the Consumer
Price Index (CPI) between 1910
and 1994,

This amount tabled by the fed-
eral government as its first cash
offer, said Vranjkovic,

“We had appraisers come in
and give us the evaluation. CPI
didn't exist until the 1930s, so be-
fore then the evaluation. was
based on price adjusters,’’ he

“That was really appreciated, It
was a costly process,”’ said

’ Bolton of the search for graves

and subsequent work,

Along with the cash settements
and physical work is training by
CN of Kitsumkalum residents in
view of the dangerous cargo
being hauled by the railway.

Also involved in the negotia-
tions is compensation for gravel
and timber taken from Kitsum-
kalum land by the railway and
others, said Bolton,

kkk kok

For Bolton the pending deal
means the end of 11 ycars work.

Research. into ‘the, Specific | claim

* began ‘in 1983 and: it was ~filed

deal

said.

Vranjkovic estimated the CPI
index increased by approximately
20 times between 1910 and now,

The Kitsumkalum band valued
the land based on 1994 prices,
meaning there was a gap between
its price and the federal govern-
ment’s one.

The amount now being consid-
ered by the band is someplace in

between the two amounts, said
Vranjkovic.

“We think it’s a very fair of-
fer,’’ he said if what is now under
consideration by the band.

Vranjkovic added that the {cd-
eral government prefers: the CPI
method of deciding land vatues
rather than adding interest to a
fixed value.

The latter is more expensive
and is usually the method chosen
by courts 10 settle monetary dis-
putes.

kk kkk

There are olher specific claims
now under negotiation in north-
westem B.C,

One involves a portion of
downtown Prince Rupert.

That involves cash compensa-
tion for the Lax Kw’alaams band
of Port Simpson for any interest it
had in Jand surrendered. by .the
Metlakatla band in the early part
of the century.

with the federal government | in
1986.

Tt took until 1991 for the paper
work to be prepared to start nego-
liations.

“We figure they’ve been fairly
good negotiations,’’ said Bolton.
“Of course it now goes to the vil-
lage for approval.'’

Two meetings at Kitsumkalum
have already been held in the lead
up to a vole on the. tentative deal.

Bolton said the band is also
looking for as many as off-
reserve Kitsumkalum members as
Possible.

They’re asked. to contact the
band office for more information.

==

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