urged

TERRACE — Land claims a

must be settled to return justice
to native people and to give.

security for: economic develop *

ment, speakers at a conference
on the topic said here last week.

Yet some of the speakers at:

the city-organized conference
June 16 gave different opinions
on how the matter should be
resolved.

‘ Glen Williams, chief Gf the -

Kitwancool band north of Kit-:
wanga, said native «groups
should simply claim their ter-
titory. by what he termed —

“direct action’ in order to —

force governments to negotiate.

‘“‘What compels them
(governments) to sit and begin
negotiations? There’s nothing
out there,”’ he said.

That's why, Williams con-
tinued, the Gitksan and the
Wet'suwet’en of the Hazelton
grea are suing the federal and
provincial governments. for
aboriginal title.

(It’s) so we could have a
leverage. Until that happens, we
will continue to do direct ac-

tion. We regard that land asour -

bank, our future,’’ said
Williams.

He added that he has been in-
volved in six incidents - which
resulted in court action of one
kind or another over the past
five years regarding native title
and rights.

“I'm telling you they don’t
work but I have yet to see an in-
junction enforced on us, People
are scared,”’ said Williams.

Frank Calder, speaking on
behalf of the Nisga’a Tribal
Council, said it was important
for all people to urge govern-
ments to negotiate.

“As far as [’m concerned
there will be no settlement
unless Dave (Skeena MLA Dave
Parker) and his government, or
any future government, come
on to the table and settle that
question,"’ said Calder.

He compared the claims issue
to the tribe of Israel and its
wanderings around the Middle
East in search of a place to live.

*"'God forgot to tell them
there were other people living
there," said Calder in recoun-
tIng several places where the
tribe of Israel tried to settle.
“They had to fight their way in
there. By jeepers, they're still
fighting their way in.’”-

More than 40° local and
regional representatives from
industry and other groups at-
tended the one-day conference.
Mayor. Jack Talstra. said he
hoped: similar sessions will be
organized.

Helping out

FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE. How good a job do the community's stores and. businesses do in
providing access for wheelchairs? A group of locals answered that question for themselves last
Thursday as part of an awareness campaign. Local paraplegic associalion office manager Marie
Hildebranat guided them on a two-hour wheelchair tour of the downtown area. ‘Above, Northwest
Community College’s Elizabeth Snyder finds out what it is like to descend the’stairs at city hall —
the starting point for the tour — by using a tracked device bought last year by the city. That's city
treasurer Keith Norman helping out.

we

A chronology of two plans

TERRACE — Which comes
first, the community/conven-
tion centre or the library expan-
sion? ;

To help readers keep track,
here’s a rundown of what has
happened over the last two
years.
® May, 1988 — A newly-formed
community centre group
releases details of a survey in
which. 389 of 450 respondents
indicated they favoured con-

‘struction of such a facility in

‘Terrace.
“® August 1988 — Confirming

‘Jocal: architects Soutar and

Associates are in process of | car-
rying ‘out a city-financed study
of facility, library board chair-
“man Willy Schneider says ex-
“pansion is needed because lack
of space prevents it introducing
‘new services,

“@ Oct, 29, 1988 — Council holds
its “Terrace to 2,000" think
“tank session, A summary issued

by city includes Ilbrary expan: —

sion; convention facilities and

‘ November 1988 — An interim

‘report on “Terrace to 2,000"

lists. building a convention cen. -

tre-as a possible tourism. in-

itiatiye.. Library expansion’ and-

continuity centre not mention-

ed inthis docuinent.

* Oct, 30,

* Nov.-28, 1988 — Architect
Soutar presents plans for

estimated $870,000 expansion °

project to library board. The
plan calls for the library area to
be .increased to 10,000 sq.ft.
from the current 7,500 sq.ft.

* Aug. 15,1989 — The city pur-

chases 5 acres of land beside the-

courthouse at cost of $140,000
from the provincial govern-
ment,

‘A development. strategy in-
‘ terim report released that same
‘month identifies this land as

possible site for a conyention
centre,
1989 — Council
meets with library board
members to discuss its expan-

‘sion plans. The board puts for-
ward schedule which includes .
referendum in.

going. to
November 199...
Council members | tell the
library board no decision can be
made until the city finalizes a
“five-year | ‘comprehensive
development plan.*’ Council

‘suggests a Farther meeting ° ‘in
conimunity centres as long, term’.

8 ‘December. 1989 — Revised
figures put- cost. of: library: ex-
pansion at'$1: million. Library ;
board applies fora: ney grant:
to cover one-third of cost: Ap-
2 gApril

early 1990.

plication is accompa by a

_ letter of support from. the city.

“a January 1990 == — Final draft of a be! no > Feferendum on library ex’

@- Feb. 12,

development strategy is released
which says there may be market
for a mid-sized convention cen-
tre in the north. The centre is
ranked seventh on a list of 10
priority projects.

* Jan. 18, 1990 — The parks

:and recreation advisory com-

mission recommends the city
conduct a public meeting “to
determine the feasibility of a
community centre,’’

199) — Council
receives a copy of a letter from
Soutar to the library board in
which he points out work must
begin soon on detailed design
drawings/costings if the pro-

. posed expansion project is to go
toreferendum this year. The let-

ter is referred. to’ the committee

of the whole: —

> @ Feb, 14,1990 — City brings
down its budget which includes
“$10,000. for*.preliminary work
“on a conyention/ community
entre,

@ Feb. 1990
-pérson’ ‘under ‘a provincial pro-

= The city hires

gram ‘to: ‘look * ‘at specific

ed “economié and: social develop-

ment projects

Doug Smitt
Jitems, one'6f.Which'is a com-
munity/convention centre.

al 1990 — Mayor Jack
Talgtra says. there will probably

pansion this year. Council is
now focusing its attention on a
community/convention centre

‘and would be difficult to do

both projects simultaneously,
he adds.

* May 4, 1999 — Library board
receives letter from city saying
that while it recongizes the

board is ‘‘anxious’' to go to .

referendum this, year, council
wants to first “take sufficient
time. to . thoroughly review
financing and. cost sharing ar-
rangements with the (Kitimat-
Stikine) regional district. It had
therefore decided ‘expansion
project would be ‘'considered”’
for referendum in November,
1991.

e May 30, 1990 — A lottery of-
ficial tells the library board its
grant application has: been. put
on hold pending the results of a
November 1991 referendum.

* June 1,°1990 — Council an-
nounces plans’ for. 28,000 sq.(t.
community/conference © centre
at estimated cost of up to $4.5
million. Talstra says: project
would not go ahead: ‘without at
least 50 per cent finanicing from
provincial goveriment.

If money was: forthcoming
and there, was: sufficient public
support: for: ‘the project, Talstra
said council would then decide
whether. to take it to referendum
this November. .

a Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 20, 1990 ~ Pane AB.

LETTERS _

TO THE TERRACE STANDARD

Mr. Ho
you are

Dear Sir: .
lam a Gr. 10 student at
Thornhill Junior Secondary -
School and am writing in
answer to a letter written to
the editor on June 13, 1990

by Mr, Bill Homburg.
It angers me to see such

- stereotypical opinions about

today's high school students.
Mr, Homburg wrote of our
schools often turning out
nothing but hoodlums who
are hooked on drugs, sex,
vandalism, and welfare. I
wonder what right ‘anyone
has to say that when our high
schoals include some of the
top academic math students
(and I say this safely because
of a recent math contest
among Canadian students in
which my school’s grade tens
placed us second in our zone)
in our region, many of whom
are currently striving for
their goals, and who will suc-
ceed in life,

In regards to Mr. Hom-
burg’s letter, I cannot
understand .what. the
academic standing and
ultimate goals of high school

An unp

mburg
wrong .

students hes todo with where é
our tax money. goes. een
As I see it, no matter wh
we as students choose as ‘a
life-time career, be it plastic -
surgeon or garbage collector.
or parent, a fair portion of. |
our money will still be’ spent
trying to improve our “educa —

‘tions,

I understand | that | ‘some a
students do turn out contrary
to what all parents hope for, —
but we all have the right toa
decent education whether we
take advantage of it or not,
don’t you agree?

And if we do not end up
with a so-called ‘decent’ job,
is this the fault of the
teachers who do their best to
provide the best learning ¢n-
vironments that they can? I
can only see it as a result of
improper discipline at home,
from the day we are born to
the day we leave home.

I may have strayed from
the views shared by Mr.
Homburg, but I am sure that
I have made my point clear.

Jody McMurray
Terrace, B.C.

leasant

couple of days

Dear Sir:

My husband and I recently
went on a four-day camping
trip to Furlong Bay with high
hopes of relaxation and en-
joyment (so we thought) but
read on.

It started with the first-day
of our trip. A very rude
fellow having a picnic in the
parking lot of Furlong Bay,
approached me, informing
me to have my dog on a
leach, while I was on my way
to use the telephone.

] realize I was wrong to not

_ have my dog on a leach, but I

also realize, being in the
mental health field, how im-
portant your approach is, as
well as your tone of vaice.
His was far from appropriate
and was downright ignorant.

Now, day two. As I was
about to prepare supper, I
discovered that my steaks I
had stored in a cooler had
been stolen.

Now for day three. Satur-

. day night at 11 p.m. my hus-

band parked our 1981
Toyota Corolla outside the
gate, as he had to work at
5:45 a.m., and the gates

. don’t open till 7 a.m., only to

discover the rear driver's tire
had been removed, as well as
our jack and butterfly
wrench from my trunk.

Luckily enough we had
another tire jack and wrench.

Social

Dear Sir:

I peered into the dictionary
to find the meaning of social,
socialist, sociable, etc. What
a nice friendly, genial family
word and what a nice, friend-
ly compliment the govern-
ment affords to its opposi-
tion.

I’m sure it was not intend-
ed: that way but supporters
have jumped on the band
wagon and are throwing the
word socialist around with

Our friends. who had
brought out their boat and
camped out Saturday night,
discovered their keys had
been stolen from the boat,
which was parked right in
front of our campsite.

I would like to advise the

ignorant: and inconsiderate...

individuals that on Tuesday
morning, my husband and’
friends, made one. last ditch
atttmpt to search for our
belongings, And they
discovered the keys for the
boat on the campsite sign,
thanks to the park ranger,
our tire, jack and wrench ap-
proximately 12 metres from
where our car was parked.

So people please be more
considerate to innocent peo- |
ple as, there were un-
necessary calls to ICBC and
RCMP who we all know
have a hectic schedule and no
time for such childish
behavior.

I guess there is a silver lin-
ing to every cloud, now
that's a positive attitude.

And what if I were not a
local resident but a tourist?
What impression would this
person have had of Terrace?
Don't forget we're supposed
to promote tourism not
demote it.

Leisha Mason
Terrace, B.C.

word

complete abandon. How nice
of them. The opposition
must be lapping it up.

Now we have a problem —
the word socialist appears in
this government's party title.
This should be removed.

Suffice it to say that we re-
sent the bout of name calling
instead of debating the issues

“and platforms. put forward.

After all, we are grown

ups. _
Harold Ealden:
Narioose Bay, B.C.

About letters

The. Terrace Standard
welcomes letters to the editor
on all topics, All letters must
be signed and carry an ad--
dress and-‘local telephone

number, Addresses or phone -

numbers won’t be printed
with the letter, but they are
necessary for ‘confirmation
of the letter’s. authenticity
The writer's: name will be
published. Requests for
names to be withheld may be

granted in extraordinary cir-
cumstances.

Thank you letters should '
be submitted to the “Card of
Thanks’ section of. the
classifieds,

Letters containing libelous
or objectionable matter will
be edited or returned to the
writer, Ail letters are run on
a space available basis, with
shorter: letters likely to be
published soonest.

Pra aa

fot ne eget etree ames aton