a Preparing hampers Notunteers Lydia Angus (foreground) and Sharon Lamke help prepare more than 550 Salvation Army Christmas food hampers for needy families this season. Seventeen items go into every food hamper including a turkey and a stuffed toy. Nisga’a polling costs $150,000 THE PROVINCIAL government spent more than $150,000 taking the pulse of British Columbians on the Nisga’a treaty in a six-month period. The money was spent on opinion polls and focus groups for the six months ending the middle of October, a crucial period leading up to a significant provincial push to gain public accepance of the treaty im preparation for its ratification. But the information gathered from the polls and focus groups isn’t being released. Provincial officials used a section of the Freedom of In- formation and Privacy Act to deny a freedom of informa- tion request filed by The Terrace Standard. It’s appealing the decision. Peter MacMillan, a University of Northem B.C. profes- sor experienced in palling and focus groups, said it’s dif- ficult to tell if the $151,052 spent by the provitce is ex- cessive withoul knowing the amount of work that was carried out, He’s not surprised the provincial government would spend money on polls and focus groups to tell it how an important issue such as the Nisga’a treaty is viewed by the public and then to develop communications strategy from the results. ‘Governments take information and try to manipulate things to their position. It’s part of the information game,” said MacMillan. ‘Direct action’ vowed by natives GITANYOW natives will likely take direct action early in the New Year to protect their territory, says Gitanyow chief negotiator Glen Williams. ‘Jt’s the favourite topic in the community right now,”’ ‘Williams said last week after continuing unsuccessful ¢f- forts to resolve the native group’s land claim overlap with the Nisga’a. “There are lots of volunteers and lots of ideas,’’ be said, declining to specify what might be in the works. Last summer Williams said the Gitanyow might bar provincial government employees from their territory if a court action didn’t resolve the problem. - Frustration is at an all-time bigh, he said, because the province is about to ratify the Nisga’a treaty, handing parts _ of Gitanyow territory as well as fish and wildlife rights in the disputed upper Nass valley to the Nisga’a. “They’re quite concerned, they’re quite afraid,’’ he said. “Potentially all our food supply we rely on from the ferri- tory, all the fishing, all the hunting is being threatened.”’ Barring successful mediation with the Nisga’a or an out- of-court agreement with the province, the Gilanyow will go to B.C. Supreme Court Jan. 18 and argue that the pro- vince negotiated in bad faith with them by signing the Nisga'a treaty without first resolving the overlap. A meeting with premier Glen Clark last Wednesday was unproductive, Williams said. “We're quite disspappointed, They’re not very com- mitted to taking our issues seriously,’’ he said. He said the Gitanyow want accelerated negotiations for co-management of the land and revenue sharing. That’s similar to the negotiations now uaderway between their cousins, the;Giptsan, ‘and ‘the ‘province in the-wake of the Gitxsan’s, Delgamiukw land claim, court. victory a year ago. ‘Williams said the province has offered little incentive to the Gitanyow, and is still insisting the group follow its conventional formula for determining the amount of money and land in any treaty. **We should be talking about title. We should be talking about revenue-sharing and other principles coming out of Delgamuuckw that would give us some signal they’re nego- tiating in good faith,” he added, ‘‘They weren't offering us anything, We were miles apart on the existing policy.” Instead of looking at co-management of the entire tradi- tional territory, he said, the province wants the Gitanyow to select about eight per cent of their 16,800 square kilo- metre traditional territory — or about 1,350 square kilo- metres. As for cash, Williams said he’s seen positions on paper of $40,000 to $70,000 a head. That would translate to a to- tal of $80 million to $140 million for the 2,000 Gitanyow. Williams said the Gitanyow remain open to possibilities that could avoid a court case, but said he’s not optimistic. “T don’t think there’s any interest on the part of the government,’”? Williams said, ‘‘It leads us right back to court. They’re going to move on their timing of the Nisga’a final agreement. They want that done sometime in February I believe,” B.C, Supreme Court Justice L.P. Williamson last month rejected provincial demands that the Gitanyow challenge of the Nisga’a treaty requires a full trial — something that would have pushed it back much further. He agreed to allow the Gitanyow to press part of their case in the expedited hearing set for next month. The judge, however, said a full trial will be required on the second Gitanyow argument that the Nisga’a final agreement is a violation of the Crown’s duty to the . Gitanyow aud contrary to their duty to negotiate in good faith, . ; If successful, Williams said, the Gitanyow bope to tap into the Nisga’a treaty “to siphon off our Jands and resources from the Nisga’a final agreement.’’ BI Steak & The Back Eddy Pub . For your special Christmas Pa may ibe for lunch or dinner, moe arrange that special get together from 4-120 people. We also caler at our downstairs location The Back Eddy Pub’, Specially for those weary feet alter a long day of Christmas shopping. The place to bat Christmas The 8! Steak & Sealood Grill or The Back Eddy Pub. We are now taking “New Years” reservations with dance music supplied till 3 a.m. 4332 Lakelse Ave., Terrace, Stealk Sz 635-9161 pub: 635-5336 For our of towners: Seafood 1-800-513-9161 Pager and Offer also includes 6 nionths service voice mail and Ss @ 9 5 personal greeting. Sat . @ikS, ELECTRONIC FUTURES ach 4710 Keith Ave, Terrace te 635-7767 _ BCTEL ‘Mobility. 4 Authorized Dealer’ en B Informed: Offer indudes Ponasonit EX-POWER poger, 400 numeric messages par month and loec| coverage. Prepaid omounts ore not refundable, Toxes extro. After lirst 6 months, $50 semi-aenol billing opplies, See store for details 4706 Keith Avenue, 635-1600 | [ d (Excluding Dog & Cat Food and Sale items) Buy Now! 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