The Nisga’a are here! FORMED IN 1955, the Nisga’a Tribal Council is the main ‘political organization of the Nisga’ a when it comes to handling major issues such as treaties. It does have an elected executive and its general governing council is made up of representatives from the four Nisga’a vil- lages of the Nass Valley and from the three urban tribal council locals in Ter- race, Prince Rupert and Vancouver. The annual convention of the Nisga’a Tribal Council — the one being held here next week is the 42nd annual — Is the oc- casion for doing treaty business and for renewing cultural and social ties. Elected members were once chosen each year, but that has now changed to three- year terms. The tribal council isn’t the first such or- ganization formed by the Nisga’a.A group calted the Nisga’a Land Commitiee was formed in 1890 to pursue what the Nisga’a call “the land question.” Tt was this group which sent a petition to Great Britain in 1913 outlining the Nésga’a land position. That petition formed the basis for the next decades of negotiations with various governments, culminating tn fast year’s treaty, And now the hard part begins. NISGA’A TRIBAL COUNCIL conventions used to be about how to reach a land claims agreement. But that’s now changed since the Nisga’ a ratified their treaty last fall and with the provin- cial and federal governments ‘being on the ratification trail. Those attending the convention being held here next weck will concentrate on doing what's necessary to put the treaty into practice. For now, the Nisga’a are working on the gov- erning structure that will come into place when - the treaty becomes effective, Elections for the Nisga’a Lisims central government have to be held within six months of the treaty’s implementation date so an inter- im government structure is being prepared until Small army forms MARLENE ROBINSON probably has the most im- portant job for the Nisga’a Tribal Council convention taking place here next week, A member of the Terrace local of the tribal council, which is playing the host for the four-day affair, Robinson’s in charge of more than 40 volunteers who have the task of provid- ing breakfast, lunch and din- ner for those attending the convention. At peak periods, Robinson and her crew could be deal- ing with close to 1,000 people, “We'll be starting ‘at 7 am. and working until we're finished,’ she said. The food volunteers will net only be using the arena’s kitchen, they'll be taking over half of the ac- companying banquet room THOSE ATTENDING the Nisga’a Tribal Council con- vention here next week will notice a lot of people using headphones. That’s to connect them to a booth giving simultaneous transiation from Nisga’a into the elections are held, But what has to be in place immediately when the treaty comes into effect is a financial admin- istration act, says Ed Wright of the Nisga’a Tribal Council, ‘We won’t be able to spend a penay without il,’’ sald Wright, As well, band council by-laws are to cease being in effect 30 days afier the treaty takes hold: To date, those working on the implementation aspects of the treaty have identified close to 50 pieces of legislation that'll be needed, All of this makes the convention a prime place for law drafters to gain comment and seck ad- vice from Nisga’a people because of the large numbers of people who will attend, said Wright. ‘We want to ensure everybody is comfortable with what will be happening, that there is con- sensus,”’ said Wrigtit, For thal reason some legislative decisions might wait until there is direct political repre- sentation when the Lisims government is elected. “Citizenship could be one of those. Some communities have a different opinion of who should be a Nisga’a citizen than others,’” said Wright. ‘In some villages, there are non- Nisga'a who have lived there for 30 years and who have married Nisga’a and people say they should be citizens. In other villages, that hasn’t been the case,’” Wright said the job of putting a treaty into ef- fect is just as complicated and perhaps more so than negotiating one in the first place. English or English Into Nisga’a, This photo was taken in 1993, the last time the tribal council convention was held in Terrace. In the photo is Bert McKay, one of the translators who worked that convention. to provide enough working __The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 21, 1999 - AS CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD Space. And, theyll be putting up a lean-to outside for the main evening banquet of the convention, the April 27 welcome [east, “We need the room,” said Robinson of the lean- to. *'The last time we hosted the convention, we used five large pots. This time itil be 10,’” Breakfasts and funch costs are being covered by local businesses. Robinson estimates the overall convention volunteer force to be at Ieast 150 people, “We have eight to 10 committees ranging from transportation, to security to billeting,”’ she said of the organizing effort which be- gan last year. “There’s set up, clean up, it,’? Robinson added. The convention sétting is rotated through the four vii- lages of the Nass Valley, Prince Rupert and Terrace each year. Tribal council locals in each location act as host. One of the key features of each convention is a transia- tion service from Nisga’a into English and English into Nisga’a. That’s being organized by the tribal council’s central office in New Aiyansh. Important dates 1793 British sca captain George Vancouver sails into Observatory Inlet for first recorded contact between Nisga’a and Europeans 1870 = Province of British Columbia unilaterally denies existence of aboriginal title 1884 Federal Indian Act amended to outlaw cultural and religious ceremonies including Potlatch 1887 Nisga’a Chiefs travel by water to Victoria to discuss Nisga’a Land Question; they are turned away on the steps of the Legislature 1890 Establishment of first Nisga’a Land Committee 1913 Nisga’a Land Commitiec submits Petition to British Privy Council in London . 1924 Nisga’a allotted 76 square kilometres of reserve land 1927 Ottawa prohibits aboriginal people from organizing to discuss Land Question 1951 Parliainent repeals provisions of the Indian Act that outlawed the Potlatch and prohibited land claims activity 1960 Aboriginal people granted the right to vote in federal elections; Ollawa begins to phase out residen- tial schools 1973 The Calder Decision: Supreme Court of Cana- . da rules that the Nisga’a had held aboriginal title before settlers came bul the judges split evenly on land title: 1982 Constitution of Canada recognizes and affirms aboriginal title 1990 = British Columbia, under Premicr Willian Vander Zalm, formally enters Nisga'a negotlations ; 1991 Delgamuukw Decision: The BC Court of Ap- peal rules that the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en people have “‘unextinguished, non-exclusive aboriginal rights, other than right of ownership’? to much of thelr tradi- tional territory 31991 BC Government recognizes both aboriginal title and the Nis‘a’a right to self-government; a tri- partite framework agreement is signed 1996 On March 22, Nisga’a Tribal Council President Joseph Gosnell, Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Ronald Irwin and BC Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Cashore sign the Nisga’a Agtcement in Principle at an historic ceremony held in Newg Aiyansh, paving the way for a final agreement 1998 On August 4 in New Aiyansh, Nisga’a Treaty is initialed, making news around the world 1998 On December 2, Nisga’a Chief Joseph Gosnell is welcomed inside the BC Legislature by Premier .Glen Clark; formal debate begins in the Legislature janitorial, fights, you name Royal taking aim at bank prospects ONE OF the country’s major financial in- stitutions is sending a hefly contingent 10 the Nisga’a Tribal! Council’s 42nd annual convention here April 27-30. There’ll be four officials from the Royal Bank’s aboriginal banking division, includ- ing the division’s top two people from its Calgary head office. ‘We're happy they'll be able to atlend,”’ suid Rick Morrison, the bank’s local aboriginal banking manager. He said the presence of the Royal’s senior aboriginal banking officials signifies the importance the bank puts on economic de- velopment and other opportunities arising from land claims sctilements, , ‘We'll be looking to build on rela- tionships which already exist,’” said Mor- tison. The Royal, along with other banks and financial insitutions, have spent the last decade positioning themselves in anticipa- tion of land claims treaties and subscquent release of economic development dollars. Already, the Royal handles banking and financial services for three of the four vil- lage governments in the Nass Valley. Late last year, the Royal installed a cash ma- chine at the Coho Convenience Store in New Aiyazish, the largest relail outlet in ibe Nass Valley. The inilialed Nisga‘a treaty calls for cash tansfers of more than $300 million over 15 years for specific and general purposes. Na- tive leaders have long said the inability to manage lands and resources put natives ata disability. One of Royal’s aboriginal banking offi- cials coming to the convention is Joseph Gosnell Jr., the son of tribal council presi- dent Joseph Gosnell Sr. He’s the Royal's aboriginal banking man- ager for northern B.C. and the Yukon, a _ brand new post based in Prince George cre- ated just this year. “The Royal Bank is the only bank to create new managerial positions to cover regions of B.C,,’’ said Gosnell of his job. For now, Gosnell calls the aboriginal eco- nomic presence the “invisible market,’? in noting that description won't last long. “The Nisga’a treaty is just one of many coming for First Nations,” said Gosnell. “IE you look at the whole picture and at the economy of B.C., there’ll be economic opportunities not only for aboriginal com- munities, but for all communities,’’ he said. “Terrace, for instance, is the closest urban centre to the Nass and it will benefit from the treaty.” Gosnell has been in the banking business for nearly eight years, working first for the Bank of Montreal in Terrace and then in Prince Rupert for the Royal before moving to Prince George. He’s also worked al the Kermode Friend- ship Centre and took the business adminis- tration program at Northwest Community College. Another one of the Royal’s officials com- ing to the convention is Matt Vickers, a North Coast Tsimshian, who is the pro- vince’s senior official for aboriginal bank- ing based in Vancouver. He’s the brother of Roy Henry Vickers, a prominent North Coast artist now living on Vancouver Is- land. kkhkkk The Royal isn’t the only bank examining opportunities in the Nass Valley. In May 1997 the Bank of Montreal opened a sub-branch offering basic banking services. That closed late last year when the branch’s part lime employment tock wotk elsewhere but a Bank of Montreal spokes- man. said it is continuing to monitor. the . situation. The Mail Bag Those were the days Dear Sir; I read with interest your recent article on the RCMP auxiliaries. As 1 was onc of the originals, I thought J might supply you with some further background, The originals were myself, Joe Schultzek, Milt Alger, and one other. George Haugland joined us the follow- ing year, I was out of town when the photo was taken, but I can identify the member‘in the back row, It was Arden Wall. 1 am not sure about the fellow in the front row. We had may ups and downs in my seventeen years of service in Terrace prior to leaving for the lower mainland to live, We advanced to the point of two senior- auxiliaries taking a car out on patrol in the residential and outside areas, while the regular members handled . the downtown watering holes. This was halted as we were not government employees and the force carried its own insurance. The Attorney General at the time of- fered to supply insurance, but this was rejected. It was a shame, as vandalism took a real drop in that period of time. The thing that galled most of us was, summer slu- dents were allowed to drive the patrol cars as they were being paid. The next bump came wien a Judge ruled we had no police powers as there was no authority under the Provincial Emergency Act to grant police powers, This was solved by the Attorney General swearing us in wn- der the old B.C. Police Act. Tam sure a lot of the older members get a chuckle out of the time we fought fora badge for identity purposes when working in plain clothes. Of course the force refused so we designed and struck one ourselves. Boy, did that ever hii the fan, but it did in the end having us issued with a buzzer, There were memorable events such as an out of con- trol mob at the Civic Center for which I received a Iet- ter of commendation from Insp. Lysyk, Officer Com- manding, Prince Rupert Subdivision. Afler the first females were enlisted, Susan Hugi and I were holding ovr own at a Caledonia High School mmble, until back up came, Susan sure proved her mettle and [ would have her cover my back anytime. Now for the gun issue. [ had moved to Coquillam detachment before we were finally issued guns, We had been fighting for a long time. Those who think it is just a macho thing, have just got to think. How safe would you feel if you entered an open bank door one night with an armed partner and you are armed with only a flashlight. Then on a call to a family dispute, you arrive at the scene lock the car and enter the house. If your partner is disarmed, you do not have access to the shotgun in the locked car, Portables were in short supply, so there again was your trusty flashlight. Anyone who thinks a person wants a pistol just to hang on their belt while carrying a portable, cuffs, baton, and a flashlight must be dreaming. As for the training, we received the same training as regular members in the use of deadly force, As well we had to qualify twice a year on the RCMP course and then on the auxiliary course in firearms which was more difficult and required higher scores than the Teg lar members. | The change in uniforms. Anyone who has worked the streets, never wants to be differeut than his partner. This fact seems to be lost on the mental midgets, most of whom have never worked the day to day policing at the street level. When the biue hat issue came up, I opted noi to wear il, and so I never. Finally, I felt I had been around long enough, and I retired after 28 years, When an individual gives as much time as an auxil- iary does to his community, expecting nothing in return I feel ihey should be afforded as much protection as possible to allow me to return home safely after my shift. If I hadn’t, the first time I was expected to go out on patrol unarmed would have been my last. For the most part I enjoyed my years on the farce, and I met some wonderful people who remain friends to this day. I felt it was my contribution to my com- munity. I'll close with a running joke we had, ‘‘Send in the auxiliaries firsl, they are expendable, they are not real policemen.” C.E. (Doc) Harrison, (received via email) We’re all Canadians, eh An open letter to: Glen Clark, Premier "Dear Sir: I can drive from Prince Rupert all the way to the Maritimes on Canadian crown land that I consider my land. I am so offended by the idea that this country can be given away to certain individuals simply by creating a fuss and being obnoxious to our elected leaders. This country is one country and it should stay one country. 1am one Canadian, but there are many others who feel strongly about the unity of Canada. I can not believe the ignorance of certain individuals (Gordon Wilson) who stated that the creation of this new Nisga’a region (territory or whatever) would not affect me one iola. What kind of idiots docs this man take us for? What he is aiming for is turning this one Canada into a Europe with many borders, governments, police, ar- mies ctc. ] am outraged, Here we are in tough times, we should be pulling to- gether — and what is happening Is that the people who should be encouraging this pulling together are actually the motivators of breaking up Canada. It is time that we setiled these treaties with (he natives. It is time that we treated them as Canadians. It is time to end these upsurges of break away units of small minorities and larger ones (Quebec) and pull this coun- try back together under one constitution which works for all Canadians the same. T have no problem with a group of individuals who want to live in a community together and share tradi- lions and life styles whether they be native, east Indian, native Indian, homosexual or anything else as long at they are all treated equally under the same laws and provisions for which all other Canadians also must live. Garry Edward Schuss, Kitimat B.C. About letters THE TERRACE Standard welcomes letters to the editor. Our deadline is noon Fridays; noon Thursdays on a long weekend, You can write us at 3210 Clinton: St, Terrace, B.C. V8G 5R2, Our fax number is 250- 638-8432 or you can email us at Standard@kermode.net Letters must be signed and must have a phone num- ber, :