pole raising ceremony - . ‘Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 19, 1990 — Page AS. sETTERS _ ” TOTHE TERRACE STANDARD ; Housing ee ee project... | Official - opening - TERRACE’ = Dances, , songs: a atid speeches marked the raising | of four totem poles Saturday as. the Muks-Kum-Ol Housing Society officially. opened | a 42:5 million housing project... The ‘poles, Tepresenting: the four’ Tsimshian hduse. clan crests ‘of the Raven, Eagle, Wolf - and: Killer. Whale, stand 'in a park: ih the middie of: the i 3-duplex development on Pear te The poles _were carved by Stan. Bevan and Ken McNeil. at the Kitselas band’s Kulspai sub- division under the direction of master carver Dempsey Bob. ‘Among the invited guests were hereditary chiefs of the northwest native nations — the Tsimshian, Nisga’a, Gitksan and Tahltan. The pole raising was followed by a feast attended by dignataries-and others. it’s the third such pole raising in recent years in the Terrace area. In 1987, a pole was raised at Kitsumkalum and also in that year, a pole was raised in front of the RCMP building, “The housing project is the seventh and largest such effort of the housing society to date. ~ Tt was formed in 1984 and in- corporated in 1985 as a way of providing affordable housing for natives living in the city. ‘ Muks-Kum-Ol, it means white bear in the Tsimshian language, purcliased 10 homes in 1986 followed by 10 more homes and a 22-unit apartment building in 1987, : By October 1988, the, housing: had ‘purchased . 10.more-homes= and was building 10 others. ~: Planning for the 26 units in. |- the Pear St. duplex develop-. . ment began in 1989 and was closely followed by the purchase of 3,26 acres. ‘The project was financed by the federal government through the Canada Mortagage and Housing Program and rents are kept at ‘an affordable level. The next project of the hous- ing society is the construction of a day care facility at the duplex development. Planning for a proposal is already underway. WILLING VOLUNTEERS carefully raise up on of four totem poles at the Muks-Kum-0! Housing’ Society's Pear St. development at its official opening Saturday. The poles were carved by Stan Bevan and Ken McNeil and display the four house crests of the Tsimshian — the Raven, Eagle, Wolf and Killer Whale. They are located in a park within the development's grounds. Ha ‘Was one of many dancers taking. part in the society's official - _ opening of Its Pear St. housing development Saturday. Heredia | chiefs from, all over the northwest were. @ In attendance... vanes or ca a \ © ' a _ oT nag an pn fmf ti Si tas abtnG PRET LI ke Fe at 8 ty thee EAE Oy, THAT'S RAY Jones, aresident of the Muks-Kum Ol ol Flousing Sociely REACHING U UPWARD is the city-owned tent used by the Muks Kum O! Housing Soclety Saturday as It hosted guests to a feast following the official. opening of a 13-unit duplex on Pear St, Dave Joseph WAS one, af the workers involved in ceremony preparations. oF fee ge ” Aa open letter to: Mayor and |, Council, City of Terrace. Dear Council and Mayor: It has-been brought to my attention that the city plans to ‘amend or change the zon- ing on Keith Ave, next to the averpass to accomodate -a company which plans: to open a video retail store in this area now zoned only for _ warehouse or light industrial. My concern for this is in . this area we already have one of the most conjested traffic problems in the city. It has already claimed one life of a young lady. Now |} find this city plans to let a company operate a. video store which generates a: trememdous amount of traf- fic of which approximately 50 per cent is children. Children crossing . the highway, dashing - between logging and freight trucks, plus all the other traflic with no crosswalks or safety zones I find unacceptable. os I also have been informed that the company involved is nea r overpass | : . if traffic rises _ trying to convince. couicil. that their store is going to be | warehousing videos for. the purpose of . obtaining . a business license, - ' If a video store resembles any other type of business I would say that would be a library not 4 warehouse, Would this city consider this as being a good spot for a. library expansion site? ©:.° Children. crossing: the highway, dashing between Jogging and freight trucks, plus all the other traffic with no crosswalks or safety. zones | find unaccep- table. I don’t feel increased retail: activity should be permitted because of increased traffic activity. Anyone using this highway or people concerned with our children should let their feelings be heard now before anything happens. Sincerely, Jim Wold, Terrace, B.C. Readers urged to write the PM on land claims . Dear Sir: ’ | urge readers to read the following, take out sections you agree with and write to the appropriate people c/o Parliament Buildings, tawa, KIA OA2 or Parlia- ment Buildings, Victoria, V8V LX4, It is unfair and ludicrous of the government to think that we, the taxpayers, should financially support the natives. The government should not give natives or any other group preferred treatment. Yes, feed and shelter the unfortunate; but, let the luxuries of our society ‘be the incentive of hard work and not more crying for ‘| hand-outs! t Everyone living. in Canada is welcome to use our facilities (eg. hospitals, schools, roads, etc.) but is it i] fair to build separate ones ‘for natives, when other small communities have to use the ‘ones in bigger centres? If the natives want- their own, let them build and service them with their own means, not using taxpayers’ money. It is also time that the government look at school- ing. There are two issues, One, our children are discriminated against when there is post-secondary school funding for the Oe natives and not ours. There should be funing for ali or no one! Two, the school cur- riculum should not include subjects’ that’ are“ ‘‘native heritage’’ or ‘culture’ because we don’t do it for any other nationality. Ef it is important to the natives, it should be their prerogative to teach the children after school hours. Again it takes funding away from our The government should not give natives or any other group preferred treatment. Yes, feed and shelter the unfortunate; but, let the luxuries of our society be the incen- tive of hard work and not more crying for hand-outs! children, and it breeds a ‘subliminal discrimination against the native children when they are removed from the classrooms. Lastly, why are we paying for the natives’ legal aid? Would the government buy -arms for our enemies? Please stop being so idiotic and start spending our money with some integrity! — E. Johnson Terrace, B.C, Save the Kitlope Dear Sir: We recently enjoyed a scenic trip to the Kitlope River. The beauty of this’ valley is beyond description glaciers, waterfall, wildlife! , We were informed that there are plans for logging: this area. We understand that many local people are expressing their concern and would like to add ours. We'd like to encourage the residents of Kitimat and Ter- race to inform themselves re: this issue and help save an in- credibly beautiful area of B.C. . Sincerely, Erika Enns and Al Bruce Takysie Lake, B.C. Renew ce tee Ree le The Terrace Standard welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. All letters must be signed and carry an ad- adress. 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 same will be published. Requests for’ names to be withhetd may be. granted in extraordinary cir- cumstances, Thank you letters should be submitted to the “Card of Thanks’ classifieds, *. Letters containing libelous or objectionable matter will be edited or returned to the writer, All letters are run on. a space available basis, with shorter letters likely to: be Published soonest. section of the | ee sla.