Laing attitude hit Indians fight for equality, better life By JAMES BEYNON Federal Minister of Indian Affairs Arthur Laing ably demonstrated th. : 'gnorant heavy-handed methods for Which the white man and his S0Vernment have been so well known. Laing, commenting on a 27- Page brief presented to the annual Conference of the Southern Vancouver Tribal Federation which deals with the problems of the India People and government treatment, Stated: --I don’t know who is responsible for it but it is getting into Politics. I would like to get them out of politics and put them to work.”” NATIONALIZATION G. Mortenson, Vancouver, writes: Re. M. Olson’s letter of Dec. 8: Mr. Ison agrees that public ownership is 4 step towards socialism, but does __hot see the necessity of linking this With public control. Yet, he fails to show me how the B.C. Hydro, C.N.R., Or P.G.E., all. Crown Corporations, benefit the people, or Pave the way to socialism. he prime consideration of socialist 10nalization is the welfare of the Workers of the nationalized industry. a Alf Dewherst’s ‘‘Railway “9yoffs a calamity’ (PT Dec. 15) a then try and argue that this sort _ Nationalization benefits the Tailway workers. Dewhurst suggests 2 changed policy, and, . . . ‘that Paeament must insist also that ~©mocratic direction of the CNR be Mstigated in keeping with the change of Policy ; i.e., a board of directors Which includes representatives of he trade unions, farm and consumer Organizations.” . Clearly, this sort of participation a IT PAYS to sell the Pacific Tribune — Call E. Crist Circulation 685-5288 ALL NEW BOOKS (cloth and paperbound) STORE-WIDE | BOOK SALE Up to 80% Off JANUARY 12-20 Canadiana, Art, Biog- raphy, Fiction, Econom- '€s and Political Science, Childrens, Philosophy, Psychology, LP rec- Ords, Reference, Clas- SI¢s, Technical, lang- Yage study aids, and Much more. Art Reproductions, Toys, Graphic Art, Theatre Posters & Placards (imported), Handicraft and Art Books, will be offered at discounts from 20% to 75% in our 341 Gallery at the rear of our Bookstore. x Store Hours tg a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday and » Fridays 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Co-Op BOOK STORE 341 West Pender St. Vancouver 3, B.C. te Phone:MU 5-5836 °° * Let's be a little more honest, Mr. Laing, you don’t want them speaking, out against the conditions in which they live, you want the Canadian Indian to keep quiet while being subjected to the backward policies of the Indian Affairs Department. Well, Mr. Laing, you will be sad to hear that the Canadian Indian will continue to fight for a better life and for equality. Laing stated: “I categorically deny the charges of humiliation, inspired irritation, neglect and indifference. Living in this world is in control does not negate the participation of technicians or professional people. Mr. Olson implies, these people would not join the struggle for socialist nationalization. But, I ask what is the university students’ struggle for representation on the Board of Governors, or the teachers’ struggle for a greater voice in determining curriculum, if it is not struggle for greater control over their own work situations. Now, as to what would be wrong with a Crown corporation loaning money towards a steel mill in Western Canada: If we are going to put up the money and take the risks, then, why don’t we take the profits? I don’t want my taxes, or my savings, used to set up another monopoly capitalist with guaranteed capital, ‘and tax concessions, guaranteed labor force and market, and then have to struggle for decent working conditions ina company that I helped finance. Similarly, although I agree with the proposition of an independent Canada, I do not agree with struggling for a renewed vitalized Canadian capitalist class. I am not interested in capitalist enterprises owned and managed by Canadian capitalists instead of U.S. owners. That type of nationalism is a jingoistic, chauvinistie type of bourgeois nationalism to which no socialist can subscribe. I agree that we should work for a Canada which dissociates itself from U.S. imperialist policies, and that as a first step, we should campaign vigorously for Canadian withdrawal from NATO and NORAD. However, the question of an independent foreign policy is extricably linked with the problem of foreign ownership .. . a problem which must be solved by socialist nationalization. Mr. Olson accuses me of skipping the ‘‘in between’, but it is clear that his “tin between’’ leads only to a welfare state similar to Britain, Norway, or Sweden. Reading B. Magnuson, ‘“‘Is there a shift to left in Sweden’ (PT Dec. 22) should be enough to convince one that this is not socialism, nor even tending to it. Mr. Olson also objects to criticism of the NDP program without any alternatives. In fact, I quoted from T. Buck, ‘‘Put Monopoly Under Control’’ which presents the Communist alternative. As to the NDP claiming, or not, to be a socialist party. Iam sure the Pr must have NDP readers who can ‘ debate that point better than I. | DUNDAS B-A (WALL & DUNDAS ST.) Complete Auto Repair and Service for All Makes Government Certified Mechanic and SERVICE Vv. W. SPECIALIST Ph. 255-6828 first of all a personal challenge and the individual who demands attention and then accuses this benefactor of a patronizing attitude is not going to go very far. This self- deprecation and self-pity has to stop.” First of all the Indian did not ask to be put on the reserves, nevertheless, he was put there destroying the unity and strength of the Indians and isolating them from the developments of the Canadian people and their conscience. No matter how vigorously Laing denies neglect, indifference and humiliation, these figures from his own department presented to a federal-provincial conference on poverty on Dec. 7, 1965 has caught Laing uttering exaggerations and untruths; e Average Indian family income in 1964 was about $1,600. The national average was more than $3,500. . e Average age of death in 1963 for an Indian male was 33.31 years. For white males in the same year the national average was 60.5 years. e 44 percent of Indian homes had electricity compared with a national average of 99 percent in 1962. . e Only 9 percent of Indian homes in 1962 had sewer service or septic tanks and only 13 percent had running water, compared with a national average in both categories of about 92 percent. The Canadian Indian does not want a benefactor or a patronizing attitude. Laing’s own word “‘benefactor’’ to describe either him or his government seems to be an example of their attitude towards the Indians as charity. The Indian wants and needs help to gain equality and the living standard of the rest of his fellow Canadians. This should not be done by a forced integration into the so-called ‘‘White Man’s Society’, but by development of the Indians’ land and home, the Indian Reserve. The basis of inequality and poverty is the lack of job opportunities. In the main the Indian works at seasonal jobs of fishing, logging and trapping where he works for six to eight months of the year and then receives Forward to more readers in ‘68 By ERNIE CRIST Circulation Manager In 1967, we made a turn for the better in our circulation — nothing spectacular — but enough to break the downward trend and enough to build a solid basis to boost circulation in 68. We know that a lot of hard work will be necessary to move ahead. We also know that our success in the year gone by is “‘nothing to crow about’. At the same time, we can’t help but be a bit gleeful about the fact that the PT, like Socialism, may have its problems but that it’s going to move forward. As mentioned in the last December issue of this paper, the majority of the Press Clubs in the past year did an outstanding job. The Press Committee has now decided to give the two designated prizes — two Vietnamese Woodcuts — to the two outstanding clubs in the Fall Circulation Drive. They are the ‘Broadway and the Vernon Press Clubs. In addition, the Press Committee decided the award a special book prize to Bob Towle from the Vancouver. East Press Club for his outstanding contribution to the success of his club. As reported, Bob, despite his advanced age, brought in a total of 50 subs during the Drive. An achievement which makes Bob, along with others, a legend in the pages of the PT. During the last year, we gained valuable experience which may prove helpful in the year ahead of us. Many friends of the PT including non- Press Club members sold the PT on the streets of Vancouver with considerable success proving that our paper can be sold if we use initiative. Our plans for ‘68 call for a considerable boost in circulation. We hope to win many new readers without neglecting our expiries. To help win as many new subscriptions as possible, the Press Committee is preparing an extensive list of attractive books as a ‘special offer to our readers. These are books that everyone would like to have in his or her library and are valued from $2.50, to $8.50, each. They will be available at a fraction of this price to new readers or those. who turn in new subs. Watch next week for further details. The Press Committee once again extends its best wishes to all its friends and supporters for the coming year. We hope that as in the past they will also join us in the fuuture to make our paper a better paper and to boost its circulation. unemployment insurance or relief for the rest of the year. Year round industry must be established on or close to the reserves so that families will receive steady year round cheques to help them build a prosperous community. Schools must be built so that Indian children can receive high school education without having to leave home and often travel hundreds of miles. Needed also is an increased vocational training program which would provide trades which can be used in industries which are in the area of the reserves. ‘*A people which oppresses another cannot itself be free’’ is a fundamental proposition put forward by Karl Marx. The problems facing the Canadian Indians are the problems facing the Canadian workers as a whole, though with the Indians they show themselves to be more acute: The question of employment faces all Canadians. Private capital has shown flagrant disregard for the well being of people; now the government must be forced to develop public owned industry to provide jobs and an economic future for Canadians. Decent and adequate housing is needed by many Canadians, Indian and White. Increased money must be available to all Canadians to enable them to continue their education to the level of their abilities, better health and welfare conditions, increased pensions and social assistance for those who cannot work. . In a brief of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union it was pointed out that the single Indian only receive $22 while a single white person receives $66 on social _assistance. The struggle of the Indian people is the struggle of the Canadian workers for they are victims of a morally corrupt system that places private — property and profits of a few above the well-being of many. While the Candian Indians lives in poverty and degradation, and is sentenced to die at 33, the struggle of all Canadians fora better life is slowed, therefore Canadians should take up their struggle as part of their own fight for a better life. The fight of the Indians for the right to govern themselves and to determine their own destiny, and not be left to the Indian Affairs Department and their Indian Agents, is part and parcel of the fight for fuller democracy in Canada. Classified Advertising NOTICES BUSINESS PERSONALS HALLS FOR RENT COPY — DEADLINE FOR ALL ADVERTISING. All copy must be in the offices of the PACIFIC TRIBUNE not later than 1 Noon on MONDAY. BUSINESS PERSONALS POLITANO’S BARBER SHOP NOW OPEN 4966 VICTORIA DRIVE (Closed Wednesdays) REGENT TAILORS LTD:—Cus- tom Tailors and Ready-to- Wear. 324 W. Hastings St. MU 1-8456 or 4441 E. Has- tings — CY 8-2030. See Henry Rankin for personal service. WEST END RADIO — Special- izing in TV Repairs. 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