Ai2 - The Terrace Standard, Monday, December 30, 1996 Natives slam first-come, - first-served treaty making GITANYOW natives say their land claim prospects are being hurt by govern- ments’ decision to negotiate with the Nisga’a first. In their submission to the province’s select standing committee on aboriginal af- fairs, the Gitanyow hereditary chiefs say the B.C. Treaty Commission is bungling ils role of support- ing treaty negotiations. The Gitanyow claim terri- tory north of Kitwanga to Meziadin and into the upper reaches of the Nass Vailey. Muck of their. traditional territory overlaps with that of the Nisga’a. Although the Nisga’a in their agreement-in-principie, have settled on core lands in the lower Nass River valley — oulside Gitanyow terti- tory — the Nisga’a will also have ownership of some smaller chunks of land out- side their core lands. The Gitanyow say those Gov't ‘negotiating away’ other groups’ resources to Nisga’a Nisga’a ‘‘fee simple’’ lands include some prime Gtanyow fishing sites, They also say fishing and wildlife allocations to be ne- gotiaied under the Nisga’a treaty will-give the Nisga’a fish and wildlife from Gitanyow territory. “We could be labelled as trespassers on our own land,” says. Gitanyow speaker Glen Williams. The Gitanyow maintain their negotiations should be accelerated so governments aren’t negotiating away Gitanyow territory and resources to the Nisga’a, But those accelerated ne- gotiations depend on the Gitanyow getting more money from the B.C. Treaty Commission to support the talks, Williams says. He says the Gitanyow were told their treaty negoti- ation budget — pravided by the commission — would increase from $421,000 a year to $1.2 million, Bul he says although fed- eral and provincial officials have- committed to the ac- celerated pace, the treaty commission hasn’t come through with the extra money. Williams said there’s tech- nical work that needs to be done, and reports that need to be prepared before the groups can get down to final negotiations. ' He says it’s a waste of time and taxpayers’ money to continue Gitanyow nepo- tiations without that support, Because of the combined effect of current BCTC policy and accelerated Nisga’a negotiations, there is a real possibility that the adverse impacts of the Glen Williams Nisga’a agreement-in- principle will be entrenched in a treaty and constitu- tionally pratected without the opportunity of the Gitanyow protecting their rights through an agreement-in-principle and interim protection measures,” the submission Says, “The impact on Gitanyow will be devastating,’’ it con- tinues. ‘‘Such an event may force the Gilanyow to take action against their aboriginal acighbours with whom they have an ancient and historical relationship. The only beneficiary of such a conflict wili be the governments of Canada and British Columbia.”’ The Gitanyow submission even suggests privatizing the money-lending role of the B.C. Treaty Commission to conventional banks or financial institutions. Grants made for treaty ne- goliations are to ultimately be repaid. out of trealy settlements, The Gitanyow have signed a. framework agreement with the federal and provin- cial governments, and ate engaged in substantive ne- gotiations. Gitxsan call Nisga’a consulting deal ‘land grab’ GITXSAN natives say an interim measures agreement the Nisga’a signed earlier this month amounts to a land and resources grab by the group. Gitxsan chiefs say the Nisga’a have no historical basis to claim the upper Nass River valley, in which governments have agreed io consult the Nisga’a about pro- posed projects. The Gitxsan say they’re offended by the idea the Nisga’a would have to be consul- ted if Gitxsan people proposed a fishing lodge development in their traditional terri- tory, Treaty study | lowballs job loss CRITICS say the province’s study of a Nisga’a treaty’s impact on the = region seriously underestimates the number of forestry jobs af- fected, 1.W.A. Canada officials last week predicted the removal of wood from exist- ing licences could result in the loss of 280 direct log- ging, mill, and related jobs — not the 80 jobs estimated in the study, “The report systematical- ly understates the jobs im- pact of this agrecment,”’ said 1.W.A. vice president Warten Ulley, Ulley claimed job losses from the creation of Gwaii Haanas National Park on South Moresby Island ex- ceeded bureaucrats predic- tions by 300 per cent. The Nisga’a — socio- economic impact assess- ment did not predict direct mill job losses, The study suggested that although wood is removed from licences, it’s split be- tween a number of different licensees, and the result is the wood loss wan't be suf- ficient to cause layoffs at any mills. It also predicted the injec- tion of $190 million into the north will cause major spinoff bencfits, more than offsetting any jab loss, But B.C. Reform leader Jack Weisgerber said the. province can’t afford to sign 40 or 50 similar. deals around the province, “This report fails to recognize the impact on the province of the foregone resource revenuc, nor does it include basic costs to both the provincial and federal governments, such as those associated wilh implement- ing self-government,’ he sald, In particular, Weisgerber targets the province’s asser- tion that there will be $3 in financial benefits for every dollar spent by taxpayers on settling treaties, He said those benefits are federal tax money — which someone still has to pay — not new economic activity, Gitxsan Treaty Office spokesman Neil Sterritt said they’re pressing provincial cab- inet ministers to recognize sequences of their actions, “It’s moving closer to a serious situation and a serious precedent in treaty making in B.C, — the first-come, first-served princi- ple, which really ignores protoco] between people.” Gitxsan negotiations were broken off ear- to lier this year, with government negotiators citing major differences. The Gitxsan have decided to appeal their For i Pro Logit Subwoofers T te of stereo speaks the con- « ower ompll i ion ie speak HITA! # Tolevision 207 he a8: . ait an 8, ot TAC ALI VOR « Oc St «4 ies vou. stress < a) 8 20 (nstolled Deigam Uukw land claim court case to the Supreme Court of Canada. That case is scheduled to be heard by the high court the week of June 20th. Sterritt said the province says trealy over- laps must be. resolved, but said every time the Gitxsan turn around they sce the Nisga’a making advances at their expense. He said the Nisga’a promised in August respond baa ra to rail day Ut to a comprehensive Gitxsan/Gitanyow position paper on Nass tribal boundaries. But so far that hasn’t happened. ft rite 1, so syrord B secre Straight rH rear ® « ade ai Ning fot dies @ 47" Televi . Sane filter © Auta Holst Jaca Block a Correction * T. 35” Television ie a ev Volunat Correction © Ml ‘potirental «jue tt Hous Co mie aITAGHt 55” Projection TV Blow Out Price ITAGKN, pay Tax hikes not ruled out MAYOR JACK Talstra said there are rumours the government is planning cuts to the homeowners’ grant. City council plans to limit its expenditures and be in a position to cause no tax increase to locals, But if the province were to reduce the homeowners grant, that would have the effect of raising property taxes, “Wouldn't that be a shock if property taxes go up by 300 or 400 bucks per household,’’ David Hult said. 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