Le _ rests EULSLATIVG Lita 3 : vee ayen7? SUTLDINGS, Cour rftB CiORDA, Bee, VEY-1X4 ‘ #61 f ) (RUPERT STEEL & SALVAGE LTD ) T antin ie [ TERRACE-KITIMAT ; why = | CP PACE IN . . COPPER BRASS | 7 ALL METALS & BATTERIES C : M d : o a +4 ¢ | : MOH. - SAT, ourt onaay ee } OPEN TIL 5 p.m. ; The District of Terrace will be in. Vancouver upreme Court Monday answering civil charges Location Seal Cove _ Phone 624-5639 laid by Mickey Johnson, of Mickey ‘one t i " Pee I a ae Eo 2A TS tee prt eet OT ’ . wt a® or rn ale VOLUME 72 NO, 107 _/ 20°. FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 1978 Tahltan Band Claims Valley TAHLTAN TRIBE SAYS - “WE STILL OWN THE STIKINE VALLEY" Recent attempts by the B.C. Lands Department to auction off some land in the Stikine Valley, hear Telegraph Creek, B.C., has prompted quick and angry response from the Tahltan Indians who still hold the aboriginal title to. this remote, scenic corner of British Columbia. In a special band council resolution dated May 25, 1978, the leaders of the Tahltan Tribe call wpon the government of B.C. and the © to . action as a “land auction" government of Canada “avoid friction and Taisunderstanding’ by first making treaty with the rightful owners of the land before any settlement plans or industrial developments are attempted, The band council’s resolution warns senior governments that the Tahltan People have never | given up their rights. and sovereignty over these lands, rivers and resources, and that such government constitutes an illegal and unfriendly encroachment upon Tahitan lands and rights, Underlining the “govereign right” to Stikine lands, the “Tantten Band Council’s resolution to the government explains “We are still...dependent for our living on our country. To lose ‘it,..we would loge our means of living and therefore our lives.’ id They further state, “We deny the B.C. government has any title (to) or right of ownership in our country. We have never treatied with them, nor given thei any such title,” The Tahltan leaders urged that “All questions regar- ding our lands, hunting, fishing, etc., and every Matter concerning © our welfare, be settled by treaty between us and the Dominion and B.C, govern- ments.” Aiatal motor vehicle accident on Keith Avenue shortly -after midnight Thursday resulted in the death of ane ‘formation. Police are also invaadignting an accident | ‘which occurred at 3:40a.m. on Highway 16 ap- Peigans. Lift Dam Blockade BROCKET, Alta. (CP) — The Pelgan Indian band has lifted- a blockade of an irrigation weir on ‘its land, but the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District will not be allowed to use reserve roads to reach the dam, a band spokesman said today. Percy Smith, the band’s land manager, said the irrigation district will have to fly workers and equip- ment to the site—6% kilometres inside the reserve— by helicopter. The band blockaded the irrigation works, which supply water to about 133,000 acres of irrigated land, 900 farm families and 2,700 residents of communities north of Lethbridge, for three weeks. The Peigans claim ownership of 4,1 acres of Oldman River bed on which the works sit and are demanding compensation for use of ‘the land. The Peigans defied an. Al- berta Supreme Court in- . ‘junction issued last week that ordered the band not to interfere with irrigation: district attempts to open the ' dam’s flood gates. The irrigation district countered with an ap- Plicatica for a contempt-of- court citation. ORDERED TO APPEAR .. The application was heard Wednesday in Edmonton by Chief Justice J.V.H. Milvain, who ordered six members of the band to appear before him ix Lethbridge next Tuesday to show cause why they should not be held in contempt. no RoHowlagcsthesmehief: ~