AOR SN ee | “Talk o on “money | ‘for land claims said premature TERRACE: ‘— Any ‘discussion - on -who will pay. for land claims settlements “is premature until agreements are negotiated, says the executive director of the ‘Nisga’a Tribal. Council. Speaking - ‘last. week, Rod Robinson: said. governments should wait. until the shape of settlements. become known, - “Let's see what-it looks like. It. would -be - premature to predetermine what could hap- pen,”*. he said... Robinson's statements. follow an announcement by federal In- dian affairs minister Tom Sid- don. that the. cost. of any: settle- ment, should be 70 per ‘cent the responsibility of the - ‘federal government and 30 | per cent the responsibility of the “provincial government. “But that. kind of position should wait until. the settlement package involving land, resources and money is ‘known, said Robinson. - , ~The province agrees with the Nisga’a position, said provin- cial native affairs _ ministry deputy minister Eric Denhoff. ', “The province is less than en- thusiastic with the federal posi- tion, It won't be 70/30 if: it’s money and then the land (in any settlement),”" ; Court case ‘word soon TERRACE — What will be the major court decision affecting . land claims in the country’ should ‘be released by mid- January; says a spokesman for the. native ‘group which started the action, . ‘Don Ryan of: the Gitksan- Wet'suwet'en who live in the Hazeltons said he’s been told the decision is already at the Queen’s Printer in Victoria. ’ The Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en. have filed suit against the provincial. govern- ment; :: northwestern B.C. centred on the Hazeltons. ‘In turn, the provincial government | was successful in having the federal government joined as. a co-defendant i in the § uit. this. year. o: ' The decision’ will Set a prece- dent on the issue of native title :. although it is expected it will be.” appealed by whatever party comes out on the losing end. ' “We had heard he (B.C. Supreme Court Judge Allan McEachern) wanted the deci- | sion out before Christmas but ” there is some problem in prin- ting maps’’ of the claim area, i: said Ryan. . “Now we're expecting it either. the 6th or. January,” he added. Ryan said he was told the decision is between 600 and — 1,000 pages tong. -The Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en spokesman said he had wanted the decision out in time for a conference on self- government being held Jan. 11. Ryan said the Gitksan and Wet'suwet’en will be asked to approve an agreement. with the federal government outlining specific areas of self govern- ment jurisdiction. said - Denhoff :asking:: the. Supreme 3... ‘Court of B.C. to. rule that they have. jurisdiction and title to. $4,000 ‘square ‘kilometres of - The suit was’ ‘filed j in 1984 and ' the first. court “proceedings ~~ began in 1987. They concluded : -becatise the province has. con- sstitutional jurisdiction over land. “= “A good half. of the bill ‘(of any settlement). could be land and resources and that could mean B.C. would be paying for ‘two-thirds. to three-quarters,” , he'said. As well, provincial native af- ‘fairs minister Jack Weisgerber “has told the Nisga’a that talks ‘with them won't be affected by “efforts to come up with a negotiations process - for other natives in the province. The province, the federal government and the First Na- tions Congress have formed a ‘group to look at a common “negotiations approach. CO-OP\ Komatsu *Timberjack . CB _ tAlhey, a _ ‘eAie Compressors eLevels & Transits Air Tools & Accs. . *Track Drills *Walders Healers & Fans *lngersoll-Agnd : *Concrete ihe : f Rivtow : Equipment _ ) "HEAVY EQUIPMENT. SALES, PARTS AND SERVICE ~eBarmac +: _, Blaw-Knox 7... -* eCentury Il (P&H) 2. 3Glamra.. *Eagta Iron Works *Etnyre Wyile INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT F RENTAL PURVES RITCHIE RENTALS DIVISION. (Sub: branch of Purves Altchia in Prince Rupert) Gas - Pumps _ SForkiitts Loaders _ Macks a” “Hoists Parts « Sales: ° Service &) Rivtow Equipment *@Demolition Equipriaat -"-@Sandbtasting Equipment *eCompaction | Equipment : Electrical Eipment. *Gomaco .. ¢Gormon.Rupp of “eHighway eLayton *Mayco: aye ‘ & Barricades “& Elentric Tools = 0 > TIMBERJACK SKIODERS -