EE Pa bers PRG TN IIIT a AE EO oo TOT Treaty talks to open u PEOPLE CAN now expect to leam more about the details of Nisga’a treaty ne- gotiations then they did dur- ing the period leading to the agreement in principle. Provincial aboriginal af- fairs minister John Cashore says the talks to put the meal on the bones of the agreement in principle will be open to the public, “Ill be the first order of business when the negotia- * " tors meet again,”” vsaid dohn Cashore Cashore of arrangements to have the public attend negotia- ling sessions once they begin. “‘Without that there won't be any talks,”' he added, The concept of openness didn’t occur during the agree- ment in principle stage because of a previous alrangement signed by the Nisga’a and the federal and provincial governments in 1991, Talks were held in private and news dribbled through ei- ther by official announcements or by leaked documents. All three parties were criticized for that level of secrecy. “It’s null and void, It’s over,’’ said Cashore of the pre- vious set of rules under which negotiations were con- ducted, | ‘The final negotiations will be more or less held under the general format of the B.C. Trealy Commission pracess which provides for more openness, Cashore expects that negotiators will retum to the bargaining table within three or four months. He said it ll take some time for the province to speak more with interest groups and the general public over par- ticulars of the agreement in principle, Cashore did warm that the nuts and bolts of treaty making is not exciting and likened it to watching paint dry. Generally Cashore said he’s happy with the level of response to the Nisga’a agreement in principle. That’s because a lot of what was contained in the agree- ment in principle was already in circulation through leaks prior to the agreement’s official release. “There was quite open discussion of numbers — of land and cash,'’ said Cashore. Although the province couldn't talk about what was in circulation, Cashore said there was a value in having that kind of information out there floating around because it meant people were getting informed. He wouldn’t go'as far as to say that information was being strategically leaked but did say it was being given to groups who would then go and discuss it with their mem- bers. Although the agreement in principle is being criticized Cashore said it is merely a lead up to a final treaty. “If we had gone out there and since this is the greatest thing since sliced bread and we're going to ratify in it six weeks we would have been in trouble,” he said. Cashore snipes ff at Gitxsan office ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS Minister John Cashore took some shots last weck at what’s left of the Gitxsan Treaty Office. He was responding to a press release issued by the GTO, now down to a skeleton staff since treaty talks were suspended earlier this year. The release followed an April 2 decision at the Supreme Court of Canada to extend filing deadlines for another six months in the Delgamuukw land claim case, at the request of the Gitxsan and Wel’suwel’en, Cashore called the GTO release ‘factually incorrect’? in a number of areas. ‘‘What they seem to do in a number of their news releases is lake a finding and then read into that finding political interpretations which they use to try to both speak to their own people and also to condemn those who they are wanting to damage,’’ Cashore said. “It's taking a liberty and it’s making assumptions aud Teporting them as fact.” In particular, the minister challenged statements that the Supreme Court justice ‘‘essentially followed the Gitxsan suggestions about an extension.”’ The order from the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is a simple list of new filing and appearance dates. No rea- sons for the ruling are given. “The Gitxsan have made this argument, but there’s no basis for knowing that it factored in the judge’s decision,” Cashore said, “Therefore this shows a profound disrespect for the highest court and for them to lake their assumptions and put them out in a press release as fact is to play fast and loose with their respect for the courts, their respect for the treaty process, and indeed for their intenlion to ultimately resolve these issues ina reasonable way. “What it does is it reinforces my position that these people are not interested in bargaining in good faith.’’ Cashore said the release was equally wrong to say the province opposed the appeal extension. “That is not factually correct,”’ he said. ‘‘It’s an un- reasonable interpretation and they have no basis for saying thal”? In its last submission to the Ottawa-based court, the pro- vince said it would only oppose the extension if the Supreme Court decided to withhold judgment on a number of aboriginal fishing rights cases heard last fall, pending a hearing of Delgamuukw. The province wanted a chance to argue ils posilion directly before the court, because it was only an intervener in the fishing cases. Cashore said the idea was to ‘‘ensure a logical progres- sion of decisions,’’ nol to atlack the Gitcsan application. He also challenged statements that ‘‘the hereditary chiefs have always favored negotiation over litigation.” “The fact is that they are the appellants in the (Delgamuukw) case, so in that instance they don’t favor negotiation over litigation.” Cashore also questioned why blockades were put up last summer if the Gitxsan were committed to negotiation, “The fact is, if they favor negotiation, why were there roadblocks, why was that aclivily condoned?”’ Cashore is still smarting over press releases that attacked the province’s position last December. _ “Why has there been ongoing public relations activitics that demonstrate a great deal of disrespect for the people that they should be negotiating with, if they support that?” Do it with Logs... Only 1 space teft for building in ‘96. Call us to see our latest creations on video! Cassicr Lor fous HOMES « CABINS ¢ GAZEBOS » POST & BEAM STAUCTURES ALSO * LOG HOME RENOVATIO NS * QUTSIDE RESTORATION © INCREASE YOUR R VALUE judging. will be taken. Terrace Pageant. . PRINCESS’9G : ® Judging to take place May 17, 1996 at 8pm after the =| Fashion Show held at the Co-op. e All contestants will model in fashion show prior to (Ge TERRACE ee) “© Open to ages 6-8 years. 15 entrants only - waiting list ® Tickets available $2.00 each - proceeds to go the Miss Fs 4617 Greig Ave., Terrace CANADA'S LARGEST VOLUMEL) cet CARPET STORES HUGE SAVINGS on High Quality Vinyls Prices Below Wholesale The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 10, 1996 - AS Domco Constant Pride Wholesale $24.97/sy End of the Roll «a Price $ 1 | 8”, Tarkett 2000 + 2000 plus Wholesale $38.49/sy End of the | Roll $49%., Price Coordinate . Commercial Flooring Wholesale $17.49/sy End of — the Roll’ Price $4 4%, Mon - Sat 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. 1-800-511-6511 635-7700 4717 Lakelse Ave. Terrace | . End FRI . Ol’ “CARPET-& VINYL DISCOUNT-CENTRES | GRIME |ia)!|| STOPPERS RAVAN Ug 635-TIPS STOPPERS "> ASSORTMENT VARIES BY. STORE LIMITED QUANTITIES SHOES NOTINCLUDED | CASH, CHEQUES AGAIN! Vi Ai ae! > _JSORRY, NO LAYAWAYS ON RED TAG TENS | f Noster tad + » PRICES SLASHED, a.