A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 11, 1995 RCMP assault probe includes northwest Mary Dalen Few benefit from claims process, By MARY DALEN THERE IS uncertainty and con- cer for the future, because of the treaty process and self govern- ment, What is happening in this area is going to come to a head sooner or later. As a true Canadian first, and a descendant of true hereditary chiefs, because we dared to ask questions, voiced concerns wrote letters and have opinions on self government and the trealy pro- cess and other matters important to the Indian people, we are left out and ignored and blacklisted. We are not fortunate and privileged to acquire jobs on the reserves we belong to or to partic- ipale in the treaty process that is going to affect our lives. Claims that the Skeena MP Mike Scott is a racist stems from the Gitksan and Wet’suwet’en leaders after a public forum in Smithers. He is not a racist, he is made a Scapegoat by those within a system who have created for themselves a comfortable little nest that is now rocked by ques- tions and concerns that were put to the M.P. by his constituents. Tam not an advocate of the treaty process and self govern- ment, mainly because I to not know what is negotiated on the peoples’ behalf. Negotialions are, done behind closed doors. If we are allowed in, we are told we cannot ask questiotis or voice Concems and can only observe. We are treated like little children who will be scolded if we try to speak, and it is made that only the chiefs can speak, Ancient chicfs’ names are on the land in the Jand claims pro- cess and in my opinion this is not going to work. The incident at Boulder Creek where a couple began to build their retirement home and were physically chased out by a group claiming to be the chiefs of the land js stil] on the minds of the residents here, My grandparents and parents taught me to teat people cqually, I appeal to the women, and the young people to come ont and take a stand. This is not only the chiefs’ world. Our lives and fu- ture are at stake, Ti do¢sn’t have to be spelled out to them by the Bruce Hills of the warld. (letter to the editor, Dec. 28/94) I resent his remarks on all of the issues that he mentions and that “‘reserves are nothing more than phettos,”’ He should make a public apol- ogy to the people on reserves and for the personal attacks he made on the MP for Skeena, without first Icarmning the true history of the past and the reality of what is really going on today. We are not restricted to living “on reserve’? as MP Mike Scott means when he says natives should or could leave their com- munities and assimilate. What is racist about this? In reality, we are abandoned by our own chiefs and leaders. The negotiators are making thousands of dollars a month. Since land claims began, millions of dollars have flowed through the Offices of the Hercditary — Chicfs that only the leaders, chicfs and their ‘‘chosen few"? are the sole beneficiaries, with no accountability to anyone. There are no Jong term jobs created for anyone. There are Indian people who have no homes, both on and off Teserve, there are lands we are Supposed to Inherit from our gtandparents and parents. They are nol ghettos, Until these issues are dealt with, I cannot sce the planned apree- ments in principle signed between the g governments and native lead- crs. Mary Daten lives i in Cedarvale where she takes care of the Meanskinisht Museum. NORTHWESTERN RCMP of- ficers are included in a 25~ member team investigating al- legations of physical and sexual assault at native residential schools. The officers taking part in what’s being described as the RCMP's single largest criminal _probe ever in B.C. are experi- enced investigators altached to the RCMP’s subdivision head- quarters in Prince Rupert. They went to Vancouver over the weekend and are taking part in a week long training session, says RCMP public relations rep- resentative Sgt. Peter Montague. The officers will then fan out across the province, including the northwest, to interview hundreds of natives who attended church- Tun residential schools. The RCMP announced the in- vestigation in late 1994 at the re~- quest of the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribat Council. Officers will interview those who attended 13 residential schools, Two of those were in the northwest, Lower Post 1951 and 1975 and at Lejac near Fraser Lake from 1910 to 1976. Both were operated by the Roman Catholic church. It was once federal government policy to take native children from their familics and put them in schools run by churches, In ad- dition to the Roman Catholic church, schools were run by the Anglican and United churches. The - first . of -these schools opencd in 1890 and the ast closed in 1983, Psychiatrists and counsellors will accompany investigators when interviewing people. That kind of effort is an indica- tion of the seriousness and com- mitment being made by the RCMP to properly conduct the investigation, said Montague. “When you're going back 40 years you want to be as prepared and sensitive as possible,” he said. The RCMP will be installing 1- 800 lines at the beginning of March so people can phone and have their ames put on interview lists. Montague said investigators al- ready involved have solid in- formation relating to allegations, Skier takes long route to Shames IT’S A LONG and winding road to Shames Mountain ski hill. At least that’s how it turned out for one Ketchikan skicr. Shames Ski Club’s Greg Mac- Donald tells the tale of mecting the Alaskan on the hill over the Christmas period, This gentieman had come south intent on skiing Smithers’ Hud- son Bay Mountain. So intent, in fact, that he went straight there from his Prince Rupert ferry landing, driving past Shames on the way, Smithers, however, hasn't received the amount of snow the Terrace mountain has enjoyed 50 fat this winter.” Finding the skiing on Hudson Bay not to his liking, - the Ketchikaner decided to call it quits. However, to ensure the long trip wasn’t a complete loss, he stopped in at Shames on the way back, the idea being io spend a day, maybe two there, ‘He ended up staying a week,’ MacDonald said. With 245cm of snow at the top and a 180cm base down below, it’s no surprise the visitor found the conditions more to his liking, Want to bet he takes the Shames tum-off first next time he’s down? _<, thank you ) foryour’ Diabetes pc. smn. c+ Support of Cl Raters ‘Winter bed and brealfasc special includes complimentary fag breakfast for 2. tik dbt 3 ‘Friendly home- FRY ae aE als ~FIRST*CLASS*FOR*LESS — Stay for °59"and breakfast i is free. away-from-home Seibel, Rr ve *Stay'n Save Motor Inns conveniently located i in four of BC's most popular destinations *Beautyrest™ mattresses, free sports and movic channels, family restaurants and more. ‘Coupon must be presented upon check-in a Stay"n ave Vancouver Airport Victoria Kamloops Kelowna |- 800-663-0298 FAXIne (604) 73-9522 ‘Single/Double pei right basis. Valid Now, $494 to Feb, 28/95, Available at all locations. Subject to avaihbility. Taxes extia. me mes tees el He said the RCMP is pulling in investigators from: around — the province so as not to deprive any one area of resources. Bul he did say the investigation will put a strain ‘on the force. “Regardless this has been given’ lop priority, This issuc will be dealt with once and for all,’ ”* said Montague. Also to be involved are several senior crown prosecutors experi- enced in dealing with the matter of assaults, Those prosecutors have not yet been named. CG NU UTEVRUUUTORUNAOUTU TGR OUAVOQUUUUTATIOTCERATTUELUSTEATFTORIORATETHONTET " Creative Zone Your LOW PRICE Zone! Over 10,000 Quality Items Under $1.00 LTT Ee “SIDEWAL SPECIAL 1/2 PRICE | rut CUTTING > On Many ~ 2 Selected Ite THE HIGH ® PRICE OF HOBBIES & CRAFTS DOWN TO SIZE!! re CUT Teint SIT 2 WAY RADIOS by MOTOROLA The crisp clean sound of Motorola quality will help your people work smarter, faster, safer and more . roductively. 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Please watch for and obey traffic control signing. To report road hazards, call 638- 8389 during office hours, After hours, please call 1-800-665-5051, wo ee ew ee ee ee eee em en me An Environmental Citizenship Message From Environment Canada Many of our communities chlorinate their drinking water to kill bacteria. Althou greater than the smail risk ofhealth effects from these compounds, THIS YEAR LAST YEAR RECORDS FROM PAST YEARS Dec. MAX, MIN, PCPN SUN MAX, MIN, PCPN SUN ff} MAX. YEAR MIN. YEAR PRECIP, YEAR 31 “4.7 6.6 5.6 27 0.1 7.0, 0.0 61 1963 -256 1968 50.3 1969 Jan. 1 6.5 ‘9.4 5.6 2.6 1.0 54 = 0.0 67 1962 -250 1969 98.4 1984 2 -6.2 9.5 5.6 42° 08 4.6: 0.0 6.0 1984 -194 1969 95.8 1975 3 7.2 107 5.7 4.4 16 2 0.0 48 1984 -217 1959 467 1958 4 100 4136 5.8 2.7 14 2.2 0.0 6.9 1984 -225 1982 434 1961 5 “11.6 145 2.8 24 — -4.0 0.4 4.3 5.6 1963 -250 1982 175 1975 6 132 160 0.0 1.4 -3.8 13.0 0,0 8.9 1963 -228 1959 220 1983 gh chlorination can also form harmful by-products, .its benefits are Much BROUGHT TO YOU BY: | NECHAKO a Z Se JIN OR a NORTHCOAST CONST fauc TION SERVICES Poo Your Road Maintenance Contractor