Out to protect his lands

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 14, 2002 - All

Chief wants treaty overturned

THE NISGA’A Tribal Council had no right to

_ bargain away land for self government powers con- tained in the Nisga’a trea- ty, says a hereditary chief from Kincolith.

James Robinson, 49, known as Chief Mountain

_of the Eagle clan, said that

“action was unconstitution- al and he’s involved in a court battle to overturn the treaty.

Robinson said his rights — as well as those of other

_ Kincolith Nisga’a — are best protected and en- hanced within the consti- tution.

. And while Robinson be- lieves in self government, he says the bargaining of treaties containing self

government powers risks.

setting up hundreds of na- tive sovereign entities. “My duty is to protect the lands that belong to my house,” Robinson said last week in an interview. A carpenter by trade and now living on the Queen Charlotte Islands,

Robinson is one of a tiny .

group of people from Kin- colith who want the Nisga’a treaty declared in- valid, at least when it comes to dealing with Kincolith lands.

They say the treaty, which established the Nisga’a Lisims govern- ment and contained gov- eming powers, was nego- tialed without their con- sent or participation.

“My duty is to pro- tect the lands that belong to my house.”

If anything, Robinson says that if Kincolith lands are to be negotiated away, it should be done by house members from Kincolith and not by other Nisga’a living further up the Nass River in Greenville, Git- winksihtkw..and New Aiyansh.

Nisga’a lands set out in the treaty are mainly con-

centrated in the area of the , &

three villages.

In some ways, Robin- son’s case reflects the his- tory of Kincolith in rela- tion to the rest of the Nass Valley.

Located at the mouth of the Nass River, Kincolith was not a historic Nisga’a site and was settled late in the 19th century by Nisga’a from the upper Nass who | became

Christians. They left, said Robin- son, because of persecu-

as ‘TERRACE. © 635-5345, :

Earth.

our /iving room..

KEEP IT CLEAN!

‘wivw.pitch-in.ca

lion from Nisga’a who kept their traditional spiritual practices.

Located away from the other three Nisga’a vil- lages, Kincolith developed closer connections with places such as Prince Ru- pert because if was easier to travel by water down the coast then to journey inland.

Regular. ferry. and air- ctaft service further tied Kincolith to Prince Rupert.

And even though a $30 million road is more than halfway finished to con- nect Kincolith with the rest of the Nass, Robinson is unconvinced about the sales pitch of drawing his village closer together

with the other villages.

“I believe it is an ex- tension of a logging road,” said Robinson. “Do you think it is to convenience 250 natives?”

He believes the road is more to spur on resource extraction than to join Kincolith with the rest of the Nass Valley.

Robinson’s court chal- lenge has. gone on. for years and, at one time, was altached to a case Started by Premier Gordon Campbell and Attorney- General Geoff Plant when they were in opposition.

That case challenged the constitutional aspects of the Nisga’a treaty to create native self govern-

Monuments Bronze Plaques Terrace Crematorium

I

4626 Davis Street

Terrace, B.C. V8G 1X7

funeral Sewke Phone 635-2444 © Fax 635-635-2160 |] - Assodation |

MacKay’s Funeral Service Ltd.

Serving Terrace, Kitimat, Smithers & Prince Rupert

Concerned personal service in the Northwest, since 1946

24 hour pager

TERRACE VOLUNTEER BUREAU

Do you need help on a regular basis for doctors’ appointments, banking, shopping, or a friendly visit? For more information on help from a regularly scheduled volunteer on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, call

Terrace Volunteer Bureau at

_CALL: 638-1330

where allot yolit nga Going

a aly

needs are completed with fast service at reasonable prices.

WE SPECIALIZE

— IN COLOUR PRINTING Business Cards - Office Stafonary Advertising Layout & Design - Brochures Flyers - Posters - Newsletiers - Menus - Absolutely Anything on Paper -

Give us a call today at 635-1872 or Fax us at 635-1868

ment powers.

It failed and Campbell and Plant abandoned fur- ther challenges once they gained office. They said they were obligaled to de- fend the treaty because of a clause in (he treaty re- quiring the provincial gov- ernment to do so.

But a B.C. Court of Ap-

peal decision this past June opens the. way. for Robinson and other Kinco- lith to continue their con- stitutional challenge. Robinson’s lawyer, John Weston of Vancouver, ex- pects the case to eventual- ly wind up before the Su- preme Court of Canada. He anticipates the cost will reach $3 miliion even

after he and other lawyers

. cut their fees and other ex-

penses. **Robinson has begun a public appeal to raise money for his action.

OVER 1500 STORES IN U.S. AND CANADA | : Buy 2 pre-viewed VHS, DVD or Games, get 3rd Free! os Earn free rentals by joining REEL PLAYERS

ara Lakelse Avenue ° 250-635- 4333 / 4730 Keith Road: 604" 638-7227

Lock your doors and hide valuables

AN ONGOING problem in the Terrace area is at the heart of a Crimestoppers plea for information.

On the night of Aug. 5 several vehicles in the 2900 block of Kalum St. were entered and several items were stolen.

Police say in most cases loose change, compact discs and various personal items were. stolen. In one case a pair of rollerblades was taken and an- other person had their car ‘slereo taken out of its moulding.

Vehicles can be an easy target at night in the Terrace area. Police are reminding all car owners to lock their doors and keep all valuables out of sight and secured away from vehicles. -

Any suspicious pedestrians should also always be reparted to police.

Terrace Crimestoppers offers a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to arrests and charges being laid.

Callers are not required to identify themselves and do not have to testify in court,

If you have information about these or any other crimes please contact Crimestoppers at 635-TIPS.

; L: ‘participating. locations” Membership: cules apply. Not valid with any ather specials of discounts. : ‘One coupan per person por viel). Fae rental must ba of equal or lesser” ‘walue, Excludes alt aulpment rentels, rYolld.¢ ‘on Inttiat rental atiod onlin:

vat art i ¢ ‘Membership tules soi tet valld an} poe ye coupon per person rer visit. Free rantal must be the lesver valued ~

atlag location any other specials or discounts.

Exciudes all equi pared a teplees e/aalen: a

at valid on initial rental’

(Spoken like a true parent.)

THE NEW 2003'S HAVE ARRIVED

East, ion

— BRITISH COLUMBIA

- Thornhill Motors

Are we ever feeling proud! Thase Outbacks, Foresters, = Legacys, and imprezas take automotive design and safety to a new level, in fact, they've already won a hilmber of major crash test awards from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. What's more, they all are equipped with Subaru’s highly-advanced All-Wheel Drive system. So stop by your Subaru retailer and see the new 2003's, You'll probably want to take delivery of one of your own, Wher you get it, you get it,

is SUBARU COUNTRY —

TERRACE, B.C.

OUR NEW BABIES ARE THE SMARTEST, CUTEST, AND MOST ADVANCED.

2003 FORNGSTER

cay SUBARU. - The Beauty of I-Whel Drive:

Mist us at wsubaruca

a -800 55¢

88 © 635-7286