-Caveat Lector- ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sat, 13 Apr 2002 13:38:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Party of Citizens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Society Promoting Environmental Conservation <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [BCPOLITICS] BC Referendum on First Nations
Dear SPEC: On the ballot we find a phrase which most people do not question..."Crown land". THERE IS NO CROWN LAND IN BC. The case may be otherwise in other parts of Canada with different histories, but here, THERE IS NO CROWN LAND. The British Crown never laid claim to these lands. First Nations declarations here have repeated that assertion with its rationale. Nobody has refuted it. Please read the Okanagan Nation's "Declaration to all Canadians" of Oct. 15/92. It is 3/4 page on A15 of The Province. It opens with the words, "The Okanagan nation is a sovereign nation...." And it explains clearly why, in historical context. Another document from UBCIC is called "Comprehensive Framework Treaty". It too is very clear about sovereignty, quoting the appropriate legislation and precedents in history. The Crown never claimed this land. Nobody so much as stood here with a flag and claimed it in the name of the British Crown any more than that was done with Japan. First Nations in BC are as sovereign as Japan. However, it seems they were willing to work out amicable agreements with non-First Nation settlers, at least until until this referendum came along. Since the British Crown never claimed this land, how can it be under the post-1982 (and constitutional repatriation) administration of BC-Canada? It cannot unless First Nations cede that control. POC On Fri, 12 Apr 2002, Society Promoting Environmental Conservation wrote: > >What To Do With Your Referendum Ballot > > > >� Union of BC Indian Chiefs, April 9, 2002 > >As promised, here is the statement from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs > >about what they would like you to do with your ballot: > >We are working with other organizations to promote an "active boycott" > >strategy. The idea is to redirect unsigned ballots, in a plain envelope, > >to specified collection points instead of sending them to Elections BC to > >be counted. > >What is an active boycott? > >An active boycott provides a choice for individuals who want to express > >their opposition to the referendum process > >by redirecting their unsigned ballot to a local band office, labour > >council or church. > >Why an active boycott? > >An active boycott allows the individual to redirect their unsigned ballot > >as a form of protest and an act of conscience. Sending a "spoiled ballot" > >to Elections BC will lend creditability to the process and may make it > >easier for the referendum questions to pass. The adopted regulations state > >"the outcome of the vote for each question is based on a threshold of 50 > >percent plus 1 of the validly cast votes for that question." A spoiled > >ballot does not count as a "validly cast vote." Voting no is problematic > >as the questions are so ambiguous that the Liberal government can > >interpret the answers to reflect their political goals. > >What will happen with the unsigned ballots? > >The unsigned ballots will be counted. Unsigned ballots will be presented, > >in protest, to the Government of British Columbia or the ballots will be > >disposed of at a public ceremony. > >What is wrong with the referendum process? > >The questions are problematic not only for what they include, but also for > >what they exclude. Many of the questions are recycled status-quo > >positions, which the Province has advanced to deny constitutionally > >enshrined aboriginal rights. The Province has advanced these arguments > >through the courts, where they were resoundingly rejected. > >Absent in the referendum is any reference to a mandate to acknowledges > >Crown obligations owed to Aboriginal peoples or attempt to address a > >century of denial of rights and title. There is no mandate to take steps > >to ensure the survival of distinct First Nations within their territories > >- by focusing on language survival, to facilitate education for > >non-aboriginal people about Aboriginal peoples or provide access to higher > >education for Aboriginal peoples. The right of self-determination is > >entirely absent from the mandate. Nor do the questions reflect a mandate > >which addresses how reconciliation will occur between the pre-existence of > >Aboriginal societies and the assertion of Crown sovereignty, how > >Aboriginal peoples can make decisions as to how the land will be used, > >while at the same time, co-existing with federal and provincial laws. No > >attention is paid to providing a path for Aboriginal Peoples and the > >Federal and Provincial governments to achieve a just resolution of the > >Land Question and thereby accomplish an enduring and lasting > >reconciliation between all parties. > > > >Send your unsigned ballot, in a plain envelope, to: > >Union of BC Indian Chiefs > >500 - 342 Water Street > >Vancouver, BC V6B-1B6 > > > >OR > >Chief Judith Sayers > >Hupacasath First Nation > >5323 River Road, > >Box 211 Port Alberni, BC > >V9Y 7M7 > > > > ***************************************************** > SPEC > Society Promoting Environmental Conservation > 2150 Maple Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6J 3T3 > phone (604) 736-SPEC, FAX (604) 736-7115 > e-mail, [EMAIL PROTECTED] > web, www.spec.bc.ca > ***************************************************** ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4 and no minimums. 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