And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes: 1. BC: "a powderkeg developing out there" 2. UBCIC Press Release: "Such hypocrisy! Such Arrogance!" :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: NATIVES UNDERSCORE LANDMARK RULING - PROTEST MARCHES, RAIL AND ROAD BLOCKADES BUTTRESS CALLS FOR FASTER ACTION ON LAND CLAIMS The Globe and Mail, December 12, 1998, by Rod Mickleburgh [S.I.S.I.S. note: The following mainstream news article may contain biased or distorted information and may be missing pertinent facts and/or context. It is provided for reference only.] One year ago, the Supreme Court of Canada recognized the validity of claims by BC natives to ancestral lands they had never ceded by treaty. Yesterday, native groups in the province marked the first anniversary of the court's landmark ruling, known as the Delgamuukw decision, with railway blockages, marches and calls for provincial and federal negotiators to step up the pace of treaty negotiations. The widespread unhappiness served as a sobering reminder that the terms of the only modern-day treaty negotiated to date in the province, a still controversial deal covering the Nisga'a in northwestern BC is unlikely to satisfy other tribal groups. "If they try to choke [us] into accepting the provisions of the Nisga'a treaty, it won't happen," declared Squamish Chief Joe Mathias of the First Nations Summit task group, which is coordinating more than 50 sets of treaty negotiations under way in the province." The day's activities also highlighted the deep divisions within the native organizations, as groups representing 30 per cent of BC aboriginals repeated their refusal to take part in any treaty negotiations. Spearheaded by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, they believe treaties are sell-out deals that surrender aboriginals' comprehensive sovereign claim to all traditional native territory. Instead of treaties, they insist on compensation for the use of their ancestral lands by non-natives. The Upper Stl'atl'imx Indians underscored the point yesterday with a four-hour blockade of the main BC Rail line and Highway 99 near Seton Lake, north of Vancouver. Other groups set up information picket lines along provincial highways to commemorate the Delgamuukw ruling. About 100 natives took part in a march through downtown Vancouver. A statement by the Union of BC Indian Chiefs said the federal and BC governments have ignored the Supreme Court decision by insisting on policies "designed to extinguish our aboriginal title and rights." It accused the governments of ignoring the court's directive to negotiate "in good faith" with BC natives, while demanding that Indians respect the rule of law. "Such hypocrisy! Such arrogance," the statement said. The governments also took their lumps from leaders of the First Nations Summit, which wants negotiated treaties. They charged that government negotiators are dragging their heels at the bargaining table, while parcels of Crown land claimed by native groups continue to be used by forest companies and developers. "Someone else is getting rich, while native people watch their lands and resources going to somebody else," Mr. Mathias said. Native leaders warned of serious trouble ahead unless government negotiators move quickly to make serious offers of land and compensation to those involved in the treaty talks. Otherwise they may have to take action to halt resource activity on disputed land. "If the province and Canada are not looking after our citizens, then they are going to be creating havoc and chaos. There's a powder keg developing out there," Mr Mathias said. And there will be continuing economic uncertainty in the province as long as outstanding land claims remain, added task-group member Edward John, grand chief of the northern Tl'azt'en Indians. "For you [non-natives] to create certainty, you must have our agreement. We are the only ones who can give you economic certainty." Regarding the Nisga'a treaty, which is under fierce attack by the provincial Liberals as dangerously overgenerous, Mr Mathias said the BC government hopes it will be copied by other native groups. "But that is not going to happen. We are all different. You can't apply a cookie-cutter approach to what the white man calls 'our Indians'. Mr. John said increasing opposition to the Nisga'a treaty by BC Liberals will almost certainly make further negotiations tougher. "We're seeing a very mean-spirited approach by the Liberals, and it's only going to harden our position. The reconciliation with white society that we are all hoping for may become a very difficult objective." Letters to the Globe and Mail - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: UBCIC COMMEMORATES DELGAMUUKW DECISION'S ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY December 11, 1998 (Vancouver BC) Press Release Sovereign Indian Nations of British Columbia plan to march through the streets of Vancouver today. Over a hundred Native protesters are expected to march in commemoration of the landmark Delgamuukw decision which was handed down by the Supreme Court on December 11, 1997. The Delgamuukw decision has recognized that, in British Columbia, Aboriginal Title exists on an equal footing with Provincial Crown Title. Our Aboriginal Title represents a clearly defined property interest which reflects an undeniable economic interest. Simply put, Delgamuukw gives the Indigenous Peoples of British Columbia the full right to enjoy the natural resources within their tribal territories. In addition, the Delgamuukw decision states that the Province of British Columbia cannot unilaterally extinguish our Aboriginal Title. Delgamuukw obligates Governments to consult with our Indigenous governments in a meaningful and substantive manner before undertaking any actions that may infringe on our Aboriginal title. Above all else, the governments are legally obligated to consult and negotiate with our Indigenous governments in good faith. Concurrent to the demonstration planned by the UBCIC, similar demonstrations are planned throughout BC. The Stl'atl'imx people of Seton Lake plan to stop all rail traffic on the BC Rail line from 8:00 AM to 12 noon. The Shuswap people plan to gather at the Neskonlith Band hall and organize a demonstration along the Trans Canada highway. Finally, the people of the Okanagan Nation plan to establish an information-picket on Green Mtn. Rd from 8:00 AM to 12:00 noon to commemorate the landmark Delgamuukw decision. Similar actions are also planned by the Mount Currie Band, Cayoose Creek Band and Bridge River Band in their respective areas. Both the Canadian and Provincial governments have ignored the Delgamuukw Supreme Court decision. To our great detriment, the Canadian governments continue to insist on advocating and advancing policies designed to extinguish our aboriginal title and rights. In spite of the fact that the United Nations is celebrating the 50th anniversary of their Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Canadian governments continue in their efforts to deny our fundamental human right of self determination. By so doing, the Canadian governments perpetuate the grinding poverty in our communities. During the Mohawk crisis at Oka in 1990, we were lectured on a daily basis on the absolute power and authority of the "Rule of Law". We were told on a daily basis that it was absolutely essential to respect the "Rule of Law". However, when the highest judicial authority in this land recognizes our aboriginal title and rights and directs the Governments of this land to negotiate with us in good faith, those very same governments, in a very cavalier and arrogant fashion, simply ignore the directives of the Supreme Court. Such hypocrisy!! Such Arrogance!! UBCIC Vancouver BC, V6B 1B6 Tel (604) 684-0231 Fax (604) 684-5726 :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: "The purpose of the BC Treaty Process is to legitimize the theft of our lands". Elder Lavina White: Haida Nation More information on the BC Treaty Commission and the Nisga'a deal: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/BCgovt.html http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/switlo.html The full text of the Delgamuukw ruling: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/Clark/97delrul.html :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: S.I.S.I.S. Settlers In Support of Indigenous Sovereignty P.O. Box 8673, Victoria, "B.C." "Canada" V8X 3S2 EMAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED] WWW: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/SISmain.html SOVERNET-L is a news-only listserv concerned with indigenous sovereigntist struggles around the world. 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