And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Date: Wed, 31 Mar 1999 12:15:40 -0800 (PST)
From: John Shafer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
X-Sender: wy430@vtn1
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Penticton Airport Dispute: PIB call for support (fwd)
Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.iB1.0.990331121430.26561A-100000@vtn1>
MIME-Version: 1.0
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fyi and distribution
---------- Forwarded message ----------
CBC radio news out of Vancouver has just announced that an hour long
demonstration which halted operations at the Penticton Airport, involving
approximately 100 participants has ended, after the city of Penticton
agreed to extend the time limits on a scheduled transfer of Okanagan lands
from Transport Canada to the City of Penticton. The transfer, originally
to take place today has been postponed so that further negotiations with
all parties can take place. Please demand that the Okanagan Nation's
legitimate grievances be negotiated to their satisfaction.
Transport Minister of Canada: David Collenette - Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
City of Penticton, Chamber of Commerce: - Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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URGENT ACTION REQUEST - PENTICTON AIRPORT DISPUTE
Be advised that the Penticton Indian Band is organizing a Demonstration at
the Penticton Airport Site at 9:00 AM, Wednesday, March 31, 1999
The Penticton Indian Band apologizes for the short notice and thank you in
advance for sending supporters to the demonstration, issuing letters of
support and/or any other support you can offer. Following is the Press
Statement issued by the Penticton Band and one by the Gabriel Family Heirs
for your perusal in developing letters of support. For more information
please contact Chief Stewart Philip at the PIB office tel. (250) 493-0048,
fax: (250) 493-2882 or @ cell # (250) 490-5314
Penticton Indian Band, RR #2, Site 80, Comp. 19, Penticton, British
Columbia V2A 6J7 Telephone (250) 493-0048 Fax (250) 493-2882
Press Statement, March 30, 1999
Angry Band members of the Penticton Indian Band have directed the Chief
and Council of the Band to immediately reject the proposed Penticton
Airport Transfer process in its entirety. Band members have directed the
Band Council to immediately engage the high-profile aboriginal rights law
firm of Mandell-Pinder to pursue any and all legal options to challenge,
not only the validity of the federal government's National Airports
Policy, but also the original expropriation of the Airport Lands.
Further, Band members directed the Chief and Council of the Penticton Band
to immediately begin to plan and organize both a short-term and long-term
direct action campaign for the purpose of frustrating all attempts on the
part of both the City of Penticton and Transport Canada to transfer the
Airport Lands to the City of Penticton. Finally Band members instructed
the Chief and Council to immediately solicit support from Bands within the
Okanagan Nation, throughout the Province of BC and across Canada.
Chief Stewart Philip
OKANAGAN NATION
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PRESS STATEMENT: PENTICTON AIRPORT LANDS TRANSFER CITY OF PENTICTON
FROM: GREG GABRIEL (GABRIEL FAMILY HEIRS)
On behalf of the Gabriel family, I am pleased and would like to thank the
members of the Penticton Indian Band for their support and decision to
reject and oppose the signing of the Transfer Agreement for the Penticton
Airport Lands. At the General Band Meeting on Monday, March 29, 1999 it
was evident that the Penticton Band members will not sit idly by and allow
the city and Transport Canada to steal any lands that we have an interest
in without our involvement or approval.
I am pleased that the people in attendance gave our council clear
instructions to publically oppose any transfer agreement and to also put
out a call for support from our Okanagan Nation, other BC Bands, and other
Bands across Canada. Band members directed the Band Council to take
whatever action necessary in order for us to be heard. It seems we are
always forced into this position before our concerns are taken seriously.
We must once again make it clear that this has been a long outstanding
issue that my family has been struggling with for generations and has
fought against for years. Our family still maintains the utmost confidence
in the Penticton Band Council and their leadership, and thank them for
their hard work and efforts in attempting to ensure our interests were
being considered and protected.
It is very unfortunate that the political will was never there to
negotiate honestly and in good faith by the city or Transport Canada given
the position put forward by the city, and certain city council attitudes
toward our community. We now know that their agenda was never to consider
our interests or concerns at all. I would like to personally thank City
Councillor Mike Pearce for his statement in the March 26th Penticton
Herald. It is with those types of statements and attitudes that encourages
my family and other Band Members "to dig in" even deeper and fight this
issue even harder. It is a lesson we will long remember in any and all
future negotiations of Band issues that may involve the city or other
government agencies.
Greg Gabriel (Gabriel Family Heirs)
Phone: (250) 492-2190
Cellular (250) 490-7250
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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