News

Hazelton BC

Meeting in Moricetown

Representatives of the Wet’suwet’en Chiefs had been talking to our office since last fall about having a meeting involving three groups of Chiefs. They suggested that the Gitxsan, Gitanyow, and Wet’suwet’en Chiefs should get together so that we can form a common front as we face some common issues.

We finally were able to honour the Wet’suwet’en invitation and a meeting took place in Moricetown on January 11 and 12. Representation was excellent from all three groups. Up-dates were made by the Treaty negotiators. The Declaration that was agreed to thirty years ago was reviewed and is being up-dated. The New Relationship approach that is being worked on in BC was discussed. Revenue sharing was introduced as a joint project. Special attention was made to how we could work jointly to protect water. A report on Fish Farms was tabled.

Although we talk to each other on a regular basis we will endeavour to work more formally on different fronts.


The Federal Election

It looks as if the Conservatives will triumph over the Liberals to form the next government. This change is scaring the heck out of our aboriginal leadership. They believe that the Kelowna Accord is in jeopardy. The Conservative Finance Critic Monte Solberg made a speech recently that indicated that the Conservatives do not take the Accord seriously. I work closely with all parties. I am comfortable that we can rescue the Kelowna Accord.

Two of the signatories to the Accord are still committed to the objectives that were endorsed. The work plan needed to execute the terms of the Accord has not yet been worked out. Premier Campbell has invested too much political capital into the aboriginal file just to drop it or to let someone else derail the whole thing.

One of Harper’s advisors is a close friend of mine.


Implementing Delgamuukw

The work that the watersheds and house groups have committed to is continuing. The Supreme Court of Canada stated in paragraph 166 that it recognized the title holders responsibility to decide to what uses the lands may be put. The responsibility of managing lands and resources starts with land use planning. Tied to land use planning is the responsibility of putting together development plans to enable house members to make a living. The courts have actually stated “a modest living”. The creation of development plans lead to actual business plans that can be taken to financial institutions so that projects can be executed.

We are not yet at the stage where we can provide financial support to the business plans that are being developed by the house groups and the watersheds. We continue to seek out potential partners with deep pockets.


Inside the Gitxsan

The Chiefs that are working on the “Inside the Gitxsan” project continue to make progress. The group meets three days a week and the writer works every day. The product that the Chiefs are developing will be useful to new and upcoming Sim gii ghet. The book will always be a work in progress and as new eyes look at it people can add their wisdom and perspective to the important work.

The feature that was added recently is the matter of including the breadth of perspectives on important issues. As I pointed out the Canadian court system allows for unanimous and minority opinions. So should the Gitxsan.


Short Term Forestry Agreement

I have been talking to provincial officials continually about our proposed Agreement. Here is the latest information.

In December Bev C-P and I met with the Minister of Aboriginal Relations Tom Christensen in Victoria. Glen Williams met with the Minister separately the next week. We made presentations on land use planning and Chiefs responsibilities including decision making. Following the meetings we were advised that Cabinet had endorsed a new template for the forest and range agreements. I was also advised that a meeting with the Minister of Forests would be prompted by the Premier’s office.

I have spoken to the provincial negotiators at the Assistant Deputy Minister level who advised me that it is very difficult for them to get on the Cabinet agenda. They advise that we push the Minister. That is what I continue to do.

I know that the offer of new additional money will be made to us but we do not know at what level. Ministries in Victoria have surplus to spend between now and March 31. We can help them spend the money.


My Agenda in 2006

In the next few weeks I will be making a presentation to a Career Fair that is attached to the National Aboriginal Awards event that is taking place in Vancouver at the end of January.

In February I will be making a presentation to the Aboriginal Financial Officers meeting in Winnipeg in February. Following the Winnipeg meeting I will be traveling to Ottawa to talk to the new Sustainable Development Planning group that is starting the work on the fourth plan that will be tabled in Parliament in 2008.

I will be organizing a meeting with the Assembly of First Nations, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Gitxsan educators sometime in 2006. The focus will be on how we can build more capacity at the community level.

Our internal work is very important. The regular meetings that have been started will enable the Gitxsan organizations to meet goals that meet the needs of all Gitxsan people. What we need to do is to bring together a Gitxsan nation redevelopment plan that makes sense to all of us. The Gitxsan have strong leadership that have to work together.


A Poem - SPARE CHANGE CHIEF - David Slater

Trying to make a nickel from nothing,
Trying to make a dollar from a dime,
It’s easy when you’re sitting on the sidewalk,
And the only thing you own is time.

Granville Street is windy, and the trees have lost their leaves,
The runaways stand in little groups, with joints hidden up their sleeves.
The grey old lady with the shopping-cart, squeaks by for the seventh time,
While you stand in your T-shirt shivering, saying “Buddy, can you spare me a dime?”

A man walks by in an overcoat, just came from a business lunch,
He makes a hundred grand a year, or more, that’s just a hunch.
You call out, “Sir, if you have some change, I sure wouldn’t mind a bit,”
But he walks on by with his head held high and you feel like a useless shit.

Maybe when the weather gets warmer, you’ll head up north again,
Back to your family’s cabin in the woods by the river’s bend,
Back where the campfire’s burning, and the salmon smokes on the rack,
Where your mother’s loving arms just say, “Son, we’re so glad you’re back”.


A friend of mine David had a brief encounter with a street person from up here. His conversation with one of our people prompted him to write the poem. The talk between the two people obviously conveyed great messages.