|
27 July 2011
A Long Road
Politically speaking, we haven’t been alone on this road of co-existence with mainstream Canada. What was planned for us was systematic dispossession. In most of Canada that is exactly what has happened, a few of us in the northwest, the Gitxsan, Wetsueten and Git’anyow prefer to keep our tie to the land.
In the earliest times there was the “Indian problem” after the French and English came to settle the east coast. Right away, how do we take care of this problem was the first question. Acts such as the Gradual civilization act came into being, the Indian act that is still with us. For the majority of Canada’s natives, it is all they know now, the reserve are their little worlds and they accept that like it was the way it’s always been, that was the goal of subsequent Indian policy. The Land selection model is along the same vein, bigger reserves essentially; a category two, category three lands and money to buy you out.
The Gitxsan have not wanted any of the above, they want co-existence under their terms. That is what is being negotiated. The law of the land will help matters, case law known as Delgam’uukxw; our rights intact, Canada’s regimes intact. Sounds like an easy fix but both sides are understandably cautious.
It is a fight all the way, nothing will come easy. We just need to convince the two levels of government that what we propose is a reasonable path. It is safe to say, all Indian policy imposed thus far are a trail of gross inadequacy, a 90% unemployment says it all. We do not need any of that, it have led to a very unhealthy environment that nobody needs. Things are changing, and the Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs try to foster a positive environment. We try to leave the negative behind for a better tomorrow that is what we see in potential Treaty making.
Art Wilson
|
