The Aboriginal Newspaper of British Columbia & Yukon Published August 21, 2000 (From left to right) Janelle Nahanee, 12, Toni Jane Nahanee, 12, and Charlotte Nahanee, 10, were put to work at the Squamish Nation Powwow held from Aug 4 to 6. Photo credit: Yvonne Irene Gladue Working together for the Elders by Troy Hunter Work of Squamish artist graces millennium coin by Cheryl Petten Canoe Club team leaves for Australia by Yvonne Irene Gladue What's a dream if it isn't big? by Bart Cummins Open up the election to all by Keith Matthew Guest Columnist After we are gone by Reg C. Moody Guest Columnist This is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the August, 2000 issue of Raven's Eye. If you are not receiving your own copy of Raven's Eye, then you have missed out on a lot. Click here for Raven's Eye subscription information. Working together for the Elders By Troy Hunter Raven's Eye Writer Every year since 1976, Elders from British Columbia's First Nations have been meeting in different communities throughout the province. There were about 3,000 people registered for the 24th Annual B.C. Elders Gathering held this year from July 10 to 13 in Campbell River. There were four First Nations communities that worked together to co-host the event- Campbell River, Cape Mudge, Comox and Homalco First Nations. "This is a non-political event. It is for the people. There are no party or tribal lines. It is about information sharing," said Edward Zdancewicz, media spokesperson for this year's gathering. "It's been in the works for a year. We have been working full-time for the past four months and there is not one paid staff member. We are all volunteers," said Zdancewicz. Six student workers also volunteered. To be considered an Elder for the gathering, participants had to be at least 55 years old. There were a lot of chiefs present but not all of them could be counted as Elders. There was a reported 60 per cent representation of B.C.'s First Nations at the gathering. A lot of fundraising was done to make the gathering a success. An art auction was held, as well as various raffles. Some of the student workers were seen out selling 50/50 tickets. Kay Swakum, a social worker for the Shackan and Nooaitch First Nations near Merritt said, "Our little communities were able to raise $8,000 for our Elders to come and so we have brought three full vehicles of Elders. The next Elders gathering will be held in Chilliwack in 2001. Work of Squamish artist graces millennium coin By Cheryl Petten Raven's Eye Writer A design created by artist Wade Stephen Baker is featured on the newest coin in the Royal Canadian Mint's Millennium coin series. The design, entitled "The Ties That Bind," is featured on the August 2000 quarter, officially launched by the mint Aug. 1 at the Squamish Nation Recreation Centre. The coin features a circular double wolf design, with the two wolves coming face-to-face and tails touching. Baker, a Vancouver-born artist, designed the coin as a tribute to family. Baker said the double wolf design symbolizes "family, togetherness, and the commitment of two souls to bring a child into the world." "I wanted to create a design that would promote healthy togetherness, commitment and integrity in family relationships," he said. The design of the coin was inspired by an ancient family crest. Baker's mother, Emily Baker, is a hereditary chief of the Kwakiutl First Nation. His late father, Daniel Baker, was a Squamish Nation councillor and honorary chief. A self-taught artist, Baker was exposed to traditional art at a young age, watching family members and master carvers Mungo Martin and Henry Hunt at work. Baker lives in North Vancouver with his wife and daughter, where he designs totem poles, masks, drums, paintings and logos. The coin is the eighth in a series of 12 being released by the mint in celebration of the millennium. What's a dream if it isn't big? By Bart Cummins Raven's Eye Writer WHISPERING PINES The wind rustles the aspen leaves, creating a sound much like water gently tumbling over rocks in a stream. All around, the aspens speak their watery talk here at the Whispering Pines/Clinton Indian Band reserve, located a 45-minute drive north of Kamloops along Westsyde Road. On one side, the land comes to a sudden stop at the banks of the North Thompson River. On the other, large wooded hills dwarf everything below them. If ever there's a serene postcard paradise, this is it. The band, led by Chief Richard LeBourdais, has a vision that will ultimately bring thousands of visitors to this tranquil property and will also help move the band closer to self-sufficiency through the creation of jobs and improved self-esteem. What does Chief LeBourdais see? He sees a multi-use recreation centre with everything from rodeo events and motor sports to ball tournaments, a nine-hole golf course, walking trails, canoe tours and, eventually, a hotel and maybe a casino. Members would be employed in all areas from maintenance to administration. It's a big dream for a band that has a little more than 100 members registered as of this July. Of that, about 50 members live on the Whispering Pines reserve. Chief LeBourdais does not deny it will take years to reach the hotel stage, but he's confident that day will come. Why? Because already some of the dream has been realized. Rodeo events have been staged during the past 10 years and motocross races, thanks to a recent partnership with Greater Kamloops Motorcycle Association (GKMA), have been held. The partnership gave GMKA a location to build a permanent track, one that is gaining recognition as one of the better sites in British Columbia. There is speculation a national motocross race or, even a final, may come to the track. To commemorate what has been a busy summer of rodeo and motocross events, Whispering Pines has tentatively scheduled a grand opening for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 that will feature activities and political figures. "We hope to make that time one that people will remember and it's an opportunity for people to see what we're doing," said Chief LeBourdais. In a day when unemployment on reserves is high and the population of those under the age of 24 is as much as 75 per cent, it has fallen to band councils to come up with creative measures to get money into the hands of their members. Developments such as the Whispering Pines vision, are ways to move away from government dependence. Going after private investment, Chief LeBourdais said, is something the band is considering. Kamloops Indian Band and a fellow Secwepemc Nation member, has leased land at its Mount Paul Industrial Park for 30 years and has enjoyed a steady stream of income from that. A few years ago the band entered into a partnership that would allow a resort-style development to be built. Sun Rivers will have nearly 2,000 homes, an 18-hole championship golf course, a hotel, and a light retail district. In the Savona area, a 30-minute drive from Kamloops, Skeetchestn Indian Band partnered with Chai-Na-Ta, the world's largest supplier of North American ginseng, to lease land for production of the medicinal root. Across the province more and more bands are forging these kinds of relationships. Councillor Edward LeBourdais has been put in charge of overseeing the recreation centre and like his chief, he envisions a place where thousands will visit and return more than once. "It's our long-term goal right now to have one of the best and be the best recreation place in B.C. or Canada," said Councillor LeBourdais. "When we look at our rodeo centre, we're looking at it more than just a rodeo centre; we're looking at stables and as a centre for people who don't have a place for their horses. . . Well, we have a rodeo centre with a track-a racetrack-which needs to be utilized. This is going to create employment not only for our band members, but also for off-reserve. It's not only going to help us in the long run, but also will help non-Native people." A retired bull rider, the young councillor is a good fit to oversee the centre. Having attended hundreds of rodeos as either a competitor or as a spectator, he knows how much planning goes into putting on a quality show. Standing in the motocross announcer's booth about 15 feet off the ground, Councillor LeBourdais surveys the property and points to where various events will go. Over there will be a ball diamond, there an ice skating surface, along here a nine-hole golf course and there, eventually, a hotel. He is asked: " Can you see it?" He firmly answers, "Yes." Of course, he admits, it's a big dream, but what's a dream if you can't dream big? He promises he is going to do his darndest to make it happen. In the meantime, the band continues to pursue partnerships, such as the one with GKMA. Talks are ongoing with a stock car group and if an agreement can be struck, car racing, mud bogging and demolition derbies could join rodeo and motocross in becoming regular events at Whispering Pines. "It takes time, but we're slowly turning this place into a viable and all-rounded place to come and visit," said Councillor LeBourdais. "That's what we're shooting for." September 2 and 3 should be a busy two days for Whispering Pines with a bull rider chute out, motocross and a motocross super jump all on the event card. There may also be a ball tournament, said Councillor LeBourdais. The chute out will be limited to 30 riders, while the moto events may attract up to 300 riders. As many as 3,000 spectators are expected. Canoe Club team leaves for Australia By Yvonne Irene Gladue Raven's Eye Writer VANCOUVER On Aug. 7, four men from the Squamish Nation and members of the North Vancouver Canoe Club boarded a plane heading to Townsville, located in northeastern Australia close to the Great Barrier Reef, to compete in the Australian Outrigger Canoe Racing Association's ninth World Sprint Titles. The team races outrigger canoes and includes Reno Natrell, Ian Billy, Cory Lewis, and Tony Nahanee. "The outrigger canoe is different than our traditional canoes. They are heavier and are equipped with a stabilizer. The kinds of canoes that the people in Hawaii use," said Nahanee. "The group got hooked on using the outrigger canoes after they first used them in Washington and came in first," he said. The canoe club, which began racing war canoes in the early sixties, has won numerous championships. The North Vancouver Canoe Club has raced the outrigger canoes for the past 10 years. So far, the Nahanee's group has taken part in several competitions, including a long distance race in Catalina, Calif., the World sprints in Sacramento, Calif., competition in western Samoa, a 20-mile outrigger sprint in Gibson, and races in B.C's lower mainland and in Washington state. In Australia, the canoeists will face cooler temperatures than in Vancouver. "The weather there is cooler this time of year," said Jim Nahanee, former club member. "Typhoon season, lots of wind and rain and stuff," he said. The team, which begins to train from early February, maintains strict diets with absolutely no alcohol, smoking or drugs. The canoe racing circuit begins in May and ends in August. "It takes communication with other canoe clubs all over and lots of travelling. I've since retired from racing and I'm glad to see that they are carrying on the tradition. I think that it is an inspiration for the younger generation to follow," said Jim. A dinner in the group's honor was held at the club on Aug. 6. The dinner consisted of salmon, salads and desserts and was attended by close friends and family. "In the late 50s, the sport of canoeing sort of died when other sports such as soccer, baseball and lacrosse started up," said Jim. "I'm glad to see that it is slowly being revived again. In the early 1900s, the Coast Salish people really took the sport of canoeing seriously. It was not uncommon then to see 30 to 40 canoes entering a race," he said. "I feel great about going, nervous and excited," said Tony Nahanee. "I'm looking forward to the trip," he said. Open up the election to all By Keith Matthew Guest Columnist The winds of change are blowing across Indian Country. Witness the recent election of the new national chief. Prior to the election, few Indian people across this country felt that the former national chief Phil Fontaine would be unseated because it is very rare that an incumbent is forced from office. Rare as it is, it did occur and to the surprise of many people who watch such things. Fontaine assumed the reins of power three years ago and found the cookie cupboard bare after an undistinguished two terms by national chief Ovide Mercredi. By all accounts, the national chief's election then was a bitterly contested event. That would come back to haunt Fontaine and cost him his national chief's position in the latest election. In the rarified air of the Assembly of First Nations, the rank and file Indian never knows what is going on back in Ottawa and rumblings are sometimes heard but it is a long, long ways from here in British Columbia to Ottawa. Case in point. Ask any Indian what the Indian Affairs offices Gathering Strength initiative is and what it does for them and you would probably get a blank stare and a shrug of the shoulders. Most Indians on reserve rarely have any contact these days with Indian Affairs bureaucrats unless it has to do specifically with the program they are managing or when they are in trouble financially and the financial services officer pays them a visit. That was part of Fontaine's problem. He was too closely tied to Indian Affairs programs and rarely did the benefits of those programs accrue with the rank and file Aboriginal person. More often than not it kept the bureaucrat in Ottawa or Vancouver busy trying to figure out how to translate that program into something tangible for the communities he was supposed to be serving. That cozy relationship appears at first glance to be put on the back burner. The national chief's election was incredible to watch. To Chief Coon Come's credit, he assembled a savvy, attractive team of advisors including Cara Currie, Romeo Saganash, Kowaint'co Shackelly, and Dorothy Grant (the few that I knew anyway). Throw in former national chiefs Ovide Mercredi and Noel Starblanket and you have political experience to go with the strong technical skills that are needed to unseat an incumbent. Chief Coon Come's aggressive message plays in Indian Country with the current demographic that is beginning to assert its control over our communities. That demographic is characterized by a huge bulk of Indian people - 60 per cent of our population - being under the age of 30. His message of change and confrontation are things that the younger generation of 'skins want to hear in our communities. These young people are chomping at the bit and want a shot at the older generation of bureaucrats and politicians who have been managing their lives ever since they were born. That goes for Indian politicians, non-Native politicians and white and Native bureaucrats...anyone who is not a part of the solution is viewed as part of the problem. Councils across British Columbia are witnessing those changes with young councillors wanting changes now - not tomorrow. Now the tough part for Chief Coon Come...questions from the floor about opening up voting to the rank and file Indians across Canada that dogged him on the campaign trail. It will be one of the toughest issues for him deal with for the upcoming term. Three years doesn't seem long enough. That is the way I see it anyways...putucw. To make any comments about this article please contact seklep@telus.net or edraven@ammsa.com. After we are gone By Reg C. Moody Guest Columnist As sure as we stand, the Heiltsuk Nation people are not going to get up one day and leave this territory. This is and always will be the only place on earth we call home. Aboriginal rights have been recognized in the Canadian Constitution since 1982, without question. The Heiltsuk Nation claims rights and the title to 6,000 sq. km of lands and resources due to our occupation of the territory since time immemorial. The Heiltsuk treaty office motto clearly states the Heiltsuk people's position. It says, "our rights, our resources, our lands are not for sale. They are there for our exclusive use. Our mission in this process is to protect, enhance, and, in fact, strengthen those rights." The mandate of the Heiltsuk Nation is to not give up 90 to 95 per cent of our lands and resources. Today, we are at a crossroads. While I sit and think about our current situation, I am reminded of the statements made by Heiltsuk Chief Bob Anderson in 1913 to the McKenna McBride Commission. He stated, "after we are gone, our children will carry on with this fight." Bob Anderson was a man I admired very much for his concern for our people. Chief Anderson took a stand on the rights and title of the Heiltsuk Nation. I would like to know when this fight will begin? So far it's being a one-man slaughter attack on people. The British Columbia Treaty Process has turned out to be the biggest joke in Canadian history. The governments have hi-jacked a process where they lend money to First Nations to negotiate away 90 to 95 per cent of their traditional lands and resources. From the outset, it was my understanding that through this process we would be looking for ways in which we could have equal participation and a fair, equitable share in the wealth of this country, so that we would no longer rely on handouts. If the Canadian and provincial governments do not wish to discuss compensation, and if British Columbia's five per cent land policy does not change, I don't see any point in the Heiltsuk or any other First Nation continuing in this process. It is my view that if B.C. and Canada do not change their mandate to ensure some level of comfort for First Nations, this process will not survive in its present state and that this process is flawed and set up for failure. If you ask other First Nations groups currently participating in this process if their nation has a mandate to negotiate away 90 to 95 per cent of their lands and resources, the answer would be a resounding no! The recent offer that was made by Canada and British Columbia to the Sechelt is insulting to say the least. Dale Lovick's comments about the Sechelt offer gives us every indication that we (the Heiltsuk Nation) should abandon this process. I can't understand why we continue to allow resource developers to chew up our inheritance by clear-cutting and depleting our marine resources while we are forced to live on our reserves with 70 to 80 per cent unemployment. Today, many families in the community of Bella Bella are second and third generation dependents on permanent social assistance. If we don't get involved and act now, these numbers will continue to grow with each generation. We need to drill it into the government's head that as long as the rivers flow and the sun shines, the Heiltsuk Nation and other First Nations will continue to demand that we be active participants in any decisions made about our lands and resources. To address this combination of ignorance and disrespect by British Columbia and Canada we must bring our concerns to the international markets. We need to take our concerns to the buyers of B.C. wood products. They need to be reminded that they are buying B.C. wood illegally. From the outset, my people were willing to look for ways to co-exist, to live together, to share resources with our neighbors. I for one am not about to take a back seat while the governments continue to show little or no respect for my people and continue to destroy our lands and resources at the expense of our way of life. Enough is enough.