The Aboriginal Newspaper of British
Columbia & Yukon
Top News - June -2002
Published June 11, 2002
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Photo by Martin Dee, UBC Telestudies |
Native courtworkers left to ponder future
Nuu-chah-nulth exhibit items return homeThis is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the June 2002 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.
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Feds pull shelter fundingRaven's Eye Staff
The Federal government is withholding nearly $5 million in funding that was destined for Aboriginal homeless shelters, causing the closure of many essential services and programs utilized by Aboriginal people.
This comes at a time when Claudette Bradshaw, federal Minister of Multiculturalism and Status of Women announced the opening of a new homeless shelter in Vancouver in May. The new Covenant House funding was provided through a non-Aboriginal federal funding program.
The very same department that funded Covenant House is withholding $5 million needed to salvage Aboriginal community services. This has the United Native Nations concerned over Human Resources and Development Canada's lack of commitment in funding emergency shelters and essential services for homeless Aboriginal people in southern British Columbia.
In response to the issue, an Aboriginal Homeless Committee, consisting of more than 20 individual groups, was created to help direct how government allocated Aboriginal resources are dispersed. It is hoped this will help meet the needs of the Aboriginal homeless community in the Lower Mainland.
Shelters that are affected include the Aboriginal Mother's Centre, Anderson Lodge (women's shelter) and the Helping Spirit Lodge. These provide a variety of services to recovering addicts, single mothers, the elderly and many other Aboriginal and non-aboriginal clientele.
Native courtworkers left to ponder future
David Wiwchar, Raven's Eye Writer, Ahaswinis
The very people who need help most are being hit the hardest by provincial cutbacks, said Gord Edwards, regional manager of the Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia (NCCABC) at a meeting at Hupacasath Hall the end of May.
"We're very concerned about provincial cutbacks which are going to affect us. The government has already announced the closure of all Native community law offices and have scaled back legal aid services, and this will have a big effect on First Nations people," said Edwards.
For the past 27 years, the NCCABC has provided assistance to Aboriginal people in conflict with the law, ensuring they participate fully in the justice system through a holistic approach to prevention and intervention.
In Nuu-chah-nulth territory, Tseshaht's Boyd Gallic is the Native court worker who works with people in the court system to help them understand all aspects of the Canadian judicial system.
Already bogged down with heavy caseloads, the 48 Native court workers throughout the province are trying to fight against provincial cutbacks to legal services, but are not meeting with much success yet.
According to Edwards, the NCCABC worked with 2,200 out of a total population of 6,000 First Nations people in Nanaimo last year alone,and he doesn't see those numbers changing anytime soon.
After further discussion on challenges facing the association, the more than 20 people in attendance elected Hugh Braker to return as West Coast Vancouver Island board member, replacing Cindi Stevens who has been the board member for the past two years, and who will continue to serve as the auxiliary board member for the area.
Braker thanked those in attendance, and announced his intention to run for the position of NCCABC president within the next few weeks.
Nuu-chah-nulth exhibit items return homeDavid Wiwchar, Raven's Eye Writer, Victoria
After two years and three showings, Out of the Mist-Huupukwanum Tupaat: Treasures of the Nuu-chah-nulth Chiefs, has been closed and artifacts are being sent back to the families, collectors and museums they were borrowed from.
According to Grant Hughes, director of cultural services, and the tribal council executive director, the Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM) has been searching for museums nationally and internationally to borrow the exhibit and show it to their local audiences.
"There has been success with the Denver and Los Angeles museums. However, there have been no firm bookings since LA," said museum committee member Nelson Keitlah, who added that other museums have not been able to commit to receiving the exhibit as part of their travelling exhibit planning.
"Because of the size of the Nuu-chah-nulth exhibit, many museums were unable to accommodate unless the displays could be made smaller," said Ha'wiih protocol worker Willard Gallic.
"There was also some indication that American museums are focussing their efforts on domestic exhibits since September 11th," he said.
"The RBCM will be experiencing a significant reduction in available funding for the next few years, which will make it impossible to continue paying for safe storage while searching for other venues," said Keitlah.
The RBCM wants to express its "sincere thanks for a wonderful collaboration that created HuupuKwanum Tupaat: Treasures of the Nuu-chah-nulth Chiefs."
The RBCM will acknowledge and thank the Nuu-chah-nulth chiefs, in an event that will be attended by the corporate representatives of the museum.
The ceremony will take place on July 15, prior to next tribal council meeting in Tsaxana.
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