Ha-Shilth-Sa November 2, 2006

Page 1

Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product haas^i>sa “Interesting News” Vol. 33 - No. 22 - November 2, 2006 Sales Agreement No. 40047776

47 Nations Unite on Common Issues; Sign “Unity Protocol” By Carla Moss, Ha-Shilth-Sa Writer Nanaimo – The Nuu-chah-nulth Treaty Table (Tseshaht, Mowachaht/Muchalaht, Ehattesaht, Tla-o-qui-aht, Hesquiaht, Nuchatlaht), Ditidaht & Pacheedaht, and Hupacasath Treaty Tables are joining forces with First Nations from all over British Columbia to persuade Canada and B.C. to move from inflexible mandates and into negotiations on six key areas where treaty talks have stalled. Many Nuu-chah-nulth leaders welcomed the strength that comes with collaborative work, as Ditidaht Chief Jack Thompson said, “People want to finally get together. It’s about time all First Nations get together and fight the government on some common issues.” On Saturday, October 28th over 45 Nations formalized their alliance by signing what is called the “Unity Protocol” in a traditional ceremony at Snuneymuxw First Nations Big House in Nanaimo following a press conference in a nearby facility. “Signing this Unity Protocol is going to prove their tactic is not going to work.” Hesquiaht Tyee Ha’wilth Dominic Andrews said, “The more they try to get us fighting the more we’re going to unite and both levels of government need to know that. That’s what this protocol signing means to me. I think that’s what really happened at Residential School, they recognized the family strength and unity so in order to try to dysfunctionalize us and break our sense of identity they needed to separate family and nations.” “You know I just think that it’s a really important move by the First Nations to come together collectively and negotiate these key issues,” said Hupacasath Chief Councillor Judy Sayers. “It gives us strength and negotiating power, because we aren’t getting anywhere on these issues. Then with these treaties coming out where we don’t agree with some of the issues it’s important for us to band together and not have a template imposed on us. I think it’s a very exciting time. You know a lot of provisions in treaty will be the same, and this still leaves us room to change specifics at our individual table.” While Chief Sayers was unable to attend the signing on October 28th, she said Hupacasath will be making arrangements to sign the document in the near future. Looking ahead, Chief Sayers said, “It will be interesting to see if the

Tom Curley, Dominic Andrew, Bruce Frank, Mike Maquinna, Tom Smith, Michelle Corfield, Mike Watts, Norman George, Arliss Daniels, and Jack Thompson sign Protocol on behalf of Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations government will give us a table. I think that will be the real challenge. The government has always tried to keep us separate.” The Unity Protocol was born out of discussion between different First Nations leaders as they sought to explore ways to address the positional and inflexible mandates of the Governments. In 2005 a comprehensive AIP document collaboratively drafted between Nuuchah-nulth and Ditidaht/Pacheedaht tables with the purpose of engaging the Crown was shared with other First Nations and was adapted into a “Framework for the Completion of Treaties” document. This document was formally presented to the federal and provincial ministers on November 8, 2005 by letter signed by the Ditidaht/Pacheedaht Chiefs, the Nuuchah-nulth and Hamatla Treaty Groups and then the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group. In December of 2005 the collective group, and a Joint Chief Negotiator’s Summary states, with the assistance of Michelle Corfield and AFN Regional Chief Shawn Atleo, was successful in securing a resolution of support for this initiative unanimously endorsed by the General Assembly. The group evolved into the Joint Chief Negotiator’s Group, and is fully supported by the First Nations Summit

Memorial for Ahousaht youth draws hundreds .... Page 4 Anacla Ancestral Language ....................................... Page 5 1st Annual NTC Career Fair & Conference ............ Page 7 NTC Staff receive Hear & Stroke award .................. Page 9 Women’s History Month recipient .......................... Page 12 NEDC Business News ............................................... Page 16

stated Dave Porter, First Nations Summit Task Group Member. “This is one of things that was needed because of what both levels of government try do to the Nations – they try to separate the nations in treaty issues. The boundary issue is an example. Like in litigation their number one tactic all the time is to separate the First Nations using the boundary issue. We did sign a protocol on resources and boundaries, because it’s a number one rule that we keep our cool in litigation,” said Andrews. The potential of the Joint Chief Negotiator’s Initiative and the Unity Protocol to impact Canada and British Columbia’s mandates have led to a change in Tla-o-qui-aht’s position on treaty. Ha’wilth Muu-chink, Bruce Frank, explained that Tla-o-qui-aht was ready to pull away from the table because of the government’s inflexible mandates. He said if this approach does not work, “we’ve talked about actions NTC or we may take – which may include direct action.” Chief Robert Louie, Westbank First Nation, noted there are 47 treaty tables in British Columbia and approximately ¼ or 13-14 of those tables signed the Unity Protocol on Saturday. He said more are expected to join as they obtain the mandate to do so from their Nation and as the group “demonstrates

progress”. He said, “Strength will continue to grow. I predict that before long we will have, if not unanimous, almost unanimous support.” Louie went on to say, “Government must listen and if they don’t then what are our alternatives: we must be very assertive. Every business in this Province, in this country must know that there are unsettled terms in this province.” In response to a reporter asking about possible disruption of the Olympics by the First Nations should these efforts fail, Robert Morales said, “It certainly isn’t something that would be the preferred action but I guess when communities are frustrated we don’t know what the result would be of that. Certainly we would want to be cooperative and that’s the objective really. The objective is really to establish a relationship that has respect, a respectful relationship, not one where the parties that have the power can come to the table and simply dictate the outcomes and say “this is not negotiable.” If that’s not negotiable then I don’t call that negotiation; that’s really bullying. We need to see them come to the table in a spirit of cooperation. That’s what we’d like to see. It’s not our intent to be disruptive, but frustrations can build and we don’t know what can happen.”

If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2

ISSN 0715-4143


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.