S TANDARD TERRACE
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VOL. 25 NO. 52
Kitsumkalum hold crucial vote today
VOTING HAS started this morning as members of the Kitsumkalum First Nation decide to accept or reject a land claims agreement in principle. Acceptance of a package consisting of land, resources, money and self government provisions will lead to the start of formal negotiations for a final agreement for the Kitsumkalum who number just over 700 people. Of that population total, 569 people over the age of 18 are eligible to vote. It’s a number Julie Nyce and the other members of the Kitsumkalum communications team have been carefully tracking since their work started in January 2012. “There’s 173 voters on reserve [just west of Terrace], 77 in Terrace and 90 in the Lower Mainland,” Nyce said in reeling off larger locations where voters reside. “And two in Oregon and three in Alaska.” The search for Kitsumkalum members and the development of the voters’ list has involved mail, email and various forms of social media in the attempt to find everyone who is eligible to vote. Once located and signed up, voters are sent information to inform them on the agreement in principle details so that their decision is as informed as possible. That effort includes newsletters – 20 at last count, community meetings, smaller coffee sessions and meetings in homes. Team members have, for instance, travelled to Prince George and one, Joanne Bertsch, has had the task of informing Kitsumkalum members in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. “What I’ve done is rent a conference room in a hotel and bring in the information we need,” she said. Questions surrounding taxation, health care, housing and education are among the more common asked of the team. “People in the city are used to paying taxes,” noted Bertsch. “For them, that’s not an issue. They already have an understanding.” The issue of health care has also been important as people wonder how services might change under self government. There’s also been discussion among voters about how housing within the Kitsumkalum village site will be allocated should a final treaty be negotiated. Answering questions, providing information and building up a voters list have fully occupied the communications team. Most of the members knew each other before taking on their respective positions and they’ve grown closer since. “It’s the best thing for our community,” says Jennifer Bolton of the agreement in principle. She and other team members do point out that the agreement in principle is not binding and that should it be approved, negotiations toward a final agreement can mean changes to the provisions of the agreement in principle. The land portion of the agreement in principle, 454 square miles, comes from the province and the cash portion, $44.2 million, from the federal government.
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www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
War on graffiti
Anna Killen PHOTO
Area businessman Bob Park stands in front of the $6,000 mural he erected to help curb the graffiti that had been happening on his building’s wall.
The latest round of graffiti tagging in the Terrace downtown core was the final straw for area businesses who are now banding together to tackle the problem of vandalism once and for all. “This problem has certainly gotten worse recently,” said Anna Beddie of the Terrace Downtown Improvement Area society (TDIA). “It is ugly and disrespectful to our beautiful community.” Over Easter weekend, there was what appeared to be a “tagging war” that RCMP believe included as many as five vandals. The reason for the onslaught of graffiti over the last few weeks is said to be because spring is in the air, said Beddie. But before the seasons change, Terrace residents could see new initiatives to curb vandals and keep the outside of Terrace buildings clean. “It is a work in progress and so many people could be involved and are going to be involved,” said Beddie, noting the community is working together on this initiative and other groups, like the Terrace Beautification Society have been doing their part as well. TDIA will be presenting potential initiatives to the city, and city council will “give serious consideration to any suggestions put forward by the TDIA,” said Heather Avison, chief administrator for the City of Terrace, noting the city already has a policy to remove graffiti on city-owned property. Money for graffiti cleanup comes from either Leisure Services or building maintenance depending on where the graffiti occurs, she said.
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Music festival
Bonus pay
Look to the sky
After more than 30 years, accompanist still loves helping singers succeed \COMMUNITY A19
Six figure incentive money intended to attract new doctor here \NEWS A10
What do whooping cranes have to do with fishing? Ask columnist Rob Brown. \SPORTS A31