September 15, 1990, carnegie newsletter

In this comer: Developerking Nat Bosa.

DERA,

JIM GREEN

-

.

^

"

"paydirt". .a v e r y d e f i n i t e way of s a y i n g what is v e r y d e f i n i t e l y impora n t . . . i f you have t h e m e n t a l d i s e a s e c a l l e d greed.

But l e t ' s can t h e philosophy and morals and e t h i c s , because t h a t c r a p j u s t g e t s i n t h e way when y o u ' r e a s e l f - s t y l e d , self-made, s e l f - d e f i n e d d e v e l o p e r l i k e one NAT BOSA. An "interview" w i t h Bosa a p p e a r s i n t h e development p a r t of t h e paper c a l l e d Equity.

For t h o s e of you new t o che Downtown E a s t s i d e , new t o E a r t h , t h e r e ' s a housing c r i s i s going on: people l i v i n g on low and f i x e d incomes a r e b e i n g f o r c e d o u t of homes and apartments and rooms by t h e greed of d e v e l o p e r s , and Bosa shows himself t o be one of t h e most v i r u l e n t c a r r i e r s of t h i s mental p o i s o n .

Bosa s t a t e s t h a t h e w a s f o r c e d , by i d i o t s c a l l i n g themselves " s o c i a l p l a n n e r s " t o reduce t h e d e n s i t y of h i s $ . 5 b i l l i o n menagerie of highr i s e s (going i n a t Main 6 Terminal).

The C i t y of Vancouver, a t t h e urgi n g of DEMY wanted 200 of t h e u n i t s r e s e r v e d f o r s o c i a l h o u s i n g , a red u c t i o n of t h e d e n s i t y by 250,000 s q f t . and a payment of $4.5 m i l l i o n f o r t h e c r e a t i o n and enhancement of p a r k s w i t h i n 1 m i l e of B o s a t s s i t e .

Bosa, u n l i k e normal humans, muffed t h e chance t o a t l e a s t p r a c t i c e b e i n g human and s a i d , " I ' m n o t s t u p i d . I f t h e y want t h e s o c i a l housing, g i v e them t h e goddamn s o c i a l housing."

The c o n c e s s i o n t o p r o v i d e t h e 200 u n i t s g r a t e s on Bosa. The k i n d of t e n a n t s who may move i n i n f u r i a t e s him.

"This i s i n s a n e . The t y p e of p e o p l e J i m Green (DEW o r g a n i z e r ) r e p r e s e n t s , most of them d o n ' t work. Why s h o u l d someone who d o e s n ' t work, who s l e e p s 'i i n t o 11 i n t h e morning, l i v e i n a b e a u t i f u l l o c a t i o n r i g h t downtown be: s i d e a S k y t r a i n s t a t i o n ? The accomois exactly d a t i o n t h e y are g e t t i n g che same a s t h e guy who pays $250 a

...

sq.ft.

It's sicktf(!)

"When I met w i t h S h i r l e y Schmidt (former d i r e c t o r of Columbia Housing Advisory A s s o c i a t i o n S I was f u r i o u s .

I t o l d h e r , ' I hope l i k e h e l l you screen properly'. W e l l , I ' m t o l d YOU can 't d i s c r i m i n a t e .

The a r t i c l e t h a t t h e s e q u o t e s are t a k e n from h a s been t i g h t l y e d i t e d , making N a t Bosa a p p e a r a s a s h i n i n g example of a l l t h a t ' s h o l y i f y o u ' r e a greedy, narrow-minded, h y p o c r i t i c a l ( d a r e I s a y i t - money-grubbing) b a s t a r d . I t ' s even l a y e d ouc i n a way t o convince you, i f you i d e n t i f y w i t h t h e d i v i n e d e s c r i p t i o n above, t h a t , a s u s u a l , t h e social is^ w h i n e r s a r e a n i s o l a t e d c a s e and, a s u s u a l , t r y i n g t o g e t f o r n o t h i n g what t h e h o n e s t , hard-working s a p s have t o work 20 y e a r s t o pay o f f . Every page h a s $-page a d s f o r g i a n t c o r p o r a t i o n s p e r p e t u a l l y engaged i n making money f o r t h e s a k e of making more money.

J i m Green i s c a t e g o r i z e d a s " t h e s e l f - s t y l e d p r o t e c t o r of t h e poor of Downtown Eastside". .words under h i s picture..and s i n c e people read captions under pictures f i r s t ,i t l s so much easier to think of the loss of "cheap" housing as a good t h i n g , i s n ' t i t ? But hey, t h a t ' s what subl i m i n a l brainwashing i s a l l a b o u t !

Nat Bosa i s n ' t t h a t s u b t l e . I f you judge p e o p l e by t h e s i z e of t h e i r bank a c c o u n t - t h e b i g g e r t h e b e t t e r h i s b i n o c u l a r b u l l s h i t i s common ' s e n s e . I mean, t h e f a c t s j u s t c o n f u s e you when your mind i s made up.

Bosa, you a r e probably p r e t t y comf o r t a b l e c a l l i n g o u r community "skid Road'' - t h a t ' s a g i v e n f o r you. A l l of t h e s t e r e o t y p e s of "lazy", "bums", ' t t h i e v e s " , " r u b b i e s t ' ,"dope-pushers", .maybe "worthless" o r "alkies" " s h i f t l e s s " when you g e t i n t o i t w i t h f r i e n d s . . . n o n e of you can s t a n d t o f e e l guilty o r responsible f o r the s t a n d a r d s of l i v i n g t h a t poor p e o p l e

...

e n d u r e . You e v e n Ery t o s a l v e your c o n s c i e n c e by s a y i n g t h a t you want t h e s e 200 u n i t s t o go t o t h e " t r u l y needy".

I f you e v e r g e t y o u r f u r l i n e d b l i n d e r s r i p p e d o f f your puss you might s e e t h a t o v e r h a l f o f t h e c i t i z e n s of Vancouver ( o r any c i t y f o r t h a t m a t t e r ) a r e "needy" and li i n g i n d e b t f o r most of t h e i r l i v e s A s a c l o s i n g p o i n t , we no l o n g e r a c c e p t t h e i d e a o f blaming o u r s e l v e as rational.

For t h e r e t o be a v i c t i m , t h e r e must b e a p e r p e t r a t o r .

Anyone w a n t i n g t o w r i t e t o Bosa and d i s c u s s h i s comments on r e s i d e n of o u r neighbourhood; h i s a d d r e s s NAT BOSA/BOSA CONSTRUCTION 201 - 3701 H a s t i n g s S t . , BURNABY, B.C. V5C 2H6 Send me a copy and I ' l l p r i n t i t .

I11The coffee house scene

RALLY TO SAVE POST O F F I C E

3

S e p t . 1 2 , Wednesday 5 Pm Pan Pacific H o t e l B r i n g l o t s of f r i e n d s .

Jean Claude P a r r o t ,

1

I ----

d e n t o f t h e P o s t a l Workers Union, w i l l be there.

-

--

n-

I n memory o f RANDY FRENCH who p a s s e d away September 25, 1989.

s c h o i c e is yours.

T H E DOWNTOWN E A S T S I D E is a R e s i d e n t i a l Area

To name j u s t a few, t h e f o l l o w i n g a r e used by me and some p e o p l e I know:

Are you g e t t i n g s i c k and t i r e d of h e a r i n g a b o u t what i s needed i n t h e Downtown E a s c s i d e ? Well f o l k s , g e t used t o i t !

There a r e o v e r 10,000 p e o p l e l i v i n g i n t h e neighbourhood and we a r e h e r e to stay.

There a r e a l s o many o r g a n i z a t i o n s i n t h e community where h e l p i s a v a i l a b l e f o r j u s t about everyone. Asking anyone w i l l u s u a l l y g e t you p o i n t e d i n che r i g h t d i r e c t i o n , and t h e r e i s a l s o a phamplet o u t c a l l e d Help I n The Downtown E a s t s i d e .

DERA:

Help w i t h f i n d i n g h o u s i n g , w e l f a r e problems, income t a x and o t h e r r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e .

CARNEGIE: 2,000 p e o p l e a day p a s s through; t o a t t e n d i n t h e L e a r n i n g C e n t r e , t o go t o t h e L i b r a r y o r watch TV i n t h e S e n i o r s Lounge o r l i f t w e i g h t s i n t h e basement o r p l a y p o o l on t h e 2nd f l o o r o r t o e a t b r e a k f a s t , lunch, dinner

.....

CRAB TREE CORNER: I had no i d e a how much t h i s h a s t o o f f e r . I ' d h e a r d a b o u t emergency d a y c a r e and community programs and got t h i s list -

CRABTREE CORNER

MANAGER: B R n MACPHEE 101 East Cordova Vancouver. B.C. V6A 1K7

Service:

412vcARE

689-2808

Emergency and short-term daycare Children: 6 weeks to 6th birthday Monday to Fr~day9:30 - 4:00 Phone registration at 8:45 a.m.

M S.S.t-1. c o u ~ o n savailable .

Swvice:

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Alcohol and Drug Counsellor Free soup and bannock 12:OO p m. - Tues.. Wed.. Fri. Parenting workshops Fitness program

- Mon.

Single Mothers' Food Bank Trip - Tues.

V~deos-Thurs., Fri. Clothing and book exchange Referral and resource information Serv~ce:

COMMUNINITY SPACE Healthiest Babies Possible Child Poverty Action Comrninee Red Road Warriors Native A A - Wed. and Frl , 7:30 p m. (chddcare provided) (Farn~lyCllnner, th~rdFri. of month at 5-30 p.m.)

\

WOMEN'S CENTRE: P r o v i d e s f r e e c l o t h i n g , showers, l a u n d r y and soup & bannock, programs & v i d e o s

~D~JDQY

7 u r s ~ ~ LJEO,U( ~ ' m y

On t h e c o r n e r Columbia, i t p r o v i d e s Tree c o f f e e and soup i n t h e mornings a t 8 dm, i s open t h r o u g h o u t t h e day, & h a s a d a i l y AA m e e t i n g a t 12:30.

The Downtown E a s t s i d e h a s a l o t o t o f f e r , s o f e e l f r e e t o drop i n t o any of t h e above mentioned p l a c e s .

Another a r e a t h a t i s c u r r e n t l y a t i s s u e is pedestrian s a f e t y , especia l l y a t Main & H a s t i n g s . A k i n k t h a t h a s t o be i r o n e d o u t h e r e i s t h e number of i n c i d e n t s o r n e a r i n c i d e n t s involving people using t h e crosswalks.

We have t o make s u r e t h a t t h e y ' r e s a f e f o r p. e o.p l e of a l l a g e s , b u t d e f i n i t e l y f o r t h e s e n i o r , d i s a b l e d and i n f i r m residentg.

THE LIST GOES ON & ON & ON & ON! A l l of t h i s i s f o r t h e b e n e f i t of o u r community. Working t o g e t h e r c a n r e a l l y make a d i f f e r e n c e .

DUGOUT :

By MARGARET PREVOST

'TliE l l ~ ~ ~ ~ NEWS ~ ~ :T I C "

(Any . - resemblance t o mainstream propaganda i s p u r e l y c o - i n c i d e n t a l ...)

The m a j o r i t y of modern businessmen & women spend most of t h e i r t i m e enjoying luxurys o t h e r s c a n ' t a f f o r d & p l o t t i n g ways t o b r e a k t h e law w i t h o u t g e t t i n g c a u g h t . T h i s h a s become s o common t h a t i t ' s no l o n g e r considered criminal o r pathological behaviour.

I n the public eye t h i s s o r t of a c t i v i t y h a s come t o b e acce p t e d as proof of s u p e r i o r i t y &, acco r d i n g t o many p o p u l a r b u s i n e s s p e r s o n a l i t i e s , h a s r e c e n t l y become "sanctioned" by Cod. L a s t week, Media Rocks-Off, t h e d a u g h t e r and deal-maker f o r Scam-You, one of t h e r i c h e s t businessmen i n t h e world, g o t a s much media c o v e r a g e a s s h e could o u t of h e r l o n g drawn-out p r o p o s a l s t o buy ~ a n d e r s l a m r n ' s FanEasy Gardens p r o p e r t y i n Richmond ( a name compounded from E n g l i s h & French, meaning " ~ i c h~ o r l d " ) A f t e r B i l l Vanderslamm had conned h i s way i n t o p u b l i c o f f i c e , and j u s t b e f o r e he e l e v a t e d h i m s e l f t o t h e d i v i n e r i g h t of p r e m i e r s h i p , he cons t r u c t e d a media image around h i s "wholesome" s m i l e , sun-lamp t a n , & e x p e n s i v e b u s i n e s s s u i t s , & used i t t o t u r n an a g r i c u l t u r a l preserve i n t o a "theme park", which i s t h e l a t e s t American codeword f o r "Shop= p i n g Mall".

B i l l i s a m a s t e r con-man, & i n 1985 ~ i c h m o n d ' s Town C o u n c i l co-operated w i t h him a l l t h e way, a s h e g a i n e d a p p r o v a l f o r 15 e x p a n s i o n s of somet h i n g he c a l l e d "Fantasy Gardens", d u r i n g a p e r i o d of o n l y 14 months.

B i l l i n t r o d u c e d each p r o p o s a l a s a s m a l l but necessary expansion, & a t no t i m e d i d h e o u t l i n e h i s o v e r a l l p l a n . The Richmond Department s a i d l a t e r t h a t during t h e process they were aware of e a c h i n d i v i d u a l p i e c e of e x p a n s i o n b u t t h e f i n 4 1 t r a n s f o r -

.

mation of B i l l ' s " b o t a n i c a l garden" i n t o a theme p a r k shopping m a l l t o o k them by s u r p r i s e , t h e y s a i d .

When t h e Vanderslamms bought t h e p r o p e r t y i n 1983, i t was a c t u a l l y a r e a l b o t a n i c a l g a r d e n , w i t h o n l y one s m a l l b u i l d i n g on s i t e . By 1985, B i l l & L i l had added a c o n s e r v a t o r y , b e l l t o w e r , c h a p e l , gazebo, 2 b a r n s , a parking l o t , animal s h e l t e r s , a "Noah's Ark", a m i n i a t u r e r a i l w a y s t a t i o n , m o b i l e home, r e s t a u r a n t comp l e x , f i s h & c h i p s t r a i l e r & gardenc e n t r e complex i n c l u d i n g s t a t u e s of c a t h o l i c saints..whose s t o n e B i l l s a i d w a s "imported d i r e c t l y from t h e Holy and". ..of c o u r s e B i l l n e g l e c t e d t o p o i n t o u t t h a t h i s s o - c a l l e d "Holy Land" i s a c t u a l l y a p l a c e where t h e y h e r d d i s s i d e n t s i n t o r e f u g e e camps, & c u t o f f your hand f o r s t e a l i n g a l o a f of b r e a d . ill's More b u i l d i n g s w e r e added t o f a n t a s y i n 1986 & of c o u r s e t h e famous Expo r e p l i c a of a Dutch c a s t l e w i t h a drawbridge t h a t i s n e v e r lowe r e d , topped i t a l l o f f i n 1987. I n t h a t y e a r , Richmond's L i c e n s i n g Department f i n a l l y admitted p u b l i c l y t h a t t h e " b o t a n i c a l garden" (which t h e a r e a i s s t i l l zoned f o r ) had now become "a secondary f e a t u r e " . a c t u a l l y t h e g a r d e n around which B i l l ' s f a n t a s y was b u i l t was now o n l y a n a c c e s s o r y t o t h e r e t a i l complex t h a t had grown up s o r a p i d l y (and a c c o r d i n g t o Richmond p l a n n e r s "unexpectedly") around i t .

I n 1986, j u s t b e f o r e B i l l e l e v a t e d h i m s e l f t o t h e d i v i n e r i g h t of Premi e r s h i p , he s a i d : "When I t h i n k a b o u t how i t w i l l a l l come t o g e t h e r , I t h i n k t h e r e must be a Higher A u t h o r i t y a t work" he showed u s h i s a s t r o l o g y c h a r t & i t i n d i c a t e d h e would be e l e c t e d & LO IT CAME TO PASS! The d i v i n e r i g h t of t h e b u s i n e s s d e a l i n s p i r e d by God i s a common

the Now and fri mer

knc UP 1

m if t hf wht "bc 11 u1

I "P bi "t

a•’ su ac

. ~1 SP ba

ht ir i~ P'

..

...

S

mi

r b f h

r L

B h II

t

I 1

t

E

theme of commercial p e r s o n a l i t i e s .

Now, Media Rocks-Off, famous d a u g h t e r and deal-maker f o r Scam-You, a c l o s e f r i e n d of t h e l a t e Ferdy Marcos, f o r mer d i c t a t o r & i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e knowned c r i m i n a l , h a s d e c i d e d t o buy up B i l l ' s d i v i n e l y i n s p i r e d f a n t a s y . .

A t f i r s t s h e s a i d s h e thought s h e might t u r n i t i n t o a l u x u r y h o t e l f o r t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l business set, but when s h e h e a r d i s was s t i l l zoned f o r " b o t a n i c a l gardens", claimed s h e was "undecided".

Miss Rocks-Off s a i d s h e l i k e d t o "play t e n n i s and t a k e p a r t i n aerobics".

She d e s c r i b e d h e r s e l f as " t o t a l l y d e d i c a t e d t o work" b u t "una f f e c t e d " by t h e "immense w e a l t h surrounding h e r Scam-You, h e r f a t h e r , who i s t h e a c t u a l owner of t h e f a m i l y ' s w e a l t h , . plays h i s p a r t i n t h e d i v i n e l y ins p i r e d b u s i n e s s by s t a y i n g i n t h e background and m a n i p u l a t i n g numbers.

A company spokeman s a i d h e "loves" t h e number 7 - & t r y s t o incorporate its mystical q u a l i t i e s into a l l h i s business deals.

Lee Cash-In, a n o t h e r w e a l t h y Asian p e r s o n a l i t y who a l s o keeps o u t of sight & uses h i s children a s frontmen, r e c e n t l y snapped up t h e b i g g e s t real e s t a t e b a r g a i n i n North America, buying o u t t h e h e a r t of Vancouver's f u t u r e development.

1t's o f t e n been claimed t h a t he t o o h a s gained f a v o u r w i t h t h e gods by a r i t u a l m a n i p u l a t i o n o f numbers.

L i l l i a n & B i l l ' s Astrology & " s p e c i a l powers of ESP", L i l l i a n ' s good-luck headbands & B i l l ' s d i v i n e l y i n s p i r e d "Higher A u t h o r i t y " a r e c l e a r i n d i c a t i o n s t h a t t h e y have a t l e a s t one t h i n g i n common w i t h t h e i r r i c h Asian f r i e n d s - t h e y a l l worship t h e same god: money.

Tents..long s h o r t round and wide.

Children..running playing, , l a u g h i n g . a s mothers t r y t o keep them o u t o f t h e water fountain

.

The museum s t a n d s d a r k and o b s e r v a n t Police take pictures from Vancouver Hotel H i s t o r y b e i n g made People i n a t e n t c i t y i n t h e middle of a b u s i n e s s world Make a p o l i t i c a l s t a t e m e n t o f s u p p o r t f o r t h e Mohawks f o r Indian land being s t o l e n .

."

TORA (From a Main & H a s t i n g s Co-op Radio s c r i p t . Heard e v e r y 2nd Thrusday.)

The cement s t e p s . . covered by tent-canvas.. a food k i t c h e n w i t h donated food A f i r e burns i n a 40-gallon drum The drum b e a t s s o f t l y , softly, softly and t h e p r o t e s t o r s w a i t f o r news.

-.

SENIORS

-

S h e i l a Baxter Whidby I s l a n d T r i p

S p e c i a l t h a n k s goes o u t t o o u r d r i v e r , Tony, t o t h e gorgeous s t a f f (Kim & L i s a ) and t o a l l t h e S e n i o r s who, through t h e i r e f f o r t s , made t h e whole t h i n g p o s s i b l e .

The l u n c h & d i n n e r were g r e a t ; more food t h a n anyone could e a t , and t h e s c e n e r y w a s m a g n i f i c e n t . It more t h a n made up f o r a l l o u r s t o p s and starts.

I hope t h i s t r i p comes around n e x t y e a r . It 's t r u l y e n j o y a b l e .

George N i c h o l a s Seniors ' Secretary.

-

-

i i s E v e r y move fravght .** The

--

w i t h danger

Z a l m wanders on...

His S + e d "Fantasy"i s an uncertain .3 His 0 - t t l e against R e ~ l i t ~ .

ally

ih

Socred Spending Spree Can't Erase Zalm I s s u e By t h e t i m e you read t h i s column, B r i t i s h Columbia could f i n a l l y be i n t o the o f f i c i a l provincial general election.

I say " o f f i c i a l " because t h e Socred r e - e l e c t i o n campaign i s a l r e a d y underway, and i t ' s c o s t i n g you d e a r l y .

I n r e c e n t weeks, t h e Socreds have stepped up t h e i r p r e - e l e c t i o n campaign e f f o r t s w i t h an avalanche of taxpayer-funded government a d v e r t i s i n g , and a six-week c a b i n e t t o u r t h a t everyone recognizes a s a p o l i t i c a l roadshow.

Most B r i t i s h Columbians a g r e e t h a t i t ' s t i m e f o r B i l l Vander Zalm t o c a l l an end t o t h i s expensive phoney campaign and go t o t h e people i n a r e a l general e l e c t i o n .

Perhaps t h e s u r e s t s i g n of a n impending v o t e i s t h e r e c e n t appearance of Socred p a r t y TV a d v e r t i s i n g . I c e r t a i n l y d o n ' t q u a r r e l w i t h S o c i a l c r e d i t ' s r i g h t t o a d v e r t i s e , and I ' l l l e a v e i t t o o t h e r s t o comment on whether t h e s e ads a r e b e l i e v a b l e .

But I draw t h e l i n e when Vander Zalm u s e s t a x p a y e r s ' money i n a n attempt t o buy v o t e s .

Why should t h e people of B . C . have t o pay hundreds of thousands of d o l l a r s f o r e n d l e s s t e l e v i s i o n and newspaper a d s t h a t a r e l i t t l e more t h a n b a r e l y d i s g u i s e d Socred propaganda?

And why a r e t a x p a y e r s expected t o f i n a n c e t h e huge c o s t of Vander ~ a l m ' s c u r r e n t cabinec cour, when i t ' s c l e a r l y p a r t of a r e - e l e c t i o n campaign?

To put t h e s e c o s t s i n human terms, t h e r e p o r t e d $1 m i l l i o n s p e n t by t h e Socreds t o produce and t e l e v i s e t h e infamous "B.C. News Updates" could be used t o provide much needed h e a r t s u r g e r y f o r 100 B r i t i s h Columbians.

I s i n c e r e l y hope t h a t by t h e time you read t h i s , Vander Zalm w i l l have put away t h e p u b l i c cheque book and shown some courage b y , c a l l i n g t h e provincial election.

I f they don't know i t by now, t h e Socreds should r e a l i z e t h a t , above a l l else, t h i s e l e c t i o n i s about whether t h e people of B.C. want a n o t h e r f o u r y e a r s of B i l l Vander Zalm/ I b e l i e v e B r i t i s h Columbians want a change i n government, and no l a s t d i t c h spending s p r e e w i t h your t a x d o l l a r s can change t h a t f a c t .

I '

I

I

By MIKE HARCOURT I

Carmanah I n t h e Carmanah Valley t h e trees are f i v e hundred y e a r s o l d , and t h e s i l e n c e i s o l d e r than t h e t r e e s .

How do we know we're l o s t u n l e s s w e know t h a t t h e r e ' s a p l a c e we've g o t t o g e t t o ?

What have we f o r g o t t e n ?

We d i s a p p e a r i n t h i s c e n t u r y .

The f o r e s t s d i s a p p e a r .

Integrity disappears.

I n t h e Carmanah Valley n o ~ h i n gd i s a p p e a r s .

Everything becomes something e l s e .

W e , who a s c h i l d r e n walked i n t h e company of t r e e s , want t o be o u r s e l v e s a g a i n .

W e a r e used by o t h e r s .

Danger surrounds u s .

We a r e used.

How can w e b e l i e v e i n j u s t i c e i n t h e c i t i e s when o u r homes a r e t a k e n from u s by t h o s e w i t h t e e t h and r e g u l a t i o n s sharp a s r a z o r s ?

I n t h e Carmanah Valley t h e t r e e s a r e a t home.

The s m a l l s q u i r r e l i s a t home.

The t r a v e l l e r i s a t home t h e r e .

I n t h e c i t i e s each person i s a l o n e .

W e a r e opposed t o one a n o t h e r .

The golden r u l e i s money.

I n t h e Carmanah Valley che branches of t r e e s embrace u s , gently , l i k e a mother.

Carmanah, i n i t s beauty, speaks t o u s , and t e l l s u s who w e a r e and ought t o be.

Whose v o i c e i s t h i s which comes from such a d i s t a n c e t h a t we can s c a r c e l y h e a r i t ?

Pi

There was a cime when mystery walked t h e e a r t h .

Carmanah w i l l t e l l you.

Every l e a f and s t o n e had a purpose.

Questions about meaning were unnecessary.

I n che Carmanah V a l l e y each c r e a t u r e h a s i t s s p e c i a l s t r e n g t h .

Things have a s p i r i t ( i f o u r e y e s a r e open); we s e e t h a t we a r e i n a l i v i n g p l a c e .

How do we u n l e s s we we've g o t What have Carmanah,

know w e ' r e l o s t know t h a t t h e r e ' s a p l a c e t o get to? we f o r g o t t e n ? help us.

Sandy Cameron

Dear F r i e n d s , Y e s t e r d a y , I was walking e a s t on H a s t i n g s S t r e e t when, as I approached t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e Army & Navy s t o r e , I became aware o f a g a t h e r i n g of p e o p l e . A 911 ambulance was s t a n d i n g by t h e c u r b , a n o f f i c e r s i t t i n g i n t h e c a b ; a n o t h e r appeared from behind t h e ambulance a s I g o t t h e r e .

The s c e n e was t h a t of a young woman ( s h e appeared t o m e t o be h a r d l y o u t o f h e r t e e n s ) ; s h e was l a y i n g f a c e down on h e r hands, h a l f on h e r s i d e f l a t on t h e pavement, i n t h e doorway. I drew c l o s e r , t o s e e i f s h e was b r e a t h i n g , She w a s , v e r y l i g h t l y . A man came by me, h i s f a c e s c a r r e d and b r u i s e d as i f from a r e c e n t f i g h t , and s a i d r o u g h l y t o me " G e t back, you, g i v e h e r s p a c e Meanwhile t h e o f f i c e r s t o o d l o o k i n g a t h e r . "Why a r e you s t a n d i n g h e r e ? " I asked. " I s n ' t i s your j o b t o t a k e h e r away t o a h d s p i t a l ? " H e looked a t me, I t h o u g h t , i n some d e r i s i o n . lllt's not our jab t o t a k e h e r t o t h e h o s p i t a l , " h e s a i d , c o r r e c t i n g my igr@,rance, "We're w a i t i n g f o r t h e p o l i c e van."

."

I

1

%he may be s i c k , " I answered. "It may be h e l p l i k e t h a t s h e needs. " "She's drunk," h e s a i d a b r u p t l y , and w i t h a s s u r a n c e .

The p o l i c e van a r r i v e d , and s h e w a s helped t o h e r f e e t and l e d t o t h e van. The e y e s o f s u c h young people are t e r r i b l e , It seems t o m e t o b e a mighty i n d i c t m e n t of o u r contemporary s o c i e t y t h a t young p e o p l e a r e h u r l e d t o t h e ground i n t h i s way by t h e i r e x p e r i ence of l i f e i n t h i s s o c i e t y .

Where t h e y should be t a k e n , I sugge s t , i s t o some k i n d of half-way house f o r r e c o v e r y , and a i d i n rehab i l i t a t i o n and r e s t o r a t i o n of t h e i r self-respect.

When I t r i e d t o p r o t e s t thar. t h e r e should be something of t h i s k i n d , t h e o f f i c e r looked h a r d a t m e and s a i d h a r s h l y : "There's o n l y one p o l i c e van i n t h i s p r e c i n c t , and t h e h o s p i t a l d o e s n ' t t a k e them."

A r e we human b e i n g s - o r k e e p e r s of caged a n i m a l s ?

A Downtown E a s c s i d e r e s i d e n c .

P Y

I)O\~N'I'OWN LAS'J'S 1DE YOU'I'II AC1'IVIr1'IES

socren

685-4488

Wed. e v e n i n g : 5 t o 8 : 3 0 Dr. AL VENNEMA 'I'hur . e v e n i n g : 5 t o 8 : 30 I)r .COLIN HOKRICKS S'l'l) n u r s e s a r e o n s i t e through t h e weekdays.

F r e e doctors or\ s i ~ c 2 2 3 Main (confident i a l )

A

,-s

Drop i n or call af op pr oai nn t men t

.

-.

WNA'I'IONS SINCE LNCEP'I'ION : l l r u c e '1'. -$200 Yanurn S p a t h -$200 Nancy 15.-$300 Willis S.-$110 Kich P.-$41 George B . - $ I 5 Taum D.-$3.33 J a n c i s A.-$45 R o b e r t S .-$80 Dave C.-$5 $4.02 Tom L u i s P.-$20 Nancy - $ 1 0 L.B.T. - $ l o 0 Marg S.-$20 Alet -$25 S h e i l a B.-$2 Ted 8.-$5 L i l l i a n H.-$25 James M. -$50 1.MacLeod-$200 K e l l y -$6 J . E a s t -$I Nancy 5.-$70 S u e H.-$45 S t e v e K.-$10 I a n -$5 B. & B . -$8 Next i s s u e ' s MlEE - donations accepted.

N e i l M.-$2 CEEDS - $ l o DEADLINE : P e t e r E.-$4,57 E t i e n n e S.-$40 City info staff can't accept , L i n d a F.-$50 K e i t h C.-$20 dmations for this newsletter, so 26 S e p t e m b e r if you can help, find Paul Taylor Mcndel R.-$15 W i l f r i d B.-$12 (Thursday) and he'll give you a receipt.

K ' l e r n G.-$5 Anonymous - $ 5 5 . 7 3 The F i r e Bug -$250 nlanks everybody.

Terry t h e T e r r i b l e -$lo0 A r c h i e M.-$100 L i n d a K.-$100 k a u r e e n R.-$5 Sandy C.-$40 N E E D l I E L ' P ? kt

I

1

I

A c a n h e l p you any welfare p UIC problems getting legal unsafe living in hotels or disputes w i t h income t a x DERA

assistance conditions partment s landlords

is located at 9 East o r phone 082-0931.

Hastings

!)ERA llAS B E E N S E R V L N C TlllS DOWNTOWN EASTSIL)E t

FOR 1 7 YEARS.,

0

(Plsrgaret P r e v o s t c a l l e d E l i z a b e t h Godley about "Skid Road" and was t o l d "we d o n ' t l i k e t o u s e "Downtown E a s t s i d e " . Her e d i t o r t o l d Margaret t h a t , had h e s e e n i t , he Awareness'may be growing a f t e r a l l . ) would have changed ' S k i d Road'.

:re'sclosing:

By ELIZABETH CODLEY While International Literacy Day festivities take dace at Canada Place toda< .,a -mouu of downtown east side residents will be removing the sign from a Skid Road learning centre.

Shortly after Education Minister Tony Brummtt and Vancouver Mayor Gordon Campbell unveil a postage stamp; designed to promote literacy, and announce new literacy programs, Donald MacPherson and Mike Kramer will savor the irony that their storefront literacy program, the Learning Front at 217 Main, must close for lack of fund< Supported by $220,000 from a federal government iob-creation fund. the Learning Front trainei 11 tutors in its twoyears of existence, says MacPherson, a Carnegie Centre employee who helped get the program off the ground.

But MacPherson says when that money ran out in May, the provincial government refused the $158,000 needed to initiate the second phase of the ornicct.

Nknfunds would have seen the 11trained tutors use their new skills to teach reading and writing skills to other downtown eastsiders.

The neighborhood centred around Hastings and Main and plagued by alcohol and drug prob1e111s- has a 43-per-centilliteracy rate, according to Statistics Canada.

"The need is overwhelming," says MacPherson.

"The whole idea was . for this to grow into a storefront learning centre to create employment for the trained tutors."

The Inration, close to the welfare office, the pro-

.

-

-

..

vincial courts and next door to a needle-exchange promam. was ideal. he says.

- "The frustrating part is that the ~rovince's literacy advisory c&hmittee is recommending a community-based approach to literacy."

P;;,T-..,&%$,:;...

Provincial education ministry ofllcials could no > :5 $<<* be reached for comment Friday.

Before funds ran out, ~ r a m e says, r the storefront boasted a 1,000-volumelibrary, a computer, study cubicles and file cabinets full of reference material.

Carnegie Centre, the neighborhood commn centre, is already overcrowded and will have to "work really hard now to cover this entire area," Kramer saw. loreovck, the storefront was a comfortable place for women, who sometimes feel intimidated by the number of men at Carnegie, he says.

"It was very successful and there were a lot of close working relationships between students and tutors, which have been severed!'

Phyllis Starblanket amees. She drdpped out ofa school in Alert Bay at 15;but 10 years i&r, Uving in the downtown east side, discovered The Learning Front with friend Margaret Prevost. The two began working toward their Grade 12 diplomas.

Tutors were friendly and lessons suddenly- I seemed attractive, the women say.

"Going to school used to always be, 'Oh no, another day in school.' But here, it was, like, real exciting. I would come bouncing in every day," CRAB ~ 0 6 ' 0 Starblanket says.

"The way Margaret and I would put it, it was a NO FUNDS: MacPherson and student home away from home for both of us."

Phyllis Starblanket

I f you s l i d p a s t t h e f i r s t paragraph w i t h o u t f e e l i n g even a l i t t l e rage a t t h e w r i t e r , read it again.

For o v e r 1 7 y e a r s , t h e r e ' s been a c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t t o change o u r community from Skid Road t o t h e Downtown E a s t s i d e . R e p o r t e r s and TV and r a d i o c o n t i n u e t o l e a v e t h e b a s i c myths and s t e r e o t y p e s unc h a l l e n g e d and t h i s l a z y e p i t h e t i s j u s t t o o e a s y t o u s e . I f you t h i n k you l i v e on t h e ' s k i d s ' . . . y o u d o .

HIDDEN MEANING Imagine h a i l i n g a t a x i and t h e d r i v e r i s a p o e t .

You c o u l d s a y , " T e l l m e a poem and t a k e m e t o Costa Rica."

As you d r i v e away.

*:?::<:>.

2

?:.

Imagine g e t t i n g i n t o a t a x i where t h e d r i v e r i s a r e a l p o e t .

You c o u l d q u o t e Robert Penn Warren without f e e l i n g r i d i c u l o u s : "Driver, do you t r u l y , t r u l y know what f l e s h i s ? " Imagine g e t t i n g i n t o a t a x i and i t ' s snowy Saskatchewan and t h e p o e t h a s n o t made a d o l l a r .

The snow goes on f a l l i n g and now y o u ' r e b o t h s t u c k i n i t ; p o e t r y g e t s you nowhere f a s t e r t h a n a n y t h i n g .

I I

%

The o f f i c i a l c e l e b r a t i o n / e v e n t s which happened on I n t e r n a t i o n a l L i t e r a c y Day had l o t s of s p e a k e r s and e n t e r t a i n e r s . P e r f o r m e r s w i t h b r u t a l l y s h o r t b i o g r a p h i e s on t h e promotional handouts i n c l u d e d J i m Byrnes, Sophie B a r j a c , Kathyrn B r a c h t , Gerry MacKay, John Gray, S p i d e r Robinson and Susan Musgrave, whose work a p p e a r s h e r e . One p e r son from Carnegie s a i d t h a t about t h e o n l y s p e a k e r who was r e a l l y

Imagine b r e a k i n g i n t o a t a x i and f i n d i n g two p o e t s f r o z e n t o g e t h e r .

You'd l o o k a t one a n o t h e r as i f t h e world had meaning f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , h i d d e n meaning, and wouldn't i t be a k i n d of t e r r i b l e o c c a s i o n . ~

worth l i s t e n i n g t o w a s David Lam, t h e Lieutenant-Governor of B.C. ~ t ' sd i f f i c u l t t o be p o s i t i v e and e a g e r when t h e s o c r e d s s h u t down one of t h e b e s t p r o j e c t s i n B.C.

Susan Musgrave

What is Really ~appenin'gto Canada?

CITIZENS CONCERNED ABOUT FREE TRADE is a n a t i o n a l , non-partisan a n t i - f r e e t r a d e o r g a n i z a t i o n , w i t h a membership of about 5000. It began i n Saskatchewan i n 1985, and f o r t h r e e y e a r s p r i o r t o t h e 1988 e l e c t i o n c a r r i e d o u t a massive e d u c a t i o n a l campaign a c r o s s t h e country, t o l e t Canadians know what i s i n t h e Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, and how t h e FTA fundamentally endangers Canada a s a n independent n a t i o n .

CCAFT's n a t i o n a l chairman, David Orchard, a Saskatchewan farmer, spoke from H a l i f a x t o Vancouver, o f t e n t o audiences of over 1000 people (and t o c o u n t l e s s Canadians i n TV i n t e r v i e w s , and on open-line r a d i o shows). H e debated some of t h e most a g g r e s s i v e 11 f r e e trade1' proponents i n t h e count r y , among them John Crosbie, t h e n f e d e r a l t r a n s p o r t m i n i s t e r ; John C r i s po, Toronto economist and prime academic advocate of f r e e t r a d e ; Bob Andrew, Saskatchewan's t r a d e m i n i s t e r ; and Gordon R i t c h i e , Simon Reisman's deputy n e g o t i a t o r .

CCAFT d i s t r i b u t e d hundreds of thousands of p i e c e s of l i t e r a t u r e and p r i o r t o t h e e l e c t i o n produced a book caliled Free Trade: The F u l l S t o r y , alohg with a videotape of t h e same name, and many o t h e r v i d e o & audio tapes. CCFAT coined t h e slogan NO RA-TIFICATION OF THE FREE TRADE AGREEMENT WITHOUT A GENERAL ELECTION, and pushed t o have a n e l e c t i o n on t h e i s s u e when Prime M i n i s t e r Mulroney was determined t o s i g n on t h e dotced l i n e without Canadians having any s a y i n t h e matter.

In o r d e r t o g e t a n e l e c t i o n , CCFAT i n i t i a t e d a nation-wide lobby t o have L i b e r a l s e n a t o r s block t h e Agreement so Mulroney would be f o r c e d t o c a l l an e l e c t i o n .

A f t e r t h i s was accomplished and a

s i g n i f i c a n t number (57%) of Canadians voted a g a i n s t t h e d e a l , CCFAT c o n t i n ued t o lobby t o block t h e passage of t h e b i l l i t s e l f - which t h e Senate could have done l e g a l l y and c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y - u n t i l t h e v e r y l a s t moment. CCAFT never conceded t h a t Mulroney g o t a mandate t o go ahead w i t h t h e d e a l . It i s c o n t i n u i n g t o work t o have t h e F.T.A. a b r o g a t e d , s o t h a t Canada can t a k e i t s r i g h t f u l p l a c e on t h e world s t a g e a s an independent n a t i o n i n c o n t r o l of i t s own economy, and t h e r e f o r e i t s own d e s t i n y . Since Spring 1989 CCAFT h a s put p r e s s u r e on t h e L i b e r a l s and t h e NDP t o form an e l e c t o r a l c o a l i t i o n t o d e f e a t Mulroney i n t h e next e l e c t i o n and t o r e p e a l t h e Agreement.

On Saturday, S e p t . 8 , David Orchard spoke i n Vancouver. It was r e f r e s h i n g t o have someone t r u s t w o r t h y s t r i p away t h e smoke & m i r r o r s used by Mulroney and show, p o i n t a f t e r p o i n t , how t h e ~ c e d i c t i o n smade on t h e e f f e c t s of t h e Agreement a r e now f a c t s .

Companies a r e moving t o t h e S t a t e s f o r lower i n t e r e s t r a t e s , lower c o s t s , no minimum wages i n t h e South, fewer unions; t h e f e d e r a l government c u t s U I , i s removing i t s e l f from Medicare, s a y s nothing about US t a r i f f s on hogs and wheat, dumps t h e f i s h i n d u s t r y i n t o American hands, t u r n s a b l i n d eye t o t h e l o s s of 140,000 jobs and w i l l make up f o r l o s t t a r i f f revenue (and e a s e c o r p o r a t e t a x e s ) v i a a GST s t a r t i n g a t 7% and soon doubling.

P r o t e c t i o n of energy, water and a g r i c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s h a s been l o s t and Canadian s o l d i e r s a r e o f f t o t h e Middle E a s t t o f i g h t f o r American o i l i n t e r e s t s . The Mohawks i n Oka are being punished f o r E l i j a h H a r p e r ' s d e f e a t i n g Meech Lake and 30% of Sask. farms a r e t h r e a t e n e d w i t h f o r e c l o s u r e .

? ; Orchard s a i d Mexico i s !

Canada-Mexico "Free" Trade:

ifhere US and Canadian jnanufacturing i s r e l o c a t i n g . A lOkm band a l ong t h e border i s f r e e from t a x r e s t r i c t i o n s and workers a r e p a i d SIXTY CENTS AN HOUR! (no u n i o c ~ ,no.,b e n e f i t s ) t.lexico, l i k e Canada, i s facing a sell-out t o multi-nationals.

David Orchard was n o t "doom & gloom" but was c l e a z : P o l i t i c i a n s have throtm i n t h e towel on 'If reel' t r a d e , but we, t h e people, must cont i n u e t o r a i s e awaren e s s and f i g h t back.

The FTA h a s t o be kept i n t h e f o r e f r o n t of a l l issues i n a l l elect i o n s . I u r g e everyone ; t o j o i n CCAFT and t o v o t e i n e l e c t i o n s . You and I and a l l of u s can count by being count'ed.

By PAULR TAYLOR I

with: Jose Luis Perez Canchola .k From the Centre of Informationand Immigration Studies-Tijuana,

Mexico

& Dr. Marjorie Cohen

Music by:

John Gray & Others

IWA Hall 2859 Commercial Drive at 13th Avenue Free admission Sponsored by: The Coalition Against "Free" Trade & The BC Working Group on Canada-Mexico Free Trade I=or information call OXFAM-736-7678 or CAFT-321-1202 -w-.

..

.?$:.I "

I would like to join C C A R to defeat the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the U.S. , Name (please print)

Address Postal Code

City, Town Phone

Occupation

Date of Application

Membership Fee $10.00 1 have included a donation of

$25

$50

$75

$100

[? Other $

WE WELCOME YOUR QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, OBSERVATIONS. PLEASE USE BACK OF FORM. Please return to CCAFT, National Office, P.O. Box 8052, Saskatoon, Sask. S7K 4R7 Tcl~nhnnr(?n6) 344-5757

FOOD F O R THOUGHT

a l l of us and our community; a s p i r a tions for the future will be better with input from a l l of u s .

,obody can d c anything t o heal a planet. The suggestion that anybody could d o so is preposterous.

The heroes of abstraction keep galloping in on their white horses to save the planet - and they keep falling off in front of the grandstand.

What we need, obviously, is a more intelligent -which is tosay, a moreaccurate-description of the problem The description of a problem a s "planetary" arouses a motivation for which, of necessity, there is no employment. The adjective "planetary" describes a problem in such a way that it cannot be solved.

In fact, though we now have serious problems nearly everywhere on the planet, we have no problem that can accurately be described as "planetary." And, short of the total annihilation of the human race, there is no planetary solution There are also no national, state, or country problems, and no national, state, or county solutions

That will-o'-the-wispof the large-scale solution to the large-scale problem, so dear to governments and universities and corporations, serves mostly to distract people h.om the small, private problems that they may in fact have the power to solve.

The problems. ~f we describe them accurately. are all private and small. Or they are so initially fhc problems are \ I ! : h ~ c sIn the dcvelopi!c! c i,\i:,!ries. ~ j tle;i.;t, t ! ~ . , I.jrgc ~vc~blcrns c.ccur hec-duv all c>f us ,lrr I!:.int. crthcr p r t ! \ 'ivrpilg o r .Irllc.st cn!r:d\ : v r ( w : was not just thegreedof corporate shareholders and the hubris of corporate executrves that put the fate of Prince Williams Sound into one ship; it was also our demand that enerm should be cheap and plentiful Our economies uf comrnunrty and household ,ire wrong The answer.; to thc human problems of ecology are to be found in economy The answers to the problems of economy are to be found in culture and in character. '

TO fail to see this is togoondividing the world ialsely between guilty producers and innocent consumers.

The "planetary" versions-the heroic versions -of our problems have attracted great intelligence. But these problems, as they are caused and suffered in our lives. our households and our communities, have attracted very little intelligence.

There are some notable exceptions. A few people have learned to do a few things better. ~ ui t tis discouraging t o reflect that, though we have been talking about mostof our problems for decades, we are still mainly talking a b u t them.

We have failed to produce the necessary examples of better ways.

The reason, apparently, is that a change of principles or of talkor of thought is impotent, on its nwn, to change life.

For the most part. the subcultures, the countercultures, the dissenters, and the opponents continue mindlessly-or perhaps just helplessly - to follow the pattern of the dominant society in its extravagance, its wastefulness, its dependencies and its addictions.

The old problem remains: How do you get intelligence jut of an institution or an organization? ' T t ~ c q u e ~ t that i m must be addressc.i, thcrcfor: I., now tc~cdre fur the planet, biit ti^:^.^ !(,(.,I, !,:I ~ ~ c ~t I :he ;I planet's ni~ll!onsot t i u ~ ; i . ~ :r; I ~ ~ ~ i :,, ,t;~r'iI r ~ e ~ ~ h kt s~d h 1 ,>):~ 115 d ~ ~III~I(II~,., . ,:I :i::<jl! L ~ , I C C C SL,ii..i p~.,rccls<>t ';,ii<I ~ ~ ! ) 2 c , r%i ( , 01 :\hich 1s 111 siwlc. prcsciou~,1r1c1 t : i t ,1111:: c i ~ f f w ~ rfrom il all ttita others Our understandable wish to preserve the planet must somehow be reduced to the scale of ourcompetence-that is, to the wish to preserve all of its humble households and neighborhoods.

What can accomplish this reduction?

I will say again, without overweening hope. but with certainty nonetheless, that only love can do it. Only love can bring intelligence out of the institutions and organizations, where i t aggrandizes itself, into the presence of the work that must be dnne.

Love is never abstract. It does not adhere to the universe or the planet or the nation or the institution or the profession, but to the singular

1

i.7

1:

sparrows of the street, the l~llesof the field. "the least of these my brethren " Love is not, by its own desire, heroic. It is heroic only when compelled to be. It exists by its willingness to be anonymous, humble, and unrewarded.

The older love becomes, the more clearly it understands its involvement in partiality, imperfection, suffering, and mortality. Even so, it longs for incarnation. It can live no longer by thinking.

And yet, to put on flesh and do the flesh's work it must think.

Theenvironmentalism of the highly industrialized countries are at bottom a sham, because they make it their business to fight against something which they do not really wish to destroy.. . We all live by robbing nature.. . but our standard of living . . . demands that tie robbery shall continue.

We must achieve the chdracter and acquire the skills to live much poorer than we do. iseither that or continue merely to think and talk a b u t changes that we are inviting catastrophe to make.

I am not trying to mislead you, or myself, about the gravity of our situation. I think that we have hardly begun to grasp the seriousness of the mess we are in.

Our most serious problem, perhaps, is that we have become a nation of fantasists We believe, apparently, in the infinite availablity of finite resources We persist in land use methods that reduce the potentially infinite power of soil fertility to a finite quantity-wh~ch we then proceed to waste as if it were an infinitequantity We havean economy that depends, not upon the quality '~ndquantity of necessabf goods dnd services, but on the moodsof a few stockbrohers We belleve that democratic freedom can be preserved by people ignorant of the history of democracy, and indifferent to the responsibilities of freedom Our leaders believe that the difference between war and peace is still the overriding political difference-when, in fact, the difference is diminished to the point of insignificance. HOW would you describe the difference between modern war and modern industry-between, say, stripmining and bombing, or between chemical warfare and chemical manufacturing? The difference seems

to beonly that In war thevictimlzat~onothumans is directly intentional and in industry it is "accepted" a s a *'trade-off."

Were the catastrophes of Love Canal. Bhopal.

Chemobyl, and the Exxon Valdez episodes of war or of peace? They were, in fact, peacetime acts of aggression, intentional to the extent that the risks were known and ignored.

Our ~ndustrialaccidents, sc-~;illed should be lcokecl uFmi a s revenges of h:,iture We forget thcit Nature 1s necessarily pjriy to all our enterprl\t+ 2nd that she impose< cc~ncj~tions of her o w

And so, my adviceto you is simply my hope for us all Beware the justice of Nature.

Understand that there can be n c successful human economy apart horn Nature, or in defiance of Nature Understand that no amount of education can overcome the innate limitsof human intelligence and responsibility. W e are not smart enough or conscious enough or alert enough to work responsibly on a glgantic scale Make a home Help to make a community Be loyal to what you have made Put the interest o f the community first 1 ove your neighbors-not the n e i g h b r s you o ~ i : kout, but the ones you have I . c w the miraculous world that ivc Jrd not ~ ~ i d that k ~ ,I S a gift to us So far a s you are < ~ b l e make , your I~ves ~ntiependentof the industrt,ji cc:c,ri,)mv which t!ir~vesby damdgt f - l ~ ~d l r k l ,f ,<(lo~ 4 1 1t t ~ ~ &i t K:\ ~i,,o', Enioy your work Work well m11

l e a r n t o speak IRISH I R I S H ? - THAT'S NOT A LANGUAGE!!!

A language is t h e s p i r i t of i t s people.

I n t h e l a n g u a g e i s embedded their beliefs, t h e i r personality, t h e i r p e r s p e c t i v e on t h e w o r l d ; i t s l o s s d e p r i v e s them o f p a r t of themselves and i t s r e c l a m a t i o n c a n r e t r i e v e some of t h a t l o s t c u l t u r a l i n s i g h t , b u i l d new p r i d e and f o s t e r a f e e l i n g o f u n i t y and r i i t e d n e s s .

N a t i v e p e o p l e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e world are r e a f f i r m i n g t h e i r i d e n t i e s t h r u t h e r e v i v a l of t h e i r language, r e l i g i o n and c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s . T h i s r e v i v a l i s happening i n I r e l a n d a s w e l l , n o r c h and s o u t h , and among t h e I r i s h d i a s p o r a everywhere.

D i s c o v e r your r i c h h e r i t a g e , b e you f i r s t g e n e r a t i o n I r i s h o r t e n t h .

Enjoy weekly m e e t i n g s o f l a n g u a g e , music, and d a n c e c l a s s e s . Help u s b u i l d t h e c u l t u r a l community o f t h e I r i s h abroad.

Combaltas C e o l t o i r i E i r e a n n i s a n Eire-based i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r g a n i z a tion dedicated t o I r i s h culture. In Vancouver w e a r e a p r e s e n t l y s m a l l group of r e g u l a r s who welcome t h e a d d i t i o n o f new members t o t h e f o l d .

Membership i s $ 1 2 p e r y e a r , c l a s s e s a r e f r e e , and t h e r e i s a nominal f e e for materials.

Learn and c o n t r i b u ~ e t o o u r l e a r n i n g . P l a y some t u n e s and e n j o y t h e c r a c k ( 6 w i s e c r a c k s ! ) .

C l a s s e s e a c h Wednesday, w i t h I r i s h a t 7 p.m. and music o r d a n c i n g beg i n n i n g a t 8:30 p.m.

For more i n f o , c a l l 879-2849 o r j u s t show up a t The I r i s h C e n t r e , 7 7 1 P r i o r S t . , becween Main and C l a r k D r . , Vancouver.

u s and t h e youcll of t h i s c o u n t r y . IJe s a w che D e p r e s s i o n and t h e y o u t h d o n ' t want t o s e e one. We no l o n g e r l i v e i n a demo."@' (p,,< c r x y . hat bloddy Plulroney ' 98% of t h e p e o p l e we met s i g n e d p e t i /i! / t i o n s P r o v i n c i a l and F e d e r a l o f f i c i a l s 1, znd s t d f f w o u l d n ' t s i g n ; media p e o p l e and a l l l e v e l s of p o l i c e w o u l d n ' t s i g n ( e x c e p t f o r two O.P.P. i n t h e S a u l t who t o o k o u r I . D . and checked u s o u t ) .

P e o p l e p l e a d i n g i g n o r a n c e t o t h e GST w o u l d n ' t s i g n , even though we t r i e d t o e x p l a i n i t t o them.

I We had g r e a t w e a t h e r a l l t h e way acr o s s , which made camping i n t h e bush w i t h o u t a t e n t much e a s i e r . I t was s t i l l September 6 , 1990, I was w i t h my g i r l c o l d a t n i g h t s o I needed a n e x t r a wool f r i e n d Sim and buddy Mike a t a r a l l y on blanket.

Georgia S t . t o s u p p o r t t h e Mohawks i n Ralph & I b a s i c a l l y l i v e d o u t of t h e Oka. One s p e a k e r came up and announced a back o f t h e t r u c k , e a t i n g sandwiches and journey t h e y a r e t a k i n g a c r o s s Canada. I f r u i t from a c o o l e r . It made f o r convenimmediately saw o v e r 4000 kms t h r o u g h i e n t e a t i n g , b e i n g a b l e t o p u l l o v e r and t h e w i n d s h i e l d o f a 1973 Ford p i c k u p as make food i n t h e m i d d l e of nowhere.

I remembered a s i m i l a r j o u r n e y . E x a c t l y Along t h e way we met a man named Geo. one month back I h i t t h e TransCanada Deveau who w a s r i d i n g a mountain b i k e Highway w i t h SCRAP I T , a g r a s s r o o t s o r g from C a l g a r y t o Ottawa. He had 40,000 - a n i z a t i o n t h a t w a s t r y i n g t o u n i t e Canap e t i t i o n s t o c o l l e c t and d e l i v e r t o t h e I d i a n s and e d u c a t e them on t h e e v i l s o f S e n a t e i n Ottawa. We met Gary and J o a n i e t h e G.S.T. W e v i s i t e d 4 2 towns and McGuf f i n i n Marathon, Ont They'd j u s t c i t i e s between Vancouver and Ottawa. It f i n i s h e d a 6,000 m i l e j o u r n e y a l o n g t h e took Ralph Conner and I 9;s d a y s o f l o n g , r i v e r s and s t r e a m s of Canada. They w r o t e hard t r a v e l l i n g and p r o t e s t i n g . It was a book c a l l e d Where R i v e r s Run, which i s u n f o r t u n a t e t h a t Benny White ( t h e main d o i n g v e r y w e l l f o r them. man o f SCRAP IT) t u r n e d a r o u n d i n S a s k a t I n S a u l t S t e . Marie t h e r e a r e l o t s o f chewan. It w a s a v e r y s p e c i a l j o u r n e y . We problems. Algoma S t e e l c o n t a c t e d some got some f r e e g r o c e r i e s i n Hope, BC, a 4,000 employees and t o l d them n o t t o man i n Cache Creek gave u s a s a m p l e of come t o work f o r t h e d o o r w i l l b e l o c k e d . h i s smoked salmon, and i n Regina t h e When we v i s i t e d t h e U n i t e d S t e e l w o r k e r s owner of t h e c a m p s i t e w e s t a y e d i n d i d n ' t Union o f f i c e , everybody was w o r r i e d a b o u t even c h a r g e u s . W e g o t p l e n t y o f news ~ rf a lul o f t h e town. b e c a u s e of t h e : coverage a l o n g t h e way; e s p e c i a l l y i n Regina and on t h e r a d i o i n Winnipeg and s t r i k e and t h e S o o ' s dependence on Algoma S a u l t S t e . Marie.

S t e e l employment. I t ' s a h e l l u v a mess!

P e o p l e from a c r o s s t l w l a n d a r e absoWhen we f i n a l l y r e a c h e d Ottawa we p r e l u t e l y f r u s t r a t e d w i t h t h e GST and B r i a n pared o u r p r e s e n t a t i o n f o r t h e E x e c u t i v e Mulroney. Some p e o p l e o f f e r e d guns and A s s i s t a n t t o t h e Leader o f t h e L i b e r a l j b u l l e t s t o blow Mulroney away. One chap Party Senate. Local t e l e v i s i o n w a s t h e r e i n Deep R i v e r , Ont , s a i d , "It would a s we handed o v e r some 700 p e t i t i o n s reps u i t m e j u s t f i n e i f you d r o v e y o u r r e s e n t i n g 9 d a y s o f p e ~ i t i o n i n ga l o n g t h e t r u c k r i g h t t h r o u g h W i l s o n ' s o f â&#x20AC;˘â&#x20AC;&#x2122;ice!"

TransCanada. I f w e had s t a y e d 3 o r 4 d a y s People were most r e c e p t i v e i n s m a l l i n e a c h town, we'd have had 3 o r 4 t i m e s towns l i k e Cluny, A l t a . , Maple Ridge, t h a c amount. When I watched t h e news t h a t S a s k . , V i r d e n , Man., and on and o n . n i g h t t h e GVC l o c a l news s t a t i o n a i r e d t h e The s e n i o r s I met had t h e r i g h t i d e a : s t o r y a s follows: "One man, Ralph Conner, ''It's t i m e f o r t h e b i g guys t o l i s t e n t o journeyed from Vancouver t o d e l i v e r p e t i -

'

,$,

/,,

I

, ,

."

.

.

/

'

1

.

!

7

t i o n s he had g a t h e r e d a l o n g t h e TransCanada Highway. A r e p r e s e n t a t i v e from t h e Sena t e was t h e r e t o g r e e t him."

Now I ' m n o t o u t f o r g l o r y o r i m m o r t a l i t y b u t they could have mentioned t h a t I was t h e r e a l l t h e way along w i t h Ralph. The r e p o r t e r , Nancy Rose, must have l e f t my name o u t because she d i d n ' t want h e r name a s s o c i a t e d with t h e p r o t e s t . . . s h e a l s o l e f t out everything I told her: the conditions, running with t h e Natives i n Saskatchewan, t h e Carnegie Centre, t h e feedback we received from people along t h e way, almost g e t t i n g k i l l e d when Ralph f e l l a s l e e p a t t h e wheel - e v e r y t h i n g - and they w e r e n ' t even i n t e r e s ~ e d . I ' d say t h e r e p o r t e r s i n Ottawa were t h e s n o b b i e s t of t h e l o t . A t

l e a s t I ' v e got a d e t - a j . l . 4 :journa:l. of t h e t r i p t h a t I hope Lo p u b l i s h soon.

So I b i d everyone going t o Oka on t h e i r convoy t h e b e s t of l u c k . I was asked by t h e o r g a n i z e r s t o cag along but I j u s t c a n ' t go back on t h e road. I went back & f o r t h i n 3 weeks - t h a t ' s a l o t of t r a v e l l . ing.

Canada i s a huge country b u t t h e ravages of f r e e t r a d e and Meech a r e n o t hidden.

The s c a r s of t h e PC government a r e t e r r i b l y v i s i b l e . It i s o u r job, a l l of us, t o s t i c k t o g e t h e r and t o work t o g e t h e r . We c a n ' t be s e p a r a t e d by small d i f f e r e n c e s . . w e have t o keep f a i t h i n each o t h e r and each do what we can t o win over our p r e s e n t o p p r e s s o r s .

By STEVE ROSE

A r e a l s e n s e o f community d e v e l o p e d o v e r c h e weekend b e c a u s e o f he m w i c f e s t i v a l s . On S e p t e m b e r 2 n d , t h e Lacin-Native f r i e n d s h i p e v e n t took p l a c e a t Oppenheimer P a r k a n d i t was w o n d e r f u l t o see t h e weatherman cOoperate.

I had w a t c h e d p e o p l e p r e p a r i n g f o r he f e s t i v a l i n a d v a n c e , e s p e c i a l l y ~ h pe a i n t i n g o f a m u r a l . T h e r e seemed t o be a g r e a t d e a l of excitement i n the air.

T h e r e was a v a r i e t y o f musi c i n c l u d i n g Native drumming, S o u t h American s o n g s a n d some o f o u r e n t e r t a i n e r s f r o m he C a r n e g i e C a b a r e t .

E v e r y o n e seemed c o b e h a v i n g a g r e a t t i m e and a p p r o x i m a t e l y 600 p e o p l e were g i v e n f r e e f o o d . I a c c e p t e d a n award on b e h a l f o f t h e C a r n e g i e S e n i o r s f r o m Wardance. T h i s b e a u t i f u l c a r v i n g was i n a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e d o n a t i o n s t h e S e n i o r s have g i v e n t h e C u l t u r a l S h a r i n g Group, w h i c h meets e v e r y Monday e v e n i n g i n t h e T h e a t r e .

We remembered o u r B r o t h e r s a n d S i s t e r s i n Quebec a n d g i v e them o u r p r a y e r s and s u p p o r t . Everyone i s asked t o w r i t e t o Premier Bourassa & P r i m e M i n i s t e r N u l r o n e y , t e l l i n g them we a r e n o t p l e a s e d w i t h t h e way t h e y h a n d l e N a c i v e i s s u e s . They c o n t i n u a l l y blame t h e v i c t i m s .

The Mohawk

s i t u a t i o n reminds me of a volcano which h a s been dormant f o r y e a r s and f i n a l l y e r u p t s because of t h e t e r r i b l e f o r c e which c a n no l o n g e r b e s u p p r e s s e d .

The a n n u a l C a r n e g i e M u s i c F e s t i v a l o c c u r r e d a t CRAB P a r k o n S e p t e m b e r 3 .

T h e r e w e r e many g i f t e d m u s i c i a n s , f r o m 9-82 y e a r s o l d . Our e n t e r t a i n e r s i n c l u d e d J o e S a u r i e l , Murray Barkh o u s e , L e o n a r d M a t t h e w s , Rob P a l c h e s , B a r b a r a J a c k s o n , B J a m , Dave's Not Here, V i o l e t B e s t o n , B h a r b Gudmundson, Delia C a r p e n t e r , Wayne S c h m i d t , B a r o n Von F o k k e r a n d R o o t s Roundup.

V i o l e t Beston is 8 2 and a marvellShe e n j o y s e v e r y ous piano player. t y p e of music, i n c l u d i n g r o c k n R o l l and s t a y e d u n t i l t h e v e r y end. T h e r e was a l s o N a t i v e d r u m m i n g . . t h e b e s t !

A n o t h e r 600 p e o p l e w e r e f e d a t t h i s f e a s t a n d no o n e w e n t away w a n t i n g I o n l y w i s h we c o u l d h a v e more more. of o u r programs i n t h e p a r k s i n t h e summer.

Thanks t o a l l o f t h e o r g a n i z e r s a n d v o l u n ~ e e r swho made t h e s e two v e r y successful events possible.

,

I

AS I l i s t e n e d t h i s morning t o Prem i e r Robert Bourassa o f t h e p r o v i n c e of ~ u e b e cc a l m l y announcing h i s deci s i o n t o c a l l upon t h e Canadian Army t o b r i n g t h e Mohawk P e o p l e t o t e r m s , and r e p l y i n g t o t h e q u e s t i o n i f t h i s 1 could mean bloodshed, I was reminded of t h e p a r a l l e l between t h e Canadian i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of d e m o c r a t i c government and a p a r t h i e d i n South A f r i c a jas v o i c e d by t h e Quebec p r e m i e r . j What w a s B o u r a s s a ' s answer t o t h e d q u e s t i o n ? As I u n d e r s t o o d i t , h e s a i d t h a t t h e r e c o u l d n o t be two l e g a l s y s t e m s i n one c o u n t r y ; t h a t the Mohawk p e o p l e had armed themelves i n s l l p p o r t o f a l e g a l system, land customs f l o w i n g from t h a t , d i s l t i n c t from t h a t o f f e d e r a l Canada as a whole. T h e r e f o r e Quebec had c a l l i e d upon t h e f e d e r a l government t o send i n t h e Army t o i n t e r v e n e i n t h e Oka b l o c k a d e s e t up by Mohawk warr' i o r s who had announced t h a t t h e y would d e f e n d t h e i r p o s i t i o n s t o t h e death.

What P r e m i e r Bourassa l e f t u n s a i d a a s t h e f a c t o f c e n t u r i e s - l o n g supl p r e s s i o n of t h e N a t i v e P e o p l e s of 'Canada by European i n v a d e r s who, s i n c e t h e i r o c c u p a t i o n , have promulgated t h e i r own s o c i a l o r d e r and pursued a p o l i c y o f genocide a g a i n s t t h i s l a n d ' s a b o r i g i n a l p e o p l e s . The e f f e c t s have reduced N a t i v e s t o pove r t y , economic d i s a s t e r and what amounts t o c o n s t r a i n t w i t h i n s h r i n k ing b o u n d a r i e s under t e r m s d i c t a t e d by a f o r e i g n power. T h i s i s imperi a l i s t i c s u b j u g a t i o n of a c o l o n i z e d People, a d e n i a l of human and c i v i l r i g h t s c o n s i s t e n t with a democratic approach t o t h e s o l u t i o n o f s o c i a l and economic problems and, i n s h o r t , is i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a c c e p t i b l e s t a n d a r d s of c i v i l i z e d b e h a v i o u r .

L-

/

What i s t h e r e c i p e b e i n g p u t i n t o practice here?

B r u t e f o r c e and economic cunning have reduced p e o p l e t o degraded l i v i n g c o n d i t i o n s , dep r i v a l of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l means of c a r r y i n g on t h e i r l i v e l i h o o d a n d , f i n a l l y , there is a readiness t o s h o o t them down i n c o l d blood i f t h e y do n o t a c q u i s c e i n t h e i r own extinction.

Can Canadians s t a n d by and l e t t h i s happen t o t h e i r N a t i v e B r o t h e r s and Sisters, t h e f i r s t c i t i z e n s ?

The f e d e r a l government, t o my mind i n a horribly questionable constit u t i o n a l e v a s i o n of r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r a c i v i l settlement of t h e i s s u e s a t d i s p u t e , h a s handed s e t t l e m e n t o v e r t o t h e Army a t t h e r e q u e s t of t h e Bourassa government of Quebec.

T h i s i s a w e a s e l i n g o u t of m a t t e r s and s e t s a dangerous p r e c e d e n t of s u b s e r v i e n c e of p a r l i a m e n t a r y a u t h o r i t y t o t h e Army a s f i n a l a r b i t o r s i n internal disputes.

H i s t o r y and j u s t i c e l a y w i t h t h e Mohawks and a l l a b o r i g i n a l p e o p l e s who s h a r e t h e i r e x p e r i e n c e s a t t h e hands o f t h e f e d e r a l government.

By BEATRICE FERNEYHAUGH

My name i s Helen.

I have been a s t u d e n t i n t h e Learning C e n t r e f o r two y e a r s .

I have l e a r n e d t o r e a d and w r i t e i n English.

I w i l l h e l p Chinese p e o p l e who c a n ' t s p e a k e n g l i s h t r a n s l a t e .

When I have l e a r n e d more I c a n 8 h e l p a l i t t l e now a n y time some .one I hope I w i l l be a b l e t o needs me. do t h i s .

Helen Lim

s p a c e f o r t h o s e b l a c k and w h i t e ant h r o p o l o g i e s of l i v i n g , a s i f a l l unc l e a r e d f e r t i l i t y were a n o b s t a c l e c o u r s e , an armored d i v i d i o n of s u r f a c e s i n t o indecypherable n e c e s s i t i e s .

There was, e v e n t u a l l y , n o t h i n g t o do b u t t a k e i t a l l down, whatever t h e hands could g e t t o , and impose somet h i n g less f o r e i g n .

I n d i f f e r e n c e opens t h e s p a c e f p r a t r o c i t i e s t o b r e e d . Something about p i o n e e r s , t h e s p i r i t i n paran o i a s c r i p p i n g a l a n d t o conform t o o n e ' s own body of n e c e s s i t i e s , o n e ' s t r a n s p o r t e d e x p e c t a t i o n s , something i n the pressure t o f i t precarious desires i n t o place that is violently s t r a n g e because one does n o t s e e i t , o n l y t h e p o t e n t i a l i n i t t o be yoked t o o t h e r p r a c t i c e s a f t e r much a t t e n tion, is s t i l l a c t i v e i n t h i s land.

A s i n g l e l i n e of r e a s o n i n g c a n be t r a c e d from t h e conquering p a s s i o n t o impose r i g h t down through t h e a g e s of d e c e p t i o n t o t o d a y ' s war, t o d a y ' s barricades.

I n a p l a c e always p i c t u r e d i n mind as something dangerous w i t h hidden i n t e n t i o n s , t h e world e x i s t s o n l y i n i t s r e s i s t e n c e s , i s heard o n l y i n I i t s thundering.

Today I h e a r t h u n d e r , something d a r k from t h e woods, something angry from t h e mountains.

I n popular l i t e r a t u r e , t h e pioneer i s s e t up as a h e r o , though t h e i r imagined h o r r o r s made them s a v a g e , and t h e y ended up, o u t of d r e a d , b u i l d i n g t h e s t r u c t u r e s t h e y had t r i e d t o f l e e from. They were unc o n s c i o u s of what grew w i l d h e r e , knew o n l y i t s v a s t a p p e a r a n c e , i t s ominous v i s a g e , and even t h e i r dreams were e n c l o s e d , f e n c e d . Every day opened w i t h t h e i r s q u a r e s , t h e i r p i c t u r e s , s t r u n g a c r o s s t h e n e a r l y eve n t l e s s l a n d s c a p e . They were d y i n g t o f o r g e t what w a s b e f c r e , and when i t broke back i n t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s , it seemed a v i o l e n c e t h r e a t e n i n g anarchy. s t u p i f y i n g c l a r i t y of t h u n d e r t h a t e n t e r s a dream of v a s t competence a f t e r t h e anarchy of t h e s e n s e s t h e d i c t a t o r s h i p of r e s o l v e i n t h i s s e c u l a r P e n t e c o s t of t h e l o s t and found t h e t h u n d e r of v o i c e s being s i m p l e , h o n e s t

By DAN FEENEY

Ul'DA'I'E:

C I W Access

.

MESSAGE FROM THE MOHAWK PEOPLE:

-.%mazz ... . With peacefvl hearts and tranquil minds, the L i e k e h a k a people await the violent assaults promised by the racist governments of B r i a ~ Mulroney and Robert Bourassa. p u r peace and tranquility flows from the knowledge that se have followed our law and worked for peace wit' all of our mights. Now that war is being forced upon us, we will turn our hearts and minds to war and i t too will wage with all of our might.

Ours is a just and honorable position. I t flows our laws and our way.

Our enemies have no such honor. They have no such commitment to the principles of peace and justice based on truth ad the etpality of a living things. Our strength of heart, mind and spirit flows from these principles. As we stand before the darkest enemies of humanity and the nobility of all life, we are unafraid. Our spirits are strong. We are together at last with ourselves and the world of ancestors; we are proud before our children and our generations unborn. We are true to the spirits of our past, We a r e true to the spirits of our present. We are true to the spirits of those unborn. We are free. No yoke of white government oppression can contain us. We a r e free.

'IXLEPHONE YOUR SUPPORT TO: Mohawk Nation Office Six Nation Iroquois Confederacy Kahnawake Branch Tel: 514-6384750 Fax: 514-638-1892 h l esatake Branch 'l'el: 514-4 79-6353 Fax: 634479-3355 MESSAGE FROM THE UNION OF B.C. INDlAtJ CHIEF We must do all we can VERY QUICKLY to prevent the military from using violence against our Mohawk brothers and sisters a t Kanesatake and Kahnawake.

Many citizens from our B.C. First Nations are also behind the bamcades a t Oka. We want to insure their safety too.

rUHGE YOU TO CALL T~IE-E~LLOWIN'~ XMXXDIATELE Prime hlinister Mulroney: 613-992-4211 Premier Robert Bourassa: 418-843-5321 / 604-273-1578 Indian AfTairs Minister Tom Siddon: 604-666-4500 604-666-8888/ 613-992-2143 Justice Minister Kim Campbell Defense Minister Bill McKnight: 613-995-8082 Dept. of Indian Affairs Shirly Martin: 613-996-5376 Speaker of the House John Fraser 613-992-5042

DE3lAND THE RECALL OF PARLIAhTENT

B r i e f l y , t h e Plain Sc o v e r p a s s makes Crab P a r k inaccessible t o the disabled, s e n i o r s , m o ~ h e r s wich i n f a n c s . . . m o s t o f us. Joan Meister launched a Human R i g h ~ sc a s e a g a i n s t t h e f e d e r a l government.

For a l m o s t 2 y e a r s a c i t y h a l l committee h a s worked t o e x h a u s t a l l o p t i o n s and h a s c h o s e n a pedestrian overpass a t Columbia & Alexander a s t h e b e s t way i n & o u t with free-standing elev a t o r s a t each s i d e .

J o a n w i l l be m e e t i n g w i t h K i m Campbell; t h e Mayor w i l l meer. Campb e l l and t h e P o r t Corp o r a t i o n . The f e d s want Joan t o d r o p h e r c a s e , because when s h e w i n s i t w i l l s e t a precedent i n Canada, making t h e f e d s responsible f o r providing accept i b l e access.

A l l c h i s i s proceeding.

C a r n e g i e S e n i o r s have proposed chac ill Beach and /I50 Gastown b u s e s extend t h e i r rouces t o go t h r o u g h Crab P a r k & people l i k e che i d e a . . excepc f o r Don L a r s o n .

Larson s a i d i t was II nonsense, r i d i c u l o u s , ...p o l i t i c a l l y stupid" eo a s k BC T r a n s i t t o p r o v i d e immediate a c c e s s . T h i s was r i g h t a f t e r s a y i n g "we've been p a t i e n t but we're n o t g o i n g t o w a i t 3-5 y r s . f o r a courc d e c i s i o n .I' Who's f i g h t i n g whom?

Oka & S u r v i v a l f o r Natives Since t h e OKA c r i s i s i n e a r l y J u l y t h i s summer has had i t s ups and downs emotionally. I t ' s shown t h e f r u s t r a t i o n of Native people everywhere i n r e g a r d s t o t h e term 'Aboriginal Rights ' The Mohawks have a c l a i m t h a t che government of Quebec r e f u s e s t o ac-

.

knowledge. They h a v e n ' t j u s c made demands without looking a t b o t h s i d e s of t h e i s s u e and have been w i l l i n g t o come t o terms. The p r i n c i p l e of t h e Mohawk s t a n d has been t h a t t h e P o l i c e had no b u s i n e s s opening f i r e upon them i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e .

'We a r e a People who have an i d e n t i t and f o r thousands of y e a r s we have governed o u r own way of l i v i n g , i n a l l a s p e c t s of s u r v i v a l . Today w e a r e s t i l l h e r e , d e s p i t e y e a r s of n e g l e c t and abuse of a l l t y p e s from both prov i n c i a l and f e d e r a l governments."

Time and time a g a i n t h e p u b l i c and t h e p o l i t i c i a n s have t o be c o n f r o n t e d t o remind them of t h e i r m i s t a k e s . . . which seem t o be taken as a s u r p r i s e . . t o h e a r i t from Premier Zalm.

SURE! We r e c e i v e s o - c a l l e d handouts from t h e g o v e r n m e n t s . . ~ ~ do nonn a t i v e s . What about a l l t h e s e d i f f erent nationalities that a r e entering t h e country..how much $ $ $ i s s p e n t t o house, f e e d and t e a c h t h e s e people The term "Reservation" was i n t r o duced by government; w e d i d n ' t req u e s t i t . We were p u t on t h e s e usel e s s p l o t s and o u r o r i g i n a l l a n d s w e r e t a k e n o v e r by governments and m u n i c i p a l i t i e s now abound. Non-native s a y we've g o t i t e a s y . . I t o t a l l y d i s a g r e e . These " r e s e r v a t i o n s " a r e n o t what you'd c a l l prime land and, a s B i l l Wilson s a y s , t h e Department o f I n d i a n A f f a i r s must be d i s c a r d e d because of t h e t o t a l f a i l u r e of t h e i r approach t o I n d i a n i s s u e s .

I wonder about t h e f e e l i n g s of t h e ones who stoned t h e Mohawk caravan, t h e one w i t h women and c h i l d r e n t r y i n g t o l e a v e f o r s a f e t y reasons.

I was shocked t o s e e t h a t on t h e news and thought "Who a r e t h e s e people?"

They should a l s o pay f o r what was witnessed by m i l l i o n s .

My hope i s f o r a p e a c e f u l s o l u t i o n f o r t h e Mohawks and f o r o t h e r blockades set up i n t h e i r s u p p o r t .

By DARRYL, WATTS