On the Western Edge of Indian Country

Page 4

Okay. We've weathered the Y2K stuff without incident and it is time for the annual prognosticators to pull out their crystal balls. I will give you some of my predictions for the coming year here in beautiful and wacky British Columbia.

The B.C. treaty process will finally fold in on itself because Indian people here finally give up in disgust with both levels of government over a lack of good faith in the process. The federal and provincial governments, in a desperate attempt to save the jobs of their staff, offer First Nations treaty organizations another version of interim measures called "interim,treaty-related measures."

It has been said by countless leaders from the Interior that without the recognition of Aboriginal title there cannot be any settling of land claims here in B.C. I cannot blame the leaders from the communities involved in the B.C. Treaty Process for being involved in a flawed process because they want something to happen in their communities.

The failure of the treaty process is in its weak-kneed terms of reference and the lack of leadership when it mattered most from the Aboriginal side.

The Aboriginal leadership agreed to negotiations without recognition of Aboriginal title by both federal and provincial governments. They also agreed to the formula whereby First Nations must pay back 80 per cent of the money they used to negotiate the treaties off the top of any settlement. The lack of privately held land being included in any negotiations because that is sacred to non-Native people and is a foundation for their society is also shortsighted. By not including fee simple land you have given up the most valuable land in the province with no hope of compensation. The lack of compensation itself - the province and feds have said the treaty process is about the future and doesn't look to the past.

The biggest obstacles to overcome in letting the B.C. treaty process die is the debt rung up by First Nations involved in the process and a loss of face for all involved. How do First Nations in the treaty process pay back the money (an estimated $125 million) they have used since signing their letters of intent? It poses big problems for First Nations because most don't have independent forms of income and receive a majority of their incomes from federal and provincial programs.

My next fearless prediction is that Gordon Wilson will win the leadership bid for the New Democrats and call an election for the spring of 2001. With the Reform Party of B.C. lacking any real membership or money, the Liberal Party of B.C. will sweep the election with an enormous majority. Boy are Indian people in trouble with this business-minded political party. Take a look at their website and their platform on Aboriginal affairs. It is scary.

First Nations are not entirely defenseless against an aggressive provincial government these days. In the old days that may have been the case but these days tempers are short and Indians wanting to fight are not in short supply.

But at the end of the day it really doesn't matter what political party is in power here in B.C. At the beginning of its tenure in the early 1990s First Nations people were quite happy that the New Democrats were in power and expecting big things from them because they were sympathetic to our needs. That mistake won't be made again. I don't think we can expect much from any party because of the political process and the need by the party in power to cater to the needs of the majority.

This coming year is shaping up to be raucous and First Nations people across the province are gearing up for another year on the land and water asserting their Aboriginal rights and protecting Aboriginal title. It is about time. Our youth have no patience and are tired of living in poverty and without hope. They will not be gentle.

One last thought from a friend of mine who works in the healing field and is a very well respected leader in the trenches. "You cannot lead where you hae never been," says Rick. This message is to the Indian leaders who are striving to make Indian Country a better place for our people. Putucw.