Forever is a long time

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May 25 was an historic day for First Nations in British Columbia when three provincial Aboriginal political groups came together in unity.

The Carrier-Sekani Tribal Council organized a rally that included a march to the steps of the legislative buildings in the capital city. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs, the First Nations Summit and the Alliance of Interior Chiefs were represented with much support from its members, including Elders.

Hundreds of First Nations people from across the province travelled to relay their concerns about treaty and land claim negotiations to the government.

"Some of the people here who came the furthest distance are from Takla," said Chief Rob Charlie of Burns Lake Band. "The Takla Band is way up in the North and is really remote; it's a four- or five-hour drive up a logging road just to get to the nearest town."

The marchers walked past Victoria's inner harbor. They marched through the main intersection by the Royal British Columbia Museum, singing and drumming as they went. They marched past the large statue of Queen Victoria as they streamed onto the legislature grounds.

Chief Robert Sam of the Songhees (Lekwammen Nation) welcomed chiefs, Elders and supporter of the rally onto the territory of their people.

"You are welcome here; you are welcome to our land," he said. "This land, we did not forfeit to anyone. A treaty was signed for 147 Hudson's Bay blankets for borrowing this land. The blankets that were shared with the Lekwammen Nation have long since disintegrated. We have never sold our land."

Chief Mavis Erickson of the Carrier-Sekani said unity of all First Nations political groups was necessary to respond to the government extinquishment policy in treaty talks.

"We are here today to ask the government to stop the extinguishment policy that they are practicing on our people, since the inception of Canada and since the inception of British Columbia. We have always worked in our country to co-operate and be part of this country that we call our own. This is our country and we don't have a say in what is going to happen to it in the 21st century. We are tired of the assimilation and removal policies that have gone on quietly in Canada," Erickson said.

Hereditary Grand Chief Edward John is a Tl'azt'en band member and an executive member of the First Nations Summit, which is made of bands involved in the BC treaty process. John said the rally would send a clear message to the people of British Columbia that everything is not going well in negotiations.

"We want to see results," said John. "We don't need any promises. We don't need more protocols. We want to see action in our territories and we want to see results in our communities. That is what the message is here today."

John said the rally wasn't a way to complain to governments, but to express the vision First Nations people have for the province.

"We ask the people of British Columbia and Canada to hear us, to listen to us, not to simply trot us out when the tourists are around to sing and dance for them. We have genuine and real deep connections to our history, our lands, our ways of life and we are proud of those. We share those in a respectful way, but don't exploit us," John said.

The chief also called out to the business community for help, saying it was "too damn silent."

"The governments are continuing to walk on the backs of our people and we are asking the business community, the environmental community, and the public to let the government know their views.

"These groups have been way too silent. I am led to believe that they don't support what we're doing. I want to challenge you to start telling the governments that these issues, the land question, need to be resolved clearly, not through policies of extinguishment but through policies of recognition and affirmation."

Union of BC Indian Chiefs President Stewart Phillip said his group rejects the comprehensive claims policy of the federal govrnment.

"Clearly it's designed to extinguish our Aboriginal title and rights," he said. "It's the federal government's final solution to forcefully assimilate us into mainstream Canadian society. We reject that notion. We have a right to be who we are meant to be and we shall continue on with this struggle as long as it takes because we have an obligation, we have a duty to protect the birthright of our children and grandchildren and those unborn," Phillip said.

Former British Columbia premier Glen Clark, said he was impressed with the rally.

"It is the first time all Aboriginal groups have come together to take action. It's about justice, not just for Nisga'a but all Aboriginal people. This is a big step in coming forward to send the government a message and that message is heard loud and clear."