NO vote angered B.C. leaders

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The defeat of the Charlottetown accord met with an angry reaction from B.C. Native leaders associated with the Assembly of First Nations.

But as with other provinces, the demise of the package that would have entrenched self-government in the Canadian constitution was greeted with relief and calls for continued efforts to press for Native rights.

"What they've managed to do is perpetuate class domination over the aboriginal people of this country," Squamish Chief Joe Mathias told reporters on referendum night.

Echoing the angry sentiments of assembly Grand Chief Ovide Mercredi, Mathias said accepting the deal would have made first nations "partners in confederation."

"The NO side kicked us in the face in that regard," he said.

Opponents of the deal, however, said the overwhelming defeat on Oct.. 26 was

a clear victory for those who feared it would undermine first nation sovereignty.

"It's certainly not a rejection of the aboriginal people. It"s a statement on the package that was pulled together in such haste," said Saul Terry, head of the Union of

the B.C. chiefs.

Calls for continued work on political development followed in the days after the vote. Status nations in the province recently signed an accord with the federal and provincial governments that created a treaty commission to deal with outstanding land claims. And leaders were saying the new organization might be able to implement some

of the benefits of Charlottetown through the claims process.

Native communities are still on the fast track to self-government because the issues raised during the constitutional debate are alive under commission negotiations, said Okanagan chief Albert Saddleman.

Meanwhile,. Pacific Metis Federation Norm Evans played down the accord's rejection as a symptom of the Canadian public's disgruntlement with its political leadership. He said there are many aspects of the deal which can be accomplished as

long as the political will to improve the conditions of first nation communities survives the demise of the Charlottetown agreement.