Westbank woes

Page 5

Dear Editor:

I am a Westbank Indian band member and believe there was an injustice done to my family by chief and council. I watched the video made for their promotion of the band's self-government legislation. I was appalled to see my deceased parents' pictures used, stating that they were striving for self-government.

My parents believed in sharing and living off the land, not in laws written for personal gain and the power to control the land and taxes.

Council did not even have the courtesy to contact my family for permission to use my parents' pictures.

My parents passed away 27 years and 32 years ago, long before Westbank Indian band ever thought about negotiating self-government. My parents had no knowledge about what self-government would become.

For all you non-Natives living on the Westbank First Nation band lands, I suggest you move while you can before you get taxed to death.

-M.J. Louie