How about voting out the worst, most corrupt bunch of crooks in BC history.
I cant understand why the masses are still supporting the traitorous BC liberals (see ipsus reid poll in todays newspaper)
Their record of betrayals and fiscal mismanagement is astounding and yet people seem to either not care or have fallen victim to the liberal propaganda machine. (I'm sure american corporations and BC's wealthy elite are 100% behind these monsters but why are other people allowing this farce to continue?)
Greens, please vote NDP. Our number one priority should be to oust these fraser institute, corporate lobbyists before there is nothing left of our province.

dwgc:

And that has what to do with this story? Do you believe an NDP government will say no to every mining, oil & gas, forestry opportunity on crown land? They didn't the last time they were in government. In fact, they made little or no progress at the treaty table, they refused to revenue share with First Nations and refused to sign interim measures agreements with First Nations.

A fundamental characteristic of neo-cons, whether republicans in the us or these things called liberals in bc, is a philosophy of "do as i say, not as i do"
This is most despicable in the arena of war, where inspite of all the suffering endured over the ages and cries of "NEVER AGAIN!", cowardly neo-con fascists like george bush and dick cheney are the first to instigate conflict but the last to actually put their own bodies on the line.
Imagine the misery and cost that could have been averted had george bush accepted the challenge of a duel issued by saddam hussein two years ago.
Similarly men like gordon campbell and his cabinet ministers are cut from the same cord. They pander to the powerful and corrupt and punish those least capable of defending themselves.
Their policies spring from this fundamental axiom of human failing. Anyone who defends them can only be ignorant or complicit.
If you, groovypippin or jim etc etc, feel slighted by these comments perhaps we could meet to discuss it in person?
I would relish the chance to meet in person someone, an actual person that is as opposed to a faceless, nameless hidden majority, that feels they can morally defend these reprehensible neo-conservative policies.

peacefully yours

Paulsen is wrong to say, "The elders are aware that their neighbours to the north, the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, lost a federal court battle in which a similar meeting process was determined to be sufficient."

The Supreme Court decision in the Taku case found that the entire provincial environmental assessment process, occuring over several years while the New Democrats were in office and involving field science and numerous rounds of public and Aboriginal feedback constituted sufficient consultation, not some solitary meeting.

no brand capitalist "apples" - who haven't heard the phrase "In the process of liberation the oppressed often take on the values of the oppressors". Good luck to the elders!

If only we had elders' councils in every community across Canada.

I'd trade the entire senate for a good set of elders.

I would certainly like to read more about these brave people and would like to wish them well in their quest. I look forward to seeing the second article.

From:
Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2005 4:10 PM
Subject: Tahltan press release urgent

please get this message out. thanks very much

====================================

Press Release
Tahltan Elders Peaceful Demonstration
"Jerry Asp, You are no longer Chief of the Tahltan People"

Tahltan Elders are in their 11th day of occupation of the Tahltan Band
office in Telegraph, B.C. In an unprecedented move 35 elders took over the
band office on January 17, 2005. This day will go down in Tahltan history
as the day the Elders took back their power. Elders have played a very
marginal role in band, nation and corporate decision-making. Our land,
resources and rights are being sold out from under us. The spiritual and
collective power is so strong, no power, force could change or overpower.
The senior elders hold meetings throughout the day, they tell stories. They
give age-old teachings from our ancestors and their great love and reverence
for the land - TAHLTAN TRADITIONAL TERRITORY- Prayers are offered for our
nation, the land and all of Creation, including Jerry Asp. We have laughed
together, cried together, and planned together. Each day brings and new
teaching in many disguises. Yet, we stand strong to protect the land for
future generations. This position is non-negotiable.

The Tahltan elders are demanding the resignation of the Indian Act Chief J.
Asp. In their words they have fired the past Chief. We are united on this
stand. One elder says, "He has done enough harm to our People, and puts us
in danger of losing everything."

Clarence Quock, Band Councilor and runner for Jerry Asp informed the elders
that a court injunction will be applied to have the dissidents removed. Asp's
approach with the elders and his reference to them as dissidents has
outraged Tahltans, who hold elders in high regard. The use of courts and
laws to repress those without the financial means to employ legal
representation is well-known. However, for an Aboriginal person to do the
same is shameful. This story is about the haves and the have-nots. Asp is
prepared to repress the dissenting voices in order to maintain a strangle
hold on his people. Such control by his large family has been evident since
Tahltans began organizing in the 70's. Traditional Tahltans are tired of
having this large family dominate political discussions, political
organizing and thwart efforts to unite our people.

Asp and family have learned the white mans' way well and are now using this
knowledge against their people. They have mistakenly discounted us, saying
we do not have any educated people. Our traditional knowledge goes back to
time immemorial. Back to a time without papers, computers, and contemporary
law. This knowledge has been upheld in the courts.

Last night, an elder's home was entered and an elder assaulted. This
display of aggression was done in favor of Jerry Asp. With each passing day
tension mounts and this will spark such behavior in frustration. The
elders have never threatened any band staff or kept them out of the office.
The elders are here in peace to strengthen our nation, not to put up further
divisions among our people.

Elders talk about the lack of accountability, transparency and
representation. Mining companies will destroy our country in the name of
profit. Leaders like Jerry Asp, Curtis Rattray and Clarence Quock have
stated that there is nothing we could do. We think not. We believe not. The
elders are the Keepers of land, culture and language. When we stand with
them, we stand with our ancestors, whose spirits have been with us every day
of the occupation. We are spiritual people, we believe in ourselves. The
collective is stronger than any one person, family, or belief. The Tahltan
world view or philosophy though unwritten runs strong through our hearts,
our minds and out veins.

For more information contact Terri Brown (250) 235-3151 or

or Oscar Dennis (250) 234-3161 or

The tragedy is that native peoples are subject to systems of governance without mechanisms of accountability, fairness and due process. The federal government's proposed First Nations Accountability Act would have established rules for elections, legal authority of councils, and accountability, but Paul Martin withdrew the legislation because of native leadership opposition.

Tribalism is a form of government in many First Nations in Canada - where a large extended family linked with one or two other large extended families - then control an entire community through power politics and duress with the blessings of the Indian Act...is it really any different then what we read happening in some African countries with less then admirable human right records.

The question remains, how does this community, which includes retired elders, and also many others, including the youth and working age families, that need jobs to lift them out of decades of poverty and unemployment ...best govern itself...when there are obviously competing interests. Agesm is rule by elders, and while there may very well be some 'wise' elders around, there likely are some pretty ignorant ones too...a;; respect to the elders..but why should 'age' grant them the priviledge....Democracy is one person one vote, transparency, accountability, and a fair, level playing field. This conflict obviously needs some mediation or it will escalate and leave a seriously divided community, no less so, then when some reserve near the Spokane area in Easter Washington State, decided to joint venture with some big corporation to mine its sacred mountatin for uranium...and they did...and the monies were not dispersed equally, and yes, there were environmental/social negative impacts, and a very divided community in its wake.
Tribalism...

Hey dwgc -- hate to burst your bubble, but the recent expansion of mining activity in BC is the result of regulation changes enacted by Glen Clark's NDP government ...

Who does glen clark work for now by the way?
If i did'nt know better i might suggest that something smells rotten in Denmark.

Raven, such a powerful post. A truly lovely, strong portrait of your people. May your elders stand strong.

Good luck to you and your people, Raven. Both our peoples yet have much that needs to be done to create more democratic and sustainable societies. Those who would be our "ruling elites" prey on the gullible amongst all of us, and are the bane of both our societies.

we have all common problems all with a common source that source has a nemesis and it has not been approached as of fear lack of research and prejudice.

It is an ideal way to hide the one weakness of the ones who are empowered to ensure our comfort and safety is guaranteed.

I will attempt an allegory to demonstrate.

I come to you saying I it will be truthful and honorable and totally committed to a high ideal in order to get a job.

I sign on with those words.

Later a concerned man or woman whom my Job affects and has affected comes up to me and says HEy Buddy! What is that high ideal you say you were committed to?

I say "doing what is right according to law".

Then he says "whose law?"

I say "the rule of law".

He says "who's rule of law are you speaking of"?

I say "the law of the land".

"Whose land?" he says.

I say the commonwealth of Great Britain?

HE says "is it ruled by a Christian monarch?"

"Yes" I say. "Why?"

"Is it not her duty to defend the rule of Law being her Majesty's Bible?"

"Well yes" I say. Wondering what is happening.

"So you say you defend the law of the land.?"

"Well, yes!"

But you swore to be truly allegiant to one who is sworn to defend the Bible?

"Well,..........I,,,but you see,, well,,, Yes I did."

So which law is it that you promised to be truly allegiant to, Mans law of the day or the Bible that the Queen defends?

Which one has precedential and absolute power?

Do you say mans law has precedet over God's?

"Well no ,,,,"

So have you power to enforce mans law upon me?"

"Well yes if you are registered with us"

"Do you mean if we are registerd with you as government we lose God's law?"

"Well yes I do mean that!"

"Can you prove that?"

"Yes I can!"

"How ?"

"with mans law from the Ontario Governments Website!"

Section 6.5
http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/family/pgt/nfpinc/ch arities.asp#special_religious

6.5 Special situations of religious organizations
Religious organizations should consider certain issues carefully before incorporating.

Governing Law

If a religious organization becomes incorporated, its ecclesiastical, canon or church laws, rules or regulations may be subject to the Corporations Act. This means that if any ecclesiastical, canon or church law, rule or regulations conflicts with the Corporations Act, the organization, once incorporated, must comply with the Corporations Act and will no longer be able to use that law, rule or regulation in administering its affairs.

.

So you can see the power of the one is taken away from you when you register.

Please stop doing so. FOrm your own registries and notice all about it privately in registered mail so they know and you know they have recieved it.

Please feel free to contact me for more info.

owlmonone@yahoo.ca 1-250-765-6826

“That meeting was the last straw,” said spokesman Dennis, who holds university degrees in anthropology and first nations studies. “They paid all these educated young people to fly in and present information. To an outsider it must have looked like they had this awesome meeting. But in fact it was a bunch of young people who did not grow up on the land.”

I think what is important to mention here is that the majority of "young people" were infact Tahltan. Many of them may not have grown up in the area but they did know a lot of the people there and embraced them like family. Even though these young educated Tahltans did not grow up in the area, they still care a great deal about the land, environment and people who reside there. I don't think it is fair or right for Dennis to dismiss this and treat his fellow Tahltan people like outsiders.

this is not a liberal (as despicable as they are) or ndp matter. dont forget how the ndp stabbed the t'speten defenders of gufstafsen lake in the back -- all for political gain.

I agree with Tahltan. I don't agree with getting your point across at the expense of someone else through personal attacks. Moreover the blood that runs through a Tahltan's veins is the same whether you're in Vancouver or Edmonton. I also had a question for anyone who knows. Has the group of protesters put any pressure on the mining companies or the provincial or federal government with their issues? Thanks

Hey Steve, chech out the amendments made to BC's Environmental Assessment Act regarding mines and you'll see that the Liberal government has facilitated mining development on multiple facets.

Corrupt government is a way of life on First Nation Reserves across the country. Canadian carter of rights is for the white man.

if only you could walk a mile in the tahltan elders shoes you would understand what it is like to be to stand up agaist corruption and negativity.no matter what governing body it is