January 2, 2001

A BC Liberal Government?
Danger! Warning!
Trouble with a capital T
and that spells Treaty Trauma for BC
News and Comment
by Tehaliwaskenhas - Bob Kennedy, Oneida
Publisher, Turtle Island Native Network
www.turtleisland.org

To appreciate where we are, and where we are going, is to understand where we have been. Canadians who are under-educated about their own history, or have been media-washed by the United States version of reality, often are mistaken about the First Peoples ... believing they were conquered during the 'Indian Wars'.

I believe this is important to consider as we prepare to face hefty challenges over the coming months and years.

During the 2000 Canadian election campaign, courtesy of something called the Alliance Hall of Shame we learned that Canada's ignorance of self knows no bounds. Witness the following frightening comments by some right wingers who wished they ran this country.

Athabasca MP David Chatters on Aboriginal people: "The Europeans came to this country 300 years ago and opened it up and settled it and because we didn't kill the Indians and have Indian wars, that doesn't mean we didn't conquer these people. If they weren't in fact conquered then why did they allow themselves to be herded into little reserves on the most isolated, desolate, worthless parts of the country." Chateauguay candidate Ricardo
Lopez: "I think that all the Indians should all be sent to Labrador, to all live together in peace and leave us in peace."

But what's this got to do with the British Columbia Liberals forming the next provincial government? I believe all of these guys are cut from the same cloth. Their more subtle use of the language of politics may differ, but their agenda is driven by the same vulgar approach ... ignore Aboriginal interests and rights.

Bolstered by the regional electoral strength of their federal Brothers of the Right Wing - the Alliance, I believe the BC Liberal policy platform clearly suggests they intend to move "quickly and boldly" in areas that threaten the best interests of First Nations people.

Campbell has promised to give more power to muncipalities, ... "recognize local government as an order of government in British Columbia under the BC Constitution Act". These are the same people who have demanded a greater voice and more influence in the treaty talks so they can 'protect turf' and further water-down settlements with First Nations.

A BC Liberal government agenda does not favour First Nations' interests. How apparent and transparent is it? In fact, Gordon Campbell aligned himself with the extreme right when he launched a lawsuit against the Nisga'a treaty.

Then when the BC Supreme Court handed him defeat last July, he quickly responded, "Certainly, if the decision holds, we will be living in a profoundly different Canada than we did just twenty-four hours ago", he said with true colours showing. Then, caked in fear-mongering and masked in false righteousness and phoney patriotism, "It is too important to our province and our country to let this matter stand as is. Just as we had a duty to raise this matter in court, we have a duty to appeal. And we will".

Keeping in mind the BC government is a legal party to the Nisga'a treaty. Won't that be a pretty political picture! Premier Campbell defending his government against his own lawsuit.

Will you pay heed Mr. Campbell, to what your own country stands for? Do you think perhaps it slipped his mind that the Constitution of Canada says, "The existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are hereby recognized and affirmed".

Psst! Want to see something really scary? Gordon Campbell's legacy if elected, would be to lead British Columbia into modern-day 'Indian Wars' and not treaty settlements.

Imagine if you will, life under a Liberal regime. How will Stewart Phillip and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs respond? Or Chief Arthur Manuel and the Interior Alliance? Or even the more moderate First Nations Summit that was forced to sanction War Councils because of the mounting evidence of a threat to Aboriginal Rights in BC ... during the NDP reign.

More proof, you ask? Read the document, A New Era for British Columbia, the campaign guidebook for Campbell and friends. It proclaims a BC Liberal Government will, "Provide faster approvals and greater access to crown land and resources...".

Obviously, this approach blatantly ignores one of the top First Nations' concerns raised in the Treaty Process. From a First Nations' perspective lands and resources are vanishing ---already being given away at a rate that will leave little for them. But Gordon Campbell's agenda would accelerate their alienation from First Nations.

Then, as he makes every effort to further fuel the anti-First Nation forces - he promises to, "Give all British Columbians a direct say, by way of a referendum, on the principles that will guide the province's approach to treaty negotiations". If you ask him today what that really means --- to clarify his position and explain what questions will be asked, he can't say for sure.

We do know a Liberal BC government would immediately put treaty talks on hold, while they try to figure out how not to scald themselves with a hot potato grown in their garden of political promises.

Stupid is as stupid does. Or is he really a sly fox? Only time will tell.

It is interesting to note that in the implementation plans for other key policies, Campbell easily promises a "within 90 days" approach. However, in the case of the treaty tactic, he has adopted a classic political 'give-us-time-to-change-our-mind' strategy, "Within the first year in office we intend to have that province-wide referendum to open up the treaty process to the people of this province."

A Liberal victory in the offing? They say the writing is on the wall. Maybe so, but I say please read the fine print.

With their stronghold in BC, you can be certain Alliance MP's will be quick to stir up anti-Indian sentiment in Parliament. Add to that a Campbell victory.

Not pleasant, but the fine print becomes much easier to read.

Tehaliwaskenhas - Bob Kennedy, Oneida
Publisher,
Turtle Island Native Network
Aboriginal News & Information
http://www.turtleisland.org
E-mail: infocom@pro.net