Today the big building behind us was little more than just another attraction in this city of attractions - definitely a curiosity for the Japanese tourists. We were too.

It was strangely passive considering the nature of upheaval and change about to sweep through this place of political power.

I could sense a certain degree of irony with this rainy day rally on the steps of the BC Legislature a couple of days before the provincial election. The classic David vs Goliath scenario - Aboriginal-style.

A determined dozen or so Victoria and area Aboriginals and their non-Aboriginal supporters ignored the rain as they gathered to express their concerns - - - their fears about an imminent victory by a right-wing movement labelled Liberal. It seemed so small, compared to the significant size of the challenge.

With simply-put protestations the hand-held signs summed up the issues --- "First Nations No Longer Silent". "Oh Canada. Our Home and Native Land". "Ban the Referendum". "Educate Yourself on Native Issues".

Community activist Rose Henry was disappointed that more people didn't show up for the rally. But John Harris, off-reserve co-ordinator for the Snuneymuxw /Nanaimo First Nation had a different perspective, "So many people are working. That's the message you don't hear in the press, that all these First Nations people aren't here today because they're all working and they're all paying taxes into this system, into Gordon Campbell's system."

Campbell and friends are ignorant about this province's history and the First Nations. It was part of a theme in the messages aimed at mainstream media(no-one showed up), the Liberals(no-one showed up), non-Aboriginal residents of BC and Aboriginal voters.

BC Election 2001
Speaking Out Against a Liberal Landslide

John Harris has huge contempt for Gordon Campbell and what he stands for and what he already has said and done. Harris' words of disgust directed at the man who would be Premier, are filled with passion and great conviction.

"I've been following these issues with the Liberals very closely. When Campbell was saying back in '98 that he was going to make sure to trash the Nisga'a Treaty if he got in . . . I thought then, What a terrible Thing to Say. Those people have been negotiating with the province for a hundred and twenty five years to get justice, and they finally get it . . . and he says oh I'll trash it when I get in. I thought, wow, what a commentary. That man is willing to throw out an agreement that took one hundred and twenty five years to make. What does that say about his intelligence? What does that say about his compassion or what kind of a person he is?"

Harris was quick to remind us that Campbell quietly backed down and decided to drop his lawsuit. In fact, the only sensible thing to do. After all, how would he as Premier be able to sue his own government?

For John Harris it's even more blatant and obvious than that. He believes Campbell was willing to do anything to appeal to voters, anything. "If that includes trashing agreements negotiated in good faith with First Nations, hey he doesn't have a problem with that."