Gordon Campbell finally got some sleep, after self-managing all the adrenaline racing through his body from his huge election victory. Months before the threat of a Liberal win had awakened Aboriginal resolve to fight any right-wing plan to turn back the clock on the fight for rights.

Campbell was quick to talk about plans to get on with governing, including addressing Aboriginal issues. The Premier-Elect promised to work with Aboriginal leaders. He was quoted as saying, "We're going to work with them on a day to day basis".

Those are encouraging words to people like Scott Clark, President of the United Native Nations, representing urban Aboriginals. "They're not going to be ignored!", was Clark's assessment made on the eve of the British Columbia election, after Aboriginals and anti-poverty protestors confronted Gordon Campbell in Vancouver.

In previous weeks, the First Nations Summit leaders served notice that they will not stand for a Liberal agenda that includes a Treaty Referendum. First Nation leaders are strategizing to respond, in the event the treaty process collapses and they're left holding debts totalling more than a hundred and twenty million dollars. A letter from the Summit calls for a meeting so the new government can shed some light on its plans. Meanwhile, the forty or so First Nations in the BC Treaty Process have been left frustrated, with no final agreements, suspended negotiations, and too many unanswered questions.

Interior Alliance leader Chief Arthur Manuel called for an early dialogue with the new BC government. Chief Manuel said optimistically, there are some areas of the Liberal platform where there could be "constructive dialogue". He and Union of BC Indian Chiefs President Stewart Phillip, although not part of the treaty process, called the Liberal's approach "very divisive". Chief Phillip called it "very provocative and will only serve to incite the racist, right-wing element in the province, particularly after the Liberals got in by such a huge margin, I think it doesn't bode well for the Aboriginal issues in the province of British Columbia."

But for now, he says the UBCIC will "adopt a wait and see posture".

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs had a joint policy council arrangement with the NDP government which provided a forum to discuss issues of mutual and common concern. Will it survive under the new administration? Several weeks prior to the election Chief Phillip had a two hour meeting with Liberal Mike Dejong to discuss all the issues. How did that meeting go?

In an interview with Turtle Island Native Network, Chief Phillip revealed, "Surprisingly Mr. DeJong indicated that he foresaw an expanded role of the joint policy council. He made it abundantly clear that his government would not dwell, or focus all of their time and energy on the BC Treaty Process. Mr. DeJong indicated that the incoming Liberal government would focus more on economic issues."

Chief Phillip speculates the Liberals will take a more pragmatic view to Aboriginal issues, " I would think that what they're hoping to do is sideline the issue of Aboriginal Title and treaty talks and focus more on business relationships, business partnerships, economic development and so on and so forth."

However, he said the UBCIC and other Aboriginal organizations are certainly going to continue to pursue their Aboriginal Title and Rights interests. "We are gravely concerned about certain outstanding issues, such as the issue at Melvin Creek and Sun Peaks, because as you know the Melvin Creek is a potential $500 million ski resort development, and I would suspect that the developers involved in that project supported the Liberal party throughout the election." Chief Phillip believes those developers are going to expect results now . . . to be able to proceed with their resort development plans.

It's very likely First Nation protests will surface again regarding the use of traditional lands. But when Chief Phillip met with Mike DeJong, then the Opposition's Aboriginal Affairs critic, it wasn't to read the riot act. In fact, "We said we felt it was prudent to establish a dialogue with the BC Liberals and that we hoped this would be an ongoing dialogue in post-election", Chief Phillip recalled. He remembered leaving the meeting being very, very cautiously optimistic there may be some hope. But he also said, " On the other hand if they attempt to abuse the power of their majority with Aboriginal people, then certainly we're going to have problems."

Chief Manuel assessed the Liberal's election platform and believes that there are opportunities worth exploring. For example, the plan to introduce a legislative framework for legally respecting aboriginal rights protected under the Constitution in the absence of treaties. The promise to increase efforts to protect and promote aboriginal languages and to devote special attention and resources to addressing the challenges and needs of aboriginal women and youth. Chief Manuel is encouraged by those constructive principles that might help establish a dialogue to deal with the tougher issues, "We are ready to discuss practical ways and means the Campbell government can consider in order to recognize and reconcile Aboriginal title and rights, that is, if the Campbell government is ready to commence a constructive dialogue with us."

Usually new governments are given a period of grace. But considering the tension that greeted Gordon Campbell in East Vancouver on the last day of the campaign, he may not get any so-called honeymoon.

Scott Clark's warning words about the days ahead are likely paraphrased in someone's briefing book as the new administration prepares to exercise power.

"The temperature is going to rise significantly over the next four or five years, with Campbell's very 'reform' platform. It is not going to go unchallenged by community activists throughout Vancouver Hastings, Mount Pleasant and I suggest across the province."

As he held out an olive branch to the incoming Premier, Chief Manuel said he is ready to talk and now, "The ball is in their court."