November 6, 1999
by Tehaliwaskénhas - Bob Kennedy

The Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, angry over recent remarks made by a Liberal member of the provincial legislature, is demanding his resignation and is considering launching legal action against him.

At their 31st Annual General Assembly, UBCIC delegates unanimously endorsed a resolution that demands the resignation of Kevin Krueger, member of the B.C. Legislative Assembly for Kamloops-North Thompson. The resolution also reads, " Be it further resolved that in the event Kevin Krueger refuses to resign, that the UBCIC Annual General Assembly hereby demand that B.C. Liberal Leader, Gordon Campbell expel Kevin Krueger from the B.C. Liberal Caucus."

First Nations leaders accuse Krueger of making ignorant and racist comments in a tv interview on November 1st on CFJC-TV regarding logging. He called the Native people who are logging on their traditional territory 'thieves'. Krueger also made light of the living conditions of First Nations people, "..it is not as though anybody is starving or freezing in the dark. I mean these are people just trying to push their concerns ahead of everybody else's", he is quoted as saying in a transcript of the interview.

The communities of Adams Lake, Neskonlith, Okanagan, Spallumcheen and Westbank are currently in court because of logging on crown land without BC licenses --- in their words, "Aboriginal Title Timber Harvest Operations". The UBCIC points out the First Nations are defending their Aboriginal rights and title before the courts, "Whereas the Delgamuukw decision has confirmed the existence and source of Aboriginal title is not from any Crown Grant or proclamation, but from our pre-existing laws as Aboriginal Nations."

But the Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger's take on the situation is, "That unauthorized, unpermitted logging is a theft for the people of British Columbia and the people who are committing the theft should be treated as any other thieves".

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs resolution says Krueger must resign because of, "1) calling our people "thieves", 2) denigrating our way of life, 3) dismissing the poverty within our communities, and 4) prejudging the outcome of the judicial process".