THE Indian industry must be one of the most lucrative in Canada for all its stake- holders except for the working stiffs who fund it but have no say in its dealings, and oddly enough for most natives who are sup- posed to benefit from it. , however, are Canadians who pay for the cradle -to-grave entitle- ments natives have, a depen- ¢ which in turn perpetu- decay, for which Canadians are blamed, and hence must continue to pay, or so the chorus of taxpayer- funded lawyers, consultants, politicians, and native leaders tell them. Unlike other Canadians, Indians and Inuit are the recipients of approximately $8 billion (tax credits includ- ed) doled out annually by government. It is from these al transfers that aboriginal ‘ganizations derive their incomes, as well as trom gas and oil royalties, land claim settlements and the taxation of non-Indians. A livelihood, notes Prof. Tom Flanagan “that is not earned by we g for it.” This, together with an immobilizing culture of grievance and blame, forms part of the pathology. Witness the thousands of natives gathered of late to register for the class action residential school bonanza. Some have legitimate cases of sexual abuse to pursue; others have led unhappy lives and llana hercer jair comment wish to make the schools the repository for issues better resolved on the therapist's sot Tadeed, all reads for natives lead to the courts. especially when it comes to Jand claims. Bands know that the supreme powers lig with the judges when it comes to aboriginal Jaw. The Lamer Court, explains Fraser Institute scholar Gordon Gibson, “used Section 35 of the Constitution with aban don... plucking concepts out of academic test books or thin air, in order to build up a new and free-standing doc- trine of aboriginal law unin- formed by precedent or reali- ty.” Section 35 is not subject to the balancing actions of Section 1] of the Constitution, nor the notwithstanding clause. One B.C. band, the Sechelt, is leading the liti- gious way. The band has walked away from a signed agreement in principle, hailed by all, including the opposi- tion party, as an exemplar of shat che treaty process ould be like. Appetites whet doubtless by the intro- duction of the Nisga’a gold standard, Sechelt chief, Garry Feschuk, declared: “We were not getting cnough.” The Nisgata treaty, which was rati tied by Victoria and Ottawa sothout 2say trom Canadians, cost S490 million, asum which does not inchide estimagons of minerals, fisheries, third party psation, or the estr miliion that taxpayers uister to the Nisga’a gov crament over the next 15 sears, A province thar reject- ed the Charlotretown Accord by 70. has been forced to support a deal thar arrogates federal and provincial powers to the band, and makes the rights of non-Nisga’a living on Neveea land subject to the goodsess of the reigning Indian fiefdom. Like all treaties, this one is locked into the Constitution by ion 35, Iv the 0-60 B.C. ods eager for the Ins an estimation at pegged the cost of treaty making in B.C, at S40 billion seem fair. In Alberta, natives are restless as well. Five of the Treaty 7 bands have launched a lawsuit seeking to claim tithe over natural resources such as oil and gas, minerals and dmber. One of these bands, the Siksika, has made a bid for Castle Mountain, a region in the Kantt National Park. Before heading for the courts, the Siksika hastened to rekindle title by displaying their spiritual attachment to the place. For in t the nation every bit of folk- lore-inspired evidence counts. Did not the Supreme Court of Canada in the landmark “Delgamuukw” confirm that evidence of continual occu- courts of pancy can consist of myths, legends, and other oral hand me downs? Title or ow: nership should have beer conterred original ly to the degree te which homesteading, or a transfor mation of material goods with native labour had occurred on cantested land. Bat the willy-nilly wanster of wealth to natives has new followed the logic of home- steading. Instead, asserting some traditional affinity over vast stretches of land is legally accepted. Ultumately, the s $ reinvigoration of a communi- tv’s cultural identity must lic with that community alone. it sands, Canadian society is entrusted with sustaining natives and their culture, and blamed for the inevitable atrophy such an arrang breed Native s with tings where prope: in common and po with a central clite. But Canadians cannot escape the mulet of this blighted indus- try. —snome@attcanadanet Friday, July 14, 2000 - North Shore News - 7 Thanks boys Dear Editor: Pam oa near octogenarian who would dike to thank peo West Vancouver boys, On June 4 P had ueubl: Surting my car in the Park Raval South parking fot | asked the help of two fecnigers and ther came ta Mv assistance ab once. I did not get their nan and would ke to ike th opportunity to thank them for their courtesy and kindness. Thank vou again for your heir, gendemen. June Skinner West Vancouver Bring the kids & we'll take care of the rest! 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