Fight for rights Chief Joe Mathias has devoted his life to protecting aboriginal rights HIEF JOE Mathias warms his hands over a cup of steaming coffee. Outside, @ blanket of smow covers streets, Cartops and umbrellas: the normally turbulent Capilano River stands frozen and tree branches strain under the weight of white powder. Leaning across the table in the Park Royal Hotel restaurant, Mathias lifts his hand and points out the window. ‘| was taised right there - right on the waterfront,’’ he says, gazing at the land with affection. “That's where my family comes from, There was a_ big hurt amongst the people when that was taken away from them.’’ One of 15 children, Mathias, 46, has never strayed far from his home or his people — the Squamish Indian Nation. For 22 years as chief of 16 bands, Mathias has remained unflinching in his demand for basic rights for his people ~ rights that he says have at one time or another been violated, interfered with and eventually taken away. “Yve been devoting my whole life to that effort (fighting for aboriginal rights},” he says gravely as he fiddles with a piece of cald toast. Despite numerous disputes and legal batties over land title and resources, Mathias, surprisingly, hasn't become disillusioned or bit- ter. “Lt have faith in the Canadian system of dealing and resolving issues,” he says, smiling. ‘What V'm disappointed in is the tack of understanding by politicians and the insensitivity of bureaucrats. Fighting for aboriginal rights has been in the Mathias family blood for years. Mathias’ grandfather, Chief Mathias Joe, was invelved in some of the same fights as Mathias is today. In 1906, his great-grandfather, Chief Capilano Joe, travelled to England to see the King as part of a delegation representing 8.C. aboriginal people. In order to deal with politicians and a maze of legal questions, Mathias studied political science at UBC for two years before swit- ching to law. “t learned the law,’ he says, ‘because these issues affect our lives until the day we die.’ As the Squamish Nations official Jand claims coordinator, Mathias has made good use of that knowl- edge: comprehensive land claims are the nation’s number one prior- ity. The band is claiming the entire traditional territory of Squamish, which includes the Squamish Valley, Whistler, Gibson’s Land- ing, Howe Sound, the North Shore and portions of Vancouver. Hard-fought negotiations have sometimes led to victory, but the victories have been slow in com- ing. 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They want your job, they want your home.’ They're using scare tactics.” According to Mathias, Premier Bill Vander Zalm has made little effort to deal with Indian rights. "lf you really press Vander Zalm he'll say, ‘well, we've al- ready extinguished their rights, so they have no basis to stand on;’ or, ‘if those rights do exist in B.C. then it’s a federal responsibility’ — so they bounce the ball over there. He’s out to fool the general public. And he may be doing that. But he’s not fooling the Indian com- munity.”” Today the Squamish people face an imposing battery of social ills, including high unemployment, in- adequate education, drug abuse 1985 Mercedes-Benz Diamond Blue/Blue int. local. One owner. Ail books & records. stk. Pio? Offered at $28, 600 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 Arctic White/Burgundy int. 78,000 kms. Local. All books & fecords. Stk 5434 Offered ac $27, 800 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 Beige/Palomino int. 87.600 kms. “Heated seats”. All books & tecords. Offered ae $27,800 Sth 532714 190E 2.3 58,000 kms. 37 - Sunday, February 25, 1990 - North Shore News AFELUENCE INFLUENCE photo Mike Wakotiela CHIEF JOE Mathias ponders the future of his people, the Squamish band, and alcoholism. Mathias says the Canadian polit- ical system has failed the Indian people and believes the problem can only be solved when the na- tion gains the right to govern itself. “If Indian communities exist because of the federal Indian Act and the system of Indian affairs, then it’s failed. It’s failed in hous- ing, it’s failed in social develop- ment, it’s failed in education and in terms of our economic well- being. That’s why we're saying we want the fundamental human right to govern ourselves.” Mathias currently finds himself A Selection of Pre-owned 190E Mercedes Available Now. 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 Signal Red/Palomino leather, “5 speed”. Local. Ail books & records. 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