isplaced power SECURE in the enormous cash and land settlements they” landed, the Nisga’a have decided to extend some goodwill to the 100-odd non-natives living on their land and throw in gratis an offer of qualified citizenship. The Musgueam band, on the other hand, is refusing even to meet with its lease: holders much less back down trom demanding leascholders pay them exorbitant non- market related rentals and The Nisga’a conferring ship, the Musqueam sting the limits of thar prowess as landlords: these are just manifestations of mis- placed powers. aste of what can ha pen when politically moti ed collectives are conferred with just enough sovereignty to wield power, unilaterally, over non-members residing within their principalitic The Musgueam saga gan 30 years back. Under the original agree- ment, negotiated with the federal government, the Musqueam made about $325 a vear per leasehold. In retro- spect this amount seems low but it was not out of line with property values at the time. More important, the sum was arrived at after full con- sultation with the band When entering into contr. tual agreements, most ind viduals will assume respor bility for choices they make. Not so with those who wield, as weapons, the mantle of the historically oppressed (and they include the hordes of pay-equity seekers ). The polities of petulance and pay back means that the Musqueam. not yet appeased by aa are hungry. As they see things, they were made to lose mone the lease agreements, ergo someONe MUST pay. All parties to the dispute — the federal government, the Musqueam and the des perate leaseholders —— know the aril! full well, The taxpaver will pay. In fact the amorphous tay- paver is already paying a con- sultant to help the band along. |} hope [Lam wrong, SECRET CLOSET children’s consignment ENTIRE WINTER STOCK ISTARTS SATURDAY JANUARY 23/835 7844 MARINE DRIVE WEST VANCOUVER $26-1630 but I peer vou and PE will end up paving both to appease the Musqgueam and salvage the lives of their [ease holders. And what's more the government trusts we'll do so without so much as a whim- per he theme of betrayal proper begins in 1991. The feds, to which residents of the Musqgueant park subdivi- sion were heretofore behold en, turn over the teases and the power to levy taxes to the Musqueam, This they do without warning the tenants. Unable to reach an agree ment on what would consti tute a fir rental, beth the band and the hapless tenaats ask the federal court to adju- dicate, The court considers tl plummeting values of reserve- based (as opposed to tr hold) land and sets the amount at $10,000. Not satisfied, the Musqueam turn to the Federal Court of Appeal, and are finally granted the right to hike the rents by some 7,366% and net sums ranging from $28,000 to $38,000 annually. Who do you turn to when vou are torced to pay around $6,000 tayes a vear tor ay by now, worthless property, and vou owe around SEPT 000 in ral back pay te vour land lord on top ofa mortyage to the bank? You se dost fith in the courts and Indian Attairs only takes care of Indians. You certainly dom tum to Dale Lovick, minister of aberiginal attairs, who flatly declared this nothing but a landlord tenant dispute, insisting tt had no bearing on the Nisgava treaty Not so. Currently, the Nisga’a government cannot tJ Nisea’a residents on Nisza’a land. But, and T quote trom the ministry's fet sheet: “in the tuture the provincial or tederal government may decide to delegate power to tax non: Nisa residents on Nisea’a land to Nisga’a gov: ernment.” To listen to Lovics deny- ing the incestuous relation- ship between the Musqueam quagmire and the Nisea’a treaty, is to be reminded that what the government says the treaty does and what the treaty really does are nwo s arate things. Consider that 53 B.C. bands have already been granted the power to levy xes, toss into the mix this s record fot speaking the truth, and its loyalty to the people of I as a whole, and top it with the propensity of the higher courts to weigh in on the i il side of natives, and vou are guaranteed that signing treaties wail net end the tras est of taxation without rep FESCHtaciany, There are consequences to, what Mel Sinith QC terms “appeasing the insa table demands of native lead: ership to ever more fand and TCSOUTERS. ws an clu- cidates those consequences for political lite by drawing an interesting andogy between aboriginal governments and Gulf sheikdoms. Both types of organiza- dons depend for livelihood on revenue that is not earned by working for it. For aboriginal organiza dons the revenue is in the form of tiscal transters from federal, provincial and munic- ipal zovernment, private foundations and taxation of mostly non: Indians. Band- initiated business ventures are also ultimately “backed by revenue from wevernment programs, land claim settle- ment, or gas and oil roval- ties.” Gulf sheikdoms, or what Prof. Flanagan terms “renti states,” are “sustained almost entirely by oil revenues.” The “rentier mentality,” says Flanagan, develops when reward — income or wealth is not related to work rather to chance or situation. Monies are allocated, not earned, and subj pay tor the ac : government. Consequently pur nat Friday. Ld democracy and the rule or Jaw caivt take hold in sued souicues because subjects are divorced ram government and have ne real investment Wit. The psychology behind our native policies, and the Kind driving treaties, as itis expressed in the nats and bolts of the Nisga‘a treaty, doesn’t elevate the Nisga’a bevond a “rentier” contigura- von, The government ¢himys ushering in treaties and killing the Indian Act will inanstorm the situation Not likely. aties Will not alter the of funding of bands in nuary 22, 1999 — ve | th Shore News - 7 AN significant wat Moreover. the finan! uinulical cord ting these chereises 10 self government To generations of overbur dened Canadian taxpavers makes this arrangement unethical _ upoome@aticanads.n t Cowabunga! tu for Darryland’s specal ofer every Sunday in Cassthed Home Services. KK Eee All sermices fully warranty =} approvad “ Safety check. 15 minutes - FAST! 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