——-MAIL BOox—— ooksellers backed Dear Editor: I appreciated the balaaced coverage of the competition between mega-booksellers and independent bookstores (New chapter in Jocal book battle, April 9 News). I am a regular customer at independent bookstores, including North-shore based 32 Books. I appreciate the per- sonal touch of independent booksellers, the first name basis we often develop through our love of books, And on a prac- tical note, if 1 am short for time, I can telephone the book- store staff, or drop by in a hurry, and get excellent sugges- tions for gift purchases or other needs. The key for me is knowledgeable, friendly service. 1 also believe we should support booksellers who feature our local writers and books as part of their stock. '..Your readers might wish to consider the Greater Vancouver Independent Booksellers Alliance (GVIBA). This - alliance of 44 bookstores produces a flyer that lists addresses, . phone numbers, ¢ -mail and Web site information, and a pre- cis of each store’s specialties. .. You can find stores that specialize in cooking, mystery and true crime books, travel information, health and healing, and children’s books, to name a few. : _ The. flyer. lists ‘several independent - bookstores: on the North Shore.’ - . te a “ BC/Yukon regional representative : The. Weitere’ Union of Canada, ‘ : our government cannot will not do its primary ; duty? ~ lo not end up in. criminal charges due to the “mentally ill”. aspect:: The police pro ‘ ‘ceed under the Mental school, I was taught that the first duty ofa government - — ‘not just a selected few. “For those baying for: biood inthe Trott case, back . up-a-bit, When. you can fig- ure‘out how to get blood from a system, you'll have the teal reason Trott was free to - The’ system, as it exists, has no more answers: ‘tle Jessica Russell. : «For the rest of u us, we can ut keep a protective arm we to resign our -around our chiidren. selves to forever being in an f danger because “CLOSED. SU «When I was in elementary”: ' “any government — is to pro-' tect its citizens. All of. them, be in a position to abduct lic. : —_ lenght direc. ca... NO POINT IN MINCING WORDS "There is simply no point in mincing words" said Canadian Alliance MP, Myron Thompson, during Second Reading Debate on his Private Member's Bill C-222 on November 4, 19S9. "In 1998 and 1999 the Federal Gavernment spent $6.3 billion on special programs for - aboriginal people. The total benefit for status Indians on reserves iz estimated to be $19,903 per person. While the amount spent is massive, there is often little in the way of. accountability on how the funds are disbursed". The purpose of Myron's Bill was to establish a Native Ombudsman in Canada, and was based on the inspiration of Leona Freed, President of The First Nations Accountability Coalition. Leona has been working for 5 years to try to get accountability, democracy, and equality, established on reserves where it is absent or inadequate, and clairs representation from ‘almost 200 reserves amongst the _ 5,000:members of her organization. "We i: have .a’ crisis ‘in our First Nation - communities" she wrote in a letter to , MPs in March of this year, “And it is érucial that a Native Ombudsman be enacted into legislation. Without one ‘there “will \’ be: “more © Waterhen; Gustufson and Oka crisis. Situations. -have deteriorated so badly that people™ are threatening to take up arms against their Chiefs and Council". Myron and Leona held meetings with _ grassroots natives on reserves all across | Canada *" during 1999, using th | suggestions they received ta help develop the Bill as a practical way of dealing with . complaints about “improper. financial administration and allegations of electoral irregularities”. Then, on October 15, 1999" Myron introduced the Bill in Parliament This is the story of what t happened to C- 222 MISMANAGEMENT AND FRAUD . Both Leona . Freed,’ and = Myron . Thompson,: have “spoken | ‘out publicly on”. “numerous: occasions about. documented a : i. accountability for} funds‘ disbursed: to" band chiefs: by Indian and Northem Affairs. . -Unfortunately, the lack of : a definition in the Indian Act with respect to persons authorized to: spend such funds: - : jobody can’ be held. r charged, for mismanage- fright fraud, Work b eople jike 9 Leona, Myron, and the Audito eneral for Canada though, are turning up> “ more’ and’ more claims, and evidence, of: _ corruption, -. vote-buying, and blatant - misuse of band: funds. Hera’ are: some : recent examples of the typés of situations - : ‘oat °C-22 mane ah to address’ via: the “honorarium was 3171 ,060 (tax Aas yet the’ ‘Band had ee a ‘deficit oft unemployment rate on the Reserve was about 90%. The Chief and 12 councillors of the Samson Cree Band are paid $1.5 million in salaries and benefits to govern a Band population of about §,006 people. The unemployment rate on the Reserve is 83% and 80% of the Band is on welfare. Chief Francis Frank of the Tiaoquiaht Band collected $109,000 in salary and benefits in 1997 before tesigning in December of that year. The Band population is 500 to 600, almost all of whom are unemployed. An auditor called in to look at the books was unable to express an opinion because of the lack of documentation related to the money spent. Over.the past.30 years at least $60 billion has been spent by the Department of Indian Affairs to create a myriad of programs — exclusively for, aboriginal people. ‘Despite this, one. third — of aboriginals on reserves five — in overcrowded conditions, an‘ average. of 50% of the people live in poverty, the infant mortality rate is twice as high as that :{ for non-aboriginals, and alcoholism, suicide, iliness, and crime rates are all at “least thrée times thé off-raséive average In addition, about 25% of Canada’s indian’ § -- ‘bands are under remedial management. -plans, dealing with a combined debt of more than $139 million:.’A Department survey of 300 band councils found that the- most .common. problams wére ‘lack of. control z and, onflict of interest. ‘HOW CAN IT BE FIXED? When “questioned” in Parliament. recently. - about.” the --, problems. . .of accountability on reserves, the Minister. Indian Affairs took the position that it is u to band members themselves to hold thei chiefs and: councils : accountable: or..the ‘eerie : band’ members often feel intimidated: 1999, Alberta Judge - Reilly “said ‘that: testimony from the’ ‘reserve mami s had: should be laid at the feat of corrupt nativ ne 4 *fedéral: ut misguided Road North: Vancou : http /warw: ‘ireatten dens fsecbeh btlacteX erase tet AT CAP b> Spring convocation date correction The spring convocation ceremony at Capilano College's North Vancouver campus will be held on Thursday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the Sportsplex. > Explore Vancouver's natural environment Vancouver has a geological history that is unrivalled in North America. Explore its beaches from Caulfield Cove to Kitsilano Point with geology. professor, Amie Thomlinson. The Continuing Education’ course, Vancouver's’ - Waves and Beaches, is offered on two). * Thursdays beginning” ~ _ on May25 and - includes a field Saturday,-May 27.:~: ($95). Or enjoy a to - of the bogs, lakes and forests of the Capilano , watershed. Join”. _ naturalist, Terry Taylor, : ., and an entomologi and watershed guide