6 — Wednesday, May 8, 1991 - North Shore News | HOPE YOU ARENT PAYING ATTENTION TD ALLEGATIONS AS To HOW QUA GOVERNIWENT IS TREATING THE PALESTINIANS... ml TOOK Tanners, x fl =) South) aad Upto), native claims in general. The 150 cozamercial vessels which disrupted shipping traffic for much of the day were pro- testing federal policy changes that would increase catches for native food fishermen. This, of course, could only be at the expense of the commercial fishery — an important but fre- quently ailing B.C. industry employing hundreds of people. To survive, it depends on its present catch, which includes about 80% of B.C. salmon. Reserve Indians — roughly 2.4% of the B.C. population — take some 5% of the salmon catch, in theory for personal use. Hence the term ‘‘food”’ fishermen. But if you think all that salmon ends up on the family dinner tables of the reserves, you have a sweet and trusting nature. It’s pretty common knowledge that more than a little of the Indian “food” catch is clandestinely sold by native entrepreneurs. And who can blame them, if they’re able to get away with it? After all, a surfeit of salmon, even for Indians, must be rather like the turkey that goes on forev- er the week after Christmas. But the claim of the Indians — who already get twice as much of the catch as their percentage of the population — to have still more isn’t the point, The point concerns simple fairness. If we're all citizens of the same province, its resources should be shared equitably by everyone. If an Indian wishes to join the commercial fishery, fine. But otherwise his individual catch should be regulated — maybe with some reasonable allowance for - traditional native diet — on the io same basis as that of all non- ; as LETTER THE DAY — wand therein lies the much larger ; Teacher appalled at trashy movies problem. Despite their propor- Dear Editor: NEWS VIEWPOINT : Debt fret T HE FIGHT against the staggering frightening rate: an estimated 36 cents from each tax dollar paid now goes to cover the $43 billion in annual interest payments on the debt. And it relentlessly drains the en- trepreneurial spirit that is so vital to Canada’s future. Canadians already work almost hialf the year just to pay the conn- try’s tax load. The GST has added to that load, fleecing the pockets of consumers and businesses in every way at every turn. While the federal government is slowly reducing Canada’s annual deficit, which will be $30.5 billion in 1991-°92, the pace of reduction remains too slow and the size of government remains too large. national debt needs foot soldiers . from every walk of life. North Vancouver resident Tom Rogers recently founded the Dominion Impreove- ment Research and ‘mplementation In- stitute as a local beachhead to grapple with Canada’s debt. And while the group’s name will do little to inspire action, its raison d’etre should. Rogers, like so many other North Share residents, has grown increasingly concera- ed over a federal debt that grows ai un estimated $1,000 per second. And that debt, which is expected to hit a monstrous $40) billion this year, has Support for groups like the one formed become one eof the most debilitating by Tom Rogers tells government that the monkeys riding the back of the average average Canadian is mad as hell and not Canadian. It siphons off tax money at a going to take it anymore. tionately tiny numbers, Indians do not, at bottom, accept the white man’s concept of equal sharing. Emotionally, they remain wedded to the concept of ‘‘sovereignty”’ (a Iam writing to express the con- cern i feet ever since visiting two North Shore movie theatres. Upon the insistence of friends, I cringed through two films: ‘Silence of the Lambs,’’ and “The Doors.’’ In case your readers haven’t seen them, both are frightening films which include swearing, nudity (including inter- course), sexual perversion, beatings, urug consumption and many gory scenes. Both movies are restricted, i.e.: society has decided that those 18 or over are of sound enough mind to witness such ‘‘entertainment.’” Al 26, I felt barely able to han- dle the film material myself. The real surprise occurred when 1 looked around. Both times more than one-third of the theatre was filled with awestruck children who were not only definitely under 18, but as young as nine or 10. The majority of children, how- ever, were without parents. They appeared to have entered the theatre easily, since no one ap- parently asked them for ID. This practice, by Odeon and Famous Players Theatres is a violation of the law, As a high school teacher, I spend much of my time trying to instill the cultural and societal norms of our society in the stu- dents I teach. Meanwhile, thou- sands of youngsters, before they’ve formeds their own iden- tities, values and views of the world, regularly watch and enjoy such smut. Many theatres and parents are guilty of negligence. Parents must take more responsibility for their children — watch channel 9 in- stead and spend mo:c time together — and theatres must abide by the law (and should offer more appropriate entertainment) instead of just cashing in on these youngsters. Nora F. Gambiolti West Vancouver practical impossibility today), to their own separate laws and to a ‘‘we-and-they”’ approach to all issues. From the Indian viewpoint Chief Hemas — a.k.a. Bill Wilson of the First Nations Congress — was dead right when he said In- dians ought to have killed all our forefathers back in the 19th cen- tury. of yesterday THERE WAS a lot more than fish involved in last week's demonstration by commercial fishermen in Vancouver Harbor. It underscored the fundamental problem about HITHER AND YON They didn’t, however, and we’re here. That fact can never be altered. So the task is to make to- day’s world better for all of us — and with special urgency for the native peoples’ realistic claims. But it will be a tough job if they insist on living in yesterday’s world — now just as dead as Bill Wilson would like to have seen our ancestors! eee HURRY, art lovers — North Van Arts Council picture rental is on 6-8 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, at Presentation House, featuring re- cent award-winning works by local artists. Over 200 pieces on display, framed and ready to hang, for rent ($4-$6 monthly) or sale. eee OH MY MAMA! .., To be honored by North Van Fraternal Eagles Saturday, May 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the Eagles Hall, 170 West Third St., is their Mother of the Year, 60-year-old Ethel Kothiow -— longtime North Van resident, mother of five (all boys), grand- mother of 13, great-grandmother of two, past president of the Eagles and for many years a tireless volunteer worker for their good causes. Quite a mom! ... And salute YOUR mom Sunday with a beautiful plant from West Van Kiwanis Club’s Giant Plant Sale — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 10-i1, on the Rec Centre parking lot, Gordon at 22nd St. eee WRIGHT OR WRONG: Nothing is more exhausting than being grateful all the time. Publisher Peter Speck Oisplay Advertising 960-0511 = Distribution 986-1337 Nortt. Snore Managing Editor Timothy Renshaw Real Estate Advertising 985-6982 Subscriptions 986-1337 qa manages - | Associate Editor Noel Wright Ciassified Advertising 986-6222 Fax 985-3227 : Advertising Director = Linda Stewart Newsroom 985-2131 Administration 985-2131 . Comptroiler Doug Foot North Shore News, founded in 1569 as an tes woect 08 womrw ano wear wncouven —— MEMBER independent suburban newspader and qualified under Schedule 111, Paragraph I of the Excise Tax Act, is published each Wednesday. Friday and Sunday by North Shore Free Press Ltd. ang distributed to every door on the North Shore. Second Class Mail Registration Number 3385 Subscriptions North and West Vancouver, $25 per year. Mailing rates available on request Submissions are welcume but we cannot accepl responsibilty for unsoleied maternal including manusenpts and pictures which should be accompanred by a stamped, addressed envelope SUNDAY » WEDNESDAY - FMOAY 1139 Lonsdale Avenue. North Vancouver, B.C. V7M 2H4 SOA DIVISION Photo submitted MOM’S THE WORD for Ethel Kuthtow, North Van Eagles’ Mother of the Year, seen here with so iordor 61,582 (average circuianon, Wednesaay. Friday 3 Sunday) Entre contents < 1991 North Shore Free Press Ltd. All rights reserved