Z

THE VOICE OF NORTH AND WEST VANCOUVER

4,
4

Human rights commission hears
native discrimination allegation

A HUMAN rights commission lawyer cepresenting a
year-old Gitksan woman who is alleging that she

discriminated against by the
ly presented evidence before
bid to show discriminato
band members.

Lawver Susan Ross is also at-
lenpting to prave that band lead-
ers fail to hire and promote quah-
fied joh applicants where appl
vants of blood-Squamish
heritage’ are available.

Leonie Rivers filed a complaint
with the Canadian Plunin Rights
Commission in 1987 alleging that
the Squamish band coatravened
the © ian Human Rights Act
by discriminating against her on
the grounds of family status and
national or ethnic origin.

A federal tribunal hearing of
the matter began in) Vancous
last month and resumed Ubis week

The basis River's complaint
is that because she is Gitksan and
not Squamish born, she was

discriminated against in cece of

hiring practice by the band coun-
cil.

The commission lawyer ww at-
empting to show thar Rivers’
identity as Gitksan constilites an
ethnic or national origin.

Although Gitksan, Rivers
became a registered member of
the Squamish Indian Band when
she marricd a member of the
band, Glen Rivers, in 1976.

During the 1970s she spent two
years as a teacher-counsellor at
Ustla-Hahn Ahernate School, a
schoo! operated by the Squamish
band in conjunction with North
Vancouver Schoo} District 44. °
job ended when the program end-
ed.

She was also a language arts
tutor for native children and a
childcare worker —- all through
the band.

Rivers
reserve from
1987.

She unsuccessfully applied for
further employment in May 1986
and in early 1987,

Ross maintains
discriminated against

a Squamish
through to

lived on
1981

that the band
Rivers

7-
s heen
Squamish indian Band recent-
a federal tribunal hearing ina

attitudes against ‘married-in”’

By Michael Bec

News Reporter

she omarried omto the

In the case ef the jobs she ap
pied for through the band, the
successtul upplicants were
“blood? Squamish people.

The successful appligants had
family ties fo a particular band

member, Gilbert Jacob.
testified that she first
became familiar with the term
“marnedan’’ when she attended a
amish band member-

“bowas sery interested in) the
band administration programs
that were available to che individ-
uals of the commun Being in
education, | was very supportive
of the education program, quite
concerned and interested 37 it.

“Powas actua ked one time
to leave ao meeting because T was
just married-i
was vocal,”* ‘

On Feb. 4, Rivers ad-
dressed a band council meeting
and appealed for a review of the
band’s hiring pro

Rivers told the tribunal that at
one point during the meeting band
council member Chief Norman
Joseph allegedly said, ‘Someone
may as well tell her. it may as well
be me, that we don't just hire
band members, we hire blood
band members.”

Added Rivers, “1 thought peo-
ple t hired based on their
qualifications, not that they're a
blood type or their origin or fami-
ly stutus.”*

But in the cros
Rivers, Squ ho band lawyer
John Rich pointed out that there
are approximately 100 band

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