quamish chief optimistic accord will be approved HIEF JOE Mathias, hereditary chief of the Squamish sNation, and a key piayer in the process that led to the in- lusion of aboriginal rights in the Charlottetown Accord, is ptimistic that Canadians will vote in favor of the deal. “I feel strong. 1 feel hopeful,”’ athias said. ‘‘The support for mative people is there, in all parts f the country, in everyone | talk to. Nevertheless he acknowledges Mthat other aspects of the agree- ment may be less palatable to the voters. “tf there were a way to separate it from the Charlottetown Accord, fal feel certain the vote would be in gafavor of the aboriginal package,” Mathias said. According to polls across Canada, opposition to the accord continues to grow. In a Sept. 13 North Shore News poll, 22.2% of those surveyed who said they planned to vote in the referendum said they would avote No; in an Oct, 18 News poll, the No percentage had jumped to 37.2%. (See page 7). A summary of arguments from Bboth Yes and No camps on the North Shore was published in the Friday, Oct. 23 News. In the meantime, Mathias is ac- tively working for the Yes cam- paiga, urging everyone to vote for 4 the agreement. “We need a strong economy, a aM healthy Canada,”' he said. Mathias expressed disappoint- ment that the aboriginal leaders #gathered for the Oct. 14 to 16 Assembly of First Naticns (AFN) meeting on the Capilano reserve failed to ratify the accord. The chiefs decided not to hold a vote because they lacked sufficient numbets for a quorum. “We were there to vote and rat- Bify,’’ he said. ‘‘Clearly a majority kof First Nations were ready to vote, but we wanted to take care Byof those who felt they needed more time.’” But Mathias said the result of athat meeting should not be inter- Epreted as a sign that the majority fof the chiefs do not back the agreement. “I'd say 75 to 80% of the AFN support the dea},”’ he suggested. By Paul Hughes Contributing Writer “Twenty-five per cent need more time.’’ ‘In hindsight, maybe we should have held the vote anyway, but by Friday afternoon, many of the chiefs had left, and we were without a quorum. “On a big issue like this, to take a vote would have created all kinds of problems.”* Mathias said the referendum call is ‘‘an extremely divisive pro- cess’’ that highlights the anger and the frustration within the com- munity. “But we need to take great pains to reach some sort of con- sensus.’ Referring to Elijah Harper’s decision to boycott the referen- dum process, Mathias said, ‘‘The call by Harper is absolutely ab- surd.”” Harper, an NDP MLA from Manitoba, was instrumental in killing the Meech Lake Accord in 1990. Said Mathias, ‘‘We have a right to make a choice. Aboriginal people have only had the right to vote since 1960. We should not abdicate that right."’ - One of Harper’s complaints about the referendum was that it is being farced on the voters too soon. While Mathias agreed that it was ‘“‘unfortunate we are mar- ching to a time frame’’ he pointed out that ‘‘we have known about this deadline since January or February of this year. “To raise it now as an excuse is feeble in the extreme,’’ he said, When asked what he envisions will happen should the No forces prevail, he said, ‘The status quo will remain the same. Aboriginal treaty sights will still be in place.”’ “But,” he added. ‘*You'll never find the same circumstances in the NATIVE AFFAIRS political environment. The elected heads of government have shown a great deal of generosity to make this thing work. We’re not going to be looking at a situation like that again.”” He added that regardless of what happens on Monday, aboriginal people wil) still fight for their rights. “We have to deal with Canada and the provinces, but by the same token Canada and the pro- vinces have to deal with us. There is no way to avoid the issues. “The message I'd like to con- vey, though, is that there is substantial support among the aboriginal comniunity for the ac- cord. The ozdinary (native) citizen is going out to vote Yes."" As to what happens on Oct. 27 if we should wake up to a No vic- tory, Mathias said, ‘‘What was it Trudeau said after our last go- round in 1984? He was quoting a Chinese saying. I think it was *May you five interesting lives.’ “It will be an interesting coun- try.” 7 NO HOMES TOO LARGE | | NO HOMES TOO SMALL } SEAN WARDELL f Can sell them all, B 926-6233 or 925-0753 ff § Remax Masters Realty Inc. § A Sensational Opportunity for Value Minded Home Buyers. THE HOME PURCHASE LEGAL PLAN 1 DENTURE > SERVICE m% NEW DENTURES i RELINES @ REPAIRS @ COMFORTABLE SOFT LINERS @ FREE CONSULTATION & SENIORS DISCOUNTS ] R. PALLAE & R. ANDERSON DENTURE CLINIC 105-140 West 15th Street North Vancouver 985-1710 - 19 WEEK UNBORN BABY * Or a child? 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