Pacifie nara 013d . | nhs RS Sirs hing is te a Mexican resort of Ixtapa Three-page education a prime mid-winter getaway feature in Classifieds Classitieds Crossword Fashion Horoscope North Shore Alert Speris Talking Personals »** 50 Travel ooo 39 North Snore Free Press Lid, Pubhhet Peter Samed 1139 Lonsdale Avenue North Vancouver 6 C ¥7M Due ‘Canadan Pubicatons Mad Sales Product Ayresinert feo (008.7238 Ice wines, garlic & a new breed of chef Fiavours of Vancouver 327 60 Pages The Voice of Horth and West Vancouver since 1989 WWW.nsnews.com FREE indian Act verhau opposed Squamish members upset over Bill C-49 Robert Galster News Reporter robert@nsnews.com AT least 250 members of the Squamish Nation have joined the rising chorus of criticism against proposed changes to the federal Indian Act. Dubbed Bill C-49, the First Nations Land Management Act would grant participating native bands full control over their reserve lands. The powers the bands will be granted under the bill are greater than those granted to Municip governments. They include authority over zoning, environmental Protection and search and seizure. The legislation would also give bands the power to implement Jaws chat call for punishments ranging from tines te jail terms. The Squamish Rand is one of [4 native bands across Canada that are thus far covered under the bill. Squamish Band member Marcie Baker has been after band council mem: bers to explain the bill and its ramifications to the band's membership, but her efforts to date have been unsuccesstul. Baker said the band's council signed on to the bill in carly 1996, but the band’s mentbers have heard next to nothing about it, She said Bill C49 was first saentioned ata Jan. 28 meeting between the band's council and its members. “I've gone through this whole process and asked them (band council) very simple questions about (Bill) C-49,” said Baker. But she said she has vet to get a response. “They've had a loc of time berween February 96 and January ‘99 ro explain to us what this bill is.” Baker said efforts to alter the Indian Act began a decade ago and the band's council members were involved then. “It may be 10 years in the process but when in the 10 years were we con- sulted?” asked Baker. Baker’s frustration has resulted in her appealing to North Vancouver MP Ted White, who eventually took a 250-name Squamish band petition oppos- ing the bill to Ortawa where he presented it to Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Jane Stewart. “They're all begging me to hold up Bill C-49 in its present form,” said White of the petition's signatories. White said there are three key criticisms of the proposed legislation. They include the powers band councils would acquire to expropriate their own members’ land and the absence of any requirement that bands consult with neighboring municipalities before developing their lands. Both of these areas have received attention from municipal politicians and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities. However, a third area of concern, the one that has many of the band’s own members up in arms, is the issue of band councils consulting their own membership betore acting. Squamish band members point to the band council’s handling of Bill C- See Member page 3 : pibihennetare . aoe nat ves teat ST TARP a S Soaring Eagles SENTINEL’S Matt Klasen (left) battles Carson Graham's Hamon Mojahedi (centre) and Rob McCali during the North Shore championship final. Carson won 78-75 (See story page 42). NEWS photo Paul McGrath