ante Constitutional NATIVE SOVEREIGNTY is not on the table in treaty negotiations, Squamish Nation Chief Joe Mathias said. Monday at a native affairs. seminar at West Vancouver's St. Francis-In- The-Wood Anglican church, By Bab Mackin Contributing Writer “To take that kind of political direction would be a waste of a lot of money, effort and leads toa dead-end street.” Mathias sitid. “We are more interested in gaining control over our lives.” Mathias is optimistic that fed- eral government recognition of the inherent right to self-government will help selve the problenis that plague First Nations peapte. Some native groups are opposed to the government recag- nition because they cling to the sovereignty issue. But not the Squamish Nation, Mathias said. “We ure not here to talk about sovereignty in it traditional sense or worldwide political sense, or in a sense that we are some form of banana republic within Canada, that we rave some sort of intema- tional status to deal with other countries of the world.” he said. Mathias said the First Nations’ goal of. the treaty process js self power the key governing authority over dand. resources. education, — health, social services, taxation and infra- structure, “The origin of our jurisdiction and powers will flow from the Constitution!” he said. “Like sec: tion 91, federal powers will flow to the federal government. and section 92, powers Mow to the provincial goverment, section 35 through a long. painful, tortuous process will define our jurisdiction and will Now front the constitution through a treaty making process.” The Squamish Nation, he said, has completed an openness proto- col with the provincial and feder- al governments, Phe next step is to hammer out a framework agreentent. Hf successful, that will lead to an agreement in principle. Meetings between Squamish and government negouators are scheduled for next week, followed by sessions in December and January. “The big thing of concern to all of us is the Nispa‘a negotia- tions and the next provincial elec- tion.” he told the News. “i aa agreement is reached with the Nisgiva, then that offers a grei deal of hope, it sends the right sig- nals. If there is no agreement in principle with the Nisga’a’ before the (B.C.) election, itis going to be very table. given Gordon Camphetl's stance on the issue.” OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS... A retirement planning conference which will only cost you a day of your time... “LOOKING TO THE FUTURE” Tax & invesiment strategies for and during retirernent Lifestyle issues in retirement Wills & estate planning DATE: TIME: ‘PLACE: Avalon Hotel Saturday, November. 4 9:00 am to 12:15 pm* & 1:45 pm to 5:00 pm . 1025 Marine Drive, North Vancouver *Lunch may be obtained at various nearby restaurants during the 90 minute break. Seating is limited! Registration closes October 27th @m 925-3041 or fax: presented by: Nilson & Company and AFT Trivest Professional Accountants 925-3045 ? Investment Counsellors difficult to put biek on the’ N. Van drivers ONLY 10% of drivers stopped during this month's week-long seat belt check in) North Vancouver were not wearing seat belts. That) puts North Vancouver motorists in line with provincial sta- tisdes indicating that RICHMOND 4580 No. 3 Ad. 273-9181 SURREY + 10560 King George wy. sea. 2929 SURREY 8066-120th Street 590-8226 BURNABY 7271 Gilley Ave. 430-8371 BURNABY 109-4501 Norh Rd. 420-5016 MAPLE RIDGE 22188 xeus head hwy. OG7 noxtn VANCOUVER 710 West 14th St. 980-0551 COQUITLARS 2773 Barnet Hwy. 464-1915 DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER - Located inside The Bay - Sth Floor 6e9-2115 92% of motorists in B.C. buckle up. Sgt. Bob Beaudoin, head of the North Vancouver RCMP traffic see- lion, estimated that police pulled over 2.100 cars during the seat belt campaign which ended on Oct. 7. Beaudoin sald police were most concerned hy six motorists with young children in their vehicles who buckl were not strapped into approved safety seats. Five of the motorists were from North Vancouver, the sixth driver was a tourist: from Ontario. Beaudoin said drivers can be’ fined $75 for each person in a car who is not buckled up. Police issued warnings and tickets.