NEWS BRIEFS Teens arrested TWO TEENS arrested in West Yancouver on July 28 face numerous charges stemming from a crime spree in Kitimat. A 17-year-old youth from Kitimat and a 15-year-old Parksville youth were arrested at approximately 12:30 a.m. July 23. According to a West Vancouver Police spokesman, the policed checked the pair during 2 routine search and re- covered a stolen cheque book. Further investigation tinked the suspects to a break and enter at a community centre in Kitimat, a break-in to a Kitimat youth centre and break-ins to several vehi- cles parked in Kitimat. Keys allegedly stolen during one of the break and: enters were used to take a 1992 Ford Escort. The car was later recovered in Stanley Park. Each suspect is charged with two counts of break and enter, possession of stolen property, two counts of theft under $1,000, one count of theft over $1,000 and one count of mischief. Hiker mystery WERLE THE intensive search for a hiker missing in the Lions wilderness area was abandoned earlier this week, ‘the North Shore Rescue Team is continuing search and rescue activity in the area, according to 2 Squamish RCMP spokesman. Meanwhile, it was revealed earlier this week that the missing klker, 38-year-old Burnaby resident Jiri Kristi, is an out-patient of the Forensic Psychiatric Institute at Essondale. He bad been released from custody subject to repor- ting conditions. One of the conditions stipulated that he take anti-depressant medication. Krist] bad in 1983 faced a second-degree murder charge in a case involving the stabbing death of a 25- year-old Polish woman. Krist! was subsequently found not guilty by reason of insanity. Krist] had been scheduled to appear before the B.C. Review Board on Monday. The board fs responsible for people in custody and offenders living within the com- munity. Hit and run A WEST Vancouver woman was shocked Tuesday to find her pet cat a victim of a hit and run driver. “I beard the screech of the tires and I heard the cat yowl, and they (the vehicle) just kept going,”’ said Teresa McGowan. The mishap occurred at approximately 2:30 p.m. on ~ July 28 on Mathers Avenue across from West Vancouver senior secondary school. . Her pet cat Dusty suffered internal bruising and re- quired $210 worth of medical treatment. “Dusty almost became smoke. [t just amazes me that people don’t have consciences in this day and age,” McGowan said. Drinking drivers RECENT CONVICTIONS in North Shore courts have . resulted in fines. and penalties, including a driving suspension, for drinking and driving related offences: WEST VANCOUVER: Theodore Olafur Moller, 53, Zirahelt Road, R.R. #2, Comp. 32, Heffley Creek, B.C. (impaired, $750 fine, 18 month driving prohibition); Jodi Lyen Shatzo, 27, 1844 Bellevue Ave., West Vancouver (over .08, $450 fine). . NORTH VANCOUVER: Douglas Murray Good, 28, 1397 Tatlow Ave., North Vancouver (over .08, $750 fine); Anna Lee Fairley, 19, 5-230 West 13th St., Nort Vancoxver (over .08, $400 fine). : ‘Councils break NORTH SHORE municipal councils take a break during the first week of August with the North Vancouver City and District Councils next meeting on Aug. 10. West Vancouver District Council next meets on Sept. 14. UP TO 60% OFF reg. dept. store prices Blinds as Fast as 3 Days & - Yaletown Blinds & Drapery Inc. Visit our Showroom 987-0203 OPEN 7 DAYS 9am - 9pm [ SEAT ANY PRICE BY 5° ] Instruction in CHIEF LAWRENCE Baker believes you are never too young or old to learn your ancestral language. By Paul Hughes Contributing Writer The Squamish language instruc- tor and respected elder — who has recently joined the teaching ranks — has seen and heard proof of that maxim. : His great-granddaughter receiv- ed her first lesson in the language of her ancestors when she was still in the womb. Her great grandfa- ther’s words bathed her in the comfcrt of the language before she was even born. He tells the tale of the time the girl’s great-grandmother took the child to buy her a book about colors, “Blue,’” said the grandparent pointing to the caption under the picture. **Skwayel,’’ said ihe girl, cor- rectly providing the Squamish word, There are few elders left who remember the language spoken in its highest form; fewer are involv- ed in teaching today. : There are two elders along with three younger staff who work with approximately 150 children from pre-schoo! to Grade 12 teaching the Squamish language. The younger teachers are pro- ducts of a curriculum that the late Chiefs Louis Miranda, Dominic Charlie, Andy Natralf and other Squamish educators worked so hard to set up. Some of the local schools in- volved in the project include: Car- son Graham, Queen Mary, Norgate, St. Edmund’s and a nursery schoo! located on the Capilano reserve. Socio-linguists predict that by the year 2000 all but three aboriginal languages — Cree, Ojibwa and Inuktitut —_ will disappear. However, these experts have not taken into account the ‘‘Elder Factor’? — their resolution, iove of their culture and determined commitment to preserve who they are. The determination is based in over a century of resistance to planned elimination of heritage. Said Chief Baker, ‘‘It was the government’s idea to do away with our culture.” One of the key factors in that pian was the creation of the In- dian Residential school system. Children were forcibly removed from their homes and sent off great distances to parochial schools. FREE BOOKLET. One often hears Canadians com- _plaining about the high amount of tax they pay. What many individuals do not realize is that simply by structuring their investments carefully, they can pay far less tax. This guide will provide you with ideas for suving tax through your investment program. Call today to receive your com- plimentary booklet. Mark Osachoff 661-7433 . ScotialMicLeod Toasted evesiment aavce sace 1921 Sunday, August 2, 1992 - North Shore News - 5 A breath of life behind the Squamish language the language of the ancestors NATIVE AFFAIRS The first school opened in the latter part of the 19th century; the last one was closed in the 1980s. For four generations the gov- ernment attempted to Christianize and assimilate an entire race of people. Children were separated from their families, forced to abandon their traditions, their language. Should they resist and be caught speaking their own language, they had to endure ridicule and physi- cal punishment. Baker himself attended the resi- dential school in Sechelt beginning in 1934. “When ! first went to boarding schao!l I was six years old. I had never heard the English lan- guage.” : Standing in the Squamish Chief and Council room, Baker points to a painting of his mother, Margaret Baker, set in a place of honor. “She’s the reason I can teach the language today. She never spoke English."’ Baker points out that the tion’s share of praise belongs to a beloved elder, the late Chief ‘Un- cle’ Louis Miranda, who was largely responsible for the Squamish language revival. One of his major accomplish- ments was the development of the Squamish language writing system. For many years Chief Louis Miranda worked with apprentices Lawrence Baker, Vanessa Camp- bell, Valerie Moody, Kathy Joseph and others. | In addition, the team worked with noted linguists and other social scientists to capture for all time their sacred language. The Curriculum for Squamish as a Second Language was written and produced in 1985. “At one time the late Uncle Louis went to half a dozen schools with his apprentices. The elder was in his 80s, with a bad heart, and yet he’d catch the bus from school to school. That shows you the dedication our elders had,” Baker says, recalling the earlier days of the language classes. He adds, ‘“‘My biggest concern is to make the people aware that the culture and the language is on the edge of extinction — aware that we have to have more people committed to learning the lan- guage.’’ There are no doubt strands of the cultural rope that have frayed beyond repaiz. However, Chief Baker is op- timistic that as long as there is a breath of life ia the Squamish people, with the strength of their elders providing connections to the past, there is hepe that the link of tradition will remain un- broken from the tomb of yester- day to the womb of tomorrow. . 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