New Mountain Girl line for

3

1 Bright Lights
os Celebrations
Classifieds
Crossword
: Home & Garden
Pets
Seniors
' Talking Personais

Joe Mathias lauded as greai leader

Deana Lancaster

News Reporter
dlancaster@nsnews.com

JOE Mathias, hereditary chief of the Squamish
Nation, was not a tall man.

Bat when it came to strength, persistence and passion for what he
believed in, Mathias towered over most people.
“Chief Joe Mathias was one of the
greatest: leaders the Squamish
Nation ever had.” said Chiet Bill
Williams on Friday afternoon, *Hie
had a great vision io help all abe
riginal people in Canada, not jist
the Squanash Nation”
His unexpected death at st. Paul's
Hospital carly bridav morning
from oan diness which ne one
thought was serious, has lent these
who worked with him. fouyht
dongside him, and loved my ree!
ng.
“Al the Squamish Naden is in
mourning.” said Willams. Mathias
is survived by his wife and daughter
- and by the rest of the band,
h has more than 2,700 men
SQUAMISH Nation Chief Joe bers living on and off reserves
Mathias passed away early = between the North Shore and

Friday morning. Whistler
Mathias, who grew up en the
Capilano Reserve on the border of North and West Vancouver, was
known for his passionate belief that the aboriginal people of Canada
have inherent rights to self government, rights to the land they
lived on and its . and that they deserve compensagon
s been taken from them,
And he spent mest of his 56 vears fighting unwavering!y for those
thts on behalf ot his peopte.
anegotiatos,” said Williams. “He was one of the strongest
supporters of the treaty process.”

In fo ct, Mathias had an inthicntial role inserting up the BC. Preaty
Commission to faciitate treaty negotiations, and was serving as one of
the chief negotiators tor the Squamish Nation ay in began nts own nege
tiations The nation is currently at stage three of a six stage process, and
is negotiating a framework agreement with the provincial and federal

thins paae §

Fashion

the street as well as

WWW.SneWws.Cum

Spring Break

What to do when
“s nothing to do

DEG mEWSagattien, |
see nO REWSP gy Ni,
es 4 Sige

Class of 1999/2000
— The best in girls’
high school hoops

All-stars 122

FREE

Reee

NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

Josh and Willow

NORTH Vancouver resident Joshua ives, 21, snuggles with his dog Willow. lves and his mot
speak about their lives and views about Down's syndrome. See story on page 5.

 ienanianeienbasienieahesiee

fi 125-949 W. 3rd St. North Ven.

eee cen CO "een tere weed GEE sey ETRE SEM Um ane Mme wet OU Me SM Ome Fire