Wednesday, October 11, 1995 — North Shore News — 3 Grieving mom offers reward A WINNIPEG woman says she won't give up until she finds out what hap- pened to her son, who authorities say died on Grouse Mountain about 14 years ago, By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter - “bean*t rest until f find out for sure what happened to my son.” said Jean Smith, 73. The North Vancouver RCMP and the B.C. Coroner determined skeletal remains discovered on-the mountain in October 1993 are those of Smith’s son, William George Brown, According to a News report after the bones were discovered, Brown's cause of death could not be determined, but foul play was not suspected. A police Spokesman said Brown was dealing with psychological prob- lems at the time of his disappearance. Smith said her offer of a $2,000 reward is still available. The reward is for anyone who can produce the missing human head belonging to the skeletal remains or anyone who has information about Smith's son. Smith said she did not claim the skeletal remains. Brown was last seen alive in September 1980 when he was 38 years old, according to the North Vancouver RCMP. Brown was living in the Vancouver area when he was last seen, accord- . ing to the police. JEAN SMITH wants information about her son's disappearance, Scow sees common ground in spirituality and sense of justice ‘ RECOGNITION OF common beliefs in spiri- | tuality and justice would help resolve differ- ences among natives and non-natives, said the _first native Indian appointed to the judiciary in British Columbia. , By Bob Mackin Contributing Writer ” Alfred Scow, 68, spoke recently at the opening of a First Nations discussion series held in West Vancouver. “There’s nothing identical, but there are parallels that provide us with a better level of understanding of ‘where we came from,” said Scow, a member of the Anglican Church. 2 Seow was the first aboriginal person to graduate ‘from law schoo! and be called to the bar in B.C. He became a provincial court judge in’ 1971, but left the bench last spring due to a heart attack. - Scow is a member of the Kwicksutaineuk tribe on Gilford Island. He was “ the first speaker in a series of Monday night serninars at West Vancouver's »~ St. Francis-In-The-Wood Anglican church. \.. “Native justice, Scow said, was “based on respect and love for our fellow ‘man and the family honor. “There were certain consequences of any breach or any dishonor brought to your family,” he said, including banishment to remote islands or potlatch ceremonies held to apologize for misdeeds and restore respect. . Land in native communities for dwellings was treated as a family heir- loom, and no one else could build on the property. Fee-simple land ownership was a foreign’concept, he said. But, he conceded, “It made it easier for the people arriving in this coun- ALFRED SCOW remains frus- trated by the Indian Act, which . ne says is undemocratic. HANDSWORTH ROYALS gang-tackie a Carson Graham ball carrier during the ninth annual Buchanan Bowl tast Saturday at Kinsmen Field. The Eagles downed the Royals 27-6 In the high school senior boys’ gridiron classic. See Sidelines page 12. try from Europe to take over land because whoever came to the land was welcome and everything was shared. This resulted in the | eventual loss of our territo- ries.” Although he didn't directiy address the recent dis- putes in Gustafsen Lake and Ipperwash Park, Scow ‘ said he chose to better the plight of his people by becoming a lawyer and later a judge. “I do feel very angry at things that have happened in the past. Some people yeil, some people shoot bows and arrows at people, some people shoot guns at other people,” Scow said. “My father (a hereditary chief) ‘ had some influence on me to do something to bring about change. He once said to me never start a fight unless you know, you can win.” Scow's anger is now focused on the Indian Act, the federal legislation that governs natives. “My first encounter with our position in society came in high school when I was reading the Indian Act,” he said. “One of the things that appalled me was the definition part of the Indian Act, which said a per- son was anyone other than an Indian.” Positive changes have occurred, such as the repeal- ing of Indian Act sections that forbade the practice of traditional customs and ceremonies. But the act still bars natives from con- trolling their destiny. “The Indian Act provides that every band elect a chief and council and everybody who lives on that particular reserve can have a vote, but any members of the tribe who don’t live on the reserve don’ t have a vote. | find that undemocratic.” ; On a personal level, Scow is frustrated that the Indian Act can also dic- tate how his property and possessions are to be dispersed when he dies. “My wife and I have drawn up our will, and there’s a provision in the © Indian Act that says if the minister does not feel that it is fair, he can change it” Mathias and land claims negotiator Gary Yabsley. Tsfeil-Waututh (Burrard) Chief Leonard George speaks Oct. 23. Call 922-3531 for information. The next seminar is Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. and features Squamish Chief Joe Buchanan Bowl | | From; page 1 Shipyards ~~ Marine Shipbuilders Local 506. lesirabl Dus route ‘ul THE AMBLESIDE Dundarave Ratepayers (ADR) are backing Cedardale residents who are against a new bus Toute proposed for their neighborhood. ADR president George Murrell announced his support at ; West Vancouver District Council's Oct. 2 meeting. ; Several letters were received by council from Cedardale res- idents who are afraid that a bus route will endanger pedestrian traffic and increase noise and pollution in a “quiet, residential area.” ~ Cedardale resident Anna Driscoll is concémed that buses . will bring undesirables into the area and lead to an increase in crime. “Nor am I prepared to have the litter that bus patrons so fre- quently drop: as they enter and exit buses at a bus stop,” Driscoll “WEST VANCOUVER _ DISTRICT COUNCIL By Maureen Curtis wrote council. Lynn and Dennis Swanson argued that it is already easy to access the bus route servicing Taylor Way. David Gulliford suggested that there will be a negative impact on property values along the route and accused council of “providing a disservice to Cedardale residents” on more than one occasion. But according to Blue Bus general manager Tony Lorage the bus route proposal resulted from Cedardafe resident requests. The 12-minute route is a luop that would begin at Park Royal, travel up Taylor Way, turn right at Keith Road and then ‘ return via 3rd Street and Inglewood Avenue to Taylor Way and Park Royal. At least 126 people attended an oper house on the proposa) hosted by B.C. Transit and West Vancouver Transit last month. Although the results of a questionnaire filled out by those attending the open house have yet to be tabulated, Lorage believes that a majority are in favor of the bus route. “Some people have the idea that buses are dirty, ugly and dangerous monsters that “mow” down children and cyclists,” Lorage told the News. The bus route would be serviced 6:52 a.m. to 7:04 p.m, Monday to Friday, and during more limited hours on Saturday. There would be no service on Sunday,