Affairs leaders

meet on Capilano

Ministers update First Nations on treaty process

THE FEDERAL Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and the pro- vincial Minister of Aboriginal Affairs met locally with provincial! native leaders on Wednesday move ahead on treaty negotiations in B.C.

By Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter “We ' were

told very, very,

clearly that the time has passed for.

good -words. The time is to put some proof in those good words,” said Aboriginal Affairs Minister John. Cashore: following a closed-door meeting at the Squamish Nation Capilano Reserve in North Vancouver.

. “The doors of the treaty. com- mission are open on Dec. 15,” Cashore said.

Cashore was referring to the B.C. Treaty Commission, which will begin accepting statements of intent to negotiate from native groups.

The statement of intent is the

first of six stages involved in the -

treaty negotiation process. .

The’ First Nations Summit General Assembly was held with the two ministers at the Squamish Recreation Centre in order to up- date. provincial native leaders on the treaty process...

After the. meeting, Indian Af- fairs Minister Ron Irwin, Cashore, and. Squamish Nation Chief Joe Mathias met with media members.

Said Mathias, ‘‘We have a number of First Nations who are prepared to go to the table as

“.quickly as possible. No one here today can tell you exactly how many First Nations or tribal councils: will be submitting their statements of intent.”’

Mathias said the new federal government confirmed its com- mitment to the B.C. treaty pro- cess. | ;

He said federal treaty legistation is currently under way.

Cashore said the steps in the treaty process follow guidelines laid out by government-accepted task force recommendations.

Said: Mathias, ‘‘What we heard today’ from the new (federal) government is that they will ‘recognize the inherent right: of aboriginal self-government.”’

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NEWS photo Mike Wakefield

SQUAMISH NATION Chief Joe Mathias was joined by Aboriginal

Affairs Minister John Cashore

(background) and Indian Affairs

Minister Ron Irwin on Wednesday during a press conference to

talk about treaty negotiations.

He said the new federal gov- ernment, unlike the old federal government, believes aboriginal self-government is recognized in Section 35 in the Canadian Con- stitution (Rights of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada).

“That’s a big stride forward from the previous government. We are not talking about negotiating our way to. get aboriginal self-government recognized,

“What they are saying to us is that aboriginal self-government is

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an inherent right, and it is already provided in the Constitution of Canada,’’ said Mathias.

Irwin, a federal cabiriet minister for just five weeks. said he is comfortable with tiie process of treaty negotiations.

“Let’s see who shows up at the table and what they want to nego- tiate,”’ said Irwin.

“The most important thing to me is self-determination, self- government, self-sufficiency within one Canada,” he said.

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READERS’ VOICE

What do you think about idea to

rename Second Narrows Bridge?

THE B.C. Federation of Labor passed a motion at its annual con-

Patricia Izzard

North Vancouver District

I think it’s quite asinine to rename it after 30 years. I say stay as it is.

weserve

s BRITANNIA BEACH

920 HOUSING UNITS ON 1036 ACRES

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NEWS Graphic Joan Pedersen

Furry Creek project to bring prosperity

to Sound -

From page 1

Meyer-Aaron said that the sewage would receive advanced secondary treatment.

“The one promise the devel- opers gave to the community was for tertiary sewage treatment,’’ said Mitchell.

Mitchell is also concerned about,

housing costs at Furry Creek.

With lot prices running from $100,000 to $200,000 for land alone, she wonders if the region will evolve into a string of colo- nies of the wealthy.

About 60% of the lots have al- ready been sold.

The course opened July 31. Members pay a $36,000 initiation fee and a monthly fee of $220.

“Are they (Tanac Land Devel- opment Corp.) looking at any af- fordable housing?’ she asked. ‘‘Is that what Howe Sound is going to

Mitchell

be in the future?”

But West Vancouver-Garibaldi independent Liberal MLA David Mitchell said the project will bring prosperity to the region.

“The employment aspéct has been very positive for the area,’’ he said. ‘‘Twenty-five. million dollars was spent on construction wages alone for the golf course.””

Denis Hansen, director of sales and marketing for Tanac’ Land Development, said construction will begin next year. As for Furry Creek’s commercial development, it will grow with the population. A marina has already been plan- ned for 1995. As far as Hansen is concerned, the embryonic’ com- munity is already well.on its way to becoming a full-fledged town.

“Ten years from now. there potentially will be a school here, and maybe a train station,’’ he said.

vention held earlier this month to lobby the provincial government to rename the Second Narrows Bridge the Ironworkers’ Memorial Bridge in honor of those who died when the structure was being

built. The motion was made by

Ironworkers’

Union Local 97.

Twenty-three workers died when the bridge collapsed while under construction on June 17, 1958. A memoria! plaque on the southeast corner of the bridge honors the workers who were killed.

Rick Winters

North Vancouver District

No. I don't agree with it. 1 think it’s just a waste of taxpayers’ money.

Don Johnstoa

North Vancouver District

It should remain the Second Narrows Bridge, which desig- nates where it is. It has been that way for a long time and it’s a lot easier fur people to understand.

Alma McDade

North Vancouver City

I believe the bridge should still be called the Second Narrows Bridge. It’s been that name for many, many years and is known by thousands of people.

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