on lugsage

PAGE 46

Book chronicles injustices to the Stl’ati’imx’s people

“WE ARE aware the B.C. government claims our country, like all other Indian territories in B.C.; but we deny their right to it, We never gave it or sold it to them....We expected they would lay claim to what belonged to themselves only. In these considerations we have ben mistaken, and

gradually have learned how cunning, cruel, untruthfal, and thieving some

of them can be.”’

— From the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe, May 10, 1911.

FOR MORE than 100 years the Lillooet Tribe, or StPatl’imx, have been em- broiled in a bitter dispute with the B.C. government over land title.

By EVELYN JACOB News Reporter

In the absence of any historical documents (other than those writ- ten by white men), the Stl’atl’imx were in effect silenced about the economic, social and cultural in- justices dealt to them by 100 years of white government.

struggle . .

North Vancouver author Joanne Drake-Terry’s The Same As Yesterday, a detailed account of the Lillooet people and their histo- ry, is the first book to document the confiscation of the Stl’atlimx’s Jand and resources.

Drake-Terry believes her book wili lend credibility to the nation’s stand against the government. “The Lillooet people will now be able to take it (The Same As Yesterday) into a court of law,’ she said.

Drake-Terry, a non-native who holds a degree in B.C. history from Simon Fraser University, worked for the Lillooet Tribal

For more than five years she gathered documents from archives across the country which were in- terpreted in light of the Lillooet stories, a collection of ancient ora! histories passed down by the Stlathimx elders.

“The Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe, signed by 17 chiefs in 1911, was the only written document the Council possessed about their his- tory,’’ she said. “We were astonished at how much material we collected.’’

Drake-Terry quickly discovered that there was one kind of justice for whites and another kind for Indians.

“In 1763 the British King ruled that settlers were not allowed on native soil until they settled treaties with bands. Those rules were ig- nored in B.C. but obeyed in every other province.”’

In B.C. most of the prime land was seized by whites and ‘‘useless’’ land — land with no water — was

But as of two months ago, the Council as a researcher and in 1983 _ left for the natives. nation has been given a neW was commissioned to write The See Injustices weapon in their long-standing Same As Yesterday. Page 44

Allthe shrin you.can eat.

(Andaside of beef.)

NEWS photo Terry Peiers

NORTH VANCOUVER author Joanne Drake-Terry’s book The Same As Yesterday chronicles the history of the Lillooet nation and the con- fiseation of their tand.

on mfg. sugg. retail price

EXAMPLE OF SAVINGS:

36x36" pleated shade reg. from $102

We are stretching it a bit. It's not a side of beef. It's actually a steak on the side. Tender and juicy and broiled to order. The perfect complement to all the crispy, golden shrimp you can eat. And though that may sound too good to be true, it’s no exaggeration. And if that’s not enough, you also get your choice of baked potato or rice. So bring your family

and friends along with your Steak & All-You-Can-Eat

appetite. Because this is

one All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp Shrimp $ 9 8.9

SiZZ1

offer with a lot of meat to it. A fresh experience.

Sale ends Feb. 28/90

Open Elan Daily Licensed Harry—Offer ends Fe’ PL, 19980

Westview Shopping Centre Upper Levels Highway at Westview Drive, North Vancouver

© 1987 Serres Restaus ants ieteenatgnal inc