Union of BC Indian Chiefs’ Digital Collections Project Complete

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs announces the completion of its digital collection of historical resources. The following are found in the collection:

Unity: Newsletter published from 1970 to 1971
Nesika: Newsletter published from 1972 to 1977
UBCIC News: Newsletter published form 1977 to 1980
UBCIC Posters: Posters created in the 1970s to present day
UBCIC Photographs: Photographs from the UBCIC Archives

Some of the archival photographs are from outside of BC. (I see, for examples, pictures from Alaska, Montana and from Mount Taylor, New Mexico.)

And, the posters are a fascinating reflections of the UBCIC’s advocacy for native rights. They are worth reading in full.

See the full press release here.

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My Wireless Lifestyle

Advertizements for retailer Digital Communications on the Team 1040 radio in Vancouver say their cellphones and other wireless products are perfect for my ‘wireless lifestyle.’

What is a wireless lifestyle? If I have wireless internet in my house and a cell phone, do I live a wireless lifestyle?

Ethnographers, please … weigh in …

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Where in BC?

Northern BC ca. 1942

Originally uploaded by TFM

I recently came into possession of some photographs taken in 1942 by my grandfather. Many, including this one, are from northern BC. Can anyone identify this place? It is likely along the railroad between Prince George and Prince Rupert. Several of the other pictures I received were taken in and around Kitwanga.

To see a larger version of the picture, click on it. Or, for a very large version, click here.

Thanks for the help.

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Douglas College Aboriginal Reconciliation Videos Online

The videos of aboriginal reconciliation lectures at Douglas College this past winter are now available online.

The purpose of the series of speakers was to shed light upon the topic of reconciliation between the Aboriginal people of British Columbia and the province’s other citizens.

An opening panel included remarks by The Honourable Steven L. Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Chief Leah George-Wilson, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, John McCandless, Executive Director, The People Together Foundation, Alan McMillan, Faculty Emeritus, Anthropology Department, Douglas College, Chief Rhonda Larrabee, New Westminster Band, Qayqayt First Nation.

Stand-alone talks were presented by Tony Penikett (not available), Eldon Yellowhorn (SFU Archaeology), Jessie Sutherland (Worldview Strategies), and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip (Union of BC Indian Chiefs).

The speaker series asked the following questions: What does reconciliation in BC mean to you? What questions do you have about reconciliation? What information do you need to have an informed opinion? What action do you think the government should be taking? And what action should you be taking to further or refine the goal of reconciliation?

Click here for more information.

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Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation

Terry Glavin cautions that we must not forget the truth component of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He elaborates at theTyee.ca.

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Living Relatives of Kwaday Dan Ts’inchi Found

This story fascinates me — both for reasons of human interest and aboriginal rights. DNA testing has identified seventeen living relatives of an aboriginal hunter who died perhaps three hundred years ago. His remains were frozen in glacial ice in northern BC in the territory of the Champagne-Aishihik First Nations (Athapaskan). The seventeen people connected to this hunter are members of the Champagne and Aishihik First Nations.

This story even makes me want to study physical anthropology.

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Metro Vancouver Challenging Musqueam Land Deal

The directors of Metro Vancouver are taking the province of British Columbia to court over the recent transfer of land to the Musqueam Nation (Coast Salish; Vancouver). Rationale:

“Metro Vancouver fully supports provincial efforts to achieve reconciliation with the Musqueam people and other First Nations communities,” said Board Chair Lois Jackson. “This legislation, however, sets a precedent for the expropriation of municipal and regional assets and is contrary to previous commitments made by the province that municipal and regional parklands would not be used to resolve Aboriginal claims;” [emphasis added].

The irony here is that in in 2002, the BC Liberal Government (current ruling party and leader) fulfilled a campaign promise by holding a province-wide referendum on the principles which should guide the settlement of treaties with First Nations. Question number 1: “Private property should not be expropriated for treaty settlements, yes or no?”

(Note: To see the 2002 ballot, click here; it includes eight questions and represents a significant piece of ephemera in the history of aboriginal rights in BC. And, yes, the confusing nature of question one has been noted as part one of the reasons why this referendum was a farce.)

Also:

Metro Vancouver to challenge B.C. legislation giving land to native band (Canadian Press)

Metro Vancouver wants Musqueam land back (Vancouver Sun)

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On ‘Paying Attention’ in the Classroom

I’ve taken some shots for making public my personal evolution on the use of the internet (and laptops) during lectures. Now, Inside Higher Ed has an article on the University of Chicago Law School’s banning of the internet in its classes. Reactions are mixed, to say the least.

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Mining Minister on Mines Along Highway 37

The Minister of State for Mining in BC Kevin Krueger at the Minerals North Conference in Smithers:

“I can see the day when highway 37 north will be like a pearl necklace of mines up and down the road.”

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No Historical Commercial Fishery for the Lax Kw’alaams

The BC Supreme Court ruled today that the Lax Kw’alaams (Coast Tsimshian; Prince Rupert area) do not have a right to fish for commercial purposes. Ian Mulgrew, of the Vancouver Sun, quotes the judge’s ruling:

But their claim that an “ancient trade in eulachon grease has transmogrified to a modern-day right to commercial fishing of salmon, halibut and all other marine and riverine species of fish, ignores the fundamental fact that the Coast Tsimshian fished for sustenance, not for trade,” Justice Satanove said.

“The rendering of the eulachon into oil was an unique ancestral practice that brought wealth and prestige to the society, but it was not interrelated with the subsistence fishing of salmon, halibut, and other Fish Resources and Products.

“In my opinion, it would be stretching the concept of an evolved aboriginal right too far to say that the Coast Tsimshian practice of trading in eulachon grease is equivalent to a modern right to fish commercially all species in their Claimed Territories.”

The judge also complained that the evidence simply did not support the assertions of the Lax Kw’alaams. Again, from the Sun:

Justice Deborah Satanove concluded the first nation put forth a “simplistic” argument, unsupported by the historical record.

She called the band’s recitation of facts during the year-long trial “notably one-sided” and oblivious to numerous documents that were at odds with its interpretation.

“Once again, on a factual basis alone, the [first nations] have not established the dishonourable conduct of which it accuses the Crown.”

The Union of BC Indian Chiefs posted some of highlights from the Reasons for Judgment on their list serv.

For the full ruling — which is a long and detailed review of historical and anthropological evidence — click here.

Also:

B.C. Supreme Court rules against native fishery (Globe and Mail)

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