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Category: First Nations People

Aboriginal title

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October 29, 2014

Aboriginal Title and the future of British Columbia, October 29th 3 pm to 5 PM:
The NVIT visiting speakers series has three guest speakers coming for a panel discussion on Aboriginal title. Dr. Rosan Danesh, Ba ,LLb, SJD is a lawyer and does conflict resolution, Douglas S. White BA, ID and former chief of the Suneymuxw First Nations near Nanaimo BC, is a graduate of the faculty of law of the University of Victoria, Matthew S. Pasco B.Administration MBA a citizen of the Nlaka’pamux Nation and a member of the Oregon Jack Creek band near Ashcroft BC.
The panel discussion will explore the meaning of the recent Supreme court decision giving title to a BC Band and some of the broader implications for First Nations,Crown governments, industry and individuals:
NVIT is at 4155 Belshaw avenue in Merritt BC , Canada.
Today in history: October 29th 1960

Cassius Clay ( later Mohammed Ali ) wins his first professional prize fight.

Tags: Aboriginal title, Business and Economy, Government, Merritt British Columbia

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TGIF- friend and foe: territory

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September 5, 2014

The local community college NVIT, Nicola Valley Institute of Technology has its welcoming to new students this week. The school has a new sign ,bilingual in English and the local first nations language. The sign says welcome to our territory, its a new sign probably made since the recent Supreme Court of Canada decision saying that limited title to first people’s traditional land still exists were treaties have not been negotiated. Language groups are often associated with land and territory and it has been a comfort for defining people s for ever but it is also been trouble when conflict arrises.
Language and territory has also been a method of separating people and controlling populations under rulers. In this modern age of interaction between populations we hope that this new context leads to better working out of where identity issues lie, commercial interests and access to the world for all people’s not just those that control lands, commerce, and ideas exist.
In reality the Canadian government still has a lot of say in how its citizens act particularly First Nations through the Indian act and charter section 15, the exemption to deals with poverty.
Its time to leave our identities alone and think in terms of mutual respect for all persons.
Today in history: September 5th 1961
The first conference of nonaligned countries is held in Belgrade.

Tags: First Nations

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TGIF: offical birthday, thanks for the memories

Filed under: Climate, Environment, First Nations People, Fish, Government Works, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

June 20, 2014

The sun the source of all energy Photo: KDG

The current monarch of Great Britain just celebrated her 88th birthday, that was the official birthday it is celebrated some months apart from her actual one. Elizabeth the second was born on April 22 1926. She was crowned in 1952 on February 6th. Her ancestor Victoria was monarch for 67 years, she has served 62 years and 4 months to this time making her 93 years old to reach the record of Victoria. She has caught up to George the 3rd who reigned 3 months short of 60 years to take the second longest crowned monarch in Great Britain.

The Crown of Great Britain has not got power in Canada any longer, neither do her ministers, the legal governing authority is the Parliament of Canada, however we are not representative government as the Americans are. Referendums and other actions are not binding on Parliament however the parliament can only last 5 years without a general election by the people. The Queen is still technically the commander in chief of our armed forces through the Governor General, this is ceremonial and not functional as the Chief of the defence staff, usually a military officer, is accountable to the Cabinet for this, which can make decisions according to the laws parliament arms them with.

The whole thing is dependant on people who vote in or out members of parliament. Private business is subject to laws of parliament which include permits and regulations that they seek to have as advantageous as possible to their interests. The invisible hand of market capitalism is less invisible in Canada then in the US.

The public interest is something more directly valued then the trickle down sentiment in the US and the recent letting of permission by the Federal Cabinet for a pipeline in British Columbia has many demands above simple economics here. The 209 conditions are as potent now as they were before the approval. As are the 5 conditions of the province.

A birth right extends to all Canadians with residual benefit to her commonwealth historical links as a trickling effect. We value our resources and expect the spending of them to be responsible and as sustainable as possible. An as the implementation of their use comes about, that they would not be dispersed as a drunken resource binge. That public safety and enjoyment of aesthetics will be as important as wealth creation.

So to those that historically braved the seas and risked life and limb for the future peace and prosperity of nations, such as David Thompson,and Simon Fraser ,we say, good day!

Editors Note: lots of luck and good fortune to the federal MPs in British Columbia

Today in history: June 20th 1837

Queen Victoria becomes monarch of Great Britain.

Tags: Enbridge, oil, pipeline, resources, worker safety

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Pow wow

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May 6, 2014

School District number 58, that includes Merritt and Princeton is having a pow wow. It is the fourth annual and is at the Bench Elementary School in Merritt.

The host drum is Sage Hills , contacts listed are Yvonne Joe and Arnold Akachuck, Pre registration is required.

The event is on May 28th 2014 from (9:30- 2:30 ) PM

A pow-wow (also powwow, pow wow, pauwau^[1] or pau wau^[2]) is a gathering of some of North America’s Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning “spiritual leader”. A similar gathering by California Native Peoples usually in the fall is called a Big Time. A modern pow-wow is a specific type of event for Native American/First Nations people to meet and dance, sing, socialize, and honor Native American/First Nations culture. There is generally a dancing competition, often with significant prize money awarded. Pow-wows vary in length from one day session of five to six hours to three days. Major pow-wow or pow-wows called for a special occasion can be up to one week long.

The term also has been used to describe any gathering of Native Americans of any tribe, and as such is occasionally heard in older Western movies. The word has also been used to refer to a meeting, especially a meeting of powerful people such as officers in the military. However, such use is sometimes viewed as disrespectful to Native culture. source :Wilkipedia

Today in History: May 6th 2013

Three Women missing for a decade are found alive in Cleveland Ohio, they were allegedly confined by Ariel Castro.

Tags: dancing, pow wow, social events

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Trans mountian pipeline public meeting

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, First Nations People by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

March 24, 2014

The pipeline company that is applying for permission to twin their line from Edmonton to Burnaby is reporting a number of public meetings and consultations through their newsletter.

ABOUT THE CONSULTATION UPDATE:
•    Aboriginal engagement to date has included more than 100 Aboriginal communities and groups and the execution of 76 agreements including Letters or Memorandums of Understanding, capacity funding, and integrated cultural assessments
•    To date, as part of a comprehensive stakeholder engagement program we’ve consulted with thousands of individuals through 82 open houses or workshops along the pipeline and marine corridors and more than 851 meetings between project team members and stakeholder groups
•    This filing also includes a summary of Errata, which identifies and corrects errors in the original filing such as formatting, incorrect page numbers, or a change in scale to a graphic source trans mountain pipeline

The update comes from a filing to the NEB National Energy Board on March 20th 2014.

Trans mountain pipeline has operated a pipeline by tariff for 60 years as it goes by here in Merritt.

Today in History: March 24th 1663

The Province of Carolina in granted to 8 lord proprietors for their help in restoring King Charles the second to the throne of England.

Tags: consultations, NEB, oil transportation, pipelines

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TGIF – First nations education

Filed under: First Nations People, Public health, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

March 7, 2014

There has been a real transition to self-governing among the First Nations people’s in the Nicola Valley. Some real markers for the recapture of a near dead culture are here. NVIT is a first nations run public college, it has agreements with major universities for university transfer. They use the facility for traditional feasts and have a FN language dean.

Located behind the senior highschool is a mock-up pit house with architecture that models the original design and demonstrates the importance of circular dynamics of meetings. The Provincial park at Nicola lake also has ancient pit house remains as a topical interest.

The healing of local natives is in some ways apparent including a marked departure from excessive drinking and there is fewer tragic accidents in the last half decade.

The aboriginal mine training association posts employment goals in the near 1000 range and is well on its way to achieving.

There are catagory two, grade schools that are government certified including one at Douglas Lake, featuring kindergarten to grade twelve. nkwala@uppernicolaband.com

Kudos to visionaries like the late Grand Chief Gordon Antoine for his clear vision and patient resolve to create conditions for success.

Today in history: March 7th 1994

The United States Supreme court rules that parodies of an original work is acceptable under the fair use provision.

Tags: Education, First Nations

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Public hearings

Filed under: Climate, Environment, First Nations People, Government Works, Politics and Politicians, Public health, Social Activism, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

January 17, 2014

The time to be heard at the public process for the Kinder Morgan twinning project application is fast approaching. opening on Wednesday the 14th and ending on February 12th you must apply to the National Energy board to make a submission.

Here is the contact info according to Trans Mountain Pipeline; Kinder Morgans subsidiary and active agent in this application.

Grass seeding at a construction site in Merritt Photo KDG

Grass seeding at a construction site in Merritt
File: Photo KDG

Trans Mountain notes an error in the email notification that was sent to you this afternoon on behalf of the National Energy Board.

The correct email address for the National Energy Board’s Process Advisor, Reny Chakkalakal is transmountainpipeline.hearing@neb-one.gc.ca.

The National Energy Board (NEB) has issued an Application to Participate Notification about the hearing process for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.

Those who wish to take part in the NEB hearing must apply to participate. The application to take part is on the NEB’s website at:

www.neb-one.gc.ca select Major Applications and Projects, then Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC – Trans Mountain Expansion.

Applications to participate in the NEB Hearing are due on or before noon on 12 February 2014.

If you need more information, the NEB has appointed Ms. Reny Chakkalakal as Process Advisor to give assistance.

Ms. Reny Chakkalakal Process Advisor, NEB E-mail: t ransmountainpipeline.hearing@neb-one.gc.ca Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

The notice is also posted on the Trans Mountain website. You can read the full notice here.
Sincerely, The Trans Mountain Expansion Project Team

Today in history: January 17th 1946, 2007

The UN security council holds its first meeting.

The doomsday clock goes to 5 minutes to midnight in response to North Korean nuclear testing.

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Archaeology from a First Nations perspective

Filed under: Environment, First Nations People, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

January 15, 2014

Mary Sandy is the presenter at the January 16th meeting of the Nicola Naturalists. The First Nations people have a unique world view on the environment. Mary’s work has a focus on wildlife and ecosystems. She is an anthropologist with the Esh-km-am Cultural Resources Service. The service is based in the Nicola Valley and is used for gathering information on ecosystem.

The presentation begins a 7PM at the NVIT lecture theater. Free parking no food or drinks in the theater,admission by membership or donation requested all welcome.

Today in history: January 15th 1759

The British Museum opens.

Mary Sandy’s presentation was conditioned by a brief outlining of the first nations world view on environment and ecology. In a nut shell she defined western culture as seeing resources as something to be possessed. She asserted that First Nations ideal is ” who do we share this with.” She contented that their view was holistic.

Sandy said her drive comes, believe it or not from Walt Disney’s methods of film making . She thinks that robust knowledge comes from tradition and legends are based in some substance. Her father, she explains was born in 1903 and her grand mother in 1886, her great grand mother whom she knew was born in 1861. They also were connected to two living generations giving a legend of tradition that was even longer. Some legends based in stories: ie Coyote stole his long tail from rabbit.

Her discourse then went to the archeology of the local area and its climate and vegetation changes over 4 periods going back to pre glacier, 10.000 years bp ( before present.).

Mary is a member of the Coldwater Indian Band in Merritt BC Canada.

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NVIT, visiting speakers series

Filed under: Arts and Culture, First Nations People by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

November 21, 2013

Dr.Eugene Atleo speaks to staff members and interested public at the NVIT lecture theater, Wednesday November 20th. Re- member

Last evening the School NVIT had a speaker from the lower mainland, of BC. Dr. Eugene Richard Atleo,a chief of the Abbotsford first nations band and the father Shawn Atleo of the Grand chief of the national expression of first nations.

Dr. Atleo is a hereditary chief of the Ahousaht First Nation and was the first to earn a doctorate among First Nations people. Dr. Atleo’s main message is that the cooperative life is sustainable and that dominate life is not. He took ownership of the cooperative life style as being Aboriginal and traditional.

Today in history: November 21st 1953

The Piltdown Man Skull is declared a hoax the the British Natural Museum.

Atleo no longer pushing for meeting with Harper (globalnews.ca)
Shale-gas protest: Atleo offers support to Elsipogtog in efforts to protect lands (ctvnews.ca)
Idle No More protests mark 250th anniversary of aboriginal land-claims document (timescolonist.com)
Canada marks 250th anniversary of landmark document for aboriginals (globalnews.ca)

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NVIT speakers series

Filed under: Academics, Crime and punishment, First Nations People, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

November 5, 2013

Sharon McIvor

The local community college has a speakers series, its first event of the season last night featured a local member of their faculty, Sharon McIvor. Sharon has an activist’s bent to her career. She is A lawyer but generally refuses income from her place on the bar. Does not like to practice criminal law,she has however a couple of presidents to her credit including O’Connor vrs Canada were she got on going revisions to the way victims statements are reviewed in sexual assault cases and the McIvor amendment to the Indian act that brought 46,000 grand children of the Indian women that lost their status over time through marriage. The women were restored in the 1980s by legislation but their grandchildren were not at that time.

Sharon voiced concerns on poverty oppression and missing or murdered women. she has a voice at the UN through a couple of committees .Sharon also voiced concerns about the relationship of First Nations with the Police. she also said that if it were proportional to population there would be about 19,000 missing or murdered non aboriginal women.

She feels that the way government is addressing issues is by providing money for training to groups, personal safety is the one she took ownership of for her people. She alluded to it being something but seemed less than satisfied.

Sharon McIvor says she was born in the Nicola Valley and can trace her mother’s side as always being here.

Today in History: November 5 1943

The World War Two bombing of the Vatican

Sentences will come Friday in Delhi bus rape case (bigstory.ap.org)
November 2013 Speaker Series: Jim Johnston (needleseyeministries.com)
EZRA LEVANT – Ideas have consequences: You can’t tell someone they live in a “nation” without them one day believing you (sunnewsnetwork.ca)

Tags: History, Twentieth Century, Wars and Conflicts, World War II

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Smudge

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October 21, 2013

The local elders of the First Nations people who run the local community college NVIT endorse a smug week days at the cafeteria at the school 8:30 AM ” everyone welcome”

A source says that it is a cleansing ceremony with some meditation. A smoke from a burning sage plant sometimes mixed with cedar or juniper is waved by an eagle feather fan.

There is also a boiled concoction made about the same with the addition of rose plant. It is poured over your body after a shower. ” makes you feel clean”.

Jimmy Fountain a local elder says that you will feel like running instead of walking after one of these cleanses.

Today in History: October 211977

The European patent office is opened.