Tag Archive: First Nations


NITEP

The Native Indian Teacher Educator Plan had a speaker at the local community college last evening. The NVIT lecture hall saw Joanne Archibald present a very neat and clean presentation on the past and the future for  the first nations in British Columbia. metaphors such as the dust settling on the longhouse and a passion of a community to clean up the dust and discover what is good and valuable to continue into the future saw affirming comments given from the people gathered.  The speaker is a associate dean of Aboriginal studies and a professor at the University of British Columbia . Joanne  related the 36 years of the program that recruits and trains first nations teachers.

The program has been responsible for nearly 400 people to become teachers. The school itself has John Chenoweth and Many Jimmie because of the program.

Joanne is a Coast Salish native from British Columbia and gave a sence of balance with the past and future as it relates to difficulties  of the past and the ability to not let them hinder forward looking actions.

The presentation showed lively cultural acting in part from the recent BC olympic games and the participation of the first nations in its opening and support for an open house for BC.

https://www.facebook.com/NITEP.UBC?ref=stream  http://www.nvit.ca/speakerseries.htm

Today in History: March 7,1985

The song We are the World is released internationally.

Information

A hand full of people with placards were on the sidewalk on Voght this AM. they had a concern about Bill C-45.

They said that it passed on December 4th and chiefs were not allowed in to parliament., that it was omnibus and that it took away First people’s rights. One person, a student said that there was an information session as well at NVIT today at 3:00. This person seemed confident in saying that it effected riparian rights and that it takes thousands of water bodies out of federal protection status.

One person says that the bill that passed December 4. and 110  lakes and 82 rivers are left with environmental protection out of the millions that had protection, many by first nation actions.

An information meeting outlining the concerns of locals including respected band member Lenard Joe., Joe said he was grateful for the legacy he has from his father and elders even in being involved in the 1972 local decision not to need an Indian Agent. Percy Joe is a local grand chief to the 5 bands here..

Joe related that he was taken to mother earth by his father and didn”t remember ever being told that “this is where we hunt” “you need to know that”  but remembers an installation of “this is our environment we must respect it”

He related the value of his degree and that science is fundamental to all action , and he has embraced the standard and desirability  of measurable that government requires in environmental data and regulation.

Joe also  reenforced certifiable standards and said that because of his practice of “we stay” referring to his business Grizzly Man resources and his membership and involvement with Shachan band council that they have become “experts of the day”.

Percy Joe  talked of Band education funding being affected by own source provisions and that his band would only be able to get 30 percent funding  , “some only 5″ this may effect our ability to pay for education”

Arnie Narcissus of the Lower Nicola Indian Band spoke and related the history of activism that saw the First Nation people come to win many court decisions about their rights.

A sence that collective action is necessary to have a voice was a theme of  todays presentation at NVIT.

And a student at NVIT says that this is the road to total assimilation.

Acknowledgement that the omnibus bill is putting economy first was central to the discussion.

Editors note:

The jobs and growth bill comes into effect with the appropriation bill C-45 a bill that in part address’ borrowing money for the budget expenditure that expired March 31 2011. Numbers of the regulations in the bill only come into force by order in council ( the cabinet).

National human rights day is an appropriate day to draw attention to this passed budget bill and its omnibus nature including stiffer criminal sanctions.

Below is   the earlier C-45 alluding to coming into force by Royal Assent.

Bill C-45 (Appropriation Act No. 3, 2010-11) received Royal Assent on 29 June 2010 and authorizes payments to defray certain expenses of the public service of Canada, not otherwise provided for, for the financial year ending 31 March 2011. The Act provides for the sum of $ 3 312 036 414,00 to be appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be used the public service of Canada. The Act came into force on Royal Assent.

The current bill c 45- 41st parliament 1st session is having its second reading in the senate today and has 4 of 6 of the process to be in effect. The 41st parliament started June 2012. the current bill is sponsored by the federal finance minister.

Today in History: December 10th 1948

The United Nations adopts the universal bill of human rights.

Tack

This valley has a tradition in the cattle business and supports a segment of the population that keep the cowboy and wrangler lifestyle. As with other pursuits in the world it generates a following and some industry, in this case a green or friendly to, or close to the earth .

 There is a tack shop and saddle maker on the corner of Nicola and Garcia and they take pride in producing quality tack .     Also a school for saddle making under the name of Don Lowen.  They have saddles on the go and it may be worth a look at the ones in progress, the Garcia street side door opens on the shop and I was recently invited in by a worker and saw two  saddles on the go.

Cowboy poets and painters set a tone for that community often celebrated at the Quilchena Hotel on Nicola Lake about 20 minutes from here. They celebrate by reenactments musical gatherings and the opportunity to live their lifestyle in a semi public way. Saddles are a status symbol to those that ply the trade at the local cattle ranches including the famous Douglas Lake Cattle Company.

Many first nations people have also taken up that lifestyle here.

Today in History, November 7 1811

Tecumseh Indian war battle of Tippecanoe .

Equinox feast

The college elders at NVIT hosted a spring feast on Monday. The cuisine included deer ,salmon , bannock and morel mushrooms. Sonny Oppenhiem brother to the well established First Nations artist Opie Oppenhiem was among the drummers and singers that provided a preamble to the event. A number of elders spoke briefly about seasons to the gathering before lunch including Opie..

Of interest is the FN relationship with the land which includes harvesting the morel mushrooms. The principle  a Guy Dunstan from the Lytton area in the provision of the morels said he can get up to one hundred sixty dollars a pound for the mushrooms.

About one hundred twenty five people enjoyed a traditional native feast and welcomes spring here on the first full day of spring March 21 2011.

Today in History,March 24, 1896

AA Popov makes first radio signal in history.