First Nations Voice

MARCH 2013 • PAGE 3 By Drew Hayden Taylor THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT Paraphrasing a fellow playwright, "Now is the winter of our discontent, made glorious by this son of…" I think it's supposed to be the son of York, but many Native people in the Idle No More movement, believe it actually refers to a different 'son of a….." Fill in the Prime Ministerial blank yourself. The ongoing protests against Bill C-45, which culminated in January 16th's Day of Action, have certainly given various Native causes a higher profile. From Kingston, to Windsor, to Portage la Prairie, to Vancouver Island, the evening news was tinged red. And the dust hasn't settled yet. Talk about your Indigenous perfect storm. There was the Idle No More movement's protest to Stephen Harper's unilateral changes to the Indian Act, Chief Theresa Spence's hunger strike regarding horrid conditions in Attawapiskat, and the recent federal court case giving non-status and Metis the same rights as Status aboriginals. According to William Shakespeare again, "A rose by any other name, would smell as sweet." Federal Court Judge Michael Phelan obviously felt the same in his landmark judgment, handing the federal government yet another defeat. Evidently, the courts of Canada feel a Native by any other classification would still smell the same. Not quite as poetic but you get the idea. Putting all this together, it may seem to many that the media has quickly become the "all Native, all the time!" channel. Add this to other recent less than positive news items like the accusations of police abuse towards Native people in Thunder Bay and the rising swell of dissatisfaction against Chief Shawn Atleo, it leaves many to believe the old adage from those old westerns is coming true: The Natives are restless. Or perhaps more accurately, it seems the media is getting restless. They know a good thing when they see it, ever since Ipperwash and Oka. On that Day of Action, I attended one of the Idle No More events outside the British Consulate in Toronto. Organizers logically pointed out that most if not all the treaties historically signed by Aboriginal Nations were with Great Britain, not actually the Canadian government which really did not exist at the time. Therefore, the belief is the current British government has an obligation and onus to see those promises are kept. When I first arrived at the Bay Street location, it seemed like there were more camera crews and radio journalists pacing back and forth impatiently than actual protesters, all with a lean and hungry look in their camera eye. Once a sizable crowd had gathered upon the chilly concrete, the multitudes of reporters began circling and isolating indigenous individuals like sharks in a school of tuna. Nary a Native person escaped uninterviewed. Often by several different reporters. It was like a feeding frenzy. There is a commonly held belief that traditionally Native people were uncomfortable with having their picture taken. Supposedly they were afraid the camera would steal their spirit. If this was true, there shouldn't have been any noticeable spirit around for the next three blocks. Instead, these were the most spirited people I had seen in a long time. It almost seemed to add spirit to the cause. But still, despite the cold, the famous indigenous sense of humour was still evident, though not on camera. Ironically, the protest took place in an open square adjacent to a mall, where most predominantly, a large drug store was situated facing the protest. One Native man indicated it looked like there were sixty or eighty irate Indians protesting the Pharmaplus. The poor workers inside must have been confused. This man even tried to start a halfhearted "Pharmaplus is Pharmanegative" chant, but with little success. All this frustration and acting out has landed at the feet of our illustrious Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper. It has been a long time since a single man has steered up so much ire of so many Native People. I used to believe that in order to get a place in the Aboriginal Wall of Shame, your last name had to start with the letter 'C'. For Example; Columbus, Cabot, Cartier, Champlain, Cortes, Custer, and some might argue, Christ (or more accurately, some of his followers and institutions). The jury is still out on Chretien and his infamous White Paper. We may have to add the letter 'H' to that Wall. There's an old joke in the Native community. Why do Indians hate winter so much? Because it's white and all over our land. Now we're all over the television, newspapers and I'm sure a few water coolers. There was a time we were referred to as the poor vanishing Indians. My, how times change. -every time somebody lies to you, you are a little closer to being Native. NOW OPEN ETERNAL GRACE FUNERALS Committed to honouring the traditions and culture of your loved one. Metis owned and operated. 1111 LOGAN AVENUE (at McPhillips) 204�505�4559 Harper Government Opens Door to Overseas Energy Markets, Jobs and Economic Growth for Haisla First Nation and First Nations to foster ecoThe Honourable John Duncan, Minister nomic growth through the expanof Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Developsion of our province's natural gas ment, today announced new regulations sector," said British Columbia's that will allow the proposed Kitimat LNG Community, Sport and Cultural liquefied natural gas facility on the Haisla Development Minister Bill BenFirst Nation's Bees Indian Reserve No. 6 to nett. "I would like to thank the proceed. Government of Canada and the The Kitimat LNG facility will provide Haisla Nation for working with us Canada's energy producers with a doorway to move the Kitimat LNG facility to overseas markets, in addition to creating another step forward." jobs and economic growth opportunities for "Kitimat LNG offers new, imthe Haisla First Nation and the entire northportant and sustainable economwest region of British Columbia. ic opportunities which the Haisla Our government continues to take steps people are eager to embrace," that will contribute to job creation, economic says Haisla Chief Councillor Elgrowth and Canada's long-term prosperity," said Minister Duncan. "The Kitimat LNG fa- (From left to right): The Honourable Bill Bennett, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural De- lis Ross. "We have seen new velopment for the province of British Columbia, Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aborigicility will create well-paying jobs in British nal Affairs and Northern Development, Haisla Nation Chief Councillor Ellis Ross and Apache jobs, business opportunities, and skills training come to our people Columbia, while giving Canadian energy Canada President Tim Wall. since KM LNG signed its agreeproducers access to important overseas complex commercial and industrial development ment with us, and we know that the agreement markets. I applaud the Haisla First Nation for their projects on reserve. signed today with Canada and BC is a milestone vision, leadership and commitment to seizing this In addition to the Haisla Natural Gas Facility in making the project a reality. On behalf of the opportunity for their community." Regulations, the Government of Canada, Govern1,700 Haisla people, I thank both governments for The Haisla Natural Gas Facility Regulations ment of British Columbia and Haisla Nation have their commitment to this important agreement and were created under the First Nations Commercial also signed a tripartite agreement that ensures adthe better future it is bringing our people." and Industrial Development Act (FNCIDA). FNCIministrative, monitoring and compliance activities The key commercial proponents for the project DA was a First Nations-led initiative that allows the for the LNG facility are performed and enforced by are Apache Canada Ltd. and Chevron Canada government to work with First Nations and provinprovincial officials. Ltd. operating as Kitimat LNG. cial regulatory authorities to create regulations for "The BC Government is working with industry "The Government of Canada, Government of BC and the Haisla Nation have shown exceptional leadership and support towards BC's new LNG industry" said Tim Wall, President of Apache Canada. "This regulatory agreement builds on the many other agreements with the Haisla that has led to jobs, training, education and economic development in Kitimaat Village." "I want to congratulate the Haisla First Nation, the Governments of Canada and British Columbia, and Apache Canada for their shared leadership in finalizing the regulations governing the Kitimat LNG facility site," said Jeff Lehrmann, president, Chevron Canada Limited. "We look forward to working with the Haisla First Nation, both governments, other First Nations and local communities to realize the project's long-term economic potential." The Kitimat LNG facility is being constructed on Haisla Nation reserve land at Bish Cove, approximately 650 kilometres (400 miles) north of Vancouver. The proposed two-train Kitimat LNG Project, currently progressing through the FrontEnd Engineering and Design (FEED) phase, has a Canadian National Energy Board license to export 10 million tons per annum of LNG R.D. Eagle

• Cover