[IPSM] Backlash & Update on Tahltan Occupation

[shelly]

From: Don Bain <dbain at telus.net>
Subject: Fw: An Open Appeal to Terry Brown and Oscar Dennis

Dear Mr. Bain:
 
Can you please post as an individual response to Terry Brown's News 
Release. Thank you.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
My name is Gordon Loverin and I come from the Carlick Family on my 
Tahltan side and from the Jack Family on my Tlingit side. My blood runs 
through the Stikine River Watershed and through the Taku River Watershed.

I have seen places in Tahltan Country and in Tlingit Country that would 
boggle the mind. I have also seen nature at its worst in regions where 
nothing but a few insects can survive.

I have had past run-ins with the family that you and your band of Elders 
claim has done so much. I have learned that keeping an open mind and not 
taking past grudges to the extreme has been my best way to live a good 
life free from anger and negativity.

What you are doing Terry and Oscar is tearing a hole through the very 
fabric of our people. You claim that some higher power gives you the 
right to cause what can closely be called a civil war within our nation. 
I cannot support such action and I will not support such action.

I am not a sellout of this land we all claim a connection to. I will not 
tolerate any longer the anger that you and others born before me 
continue to infect our Nation with. Those who are in that Band office 
are operating out of hatred. Your long unremembered grudges are doing 
more to sacrifice your grandchildren's future than any log cut down, or 
any ingot of gold poured, ever will.

You are all destroying the very family relationships that you claim you 
are looking out for.

I am begging for you all to rethink your actions before someone dies. 
Oscar, learning anthropology and finding spiritual enlightenment does 
not mean you and those in that building are going to change all that has 
befallen aboriginal people in general and Tahltan people in particular. 
Only all of us working together can do that.

I believe in calmly talking together and learning how we can arrive at a 
solution for everyone, not extremist action nearing on terrorist 
ideology to make a statement to your own people.

This has gone on long enough. If there are problems, lets sit down 
together to find a way to fix them. But digging your heels in will only 
escalate this fight to the point where someone's life will be lost. 
White people and environmentalists won't give a hoot what Indian dies. 
But we will, and the shame and sadness that follows will do more harm 
for much longer than fighting over the title of Chief.

This has got to stop, I will not allow my daughters and their future 
children to end up living in a civil war like atmosphere over ideology. 
We can't behave like the Catholic Irish and Protestant Irish people do 
in Ireland after 500 years of spiritual differences. I will do 
everything I can in my limited education to seek a peaceful end.

This must stop, before one of us dies. This is where you people are 
taking this conflict and imagine how it makes us feel thousands of miles 
away? Now just try to imagine how much pent up stress and anger there 
must be on that reserve right now. A dangerous situation created by you 
two and those Elders who claim to have the best interests of our Nation 
in their hearts. Your long time fights must end now! We the younger 
people don't want those fights anymore!

Shame on you Terry Brown, for a woman who claims so much education and 
national political activism, you have only shown me that given the 
opportunity, education without reason does not count for much more than 
potential harm and grief.

Terry and Oscar, if anyone dies by your so called "spiritual and 
environmental" cause, I will seek to make sure you are both held 
accountable by the laws of Tahltan people and the White people! And my 
wrath will extend to the very environmental groups who chose to come 
into our territory to "save us from ourselves."


CHON-FM 7:30 A.M. NEWS                                             MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 2005

1. The embattled chief of the Tahltan First Nation is seeking an injunction today to gain access to the band office. The office has been occupied by protestors since Thursday but chief Jerry Asp says he has to get into the office today.

(Asp) "My social assistance cheques have to go out on Tuesday morning. All my students - I have 50 or 60 students outside who receive living allowance at the end of every month and so Friday is their deadline. I have no choice except to have my band office open and my staff go back to work to produce those cheques and even though it's a low number those people need that money. So I have no choice except to open that band office."

About 30 protestors including Tahltan elders started the sit in last week. They say Asp negotiated mining deals with Nova Gold without properly consulting them but Asp says there were several public meetings on the Nova Gold issue including one where members from outside were flown in at a large expense.

Asp says he attempted to talk with the protestors but says he was refused access with elders he brought with him. He says that went too far.

(Asp) "It's probably the worst thing that's ever happened to me personally but it's probably also one of the worst things ever happened to the Tahltan Nation. When they sent those five elders away, those elders will never forget that. They will never forgive that unless there's something drastic done."

Asp says he does not understand the protest and feels he still has support of the majority of the Tahltan community. It is unknown if the protestors are still occupying the band office this morning. Though the Tahltan First Nation appears torn over his leadership Asp says he will remain chief until the next election. He says despite a petition by elders that declares him no longer chief he will not resign. Protestors say they weren't consulted about a development deal the Tahltan has with mining company Nova Gold but Asp insists there has been plenty of consultations.

Tahltan Protestors Occupy Band Office

Terrace Standard
Web-Extra from Monday, January 24, 2005

By JENNIFER LANG

A GROUP of Tahltan elders concerned about mining development in their traditional territory took over the band office in Telegraph Creek last week, as tensions over the band's leadership - and its pro-mining stance - simmered over into political protest.

Spokesperson Terri Brown said between 30 and 40 people were camping out in the hopes that chief councilor Jerry Asp would quit.

Brown, a resident of Ottawa, and past president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, said the group was determined to stay.

"There are a lot of us who are dissatisfied with the chief," Brown said, as the standoff appeared poised to enter its fifth day.

On Jan. 18, 75-year-old band member Bobby Quock served chief councilor Jerry Asp with his notice. Protesters were also gathering signatures on a petition calling for Asp's resignation.

Brown said the protesters, most of whom had never taken part in a political demonstration before, are concerned with existing and potential mines and exploration projects taking place on traditional territory, raising fears that mining activity could harm sacred areas and hurt the environment.

Asp refuses to resign. In a statement, Asp said his decision has been reaffirmed by the Department of Indian affairs.

"Our elders are important to us as a nation culturally, politically and socially, and using them as a political bat to hit the current leadership over the head saddens and hurts me," he said.

Asp added he continues to enjoy the support of more than 1,500 members.
"So far, only 30 members have publicly expressed a desire for a change in leadership."

The Tahltan have a long-established reputation as being at the forefront of aboriginal groups in B.C. who have been willing to work with mining companies, in return for jobs and other benefits.

Asp pointed to a policy paper dating from 1987 developed through consensus that the first nation is willing to work with industry and government in order to achieve long-term social and economic stability, all while enforcing a higher environmental standard. The result? Asp says the band has seen unemployment drop from 85 per cent to 6 per cent.

On Jan. 8 and 9, the Tahltan nation held a general assembly in Dease Lake to discuss mining exploration company Nova Gold's proposed Galore Creek development.

Chief Asp said the nation spent $100,000 on costs such as chartered planes to ensure Tahltan members from as far away as Ottawa were able to attend. Terri Brown and Cassiar Watch representative Jim Bourquin led much of the discussion about the proposed mining project, Asp said.

But the pair failed to dissuade the membership from endorsing the Tahltan leadership's intent to continue exploring negotiations for a participation agreement with Nova Gold.

Asp also questions Brown's concern over a band deficit of $1.2 million.
Asp said the band has accrued a CMHC housing rental deficit of that amount from members who haven't paid their rent, but past band administrators borrowed from programs and services to cover the deficit.

"As a council we have been struggling with ways to address this housing deficit and we were ready to meet with the department of Indian affairs officials in Dease Lake when this 'sit-in' was begun."

Dease Lake RCMP Sgt. Duncan Dixon described the protest as peaceful.
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