TERRACE — A possible con- frontation: between native groups claiming: the same land was averted Jast week when they agreed to talk again in January. ~ At issue is land located cast of the Nass River claimed by the '-Nisga’a but also by the Gitanyow (formerly :Kitwancool) and the - Gitksan. . It. forms. a large part of the 25,000 square kilometres claimed ~by the Nisga’a in its land claims ‘talks with the federal and provin- ‘cial governments. - The Gitksan and Gitanyow both say ihe land should not have been included in an interim protection iheasures agreement signed by ‘the Nisga’a and federal and provincial governments as part of the land claims negotiations. ‘That’ agreement gives the Nisga’a a say in resource use de- cisions while the final agreement is being negotiated. ‘Attempts to setile what is being - called an overlap date back years. Neison Leeson They’ve accelerated recently with the onset of fand claims talks between the Nisga’a and federal and provincial governments. And two weeks ago Gitanyow heredilary chiefs’s spokesman Glen Williams began talking about the possibility of armed conflict if the Nisga’a did not recognize their claim to the land, But the parties agreed at a closed-door meeting here last week to talk again in early Janu- ary. “It's not as bad as we thought il was,’? said Nisga’a Tribal Coun- cil’ spokesman Nelson’ Leeson after the meeting. Leeson said the parties agreed to work within the framework of a northwest native treaty signed last year. It calls for mare co- operation between native groups, ‘Tvs basically the same issuc that has been with us for years,” said Leeson. . “And now that we've signed the IPMA (interim protection Measures agreement), they feel excluded. That’s not the case,”’ he said. Leeson said the parties have agreed to continue working with a protocol agreed to some lime ago to settle the overlap dispute. It states that only the chicfs whose land is affected should be Mayors inching forward ‘on native claims issues TERRACE — Mayor Jack Tal- stra wasn’t quite as optimistic as aboriginal affairs —sminister Andrew Peller after they met last week but he did say progress is being made, ‘Talstea and the other northwest . mayors failed to get a seat as ob- servers ta the Nisga’a talks or any money to finance their own studies on the impact of a final settlement. Yet Talstra did say he was pleased the mayors could meet with Petter. “PY really. do think they are Irying to open up the process,”’ said Talstra of Petter’s response to" requests by northwest mayors : for-more of a say in the Nisga’a land’claims talks. Pétier: told Talstra and the . oe Nisza’a talks hiave : to far for them to be’ a: * cluded as Gusvivers. That will change in future nego- tialicns as the: province has made a commitment for municipalities to actias observers. . “AST understand it we will be able lo get background informa- tion.’ In our case we would defititely be interested in the na- ture of self government. Studies - on that would be available to us,” said. Talstra, Holiday apening still on city list TERRACE — The cily is siill planning to meet with business répresentatives to discuss holiday shopping, says mayor Jack Tal- stra. ‘That comes despite four of the city’s largest retailers being charged with violating the provin- cial Holiday Shopping Regulation Act by being open on statutory holidays, — -**It won't deter us from mecting with the chamber of commerce to discuss holiday shopping in gen- eral,” said Talstra. He declined to comment on the charges filed against Canada Safeway, KMart, Overwaitea and Woolworth. No meeting has yet been sched- uled, added Talstra. ‘The four’ retailers are due in court here tomorrow. “Statutory holiday shopping be- came an issue in the spring when the city’s “economic — advisory commission asked council to con- sider a referendum on the issue. ‘The commission was acting from a request by big retailers to be. open on statutory holidays with the exception of Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. Scouts 0OUF goals are as limitless aS SPACE sors usiom “And maybe we'll get our own research officer. That’s a serious option we want to explore,” be said. Talstra remained firm on the mayors’ position that they be in- cluded in discussions leading to an agreement in principle on the Nisga’a claim. Debate after it is reached won't have taken northern interests into account, he said. And mayors want to be able to better spread information they get at regular monthly meetings held with provincial officials. ‘We want to be able to speak to the press before there is a meeting and after, We are elected to serve citizens and there should be some way to get the informa- tion out to the citizens,’’ said Tal- stra. He added there are times when some meetings would have to be kept private. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, December 16, 1992 - Page AQ latives agree to cool off 10t claims overlap issue involved in talks and that their decision will be followed. “It is not unusual to have some- thing like this occur,” said Leeson of the overlap. He said the concept of common territory between native groups is exists in P.C. and that a final resolution to the overlap may take the form of sharing the land in- volved, “There are all kinds of scenarios that could take place and that is one of them,’’ said Leeson. Leeson added that it is impor- tant to reach a resolution 10 the overlap because the Nisga’a and the federal and provincial govern- ments are’ now negotiating an agreement in principle to settle their claim. He said the possibility exists of having a mediator appointed should further talks between the Nisga’a, Gitanyow and Gitksan not provide a solution, That was confirmed by Tsim- shian Tribal Council president Art Sterritt who said the Haisla of Kitamaat Village and the Haida have both offered their services. ‘We had a bit of a fire going that we had to put out. But we want to set up a proccss — not just to gel together io put out a fire,’’ said Sterritl. Provincial aboriginal affairs minister Andrew Petler said the Gitanyow and Gilksan should not be worried about the interim pro- tection measures agreement. “This agreement docs. not prejudice the rights of other First Nations. The nature of the agree- ment is to provide information,”’ he said. Petter added that it is up to na- tive groups to settle overlaps. THERE'S ACOLD HEARTED THIEF IN YOUR HOME. It’s lurking outside the back door. Or in the shadows of the basement. It’s the humming, whirring, clicking, old second refrigerator. And it’s robbing you of cold cash ~ an old inefficient second fridge can cost you up to $100 a year to run. WE'LL COME AND GET ITAND GIVE YOU $30!" We can take the problem off your hands, We'll pick up your old operating fridge (10 cu. ft. to 24 cu. ft. size) free of charge, dispose of it in an environmentally safe manner and send you a cool $30. To register in the Program, call the Refrigerator Buy-Back Hot Line toll-free 1-800-663-CASH (2274). In the Lower Mainland, call 683-CASH (2274), +HWIER “B,C. Hydro reserves the right to change or cancel the rebate offer at any time without prior notice. 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With that kind of success, you'd think that the Harcourt government would listen to the reasonable concerns thal these women and men have about Bill 84, the provincial government's new labour law. Bill 84 all but takes away a worker's right to a secret ballot vote on union certification, The bill leaves BC's small and medium-sized businesses wide-open to the threat of secondary boycotts that could force them to unionize just (0 do business with the, government or unionized companies. 7 Maybe an open door, but not an open mind The Premier boasted that his “door was open.” The Coalition of BC Businesses, representing more than 36,000 small and medium-sized companies across BC, has put forward some positive suggestions to improye Bill 84. Constructive solutions.,.offered in good faith to the government. ‘These ideas are practical ways to create a better labour law..a lay that would truly help create it stable environment for economic recovery and jobs. Harcourt and Sihota just don't get it Small and medium-sized businesses dan't want to get special treatment, they want fair treatment, All they want is a chance to do whal they do best, and that's create jobs and a strong economy for our province. Based on their record of creating jobs, why won't th politicians listen to the peaple who veaf{ know how the economy runs? os Make your voice heard... Phone Premier Harcourt at 253-7905 and Labour Minister Moe Sihota at 387-1986 _ (collect) and speak out for a better labour law, one that's truly fair and balanced for small and medium-sized businesses. | Sponsored by the Coalition of BC Businesses...Representing _ over 36,000 small and medium-sized businesses across BC. 7