Introduction

Hi there, my name is Art Collins. I live in Terrace BC, on the Kitsumkalum Reserve situated 7 or so kilometers west of town at 43 Spokechute Road. This blog spot is primarily a place for me to express my views on the local politics, and perhaps not so local. At this time my community is going into an election to either replace, or strengthen the existing council that regulates and governs Kitsumkalum. The election itself will take place here on the 5th of March. You can find all of the info regarding the election, or the community as a whole if you Google Kitsumkalum, or go to www.Kitsumkalum.bc.ca.

I am one of three nominees running for chief councilor, the current chief being Steven Roberts and hoping to get re-elected, his brother Don Roberts, a logger and fisherman and me. My history begins in Port Essington, a small fishing village situated at the mouth of the Skeena River, born April 11, 1948 to Gus and Irene Collins. Dad was a fisherman and logger all of his life and is retired. Mom was a homemaker, but in her later years works diligently as the janitor for the Kitsumkalum community center.

My first vocation was as a fisherman, being trained onboard gillnetting vessels from the age of 6 years, then I began an apprenticeship in 1968 in carpentry, and worked that industry since. Most of my experience is in job-site management in every kind of construction imaginable, from residential, to heavy commercial and industrial. This business is the most demanding kind of business, where accountability to the person you are building for is paramount, and accountability to the budget determines how long you stay in business. It is the best kind of training a person can receive, and makes you competitive in any field.

I'm married to Diane who served two terms as chief, and is now administrator for the Kermode Friendship Center's Aboriginal Headstart, I have 4 sons and 3 daughters, and 5 grandchildren. I've been involved in aboriginal politics for about 12 years by advocating for the rights and protection of our hereditary chiefs whom have been under attack by various band councils and the BC treaty process for some time. The core, or foundation of my beliefs is based on the need to rebuild the posts of our culture that have been undermined by the residential school system, and the Dept. of Indian Affairs. Every ailment that we suffer on and off reserves can be resolved, and can be resolved without unholy budgets because healing comes from within. My personal healing has been most profound in the past 5 years, must be old age...but, I now believe that prayer is far more powerful than anger. Prayer is fuel, but positive and concerted action must follow, because God helps those that help themselves.

Our needs are many because our rights are being eroded; and, in the Northwest, we live in the land of recession. There are precious few jobs to be had, and we live in a society where most of the youth doesn't trust education. Our primary need is to capture the imagination of our youth, and show them the value of education. We are blessed in this community because we have many well trained and educated program directors, and these people have been carrying an unbelievable load with little or no support. Our elders are our walking, talking libraries into our culture, but they don't have resources to build healthy lives. This is true on and off reserves. We need to build our own jobs if there are non to be had in town. Recreational facilities are needed for all ages, life gets pretty heavy if you have to depend on the TV for all of your recreation. Every government, no matter how small must be accountable, we need input from the community, we need a forum to hear complaints because how can we improve our support to the electorate if there is no communication? We need relationship building within the community; and outside, which means building relationships with the town of Terrace, Thornhill and reaching out to Kitimat and Prince Rupert. This is a good community, but it can be better.