We had a public forum last evening, with most of the nominees for councillors being there, and all three for chief councillor. The forum was sponsored by the adult education class, and they did a great job, although it was planned to last only two hours invariably we ran over the time allotment.

We heard from everyone, even the newbies and everyone was articulate except Ernie, we could hardly hear anything he said. I was impressed by the gung-ho attitude that the young nominees showed, it will be interesting to see how they do if they win enough support.

Don Roberts concentrated on a couple of issues, mostly around ocean resources because that seems to be his forte, and I worry that fisheries and logging are all he can do. He still speaks about economic development based on unsustainable resource harvesting as being our most desirable areas to pursue. It's like we're hearing echoes from the 70's.

Steven Roberts speaks about initiatives that are finally coming to reality that were started during the past council, 4 years ago. He speaks pretty vaguely about the economic development initiative that was begun around forest harvesting several years ago, and of which we hear precious little. Rumours are that they haven't made money because of interference from the Band Council. He didn't mention the fact that he sits as one of the board members of a private, for profit corporation that was established in order to take advantage of any business forthcoming to the Kitsumkalum band, inclusive of at least one other band member, and involving the family of other council members. Is that conflict of interest? Sounds like it to me.
Steve speaks rather nonchalantly about his support of the treaty process, and informs us that they are working on the Agreement In Principle, the last leg of treaty before going for ratification by the community. I wonder how they expect to get away with this nonsense since the people of Kitsumkalum have been isolated from the treaty discussions for at least four years? I was absolutely shocked to find out that they haven't held council meetings since June of 2006. What shocked me was that Ernie, Brutus and Susan just minutes before stood in front of us and said that they take part in council meetings, and that if we wanted to discuss community issues all we had to do was attend a meeting. They also said they would deal with write-in communications at these meetings too, but if there's no meetings, there's no reading letters is there? Lying by omission is disgraceful, they certainly don't deserve our trust. Steve seems to be stuck in the 70's as well when it comes to economic development ideas. Not much hope for the future in this community if this council is allowed to continue.

The students asked innocent questions such as those that might have been qualified by the chief, but the audience wasn't allowed to question the nominees or past councillors and chief because there simply wasn't time, so much for accountability.

I concentrated on accountability and transparency in governance, because there is a huge responsibility that governance must bear on behalf of the upcoming generations, and I couldn't rest if I purposely did something to endanger them. I am adamantly against the treaty process as it is proposed by the BC Treaty process because it is designed to complete the task of past governments across Canada to commit mass genocide against the aboriginal people of BC. The council as it exists simply is not interested enough to explore the issue and discover the truth, and therefore they are happy to commit their children and grandchildren to the will of the governments of BC and Canada.

My concerns for Kitsumkalum are;
1. Protecting our culture, which means protecting our environment because without a healthy environment, we are nothing.
2. Quality of education for all members, where-ever they live.
3. Quality of health care, especially for seniors and little children
4. Quality of housing and community civic works, and
5. Access to sustainable economic development, jobs and financial opportunities.

Under health care, we need to address healing for the community, because the impact of residential schools continue to haunt us through following generations evidenced by their dysfunctional behaviour. Its time to deal with the issue head on, we have been subjected to one day seminars that are totally inadequate for years, and our suicide rates in the northwest and far north are taking large numbers of lives each and every year. Those that don't murder themselves by horrendous means kill themselves slowly with alcohol and drugs. How can we communicate with each other if our pain keeps us thinking in terms of oneself to the exclusion of everything, and everyone else? Our answers to our problems don't lie in the counsel of Dr. Phil, or Oprah, they are here amoung us...all we need is the confidence to believe in ourselves.

In this community, there seems to be a barrier established by the band council whereby our brothers, sisters and cousins are excluded from almost everything because they live away from the reserve proper. How absurd is that? These are the go-getter's, the people with courage and imagination. These are people with good educations that they are not afraid to use, these are human resources that we need! We need a new paradigm, new ideas, new enthusiasm.

I believe most of all in our Hereditary Chiefs, these are people who have governed our people for 10 to 12 thousand years, and they did it successfully. We have a huge, deep and significant culture, with thousands of years of experience in handling our environment, and human resources. If the Land Claim Agreement that they erroneously call a treaty is signed off, it will mean the end to all that we have stood for over the past years because it removes the duty of each chief to protect his lands, animals and food resources in favour of becoming a minority ethnic in his own land. Each year, in spite of our efforts, our language dies off with our elders, our culture sinks into oblivion in favour of McDonald's burgers, and governments attack the legality of cultural activity. Right now, the governments of BC and Canada are attacking traditional dancers by questioning whether or not they can wear animal parts on their regalia in Chilliwack BC, even to the point of laying charges for the use of porcupine quills. This is an attack on the very foundation of aboriginal culture, their spiritual dances and ceremonies, it violates Canada's own constitution and it's shameful. It is nothing more than a genocidal atrocity that should be tried at the world court.

Oh well, life goes on anyway...gotta go pick my daughter up at school.