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Should the Tsawwassen First Nation receive land from the ALR as a part of their treaty?
Yes
56% (84 votes)
No
37% (56 votes)
Not sure
7% (10 votes)
Total votes: 150
Thanks...I think I know where you are coming from. No need to apologize. I have been trying my best to follow the process for quite some time and have tried to seperate myself from what TFN members and supporters may deem to be the underinformed general population. I'm still learning.
I saw political interference from John Cummins, not the BC liberals late in the process. He used a tact that attempted to position himself as a caring beacon in a mass of confusion which I thought was overly contrived given his track record with the TFN.
Okay racist may be a bit strong but like many non aboriginals you seem to believe that these people cannot take care of themselves, that they are being hoodwinked by the liberals. This belief system is perpetuated partly by the media as they usually portray aboriginals as either the "noble indian" or the "corrupt indian" there is rarely anything in between. It is this attitude that really irks me as Chief Baird and many of the people on the reserve are incredibley talented individuals who are perhaps even more savvy than South delta citizens.
The TFN, before voting on July 25th, spent over 2 years designing a constitution that will come into effect once the treaty has passed at BC and Canadian levels of government. How many people do you know in Tsawwassen or Ladner who even know what a Constitution is?
All I am saying is to give these people some credit. If Victoria thinks that it can take advantage of these people as was done in the past...they are in for a big surprise.
I really hate to offend people in the process of trying to educate them so please accept my apology.
I think you missed my point but thanks anyway. Suggesting I am racist for making a simple observation perpetuates the myth that you outine in your "newsflash".
Thanks for your thoughts nonetheless.
Certificates of Possession.
If you are thinking that Chief Baird and the Treaty Team could be manipulated then you are very wrong, actually it is quite insulting and racist to hear that you don't think that the TFN is capable of deciding for themselve what they want.
Here's a newsflash for you. They are educated, they are smart, and they know more than the average Canadian about politics and business. They are not the poor indian that so many non natives like to think. The only thing that has held them back is Delta refusing them water. Now that they will be receiving water, they will be a force to be reckoned with. Do yourself a favour and stop being so ethnocentric and try to learn a little about them.
Me again....sorry....what exactly is a "CP Holder"?
Thanks for the insight! Your comment only helps to reinforce what I see as seedy manipulation of the TFN by special interest outsiders and the politicians who attempt to bow to them.
It is shameful and needs to stop.
How disheartening when my mother was visiting my fathers grave; that she was told when she dies she shouldn't be allowed to be buried beside him!
People, that is because there isn't any room in the graveyard. Bertha Williams is a CP holder. Ask her if she's willing to donate some land to the band for a graveyard. I don't think she would. I think that there are other CP holders who have less land and less income who have offered. Bertha doesn't care about any one but herself and her offspring. Everyone on the reserve knows that. Her only fan club is off reserve people as they don't know what really goes on. The TFN band is audited every year for a month, they have never found any foul play since Chief Baird has been in power. Bertha Williams may find herself in court being sued for libel and slander. People on the reserve have been tolerating her for years. They will never vote for her and that's why she will never be Chief and she will never be a councillor. She needs to wake up. Don't waste the paper on a book about her, there isn't anything to tell, just a bitter old woman who is a sore loser.
Hello Bertha.
For what it is worth, and believe it or not, I respect you and what you have brought to the TFN discussion.
As an outsider it is not my place to speculate on inner workings in the TFN. As a member of the South Delta community however, I feel that is important to openly discuss what we, as a community, understand to be the items of concern. As a candid and thoughtful observer, I am happy to see some semblance of progress that may be beneficial to the TFN and to the greater population.
Bertha, you, your viewpoint and those that support you, have not lost your voice as a result of the ratification vote. You are clearly a vibrant contributor to your community and to the greater population of your neighbours. Your work is not done by any measure.
I am of the view that people like you will continue to be task masters to those who are apparently dictating to you.
As far as your offer to write something for you..I would sincerely love to talk to you about that.
You clearly have an interesting story to tell.
It's evident that your ignorance to claim that I had a 'recent revelation' to the treaty is furthest from the truth. Yes there has been 'politicking and underhanded manoeuvring', but, this has not been last minute; and the problem is not with the band members or from outside of our community. It is direct from TFN Council. Take note Delta Optimist articles; Dec.27/06;Dec.12/06;Aug.24/96;July3/96;May18/96;Van.Sun July18/96; just to name a few. This is my life-I take issue to whatever affects my future, my kids future, and grandkids future. In 1985 my son was denied band membership because the chief of the day would not put him on the band list. Two years of wrangling w/lawyers etc. allowed him to be on the list.(it was his birthright)It also was a precedant for others to be on list. My father died in 1989; how disheartening is it when you are told you cannot have the day off. Labours Board! How disheartening when my mother was visiting my fathers grave; that she was told when she dies she shouldn't be allowed to be buried beside him! Oh there's more, I could tell you some pretty good horror stories of life in this community under the regime of TFN Government - and these events happened long before John Cummins or APE! Would you care to listen give me a call. Good Faith! You were not present at these so called meetings when we asked questions and could not get answers; and then scorned that "the same people are always asking the same questions". However, I do agree with you that the treaty is about us TFN not you. And, TFN does -SHOULD NOT- have interference from anyone, which brings light to the fact that there was interfernce from both the Federal and Provincial Governments through their extra bags of cash incentives. Is this fair to the democratic process? NO. For this reason alone, I would like to bring to your attention that my uncle paid the supreme sacrifice in WWII - he died overseas for the cause - DEMOCRACY - This whole treaty process proved to be immoral. It is funny how you use "allies"; I would welcome anyone to jump on the band wagon to fight for true democracy without the almighty dollar to sway a vote. The heart of my letters comes from within my heart no one can say how I feel. I think I should write a book. Do you want to be my editor?
Who is manipulating who?
When you look at the last minute politicking and underhanded maneuvering on the TFN treaty issue you can't help but get a little scared. This treaty has been negotiated in good faith and if it is the intention of special interest groups to manipulate the vote of some four hundred odd band members of a legitimate entity then we have a more pressing problem on our hands.
The recent revelation that Bertha Williams recent treaty slagging letter was indeed crafted in John Cummins office sends more than a few shivers up my spine.
There is a strong likelihood that the anti port lobby (APE et all) Gateway 30 and others have been using their MP and ally to move their cause forward at all costs.
The fact that our MP apparently "didn't know" that his office is being used as an editorial room and Kinko's for anti-port and ant treaty lobby is disturbing and plainly inappropriate.
If me and my friends went down to get a couple of documents edited for grammar etc. on pro port items do you think we would be given the same consideration that Bertha, and her allies would have?
The answer is no.
At this stage of the game people should take a breath and realize that the TFN does not want any interference from anyone on this. It is about the TFN not you or me.
For once, as an example for all Canadians and First Nations Peoples, the TFN Treaty should be allowed to move forward through the process without the interference of last minute zealots .
There have been 150 votes on this poll.
The "scientific" poll # is around 450 for our community size. That means we are having fun with this and getting close to showing something that is very meaningful!
Two circuits already run along the highway, but what is far more disturbing is the notion that residents of South Delta can just hoist their problems onto the backs of Tsawwassen First Nation. It's hard to believe that people like you still exist in this day and age.
All done it looks like. You can read some details in the < a href="http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=4f89e638-c384-44e4-8581-9eb284810d33&k=87927">Vancouver Sun
Ah yes, someone once said that negotiating a treaty was like having your car stolen and then having to negotiate to get it back.... piece by piece.
Would it be possible to put the Power Lines on the table in the TFN treaty?
For example , yes to lands out of the Alr in return for caarying the power infrastructure on the causeway or Port corridor.
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