The BC Indian Position Paper, Draft Copy - Union of British ...

UNION OF: B.C. lNDfAN CHIEFSVI . E LTUR,IL RWOURCESde are concernod about our environment4 our gen3ral ecology including:pollution, flood and arosion control, protaction of fish and wildlife,destruction of spawning channels, protection of our forests, and adequatedevelopment of our mineral resources.Je are concerned about our aboriginalrights and compensation in the form of royalties for natural resourcas takenfrom tha province./ie are concerned about tha limitation of our ri~htsin using natural resources to sustain our living.il'm or revised legislation should pormit Indians to obtain fish for thepurposes of food consumption without the necessity of a permit, at anytime from any river, stream, or inlat and from beyond the surf line, toincludo shellfish, herring spawn and oulichan, with no restrictions as toaga or sax.Fbrthor, Indians should be given exclusive service contracts to provideprotection to our forests and wildlifa, spawning channels, and tho controlof floods and erosion and othar natural phenoi;~-.non. Considerable employmentcan be providod to Indians in working with these natural resources inareas that are natural to our hereditary means of living..Use, Indiansshould be given tho complete responsibility for administering and op~ratingour system of national parks.VII. .&TS .UJD CR.~lFTSJe wish to develop a native arts and crafts industry so that Indianproducers and marketers would profit from this industry rather than haveprofits go to non-Indians particularly in the marketing area.Ja are concerned about the substantial importation of cheap imitationnovelty items from Japan that sorvc to undermine the authenticity of nativeproducts.4e feel those imports should be completely curtailed, and thatIndian snterprise should be subsidized to get into the business ofproducing novelty items to reach this particular tourist trade in additionto the authentic genuine articles.