Nisga'a may give Non-Natives the Vote in the Nass Valley | Worth Repeating

Terrace Standard [16/12/98]

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By Jeff Nagel

Nisga'a leaders say they're laying the groundwork to allow non-Nisga'a residents of the Nass to become Nisga'a citizens.

The move would derail a major criticism of treaty opponents -- that non-native residents in the Nass won't be allowed to vote and participate in a racially defined government that will have a major impact on their lives.

The newly adopted Nisga'a Constitution says non-Nisga'a people can be made Nisga'a citizens if permitted by and in accordance with Nisga'a law.

The option will be fleshed out when citizenship legislation is drawn up, said Nisga'a Tribal Council secretary-treasurer Ed Wright.

He said federal authorities were firm that treaty monetary benefits -- such as the planned $15,000 payout to elders when they turn 60 -- are not to be expanded to non-natives.

But he said it's likely non-natives could be allowed to become citizens and be allowed to fully participate in government and elections.

Wright said some non-native spouses of Nisga'a people have been active members of the Nass community for years, working hard to build local institutions.

"Why not give them an opportunity to become citizens?" he said.

"I think our people would have no problem saying this person qualifies to become a citizen."

Such people would be able to vote in Nisga'a elections, but couldn't be taxed, he added.

Another group of non-natives are also likely to become Nisga'a citizens with full voting rights.

Those are the people who have already been adopted into a Nisga'a clan.

They include people such as Terrace Anglican church minister Ian Mackenzie, who's been on the executive of the tribal council for more than 20 years.

Others are more recent arrivals to become welcomed into the Nisga'a culture.

Robert Miles, owner of a bed-and-breakfast near New Aiyansh, arrived in the valley in 1990 and was adopted into the Eagle clan by a Greenville family about a year later.

Adoption meant a social network that sprang into action to help Miles when his wife died.

The community gave her full burial honors and a traditional feast. And Miles said people help out at the home of the bereaved, answering doors, welcoming guests and preparing meals.

"Every little detail is taken care of," says Miles. "It's an extremely caring community."

"Those experiences are something I will always treasure."

Lyle O'Donnell, a 47-year-old former CN rail worker who took the job of human resources manager at the tribal council 18 months ago, was also quickly adopted into a Nisga'a family.

He got similar assistance when his wife had to stay in Terrace to have a baby and the wait stretched from a couple of days to 19 days.

"I was amazed to be presented with a large sum of money by my Eagle family and the staff I work with covered the expense of keeping her at a motel," O'Donnell said.

For people as part of the Nisga'a social fabric as Miles and O'Donnell, fears about the future Nisga'a government simple aren't on the radar screen.

Miles said be believes the majority of non-natives in the valley share his optimism about the future and that only a tiny handful are truly fearful.

"The issue of non-representation of the non-Nisga'a is really a big smokescreen," Miles says.

He said non-natives still get to vote for their regional district director, their MLA and their MP.

And he noted the Nisga'a have given non-natives a guaranteed seat on both the health and school boards because non-natives didn't have the numbers to win a seat in the election.

Miles says the track record gives him and others confidence that Nisga'a government will consult in decision-making with non-natives.

And he says that's more important in practice than whether non-natives have a vote in Nisga'a government elections, where their small numbers likely wouldn't translate into real representation anyway.

Non-native teachers, medical staff and researchers often in the valley for a short time, are highly mobile and don't have much at stake, he noted.

"But if you've been here for 15 or 20 years, I would think you're very stable and you're happy with your representation," Miles added.
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