Tsawwassen First Nation

#131 N. Tsawwassen Drive

Delta, BC V4M 4G2

Dear Chief & Council:

My name is Sylvia Stephens, 58 year old grandmother of 4, 4th year University student and this is my last ditch effort to plead with your group to really think twice about voting Yes on July 25, 2007.  In seven years time, you will be doing the same thing that I am doing right now.  I voted No against the Nisga’a Treaty but our unfortunate people, to do this day, have no idea what it is all about.  I am a practical and sensible person who thinks business, and one thought that came to me; I don’t think they will ever understand.  I was like that in 2000 when the people danced around celebrating.  When I witnessed the similar celebration unfold yesterday in New Aiyansh, it completely blew me away on what effects the BC Government monies can do. 

I traveled to New Aiyansh on the first day and spotted some of your people and got into heated discussions about the impact of our Treaty.  Time was not on our side and everyone was pre-occupied with the events.  Mind you, it was awesome to witness cultural practices in place but culture should be differentiated with the Treaty.  There were many dancers and singers and drummers and I ask myself, what exactly are we celebrating and our poor people don’t have the slightest clue on what will happen starting next year and in 2012, we lose our Indian Status.  We will have to pay property tax and how can 80 percent of the homes in the Nass pay when they can barely survive on $185.00 month welfare.  You know, I am not the person to be impressed by all the media and why did they not plan for a round table discussion where a few people from each of the 4 villages sit around to discuss the pros and cons of the Treaty?  To me, they came up to socialize and be impressed with our scenery.  All we have in place, we had that before the Treaty.  Our former leaders who have passed on are the ones that fought for School District 92, Nisga’a Valley Health Authority and the Band offices were there since time immemorial. 

I am afraid to say that there are only a handful of us who really know what is going on and our people have been warned to stay away from what information we tell them.  Why?  They will be exposed for what they are, a bunch of lying crooks that use our culture to cover up.  This is lower than low!  I am sure that each Nation enjoys their culture and this is our right and I need to stress that we also have other rights, which are constantly being denied, by all levels of Government.  I have applied for 8 jobs with Nisga’a Lisims Government and was denied and the former CEO resigned and left his $300,000 job as the heat was coming and he is involved with the theft investigation in Terrace Nisga’a Society.  Yesterday, I witnessed an elected representative from the Vancouver Nisga’a Society’s presence.  He was the one that stole over $169,000 from the Society and opened his own MasterCard under the Society name and charged all the Vancouver Canucks games to the card.  A 49-page document circulated after a courageous soul took the effort to investigate.  Once that was done, guess what?  Nelson Leeson, President refuses to lay charges with the RCMP, why?  That is his brother-in-law. While our own people are starving with no foods in their cupboards and people getting so stressed out, these crooks can walk around like they are so powerful.  It’s like sticking a finger up at us, “See what we can get away with?” attitude. Their day will come when they pay for their mistakes and my grandfather always told me that.  If you harm someone, in any way, shape or form, it will come back to haunt you.  I believe in his philosophy.  I get to teach my four adorable grandchildren the same way, stand tall and think big.  If you fall, stand right back up again.  I refuse to be impressed by people who act like trained monkeys and that is exactly what is transpiring. If I want to dance, it will be under my own terms and I usually sing my heart out when I am truly happy.  When I pass my courses, I am happy!  When I see the beautiful flowers come out in the spring, I am happy.  When I see people happy, I am happy.  You know, false fronts don’t impress me!  I saw that all day yesterday.  Not one person from Kincolith showed up.  Why?  All of their lands were stolen and Joe Gosnell gave those all away to the Governments in order to receive his own personal recognition and fame and glory.  He sold us out and I will write a book on the Nisga’a Treaty as I have three boxes of information that I want the future generations to read.  They need to see what happened and who to blame for the results.  Once our Federal and Provincial transfers quit coming to the Village Government and Nisga’a Lisims Government “show and tell” building, what will our poor people do?  I am relocating to a city once I am secure with myself and I don’t want to witness the endless poverty amongst our own people.

Our Chiefs from Laxgalts’ap was not too happy when he read the sign yesterday that said that New Aiyansh is the Nisga’a Nation capital.  Who makes all of those decisions?  They are the ones who are making the Treaty look good and they hoard all of the monies, give them the name.  My heart will always belong to Laxgalts’ap as I was born and raised here and I had loving parents who were business minded and community minded.  My father passed away when I was 16 and attending Residential School in Edmonton and that hurted the most.  I did not have the chance to say good-bye to him and to thank him for showing me true leadership in the most genuine fashion.  He built 7 gill-netters in his boathouse and he owned the biggest general store in our town. He was the choirmaster and mass Band conductor and their practices at our huge home were something to always look forward to.  My mother would prepare lunch for them and it was such an inspiring experience.  To date, I could not find another man in my village that could fit my late father’s incredible shoes.  Times are so different now as our own people have been so trained to accept the little bit that is offered to them and their lives become so predictable and nothing will ever change.  I see a lot of opportunities for myself in the near future, as I want to create my own business and become a successful Aboriginal entrepreneur where I will be always self-sufficient and rely on myself.  The women in our Nation are the backbone of the communities and this is nothing but the truth.  I am faced with an online exam with University of BC political science course this morning and I figure that I have to at least explain in a little more detail the reasons for my concerns. 

To conclude my letter, please take the time to read the document that was hand delivered to Aboriginal Affairs, Mike de Jong last evening and Mr. Fred Doolan stressed to him to read it thoroughly.

I thank you in advance for taking the time to read my letter and I truly wish you the best in your lives and think of your people before short-term profits.  Have a great day!

Sincerely,

Sylvia Stephens

Attach:  Gingolx Grievances in Brief