By the way, what plan does the TFN have when a highly toxic dump is brought onto the reserve? Who will clean it, who is testing it...This all sems very sneeky!
has anyone driven through this area(reserve)lately? All this talk about red tide and pollution, well go check out the land fill the TFN are making...Its a huge landfill dump truck after dump truck of earth being dumped within feet of the ocean...hey Bertha, you think that might contribute to red tide? Your web site says "fraser river is the life blood of our commuinty" yet your band is making an absolute mess of the water in the slough and in the ocean as a result.
Says who? You? Or is that your pragmatic assesment of the situation? If you are for the expansion, than I expect nothing less than the tired old rhetoric of "it's a done deal." However, if you are opposed to the expansion, then I suggest you stop parroting what you are told by the government and industry. Their power comes from their ability to convince us their will is stronger than ours. Let us not forget that it is we who giveth them power, and so can we taketh away.
Alright then prove me wrong stop the expansion. Show me your power that you give lol, the world runs with ports take that away and we are in serious trouble, expansion is going down no matter what you can do or say. I heard that deltaport terminal 2 is now looking for a company for the 2nd terminal uh oh wheres the great power you speak of lol pathetic you cant change anything, because your a nobody.
Guess you missed the 3,000 people who gathered at South Delta Secondary today to put a stop to this nonsense (I was there and will send you my next youtube...of course you can catch it tonight on Global or tomorrow in every newspaper). I am not a nobody. Neither are you. We are the PEOPLE and this government--or the one we replace it with--will have to listen to us. Thanks for the inspiration. When it comes to strengthening your resolve, nothing compares to being told you can't do something. lol
(cough, cough) so hows the fight against the expansion going...lol looks like the 3rd berth is a just a few months away from being operational, also did you see the 3 new dock gantry's arrive. I guess your power showed us.
The third birth has been under construction since long before the TFN deal was signed. The big question is terminal two. With the global shipping industry in free fall it would be a colossal waste of tax dollars to pursue it - tax dollars we don't have thanks to a massive recession and deficit budgets as far as the eye can see. So it is certainly in all of our interests to stop it...No one ever said it wasn't an uphill battle against these governments. PS When did you become a misanthrope?
I loved it. Bertha is brave. She knows she can't be bought or co-opted. How can land be for sale. Did the kids vote? Did the millions of birds, fish, and whales vote? Did the people who breathe the pollution vote? Stop Gateway!
I just want to commend Bertha for her stand for the land. Once the land is gone, it's gone. Once the money is gone, it's gone. Our Indigenous land is utterly priceless. The government would not have completed an agreement without their best interests in hand.. not at heart.
If you sign a treaty with the government you're a sucker! You're not gaining land you're giving it away...not to mention relinquishing your rights as an indigenous person.....our ancestors are watching
Why is the 'lone voice of dissent' in the community against the idea of band menbers being flown in to participate? They are members after all, they have the right to vote. Shouldn't every attempt possible be made to include all band members and to ensure that they participate in something so important?
As Bertha put it, had the TFN voted to use their own funds to fly these people in, that would have been ok. But because it's the government, it's a different story. Many fly-ins had never been to Tsawwassen; some were American. All this to reverse a no vote on the same issue a few moths earlier. In a provincial or federal election or referendum this would all be illegal. Do our aboriginal peoples not deserve the same legal protections in important political votes as all Canadians benefit from?
Are 'THESE PEOPLE' band members or not? If they are then they do deserve the same 'legal protections in important political votes' that Ms. Williams has. Why should she wish to take them from others? And as the money was available, as offered, to use to fly in the TFN members, why not use it? How can it be wrong to take advantage of extra funds to help ensure that the most effort has been taken to include all TFN band members?
The most recent vote at the July 7 AGM was on whether to adopt a new membership voting code for the July 25 treaty vote. The new code enables non-residents to vote on the treaty. Up until this month, non-resident voters have not voted in band votes-and have certainly never been flown in with tax dollars. The issue is the sudden changing of the TFN's voting procedures specifically to get the treaty passed. If non-residents had always participated in band votes, fine. But that's just not the case.
Furthermore, of course the fly-ins will vote for the treaty--if they're over 60 they recieve an all expenses-paid trip to Vancouver and if the vote passes they leave with $15,000 in their pocket-before the treaty is even ratified. And they don't have to deal with the consequences of the treaty's passage on the TFN's way of life, since they don't live with the TFN.
Imagine this were a sovereignty referendum in Quebec. If the federal government used tax dollars to fly in non-Quebec residents to boost the no vote there would be a justifiable outcry. The Gomery report in fact fingered government interference in the last Quebec referendum. Our Elections Acts prohibit the government from interfering in referendums and elections. Mike de Jong has admitted his government is doing just that here. If it's not ok for the rest of Canada, then why is it ok here?
I did phone the TFN band office. I have a few more questions for you.
1) You have not yet answered how it is that including all members of a community in a community decision is wrong. 2) How did the current administration of the TFN stack the vote on the membership voting code? Were resident members denied access to either the AGM grounds or the ability to vote? - There are a lot of very serious allegations and claims of illegal actions on the part of the TFN, Prov and Fed governments.
Also, I understand that there is a $15K amount available for the elders should the treaty be ratified, to ensure that the oldest members of the band see some benefit from the treaty as it is estimated that it will be ten years before significant financial returns are realized. Are you saying that all members of the band should not benefit equally?
As for your comparison of the TFN situation to the Gomery report, are you able to prove actual interference with the process? If non-residents were able to vote on the membership code in the first place where is the interference? From what I understand, July 7 was the first AGM for the band and residents who are questioning the treaty had wanted the opportunity to speak to the non-residents themselves.
Now that the AGM is over, and the membership code vote, which apparently covered more than just the critera for eligabilty of treaty vote registration, has passed, this person is saying it was wrong to bring in 'THESE PEOPLE'?
My initial question was why would a TFN band member want other TFN band members excluded from this process remains unanswered. As well, I have yet to see a solid, provable allegation of illegal action on the part of any government. The allegations about the future commercial use of the lands coming out of the ALR as also unprovable at this time - as was indicated in the ThinkCity debate that Chief Baird participated in earlier this year. I don't think Bertha was at that debate.
If I may ask, why is it that the woman in the video is not answering my questions. I'm aslo curious about the issue regarding a visit to Nisga'a. Why would having the opportunity to see how the government of the firt people to achieve a modern treaty in Canada functions be a problem? Shouldn't every available scenario be researched prior to voting? What should the TFN governemnt have done instead?
As for the $400K, I understand that it is the total budget, including salaries, that was voted in as approved at the TFN band budget meeting a few weeks ago. I'm very sorry, but my poor rating of this video stands as it contains not only erroneous, but what seems to be purposfully misleading, disinformation. Which is a shame.
My response to rubymoonstones: Is a quote from Mark Twain "It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, then to open it and remove all doubt"!!! signed Bertha Williams aka 'Opal Lone Voice'
I don't think you're stupid, I think you're not putting forward anything other than a rant and calling the other members of your community stupid. So if you have any answers to my questions please don't hesitate to answer them.
I think 'always' may be a bit of a reach. Never mind that the entire structure of band governance is imposed on the FN groups by the Feds, all cultures and all governments are constantly in a state of evolution and flux. This is why governments hold referendums... In Canada we're quite 'rights' based as on of the things that we try to ensure that everyone is respected, even those who do not live within our boundaries.
By the way, what plan does the TFN have when a highly toxic dump is brought onto the reserve? Who will clean it, who is testing it...This all sems very sneeky!
petfishabc 3 years ago
has anyone driven through this area(reserve)lately? All this talk about red tide and pollution, well go check out the land fill the TFN are making...Its a huge landfill dump truck after dump truck of earth being dumped within feet of the ocean...hey Bertha, you think that might contribute to red tide? Your web site says "fraser river is the life blood of our commuinty" yet your band is making an absolute mess of the water in the slough and in the ocean as a result.
petfishabc 3 years ago
in the end deltaport will expand
mak098 4 years ago
Says who? You? Or is that your pragmatic assesment of the situation? If you are for the expansion, than I expect nothing less than the tired old rhetoric of "it's a done deal." However, if you are opposed to the expansion, then I suggest you stop parroting what you are told by the government and industry. Their power comes from their ability to convince us their will is stronger than ours. Let us not forget that it is we who giveth them power, and so can we taketh away.
damiengillis 4 years ago
Alright then prove me wrong stop the expansion. Show me your power that you give lol, the world runs with ports take that away and we are in serious trouble, expansion is going down no matter what you can do or say. I heard that deltaport terminal 2 is now looking for a company for the 2nd terminal uh oh wheres the great power you speak of lol pathetic you cant change anything, because your a nobody.
mak098 3 years ago
Guess you missed the 3,000 people who gathered at South Delta Secondary today to put a stop to this nonsense (I was there and will send you my next youtube...of course you can catch it tonight on Global or tomorrow in every newspaper). I am not a nobody. Neither are you. We are the PEOPLE and this government--or the one we replace it with--will have to listen to us. Thanks for the inspiration. When it comes to strengthening your resolve, nothing compares to being told you can't do something. lol
damiengillis 3 years ago
(cough, cough) so hows the fight against the expansion going...lol looks like the 3rd berth is a just a few months away from being operational, also did you see the 3 new dock gantry's arrive. I guess your power showed us.
mak098 2 years ago
The third birth has been under construction since long before the TFN deal was signed. The big question is terminal two. With the global shipping industry in free fall it would be a colossal waste of tax dollars to pursue it - tax dollars we don't have thanks to a massive recession and deficit budgets as far as the eye can see. So it is certainly in all of our interests to stop it...No one ever said it wasn't an uphill battle against these governments. PS When did you become a misanthrope?
damiengillis 2 years ago
Thanks for making this vide Damien!
-Monika
mmgreendreams 4 years ago
I loved it. Bertha is brave. She knows she can't be bought or co-opted. How can land be for sale. Did the kids vote? Did the millions of birds, fish, and whales vote? Did the people who breathe the pollution vote? Stop Gateway!
KarlPerrin 4 years ago
I just want to commend Bertha for her stand for the land. Once the land is gone, it's gone. Once the money is gone, it's gone. Our Indigenous land is utterly priceless. The government would not have completed an agreement without their best interests in hand.. not at heart.
SalishMommaKat 4 years ago
We need more Berthas everywhere. Thanks for doing this.
margot980 4 years ago
If you sign a treaty with the government you're a sucker! You're not gaining land you're giving it away...not to mention relinquishing your rights as an indigenous person.....our ancestors are watching
bracken hanuse wuikinuxv nation
brackenonefour 4 years ago
Why is the 'lone voice of dissent' in the community against the idea of band menbers being flown in to participate? They are members after all, they have the right to vote. Shouldn't every attempt possible be made to include all band members and to ensure that they participate in something so important?
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
As Bertha put it, had the TFN voted to use their own funds to fly these people in, that would have been ok. But because it's the government, it's a different story. Many fly-ins had never been to Tsawwassen; some were American. All this to reverse a no vote on the same issue a few moths earlier. In a provincial or federal election or referendum this would all be illegal. Do our aboriginal peoples not deserve the same legal protections in important political votes as all Canadians benefit from?
damiengillis 4 years ago
Are 'THESE PEOPLE' band members or not? If they are then they do deserve the same 'legal protections in important political votes' that Ms. Williams has. Why should she wish to take them from others? And as the money was available, as offered, to use to fly in the TFN members, why not use it? How can it be wrong to take advantage of extra funds to help ensure that the most effort has been taken to include all TFN band members?
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
Oh, and according to the TFN web site there wasn't a treaty ratification vote previously. Just where is your info coming from?
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
The most recent vote at the July 7 AGM was on whether to adopt a new membership voting code for the July 25 treaty vote. The new code enables non-residents to vote on the treaty. Up until this month, non-resident voters have not voted in band votes-and have certainly never been flown in with tax dollars. The issue is the sudden changing of the TFN's voting procedures specifically to get the treaty passed. If non-residents had always participated in band votes, fine. But that's just not the case.
damiengillis 4 years ago
Furthermore, of course the fly-ins will vote for the treaty--if they're over 60 they recieve an all expenses-paid trip to Vancouver and if the vote passes they leave with $15,000 in their pocket-before the treaty is even ratified. And they don't have to deal with the consequences of the treaty's passage on the TFN's way of life, since they don't live with the TFN.
damiengillis 4 years ago
Imagine this were a sovereignty referendum in Quebec. If the federal government used tax dollars to fly in non-Quebec residents to boost the no vote there would be a justifiable outcry. The Gomery report in fact fingered government interference in the last Quebec referendum. Our Elections Acts prohibit the government from interfering in referendums and elections. Mike de Jong has admitted his government is doing just that here. If it's not ok for the rest of Canada, then why is it ok here?
damiengillis 4 years ago
I did phone the TFN band office. I have a few more questions for you.
1) You have not yet answered how it is that including all members of a community in a community decision is wrong. 2) How did the current administration of the TFN stack the vote on the membership voting code? Were resident members denied access to either the AGM grounds or the ability to vote? - There are a lot of very serious allegations and claims of illegal actions on the part of the TFN, Prov and Fed governments.
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
Also, I understand that there is a $15K amount available for the elders should the treaty be ratified, to ensure that the oldest members of the band see some benefit from the treaty as it is estimated that it will be ten years before significant financial returns are realized. Are you saying that all members of the band should not benefit equally?
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
As for your comparison of the TFN situation to the Gomery report, are you able to prove actual interference with the process? If non-residents were able to vote on the membership code in the first place where is the interference? From what I understand, July 7 was the first AGM for the band and residents who are questioning the treaty had wanted the opportunity to speak to the non-residents themselves.
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
Now that the AGM is over, and the membership code vote, which apparently covered more than just the critera for eligabilty of treaty vote registration, has passed, this person is saying it was wrong to bring in 'THESE PEOPLE'?
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
My initial question was why would a TFN band member want other TFN band members excluded from this process remains unanswered. As well, I have yet to see a solid, provable allegation of illegal action on the part of any government. The allegations about the future commercial use of the lands coming out of the ALR as also unprovable at this time - as was indicated in the ThinkCity debate that Chief Baird participated in earlier this year. I don't think Bertha was at that debate.
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
If I may ask, why is it that the woman in the video is not answering my questions. I'm aslo curious about the issue regarding a visit to Nisga'a. Why would having the opportunity to see how the government of the firt people to achieve a modern treaty in Canada functions be a problem? Shouldn't every available scenario be researched prior to voting? What should the TFN governemnt have done instead?
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
As for the $400K, I understand that it is the total budget, including salaries, that was voted in as approved at the TFN band budget meeting a few weeks ago. I'm very sorry, but my poor rating of this video stands as it contains not only erroneous, but what seems to be purposfully misleading, disinformation. Which is a shame.
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
My response to rubymoonstones: Is a quote from Mark Twain "It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, then to open it and remove all doubt"!!! signed Bertha Williams aka 'Opal Lone Voice'
b57d56 4 years ago
I don't think you're stupid, I think you're not putting forward anything other than a rant and calling the other members of your community stupid. So if you have any answers to my questions please don't hesitate to answer them.
rubymoonstones 4 years ago
I think 'always' may be a bit of a reach. Never mind that the entire structure of band governance is imposed on the FN groups by the Feds, all cultures and all governments are constantly in a state of evolution and flux. This is why governments hold referendums... In Canada we're quite 'rights' based as on of the things that we try to ensure that everyone is respected, even those who do not live within our boundaries.
rubymoonstones 4 years ago