One step forward, six steps back for the Band.

I find it rather interesting that the Government had all their eggs in one basket and were ready to go full speed ahead with this plan assuming that the vote would be in favour.

Now they are saying they dont know what to do, or where to go, and that they are depressed. Prime example of one dimensional thinking. If they run true to form, they will arrange another vote and try again to get the result they are looking for;

Much like the Aiport Expansion. Everyone is **gung ho** for this expansion, and all the business that is supposed to come from it., however not a word as to what will be done if it falls through. Is there a plan two?

It seems that the decisions for a lot of these projects are made behind closed doors, and with little or no knowlege of the taxpayers, who are only required to pay for them.

Take the Co-Generation, water heating plan, for the East End of 4th Avenue. They have approval for funding for this venture, however we do not know the exact cost, nor what the noise and air pollution will be, especially in regards to residents in the Millar Edition. Do we know the cost of tearing up the streets to lay pipe, or what it will cost to have these pipes installed in Government buildings. I assume that the Private buildings will pay for their own piping etc; Have they actually signed on to be a part of this venture.

The City is quietly buying up property in the area of their yard on the East end of 4th avenue. I understand that they own the old Williams Moving and Storage property, and who know what else down there. Will the cost of purchasing this property be included in the cost of the proposed venture or will it be hidden away in some obscure part of the Citys overall spending.

The reason I ask is because the City state s that the cost of the New Police Station will cost $21.5 Million. However they do not mention the fact that they purchased the property that the Police Station is going to be built on in 2005 for a cost of $2,700,000.00. One would think that they would include this in the cost of the new station.

There are a number of instances where the actual cost of projects are not being clearly stated, and it seems we only become aware of them after the fact, if at all.

Typically governments will keep revisiting and voting on an issue until they get the results they want.They really don't like to lose.
It took one hell of a long time to even get to the stage of talking proper treaties and native rights so what made them think that it will always be a snap to ram an agreement through in only a few short years of negotiations?
I am not suprised at the results at all.And you can't ignore the fact that if the government likes the deal,it is probably more to their advantage than the natives!!!IMO.

Headline shoulda read, "Bell depressed, lawyers happy."

Or maybe "everyone depressed, lawyers happy"

I am thinking that there was a failure to communicate here.

Those who represented the Lheidli T’enneh community during the years must have given the lawyers their marching orders. Those community leaders must tale the responsibility for this. They came up with a package they thought would be accepted by the community and they were wrong. How could their thinking be different from that of the community? Perhaps the community needs to become more involved in any future process to ensure that there is a leadership in place which represents at least 80% of the interests of the community if it takes 70% to ratify an agreement.

Then again, we have the same problem with our own Council. If it would take 70% agreement by virtually the entire community to enter into contracts respecting our tax dollars, how much would ever get done in PG? Likely very little.

So let us not blame the First Nations. They are no different than the others sharing the land. Well ..... maybe they are ... they ask the community on important matters and require a much higher standard of acceptance. But this one did not even get a majority acceptance, let alone 70%

Owl you are talking numbers, not people. That little group of people doesn't vote with logic alone. Everyone of them is like a city councillor with their own agendas and fears and issues. This was an opportunity, but not the kind you are taking about, not about logic and progress. More like poking someones eye out, just because you can.

The voting result we saw endorses the Indian Act with the aspect of welfare and dependence needed for a group of people bent on self destruction. Oviously many are going to be a permanent burden on the general public forever.

Regardless of what our politicians like Pat Bell think or the white society in general,there is in fact a lot of unrest directed towards the upper reaches of band managment,councils etc.on many reserves.That comes from the little guys on the rez.They are the ones without the big houses,big trucks and regular paychecks.
There is a general feeling that too much stays at the top causing much disatisfaction among those band memebers who are not in a position of power or hold jobs for or with the band itself.
It's called "politics" and greatly resembles our own issues with the political system in B.C.
If the ordinary band members do not see the treaty as fair and equitable to everyone across the board,it will be rejected everytime.They are the ones who need to see what's in it for them.Once again,the "little guy" is feeling left out and forgotten.
They need to see the benefits in the short term as well as the long term to feel they have accomplished something.Human nature I guess, and there lies a big part of the problem.
It seems like somebody missed something throughout this whole negotiation proccess.

Gee sorry to hear that Pat B is depressed.
Maybe a nice holiday at the tax payers expense could help cheer him up.

Maybe he and C.K. could go study how to fill potholes in Mexico or something...