/* Written 7:50 pm Aug 3, 1991 by kmcvay in cdp:alt.activism */
/* ---------- "Haida Gwai action report" ---------- */
ACTION ALERT.
August 1 1991 pm, So far nine people have been served notice to appear in
Supreme Court to be charged with contravening the OAK BAY INJUNCTION. This
influential and wealthy company has an injunction protecting his right to
sell Sportsfishing Rights in the traditional Haida fishing grounds off
Kiusta Village. In response to the sudden arrival of 7,000 sportsfishermen
in one summer a process was set up by the Haida Nation to allow for operators of
Sportsfishing lodges to fish
in traditional waters if they agreed to work within a Management process
established by the consensus of Operators and the Nation. Oak Bay rejected
the Haida offer and relied on the position of Bob Wright, Oak Bay owner, to
maintain the priviledged access to Canadian Fishing Advisory boards.
This morning the Vice President of the Council of the Haida Nation and the
steersman of the Haida canoe Tluuplex was arrested by the Police and flown
to Prince Rupert ( 90 miles west in Canada ). Mr. Ernie Collison
Tsiitgitanee Clan is still been held in jail and has not been permitted to
receive guests. His telephone number in jail is 604 624 9732. A Canadian Supreme
Court Judge
must be flown up from Vancouver 500 miles to the south to hold a special
court hearing for Ernie. Until then we expect that he will remain
imprisioned. Ernie's son who witnessed the arrest is at the Kiusta camp
with friends.
Oak Bay Marine Group based in Victoria BC is attempting to convince BC's
Attorney General to prosecute Haidas for Criminal Contempt of Court. If the
Attorney General seeks and receives Court agreement, and the Court finds
Ernie and other Haidas guilty the sentence could well include a stiff jail
sentence. On the verge of a Provincial election the Provincial government
support for Oak Bay could well set a new agenda for the elction.
Meanwhile the 1.3 million dollar Police boat sits and guards Oak Bay
Marina guests while they fish. 25 miles to the north US Coastguard ships
enter Canadian waters and harass small fishing boats who receive no
proactive canadian protection. The lack of response underscores
Canadian agreement to allow the US to acquire marine territory required
for the transitting of US Nuclear Submarines.
The Haida Nation wishes to advise the network to stand by for more updates.
The dissemination of this information to Travel agents for the Oak Bay
Marine Group is important.
We are now raising funds for the Legal Defense Fund.
Council of the Haida Nation
Tel 604 626 5252
Fax 604 626 3403
-- Michael Nicoll via oneb.wimsey.bc.ca!onebdos Michael.Nicoll@onebdos.wimsey.bc.ca-- Private-Access UUCP/UseNet (Waffle/XENIX 1.64) | kmcvay@oneb.wimsey.bc.ca TB+: 604-753-9960 2400: 604-754-9964 | ..van-bc!oneb!kmcvay -------------------------------------------------------------------------- FrontDoor/TosScan Automated Mail Systems for MS/PC/DR-DOS