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BC Communists Salute Nisga'a People
The Communist Party (British Columbia) has sent the following message of solidarity to Nisga'a Chief Joseph Gosnell and the Nisga'a people:
"The implementation of the Nisga'a Treaty is an historic achievement, marking the first time that the inherent rights of a self-governing First Nations people have been fully recognized in a modern-day treaty. As a political party which has campaigned tirelessly for such recognition for over forty years, we hope that the passage of the Nisga'a Treaty can help speed up the long-overdue settlement of other land claims in British Columbia, and the just resolution of all outstanding grievances by First Nations peoples across Canada.
"Our party salutes the Nisga'a people for the wisdom and determination you have displayed for generations in the struggle to end colonial domination over your unceded territory. The successful conclusion to your long battle will inspire all those who seek to win a better world against enormous difficulties.
"The Nisga'a Treaty is also living proof that those who cling to the view that Canada is nothing more than a collection of `ten equal provinces' are absolutely wrong. Canada's ongoing constitutional crisis is largely rooted in this narrow colonial definition. The fact that the inherent rights of the Nisga'a are recognized and protected within the Constitution of Canada is an important advance towards acceptance of the reality that Canada is a multi-national country. In our view, the only just way to resolve the constitutional impasse is to negotiate a new, equal and voluntary partnership in Canada, one which gives full constitutional recognition to the national rights of the First Nations, Quebec and English-speaking Canada.
"Contrary to the bigoted claims of right-wing forces battling against the Nisga'a Treaty in the courts, the steps towards equality and justice for your people do not deprive others of their rights. The opposite is true: progress towards equality and justice for the Nisga'a helps advance the cause of all others seeking those same goals. That includes not only other First Nations, but working people of all parts of Canada, at a time when our democratic freedoms and political and economic sovereignty are under siege by the huge transnational corporations and their global trade and investment deals.
"We send our warmest greetings of solidarity on this important occasion, as your provisional government begins its work."
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