November 27th to December 8th The Other Press Page 5 r Aboriginal woman! Why did more than 80 aboriginal women occupy the offices of the depar- ment of Indian Affairs last July? The answer is straight forward: they are tired of seeing their child- ren die. The mortality rate of child- ren under two years of age is eight times more than the rest of the population Suicide, alcohol and drugs are very often the last resort tor many young abor- iginal people. So often, in fact, the suicide rate. is 700 per cent higher than that of non-whites. —~ ‘The women and their sup- porters believe that this situation can be remedied. The deplorable living cond- tions on the reserves and the mismanagement and corruption in the D.I.A. must be altered first. The D.I.A. is constantly refus- ing the initiatives of abor- iginal people to develop their own resources. Some bands are trying to set up income-producing operations like farming. ority to make decisions, the D.1.A. cuts in and forms its own organization. Today there are too many organ- izations working in the pol- itical kitchen. Situations at the band level are getting worse. Cost cutting measures are not allowing the aboriginal people to deal with every day problems. The budget this year falls 14 million dollars short of estimated needs. Housing, sewage treatment and water pro- jects are delayed (some already by two years) be- cause of accounting dis- putes. ‘Most bands in B:C. are given federal susidies for housing. If the subsidies are not used one year, they cannot be used the next. These subsidies are about $21,000 for each house and can only be used for one house. Therefore the band is pretty well stuck. They have to start building homes even if there is not enough money to complete them. ce Less than 30 per cent of the money spent by the D.1.A. in B.C. gets to the community level people. Aboriginal people want to know why. Terri Williams, spokesperson tor the con- cerned people says that, Whenever they want auth-. “We have- found: -difinite - . D-I-N: should be on trial. papers stating that there have been alcoholic bev- erages bought with depart- ment of Indian Affairs money.’’ Williams said that one receipt showed that $1,750 was spent on alcohol alone for a smorgasbord party. Fred Walchili said that the receipts were from a regular staff-fun lottery and had nothing to do with government money. In res- ponse to this, Williams said that the receipts and doc- ‘ments may be released to the press. Fifty-three of the women that occupied the D.I.A. offices are being put on trial. Each are charged with mischief by interrupting the use of property. The max- imum penalty for this is six months in jail, a $2,000 fine or both. Survey, w sexual harassment survey A survey on sexual harass- ment by the British Col- umbia Students Federation was not allowed to be distributed at Douglas col- lege of order of the student council. ‘‘As far as | know we are the only intitution in B.C. to have that prob- lem.’’ said May Liz Vahi, New West campus chair- person of the student coun- cil’s decision. ‘‘It offends some people on council,’’ she said. Vice President Seana Hamilton said that the sur- vey was a ‘‘good idea but it was a bit vague’’. Hamilton went on to say. that some of the definitions of sexual harassment were_ subject- ive. ‘‘Depending on the mood you’re in on a part- icular day, sexual harass- ment could mean anything _from_a_look to unwanted 1 There will be fifty-three separate trials instead of one big one. This is to avoid what Regional Crown Counsel, Sean Madigan, terms a ‘‘circus’’. Such a venture is going to cost the public (through administra- tive costs and legal aid) far more than one trial. _ The Concerned Aboriginal Women and their support- ers want these charges dropped. Is it a crime for people to protest their pov- erty? A representative from the Concerned Aboriginal Wo- men will conduct a meeting at Douglas College in the near future. S/he will dis- cuss the upcoming trials, the first beginning on Dec. / 18. Please attend and show your support. Cee. Coe ee at survey? comment or suggestion.’ The sexual harassment survey defined it as ‘’Un- wanted or unreciprocated sexual advances in the form of comments, looks, sug- gestions or physical contact. At its more extreme, it can take the form of sexual propositions or even sexual assault.’’ Douglas College Student Society president Kevin Hallgate said that the S.S. supported the survey but, “it just wasn’t a good survey, the questions were poorly worded and would not have made for accurate results.’’ Hallgate says that if the B.C.S.F. distributed a clea- er, better worded survey on secual harassment they would distribute it. ‘“We were one of the main mov- ers for distributing a survey on sexual on harassment a 7 e r DO YOU THINK THE PROTEST FRIDAY DID ANYTHING? a |Zeslie Smith: “T think i was excellent. I was doin as much as I could support them. I just hope we get]. what we want.’’ ea] Unnamed faculty source: ‘‘]| think it was fantastic!For the first time I saw students getting involved. I think the rest of the College should follow the lead of the stu- dents and do something!”’ Z fores think the im Shevier: ‘‘It achieved a onger lunch hour, also, I students were informed enough.’’. Marguerite Orr: ‘‘Lets face]. it, there wasn’t much said about it (in the media). It did make people aware of what’s going on. We’re really worried. What else are you going to do if you don’t demonstrate?’’ This page of The Other Press Is reserved soley for the purpose of correspondence and opinion. The views expressed on this reflect those of this newspaper. All letters and opinions 60-stroke line, double-spaced and must bear the name of the author for Submissions which are not sighned will not be published. Letters should be in length and opinion pieces should be either 450 words in length do to space and layour require- ments. page do not necessarily must be typed at a reasons of validity. no more than 200 words