News opnews@siwash.be.ca ustafsen Lake trial update Doug Whitlow This is a brief look at the events nding up to the British Columbia preme Court trial of the Tse’Peten efenders, which is now underway in ey BC The trial started on July 8, 96 and is now scheduled to run at pst until February )97. This repercus- ons of this trial, the ggest in the history of itish Columbia, will felt for a long time anada’s “Indian puntry” In the summer of D95, eighteen en,women and ildren became broiled in an armed standoff’ with 450 The remainder of the story is NOW since 1988, and in 1995 it started in the same manner as the rest. The land on which the dance was held was in the center of a dispute regarding its ownership. A local cattle rancher named Lyle James claimed the sundance took place on what he claimed was his land, while Percy Rosette, a sundancer claimed it was “unceded” (non treaty) land. According to Percy’s interpre- tation of what was treaty land and what was not, this gave lembers of the Royal anadian Mounted S | owly him and his blice (RCMP), 200 — : ¥ fellow )O members of sundancers the incess Patricia’s U n fo | d | n g n right to stay on anadian Light Infantry the dance site as PCLI), supported by th e = u rey long as they ine armoured person- h wished. 1 carriers (APC’s), at C James then ast four helicopters, O U rt O U Ss e asked the RCMP ven fixed wing ircraft, and an hknown number of rsonnel from the US, luding members of the Federal reau of Investigation (FBI), an determined number of US military rsonnel and the use of at least one eillance satelite. This event is now known as the stafsen Lake Incident and what arted as simple “sundance” has Pcome a major BC jury trial. The ndance had been held every summer for assistance in removing the people occupy- ing the land and was told to serve them an eviction notice. James did just that, but Percy refused to move. Three native constables arrived on the scene and began negotiations with defenders in the camp and were beginning to make progress, but not as fast as their superiors would have liked. They were withdrawn and the aforementioned large force of men and machines took their place. The remainder of the story is now slowly unfolding in the Surrey Courthouse. So far the small group of supporters have heard just a fraction of the entire calendar of events at the lake. What they have heard up till now, October 15, 1996 is that the assembled armed force at Gustafsen Lake had direct orders from the Operational Field Commander, Inspector Roger Kemble of the RCMP to “neutralize” (apparently a euphemism to “kill”) the camp occupants. The Tse’Peten Defenders, as they now refer to themselves, are being defended by five members of the BC Bar Association: Harry Rankin, Senior Defense Counsel, as well as Sheldon Tate, George Wool, Don Campbell, and Manuel Acevedo. One defender, Shelagh Franklin, is handling her own defense. The prosecution is headed by Lance Bernard and Jenny Faweus and the judge is Bruce Joesepfsen. The defendants are in the hands of twelve men and women who comprise the jury. When this trial began in July of 1996 there were very few people supporting them in the viewing section of the courthouse. There has also been an almost complete lack of media coverage as well. According to a former MLA, Ken Jones, this was due to an effort by the judicial system to keep the trial from becoming a rallying point for natives across Canada. This is story that must be told to as many aboriginal people as possible. This story must be properly reported so that we, the original inhabitants of this land can be prepared if something like this mishandling of our so-called justice system begins to unfold again. Last chance Business Rep. vid Holzer D Michel Petit : ony shore First Nations Rep. _ Teal B. Fontaine nobelen silenced y York students TORONTO (CUP) — John obelen is so unpopular among hiversity students he can’t even drop campus to give away a few million bllars without drawing protest. Snobelen, who as Education inister has presided over the Tories precedented cuts to post secondary Hucation spending, was ruthlessly pckled while trying to give a speech ing a ceremony at York University. The minister was on campus for a remony confirming $37.9 million funding for the joint venture ptween York University and Seneca ollege. It involves the construction of Seneca College campus at York to buse shared college and university ograms. But students surrounded the inister with protest placards and nging a giant banner of Mike Harris earing a clown’s nose behind the bdium from which he was to make speech, students managed to run obelen off campus. “The students wouldn’t allow him to ak. We drowned him out,” said dent council president Wayne - birier. “There was a clear sense that it las inappropriate and insulting to ve Snobelen make the announce- ent about this new project, especially ce this government cut almost $20 million from the original $55 million budgeted [for it],” Poirier said. Cancer-causing agents used in science labs ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. (CUP) — Science students at Memorial univer- sity are worried about the potential dangers of using carcinogenic substances in science labs. Recently, a student complained to the student council about the safety of lab environments and student exposure to potentially harmful chemicals while conducting experiments. The student, who wanted to remain anonymous, specifically mentioned a Cell Biology lab that required students to handle xylene, a known carcinogen. Students were informed of the dangerous nature of the chemical, and were instructed as to proper safety procedures which were to be exer- cised. But the student’s letter stated concern for personal safety because “due to the crowded conditions, and often rushed deadlines for completion of the experiments, not all students adhere to the rules.” Geraldine Kennedy of the university’s hazardous materials control department, does not feel the labs at Memorial are overly dangerous. “Most labs, when they’re setting up experiments, are set up considering the factor that most students wouldn’t have the expertise and the technical background as say, a science techni- cian would,” Kennedy said. “[Labs are] set up considering, ‘What possibly could go wrong with this experiment?’ and are set up with safeguards in place.” 2 = College may put computers on student’s laps CALGARY (CUP) — Mount Royal College could become the second postsecondary institution in Canada to make owning a laptop computer mandatory for all students. The proposal is in the preliminary stages and Mount Royal vice-president Larry Dawson says it is too early in the process to release many facts. He is, however expecting more informa- tion from the committee within the next couple of weeks. The program could be instated on a pilot basis next year said Dawson. “We have to examine whether this thing is even feasible.” The cost of the computers for students is not yet known. They will most likely be made available through leasing, renting or purchasing if students wish. How much can students afford to spend on a computer? With tuition costs ranging between $1 000 and $3 500 a year, most students don’t have a whole lot of extra cash to spend. Student response to the idea is varied. Some feel it was a great idea, but others feel it isn’t really necessary. They say students should take advantage of the computer labs available in the school. Also, many students already have a computer at home. “Tt’s a great idea, but I wouldn’t be able to spend more than a thousand dollars,” said Kathleen Hill. Renee Benstead wondered why more money would go towards computers. “Our tuition fees already go towards the labs already available,” she said. As of September, all first year students at Acadia University in Nova Scotia are required to lease a laptop and software from the university. The computer costs students $1 200 per year. Humber College introduces virtual campus TORONTO (CUP) — A “virtual campus” has been added to Humber College’s post-graduate program in hospitality, recreation, and tourism. ‘The program utilizes the Internet as a teaching medium, and has been designed to not only enhance learning, but to also accommodate students who otherwise would not be able to attend classes at the college. The project increases accessibility to education, and will eventually be expanded to include other areas of study at Humber College, says Peter Wolf, the program’s co-ordinator. “We are allowing this program to be universal [and to open] doors for people who could not ordinarily find the time to attend structured class,” he said. “We think this is cutting edge, for it can make a prototype that can form the foundation to enhance.learning in other areas.” The virtual campus is designed as an extension of the classroom. All student inquiries and concerns are dealt with through e-mail and listserv broadcast systems. This is the inaugural year of the 40—week program. Classes commence Oct 28, and enrolment for one term costs $3 000.