NATIVE LAND CLAIMS Tax-exempt status on the line in future deals, minister says TIME TO PAY: Canadians want some kind of ‘payback’ for past help to natives, Ron Irwin says. VANCOUVER (CP) — Canadians | should not have to continue supporting | aboriginal people without “seeing some type of payback” through aborig- | inals paying more taxes, the federal In- dian Affairs minister said Tuesday Ron Irwin said the tentative deal reached with the Nisga’a Tribal Coun- cilin British Columbia this week sets a vital precedent. The Nisga’a will even- tually give up the tax exemption now enjoyed by all Indians on reserves. The agreement on taxes “does not bind other First Nations across the country” Irwin said. “But it gives some indication of what a peaceful settle- ment would look like.” ‘The minister said he can't continue “asking the Canadian public to pro. vide money for my portfolio to help aboriginal people without seeing some type of payback in the future. So it's a balance. don’t think the Canadian public likes the idea that we help ... First Na- tions on economic development and when they're successful, that they don’t turn around and help their own ‘people and Canadians through a sys- tem of taxation.” Details of the deal between the Nis- ga’a and the federal and British Colum- bia governments have not been re- leased. Negotiators for all sides are re- viewing it with their superiors. Reports suggest the Nisga’a will re- ceive at least $175 million, 2,000 square kilometres of land in northwestern. B.C.’s remote Nass Valley and some form of self-government. ‘The Nisga’a agreement to relinquish the tax exemption doesn't sit well with some aboriginal leaders, including the chief of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians in Ontario. Doug Maracle, who has been fighting to get natives exempted from the GST. said Irwin shouldn't have put taxes up for grabs during the Nisga’a talks. “To put that on the table is just outra- geous,” said Maracle, “Ithas the smell of precedent. Is that something that we can look at being on the table now for every other commu- nity that talks land claims?” Maracle said taking away tax. empt status violates treaty and aborigi- nal rights under the Constitution. But other experts in BC. said the tax exemptions enjoyed by aboriginals are not guaranteed in the Constitution. “The Indian Act is not guaranteed or entrenched in the Constitution.” said Doug Sanders, who teaches aboriginal law at the University of B.C, Joe Mathias of the First Nations Summit — representing aboriginal groups involved in B.C. treaty talks — would welcome paying more taxes since it would signal an economic resurgence on reserves, “Once we participate in the economy and our employment levels rise. we're all prepared to contribute to the coun. oy”VANCOUVER SUN FS. 14/ 19%. End to Nisga’a tax exemption expected ape i wes Na €7 oh nan QOBieomee “4 ‘whi incre cay eae oem nine throughout Canada — the Nisga‘a are Indians in B.C. mayen fey "hee negotatan basen emaite inate pou tld ee “fgcles, nae ion rom det ond prevent = | froupe te sma. Income and sles tad Ao gs eg Petes {As tiavelled around the provide, ‘bout the thi question that people Pegg ‘ penta ereriecaryinn ie would always askme is how'some:> | Ing and working on reserve snd pur, ‘hese damn indions donepay tax”? | chasing goods or aling delivenyof| ecounts John Watson, B.C regional» | them onthe reserve tirctor ofthe federal department of: * Under the Nisg'a interim agree Indian aff + ment, the entire reserve system ito Be Wavy s egannow. | Roklbed Watson dscares iroate URSA LeS SAR" FAS Menon dare Star paying alert scmetanasionn . inothe Bicemniy aah ein asafinalagremencisin place— ina, them becoming marsteam pari year orto, | pants in society” Eight 0 12 jess afr that they be say that, without reserves, paying ther fll dd fai share ‘here can be no exemption from any Inthe past, the Niggas, in theory at leas, paid no taxby vire of Section ‘ayes under the Indian Act “The fact hat the Nisga’a wil be pay ng federal and provincia income and anes, os well as municipal taxes, ‘undoubtedty wal help the B.C. govern ‘ent sel the deal os wary zens, ‘The BC, Liberals have been particu: * lay cuspkensbourthe tea neg “heyve ben er ofthe sey suouding the went tals ad ns testi thee bone la fora Bich Goiumbians Pe Butthey ae pepe suport ‘ax provision, pary dora fc ie TWEE alvays sid wee otto get say rom irene based ne ig Toth een ths wild ar ‘mi have our suppres Doug Sanden ¢ Universi of law prossornccalzng serial leg sues, se rappees tae Nig‘ lbecnme the sec nave froupin Cade mg uy pest farses tough Tha 1993 copy the Conc of ‘lo eins oped wo sare poying Feb 146 Sanders say it probably west as ‘ough as most people think forthe Nis: (fa to agree to pay teres, Berause ‘ost oftheir commerctal activity has ‘tadisonally bee conducted off reserve they haveben payingsome ralsiong “There are no shopping ene i” the Nast Valey The Neg are giving ‘up omehing that has nota pete, been important fo them,” Sander ay. «Te gesture alo could et prce- defor the 4 othe tbe and Cou. ais inB.G thas ae negotiaangin searhof treatin hess Insouhern BG, thetaxexemp sae tusis amore coveted commenign Because of rebut on-reserve commer: calectviy. Sander speculates thacthe native sroupsin the hese populated south robb are going to eth ess and ge natrdied ayy pc ‘ind, a trade they ay hard shang on ir eee ex Vamcouner dram to help sell deal ‘Watson says aboriginal east of BC, should fret abou losing their tax petk, Longstanding treaties guarantes- fog thei exempt tars ae in place for Jean LaRosa, a official with the “Assembly of Fist Nations in Otawa, didn’ sound too worried on Tuesday: His group represents 633 bands (Gncluding the Nisga'a) accoss Canada “The Niga'a wll voeon it and if they accept,” he says, “that's th postion The federal Reform party wants to rescind Section 87 ofthe Indian Act — Wintondes cnet seaus forall oer LC natives ving, op ae a egy abe sare oes rata” coerce gece int incl yc Ss efit nd iacewe somata Co