The All Nations Party of British Columbia

The All Nations Party of British Columbia

#65 Shulus

Merritt, B.C. V1K 1N2

Canada

Press Release

All Nations Party of British Columbia holds first annual general meeting

Kamloops, B.C. (January 23, 2001) The All Nations Party of British Columbia will be holding its founding convention next weekend in Kamloops at the Chief Louis conference centre on January 27, 28, 2001. This historic meeting will see the formation of the first aboriginal led initiative in B.C. to create a political party.

“We are determined to organize effective campaigns in a number of key ridings around the province and run credible candidates who will bring attention and promote positive discussions around outstanding aboriginal issues like land rights and aboriginal title,” says interim leader Don (Skloom) Moses.

“We will also promote other important issues such as a health care system that works for all British Columbians, education, and a natural resource policy that meets the needs for the long range economic health of our province,” says Moses. “This present government must call an election by June 2001 and we will be ready to make our voices heard and provide effective leadership that looks to the future.”

The convention will address a number of important issues and set the agenda for the upcoming provincial election for the new party:

• Review and adoption of party constitution;
• Election of the permanent executive and leader;
• Develop important party policies and resolutions;
• Organize an election readiness plan for the upcoming provincial election.

The founding convention will be held at 315 Yellowhead Highway, Kamloops, B.C. and is open to the general public.

Don Moses, 57, is a member of the Lower Nicola Indian Band and brings a wealth of experience in aboriginal politics to bear on the new party. He has served on band council for his community as chief and councillor for over 20 years. He owns a successful readi-mix and aggregate business on the Shulus Reserve near Merritt and runs his own ranch as well.

Form more information please contact:

Don Moses

Office: 250 378-9277

Cell: 250 378-7664

Home: 250 378-6523

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Background Information

Why we have formed the All Nations Party of B.C.

Our objective is to organize a new political party to promote better government for the people of this province. One key objective of the party is the just and fair settlement of the aboriginal land question. The All Nations Party will support aboriginal candidates to run in the next provincial election that must be held before June 2001. The focus of the party is to recruit strong candidates to run in those ridings with a substantial aboriginal population.

The First Nations people of British Columbia share many common values with non-native British Columbians and want an opportunity to bring forward issues that the non-native people would support and vote for in the next election. Our communities have a strong, permanent connection to the land and resources of our territories and we would like to develop policies that protect the environment and yet provide sustainable economic development over the long term. We believe in the respectful use of natural resources to create local jobs. The settlement of the land question will encourage a healthy economy based on mutual respect and an end to law suits and legal questions around ownership of resources and the land. The certainty obtained by just and fair land settlements for all First Nations governments and their people will be a positive stimulus to the economy by bringing new resources and investment to promote responsible development to all parts of the province.

We have seen how a strong grassroots movement and political organizing among the Indo-Canadian community of B.C. has been a major factor in the election of the first Sikh provincial premier. There will be many Indo-Canadians running for office with many different parties in the next provincial election and First Nations people have decided to take this opportunity to highlight our important issues and debate them with other British Columbians. This is healthy and will promote open and accountable government and hopefully new solutions to age-old problems for the aboriginal community of this province. The First Nations population of B.C. is much larger and has a far greater potential political influence.

The ANP will ensure the aboriginal title and aboriginal rights issues will be on the agenda for the next election. Articulate candidates will bring their expertise to the issues and increase the general knowledge about the solutions to the land question among the electorate. They will bridge the tremendous gap in knowledge that exists among non-native British Columbians and poses one of the biggest challenges in successfully finding solutions to one of the biggest issues in British Columbia today. The organization of the party will involve people from our communities in the political process and the best and brightest minds of our communities as well. This combination of political experience with the practical experience of our people from all walks of life will enable us to find solutions to problems that have eluded us since the creation of this province. The party will cut across all differences between the native communities that continue to divide and keep people apart from finding common solutions to age-old problems. The party will benefit from the movement towards greater cooperation among the aboriginal organizations in B.C.

The organization of this new provincial political party will be a major undertaking that will require the commitment of time and funding from a number of people if we are to mount an effective campaign. The ANP has been registered as an official political party with Elections B.C. We have set up an interim executive with Don Moses as interim leader. The founding conference will be held on January 27, 28 at the Chief Louis Centre in Kamloops.

The twelve ridings with the largest aboriginal electorate

The provincial government has re-organized the boundaries of the ridings for the next provincial election. This vote must be held before June 28, 2001. The populations and ethnic breakdown for each riding has been prepared using of 1996 census information. There are twelve ridings that have at least a ten- percent aboriginal population, defined as North American Indian, Metis and Inuit. The North Coast riding has the highest aboriginal population at 37.8 percent.

RidingPercent AboriginalCurrent Member

North Coast37.8Dan Miller (NDP)

Bulkley Valley-Stikine21.7Bill Goodacre (NDP)

Yale-Similkameen17.3Harry Lali (NDP)

Skeena13.9Helmut Giesbrecht (NDP)

Cariboo South12.6David Zirnhelt (NDP)

Prince George-Omineca12.5Paul Nettleton (Liberal)

Peace River North11.8Richard Neufeld (Liberal)

Cowichan-Ladysmith11.1Jan Pullinger (NDP)

Prince George-Mt. Robson11.1Lois Boone (NDP)

Peace River South10.9Jack Weisgerber (Independent)

North Island10.4Glen Robertson (NDP)

Cariboo North10.3John Wilson (Liberal)

We will support candidates in these and any other ridings where there are party supporters willing to select a candidate and organize an effective campaign.

Phone: ( 250)378-6523 Fax: ( 250)378-2566 e-mail: <