Less Bias Asked On Marina Study

Both federal and provincial governments have been asked to hold up approval permits for the planned Saanichton Bay Marina, a department of Indian Affairs official said today.

   Clarence Riach, economic development officer for the south Vancouver Island Indian Affairs district, told the Times letters have been sent to both levels of government asking that no approval be given until additional studies are done on the impact of the marina on the Tsawout Indian Band, adjacent to the proposed marina.

   “It’s our feeling that the Indian interests have not really been dealt with in enough depth and we’ve asked that any decision be held up until we can do more research.”

   Riach said the department would either hire its own private consultant to do additional studies or rely on Environment Canada research.

   “We feel there is a need for more neutral appraisal with more consideration for the Indians.”

   “We also feel the consultants who did the present studies may have been a bit biased,” Riach said.

   The “most studied marina in the province” ran into even stronger opposition at a five hour meeting Tuesday night between the marina developers, consultants, Central Saanich council and the Tsawout Band.

   “The stereotype of the passive, failing Indian child isn’t true.” says Dr. Galloway.  “When there is a chance they can succeed, they will compete like crazy. They’re very aggressive.”

   The youngsters were encouraged to speak in sentences instead of giving single-word answers or pointing. A tape recorder was found to be the best way of encouraging speech.  Lured by the fascination of hearing themselves speak, the children learned to operate the machine themselves.

   Highlights of the program were videotaped for the benefit of student teachers at the university in the hope that they will have a better attitude toward teaching Indians, Dr. Galloway said.