CENTER FOR COMPASSIONATE SOCIAL CHANGE
Justice for First Nations!

photo: Union of BC Indian Chiefs

"The referendum was not a high point in the history of this province. It was an exercise in futility ... It was narrow-minded, mean-spirited and a complete waste of effort. It's time to move on."
Victoria Times-Colonist
July 4, 2002

Now the ballots are counted and the result was overwhelmingly "yes", how can opponents continue to complain? Because the referendum was illegitimate and racist to begin with.

Find out why... Inform yourself.

Start by reading a personal letter putting this into context, which advocated an active boycott of the referendum.
> > > > Read letter

6 reasons to oppose the referendum

1. It subjected Indigenous people's rights to a majority vote

2. It was racist. Aboriginal people, and their many supporters, are absolutely outraged at this exercise. But it was nothing new to them (remember they've already been through centuries of racism)

3. The questions were misguided and misleading. They were worded in such a way that a No vote is not even binding on the government. In other words, the government will follow a hard-line path with or without the public's approval

4. It threatens a decade of much-needed treaty negotiations with First Nations people, changing the government's bargaining position.

5. It cost $9 million, and risks years of economic uncertainty because of unsettled land issues

6. It is not the way forward for reconciliation and justice
This referendum was a continuation of centuries of the colonialism. First Nations people have courageously resisted this process, and saw this as simply another step. Non-aboriginal people became active in standing up for the rights of aboriginal people and must continue to do so.

In some ways, the referendum had a good side: it brought concerned citizens together from across the province to support the rights of First Nations people. Aboriginal people were joined by unions (health, teachers and government employees), churches (United, Anglican, Lutheran), and non-government organizations (Wilderness Committee, Council of Canadians).

Gordon Campbell may claim the referendum as a victory. But thousands upon thousands of people refused to participate, instead choosing to send boycotted ballots to First Nations groups and churches, spoiling their ballots, or voting no.

And no group could be happier with the result than the white pride hate group in Kelowna which proclaimed that a "yes" vote would make B.C. "a better place for white families."

Q. IF YOU DIDN'T BOTHER VOTING OR BOYCOTTED THE REFERENDUM, HOW CAN YOU STILL COMPLAIN? THAT'S DEMOCRACY!
A. It depends on your definition of democracy. If democracy simply means elections by ballot, then Hitler's Nazi party got to power by democracy. They were voted into power before passing laws to murder Jews and create a dictatorship.

If your definition of democracy depends on the protection of minority groups from the tyranny of the majority, then the referendum was not in any way democratic. Especially since those minority groups are the First People, whose title and rights are enshrined in the constitution.

Q. DON'T THE RESULTS - 85 TO 95 PER CENT 'YES' - SHOW MASSIVE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE GOVERNMENT?
A. The results were not quite as overwhelming as they seem.

109,135 people voted 'No' to Question 1 ("private property should not be expropriated"), and on average 57,556 for the other seven questions.

On average, 57,450 people rejected the questions by sending them back empty or with comments.

26,702 people spoiled their ballots (eg. ones forwarded from First Nations and other groups that "didn't meet the requirements").

13,000 people boycotted the referendum and sent their ballots to Hupacasath Chief Judith Sayers, who destroyed them in a ceremony on July 3.

1,340,000 people did not return their ballots (64 per cent of voters).

Aboriginal people now make up only 4 per cent of B.C.'s population, or 150,000 people.

In total, approximately 1,494,708 people did not vote 'Yes' to this ill-concieved and racist referendum.

"This is a huge success for the opposition. I think the solidarity doesn't end here. People did more than spoil their ballot. They came out ... to say this isn't just about the referendum. This is about the long haul, the struggle for justice."
Stacy Chappel, VIPIRG

REFERENDUM RESOURCES - Take Action!

Treaty vote fuels resentment by Judith Lavoie and Cindy E. Harnett (Victoria Times-Colonist)

First Nations leaders fume as province wins strong backing in referendum

Flaming arrow shows disdain for results by Cindy E. Harnett (Victoria Times-Colonist)

First Nations and supporters watched a canoe full of boycotted ballots burn on the water after Hupacasath Chief Judith Sayers launched a flaming arrow into its side.

Treaty referendum a futile exercise, Editorial (Victoria Times-Colonist)

If the government sought the overwhelming will of the majority to back up its negotiators at the treaty tables, it didn't get it.

B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union affirms solidarity with B.C. First Nations (B.C. Government and Service Employees Union, BCGEU)

"Referendum a mockery and an affront to Canadian law"

Students join First Nations in urging referendum boycott by David Ball (The Martlet)

More than two million B.C. voters have now received their ballots. But opponents say the treaty referendum is racist. Hear what First Nations groups - and the Attorney General - have to say.

Raven, Mink and X:als Learn About Referendumbs by Gordon de Frane

Raven, Mink and X:als, the Transformer, were walking along the beach one day when they came upon several pieces of driftwood. X:als asked what it was. "ItÕs called a referendumb," replied Raven. "ItÕs an exercise in true Democracy."

Trek for treaties joins church groups with aboriginals by David Ball (The Martlet)

When Leonard James left a therapy session for First Nations residential school survivors in Duncan, he never expected he'd be walking all the way to Victoria to oppose the BC Liberal treaty referendum.

To vote or not to vote.... by David Ball (The Martlet)

Many citizens are confused about what they should do about the treaty referendum. Here are some pros and cons of each choice.

Why I won't be voting by Thomas Berger (The Vancouver Sun)

The B.C. treaty referendum raises serious legal issues for a former judge, who says it is "subversive of the rule of law."

BC Referendum Action Network
Formed in December 2001 because of shared concerns over continued injustice against Aboriginal people and BC Premier Gordon Campbellâs plans to proceed with a province-wide referendum on the treaty process.

TreatyInjustice.org

First Nations Summit
Did you know the referendum will put British Columbians on a path towards confrontation and continued uncertainty? Check out this site and online movie.

Analysis of the referendum questions
What do the questions mean, anyway? Hupacasath First Nation chief Judith Sayers explains them (.pdf file: download Acrobat)

Niemoller Initiative
Online petition and background information.

Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC BC)
Referendum information from ARC, a coalition of aboriginal organizations, major churches, and local community groups. ARC works towards justice for First Nations people.

Questions and answers
Note: Elections BC has removed the option for a 'protest' vote from this site. Spoiled ballots will be counted only as rejected.

graphic by Joanna Wong

Artful Ballot by the Society To Understand and Promote Innovative Defiance of the Referendum (STUPID Referendum)

Bored with Gordo's referendum? Why not turn your ballot into a work of art? Or a hat? Join the Artful Ballot contest!