Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
Little Buffalo Lake, AB
403-629-3945
FAX: 403-629-3939
Mailing address:
3536 - 106 Street
Edmonton, AB T6J 1A4
403-436-5652
FAX: 403-437-0719
March 8, 1991
Enclosed for your information is a copy of a commentary on the
Lubicon situation which appeared in the February edition of a
publication called "The Advocate". "The Advocate" is the Journal
of the Alberta Association of Social Workers.
* * * * *
Re-printed with permission from "The Advocate", February 1991
SILENCE, HUMANITY AND THE LUBICON CREE
by Michael Kim Zapf
The New Year's Day 1991 edition of The Globe and Mail featured a
powerful article entitled When Silence Feeds Violence. Written
by a Montreal woman, "whose name has been withheld at her request
because she fears physical reprisals," the article described a
frightening incident on the Montreal subway when four skinheads
selected a "small black man who was riding alone" and proceeded
to taunt him. When their victim got out at the next station,
they held the doors open and dragged him back in where they beat
him.
The woman writing the article was appalled that none of the other
passengers tried to help; they simply looked away. In trying to
understand this indifference to suffering, she concludes that
members of the silent majority have become desensitized to the
cries of victims. They are either unable to respond to what does
not appear to concern them directly, or they are afraid of
becoming the next victim themselves.
I am sure most of us who read that horrible account hope we would
have done something to help if we had been in that subway car.
This is not to suggest that any of us could have responded a-la-
Rambo-or-Dirty-Harry and dealt out fitting retribution on the
spot. But we might at least have objected to what was going on.
As the woman clarified:
"I am talking about humanity, not heroism; about responsibility,
not risk...Protesting against the crime is as important as
helping the victim. The subway skinheads did what they did
because previous experience had taught them they could get away
with it. It was the fear and indifference of others that enabled
the skinheads to win. They and other barbarians must be told --
even if it is in a small way -- that what they do is wrong and
will not be tolerated."
At our AASW conference last year we heard from Chief Bernard
Ominayak and advisor Fred Lennarson about the history of the
Lubicon Cree of northern Alberta and their struggle for a just
land claim settlement. We were reminded that the federal
government promised the Lubicons a reserve over 50 years ago, a
promise which has never been honoured. We heard about decades of
shameful manipulations and broken promises from all levels of
government. At the same time oil development in the Lubicons'
traditional area has devastated the animal population, making
their traditional lifestyle impossible while extracting millions
of dollars in profits for outside oil companies and the
provincial government through royalties. Many at the conference
were shocked as Chief Ominayak and Mr. Lennarson outlined the
specifics of unacceptable terms included in the federal
government's "take-it-or-leave-it" settlement offer.
What has happened since that time? Nothing has moved at all with
the federal government. The agreement of two years ago with the
provincial government to set aside a reserve area in northern
Alberta has not been implemented. And as if it were not enough
to exploit subsurface resources, destroy their lifestyle and
force the Lubicon Cree into poverty, outside forces are now after
the very trees that cover their land! In late October two
logging companies related to the huge new Daishowa Pulp Mill
(with whom the Lubicons believed they had an agreement) began
logging operations on the disputed land. The Lubicons issued a
press statement warning that "anyone wishing to exploit natural
resources in unceded Lubicon territory will require operating
permits, licenses and leases from the Lubicon people."
Unauthorized projects would be "subject to removal at any time
without further notice." However, the Lubicon notice was
ignored; not only did logging progress, but a decision was made
to re-open 18 wells on the unceded land. On November 24 a
surprise raid was made against a logging camp in the Lubicon
territory and expensive equipment was destroyed. Over a dozen
band members were arrested following the incident.
Like the victim on the Montreal subway, the Lubicon must wonder
how the silent majority can sit back and let this all happen. On
this great train we call Canada, a victim is being brutalized in
the Alberta car and we are all looking away, not hearing the
victim because we don't want to. Will it take another Oka to
temporarily wake us up? Surely this is another time for humanity
rather than heroism.
In a December 11 correspondence the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
pleaded that "flooding Federal and Provincial politicians with
letters may now be the Lubicon's only hope." Can you hear them?
Can you help?
(Michael Kim Zapf, PhD, RSW teaches with the Faculty of Social
Work, University of Calgary.)