Part 1 of 15
July 2, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on Woodland Cree
Enclosed for your information are copies of correspondence and
other materials regarding recent efforts to try and engineer
recognition of the so-called Woodland Cree Band by legitimate
aboriginal nations. While on one level the attached materials are
self-explanatory, some background on the Grand Council of Treaty 8
First Nations is in order.
For years the Chiefs of Treaty 8 have been seeking government
support for an organization which could represent their particular
interests and provide them with technical advice and assistance.
They were unsuccessful until last summer, when, suspiciously
coincidental with the Mohawk situation in Quebec, Canadian Federal
Indian Affairs Minister Tom Siddon quietly signed a strangely
unpublicized "Memorandum of Agreement" with selected
representatives of the Treaty 8 Chiefs.
The stated purpose of the Grand Council Memorandum of Agreement is
"to review and investigate the issues which exist between the
Federal Government and Treaty 8 First Nations". Certainly it is
with this perfectly innocent and understandable intent that the
vast majority of Treaty 8 Chiefs agreed to participate. However
there's reason to believe that Siddon's motives in signing the
agreement weren't so innocent and that the Mulroney Government has
in fact something significantly more ominous in mind.
The key guy in organizing the Council of Treaty 8 Chiefs, or at
least the key front man, is the Chief of a small "family" reserve
in northern Alberta named Frank Halcrow. Since Halcrow is
generally credited with obtaining long-sought Federal Government
support for a Treaty 8 organization, the other Treaty 8 Chiefs
agreed that he should be the "Grand Chief" of the Grand Council.
Halcrow is the known protege and admirer of a man named Walter
Twinn. Twinn is the Chief of a small, oil-rich northern Alberta
Band called the Sawridge Band. As of a few years ago Chief Twinn
was the single largest financial contributor in the country to the
ruling conservative party -- bigger than Esso Oil. He is the proud
holder of a highly desirable and lucrative hotel franchise granted
by the Federal Government in Jasper National Park. And he's
recently been appointed to the prestigious Canadian Senate by
Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.
One of Halcrow's main advisors in organizing the Grand Council is
a man named Ray Dupres. Dupres is an ex-Indian Affairs
bureaucrat, past top staff man for Walter Twinn and one of the key
organizers of the Woodland Cree Band. He's also played a
significant role in efforts to involve aboriginal people with the
Daishowa and Al-Pac pulp mills.
Part 2 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Funding arrangements for operation of the Grand Council are not
known but undoubtedly exist since Halcrow is now operating out of
a reportedly plush Grand Council office in Edmonton. The
Memorandum of Agreement indicates only that "a Bilateral Committee,
consisting of the Grand Chief of the Grand Council (Halcrow) and
the Regional Director General, Alberta Region, (Federal) Department
of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (a man named Gary
Wouters), together with (their respective support personnel)...will
...negotiate a resourcing agreement for the funding of the
implementation and conduct of all obligations and requirements
under this agreement".
While the Treaty 8 Chiefs may have a number of issues they want to
pursue through the Grand Council, meetings between representatives
of Indian Affairs and the Grand Council -- including the
omnipresent Ray Dupres on behalf of the Grand Council -- have
reportedly focused almost exclusively on so-called "economic
development". "Economic development" in this context means
involvement of aboriginal people in the forestry industry -- not of
the lucrative kind being launched by Japanese companies like Al-Pac
and Daishowa, but rather small, seasonal logging and sawmill
operations required to feed the huge Daishowa and Al-Pac mills.
(One meeting participant reports "All (Federal Indian Affairs
Regional Director General) Gary Wouters wants to talk about is
logging". "He keeps saying that the Indians should get in on the
ground floor while they've got the chance and not miss out like
they did in the oil boom".)
Needless to say you don't need a weatherman to tell you what way
this ill-wind is blowing. Such small-scale and relatively
insignificant aboriginal involvement in the forestry industry will
predictably be used to counter both the Lubicons and environment-
alists, first by arguing that Government and the pulp mills are not
committing genocide against aboriginal people but are rather
working with and providing employment for aboriginal people, and
second by arguing that callous environmentalists are trying to deny
desperately needed jobs for poor unemployed aboriginal people.
Woodland Cree Chief Johnny Cardinal showed up at an early Grand
Council organizational meeting in Edmonton a year ago last March
asking for formal Grand Council recognition of the so-called
Woodland Cree Band. Who'd invited him to attend the meeting or
even advised him of it was a mystery -- at least nobody would admit
having done it.
Lubicon Chief Ominayak was not expected to attend the March 1990
Grand Council meeting but was able to do so at the last minute. In
response to the Woodland Cree request for Grand Council recognition
Chief Ominayak reviewed Federal Government creation of the so-
called Woodland Cree Band and spelled out what he perceived to be
the implications of possible Grand Council recognition.
Consequently a resolution condemning Federal Government creation of
the so-called Woodland Cree and refusing recognition was
unanimously passed by the Treaty 8 Chiefs.
Part 3 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
A year later, in March of 1991, a motion again proposing formal
Grand Council recognition was somehow put before the Treaty 8
Chiefs. Halcrow says in a letter dated June 19, 1991 (attached),
that the motion was made following a second request for recognition
by Woodland Chief Johnny Cardinal. However no one who knows Johnny
Cardinal would believe for a minute that he would make such a
request unless he was solicited to do so by somebody he thought
would be able to produce a less embarrassing result than he'd faced
a year earlier.
Chief Ominayak was not in attendance at the March 1991, Grand
Council meeting. Recognition was not granted to the Woodland Cree
but a curiously worded resolution instructing Grand Chief Halcrow
to "act as the mediator with a 30 June 1991 deadline..." was
passed. Recognition of the so-called Woodland Cree by June 30 of
course fits perfectly with reported Federal Government plans to
sign a Woodland Cree settlement agreement on the July 11th
anniversary of the invasion of Kanesatake. It also fits perfectly
with known instructions to officials of the Regional Indian Affairs
office to have a Woodland Cree settlement agreement ready for the
end of June, and with a now publicly advertised July 5th and 6th
Woodland Cree "referendum on settlement agreement". (Such a
referendum has to be passed by the so-called Woodland Cree before
a settlement agreement can be signed).
Following the attached exchange of correspondence between Chiefs
Halcrow and Ominayak, Johnny Cardinal understandably did not attend
the June 26, 1991, Grand Council meeting -- pleading an earlier
commitment. Several people were however able to reach him by phone
at his Cadotte Lake office.
Predictably Halcrow and Twinn were the ones pushing at the June
26th meeting for Grand Council recognition of the Woodland Cree,
although both eventually voted against recognition rather than be
publicly isolated, and although Twinn later dissembled like crazy
when asked about his position on the issue by representatives of
the media.
Reflecting once again the polygenetic nature of the so-called
Woodland Cree Band, announced polling places for the up-coming
Woodland Cree "referendum on settlement agreement" include not only
the little aboriginal community of Cadotte Lake where a Woodland
Cree Band office has been set-up, but the Metis Friendship Centres
in the surrounding non-aboriginal communities of Peace River and
Slave Lake, as well as the Federal Government's main office
building in the city of Edmonton.
Part 4 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #1: June 04, 1991, Bernard Ominayak letter to Frank
Halcrow with attachments
Grand Chief Frank Halcrow
Grand Council of Treaty 8 First Nations
1050 Scotia Place, Tower 1
10080 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5I 3R3 FAX: 403-424-8614
Dear Chief Halcrow:
Last Thursday I received a fax communication from your Executive
Director Robert Cree referring to a letter and resolution on the
so-called Woodland Cree which you'd supposedly forwarded to my
office some time after April 18, 1991. I never received any such
letter or resolution until my office contacted your office this
afternoon and requested a faxed copy.
I am now in possession of that faxed copy of your letter with
resolution although frankly I'm still not quite sure what the
letter or the resolution are all about. The resolution quoted in
the letter refers to "the issue of the Woodland Cree Band" and
indicates that you should "act as a mediator with a 30 June 1991
deadline date to resolve the issue by this time or prior to".
Neither the letter nor the resolution state what the issue is that
you are supposed to "mediate".
Presumably what this is all about is another effort by the same
mysterious individual or individuals who tried unsuccessfully last
March to get the Grand Council to recognize the so-called Woodland
Cree as a legitimate Indian Band. The Woodland Cree of course
aren't a legitimate Indian Band at all, but, as stated in
Resolution #6 of the IAA's last Annual General Assembly, are rather
"an undemocratic artificial creation of the Government of Canada
designed to undermine the rights of the Lubicon Lake Nation".
If what you've in fact been asked to "mediate" is Lubicon
opposition to Grand Council recognition of the Woodland Cree, then
you're wasting your time. We strongly oppose Grand Council
recognition of the Woodland Cree, not only because doing so would
lend legitimacy to an artificial Federal Government creation
designed to undermine the rights of the Lubicon Lake people, but
because doing so would legitimize this transparent but potentially
very effective Federal Government tactic for subverting and tearing
apart any aboriginal nation whom the Canadian Government considers
troublesome.
Part 5 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
B. Ominayak June 04, 1991, letter to F. Halcrow continued...
Should there be any question about the threat that creation of the
Woodland Cree poses to all legitimate aboriginal nations I call
your attention once again to the section of the Indian Act under
which the Woodland Cree was established. That section is section
17 and the operative clauses read as follows:
"17.(1) The Minister may, whenever he considers it desirable
(underlining added), constitute new Bands and establish new
Band lists with respect thereto from existing Band lists, or
from the Indian Register, if requested to do so by (an
unspecified number) of persons proposing to form the new
Bands.
"17.(2) Where pursuant to subsection (1) a new Band has been
established from an existing Band or any part thereof, such
portion of the reserve lands and funds of the existing Band as
the Minister determines (underlining added) shall be held for
the use and benefit of the new Band.
"17.(3) No protest may be made (underlining added) under (the
section of the Indian Act which provides for the making of
protests) in respect of the deletion from or the addition to
a Band List consequent on the exercise of the Minister of any
of his powers under subsection (1)."
Section 17 thus gives the Minister the absolute power, if he
doesn't like the attitude of the elected leadership of any
aboriginal nation in Canada, to simply take that aboriginal nation
apart and to distribute the land and resources rightfully belonging
to that aboriginal nation as he sees fit. He could, for example,
decide to give 95% of the land and other resources rightfully
belonging to an aboriginal nation of 500 people, with whom the
Canadian government disagrees for whatever reason, to 5 dissident
members of that aboriginal nation who are willing, as spokesmen of
the Woodland Cree have said publicly they are, to do the Canadian
Government's bidding. All the Minister needs to proceed in this
way is a request by some unspecified number of individuals --
individuals who in the Lubicon case were clearly solicited for this
specific purpose by paid agents of the Canadian Government -- who
are "proposing to form the new Band".
Lastly I would like to point out the highly suspicious timing for
"mediating" the so-called "issue of the Woodland Cree Band";
namely, "a 30 June 1991 deadline date to resolve the issue by this
time or prior to".
We've been reliably advised that the Mulroney Government is going
to announce a settlement with the Woodland Cree on the July 11th
anniversary of the invasion of Kanesatake. Such timing is of
course deliberate and appears to be part of a major new national
propaganda campaign intended not only to divide and conquer but
also to deflect growing national and international criticism over
Mulroney Government handling of aboriginal issues.
In order to make a July 11th settlement announcement possible we've
been reliably advised that officials of the Regional Office have
been instructed to "spare no expense" in putting together a
Woodland Cree settlement by the end of June. We've also been told
that the Woodland Cree are planning a plebiscite on the proposed
settlement agreement to be held sometime during the last half of
June.
Obviously the Government would much rather be announcing a
settlement with a Band recognized by other Bands than one which is
not recognized by other Bands -- especially given the well known
history of the so-called Woodland Cree Band. Under these
circumstances recognition of the so-called Woodland Cree Band by
the Grand Council is something else which the Mulroney Government
wants done by "a 30 June 1991 deadline date...or prior to".
Hopefully the Chiefs of Treaty 8 will clearly see and understand
what's going on and won't allow themselves to be so used by the
Mulroney Government.
Sincerely,
Bernard Ominayak, Chief
Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
cc: Robert Cree
Treaty 8 Chiefs
Regena Crowchild
Georges Erasmus
Part 6 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #1a (attached to Ominayak 06/04/91 letter to Halcrow):
May 30, 1991, letter from Robert Cree, Executive Director, Grand
Council of Treaty 8 First Nations, to Chief Bernard Ominayak
Dear Chief Ominayak:
April 18, 1991, Grand Chief Halcrow was given a mandate by the
Alberta Treaty 8 Chief's regarding the Woodland Cree Band.
A letter was forwarded to your office along with the resolution and
to date have not received a response from yourself.
Grand Chief Halcrow has given both parties ample opportunity to
rectify this situation. However, the Chief's have indicated that
this will be final discussions where Woodland Cree is concerned.
Further, that the intent at the June 19th meeting will be to
forward a resolution on the floor for direction to the Grand
Council.
Grand Chief Halcrow has requested for confirmation for the Alberta
Treaty 8 Chief's meeting. However, if you are unable to attend we
request that you send PROXY of a fellow council member.
Sincerely yours,
Robert Cree,
Executive Director
RC/st
Enclosure
Part 7 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #1b (attached to Ominayak 06/04/91 letter to Halcrow):
March 19, 1991, letter from Frank Halcrow, Grand Chief, Grand
Council of Treaty 8 First Nations, to Chief Bernard Ominayak
Dear Chief Ominayak:
On 15 March 1991 there was Treaty 8 Chief's Meeting held in
Edmonton at the Continental Inn.
An item on the agenda for discussion was Woodland Cree Band. At
this meeting a motion was brought to the floor, as follows:
To table the issue of Woodland Cree Band and that
the Grand Chief of the Grand Council of Treaty 8
First Nations act as the mediator with a 30 June
1991 deadline date to resolve the issue by this
time or prior to.
Moved by: Chief Badger
Seconded by: Elsie Fabian (proxy)
CARRIED
Chief J. Cardinal has indicated that he would be available to meet
at your convenience. We would be quite comfortable in meeting with
you at your office or should you wish to meet in a neutral place,
our office could be made available.
Should you wish to discuss this issue in greater detail you may
contact myself at the office 424-8504 Edmonton.
Sincerely yours,
Grand Chief Frank Halcrow
GRAND COUNCIL OF TREATY 8 FIRST NATIONS
FH/st
cc Chief J. Cardinal
Executive Board
Part 8 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #1c (attached to Ominayak 06/04/91 letter to Halcrow):
Section 17 of the Indian Act (available on request)Attachment #1d (attached to
Ominayak 06/04/91 letter to Halcrow):
Assembly of First Nations September-October 1989 Bulletin
INAC MINISTER ATTEMPTS TO DISMANTLE LUBICON LAKE
by Chris Printup
Centre for Treaty Advocacy
Even though the Lubicon Lake Nation has control over its
membership, Pierre Cadieux continues his strategy of raiding their
membership list in order to make it appear as if that Nation is
divided on the issue of its 50 year old land claim. On November 8,
1989, Harry Swain, INAC Deputy Minister, told the Standing
Committee on Aboriginal Affairs that the Minister intends to go
ahead with his plans to reach a settlement with the Woodland Cree
Band. At present, the INAC Minister is the only person in Canada
who holds such sweeping discretionary powers regarding the
establishment of new Indian bands and reserves. The Minister
considered it appropriate to use these "sweeping powers" in order
to subvert First Nation land rights by establishing a new band, in
this case the Woodland Cree, and settling with that band while
ignoring the Lubicon Lake Nation. What Mr. Swain neglects to
mention, however, is that the Woodland Cree Band is made up of
members of other Indian Bands in the area, along with a large
number of persons who were recently reinstated under Bill C-31.
The Minister has directed his staff to transfer as many names as
possible onto the Lubicons' membership list and then to remove
these names after a few days and transfer them to the Woodland Cree
membership list. This complex charade enables the Minister to say
that these persons are ex-Lubicon Lake band members and that he is
obliged to move with great haste in order to achieve a settlement
with them, because they have been waiting such a long time now.
The Minister's ploy is obviously to try to weaken the Lubicon Lake
Nation through any means available, be they unjust, illegal or
otherwise -- anything except the right and honourable thing, which
would be to immediately begin negotiating above-board and in good
faith with the Lubicon Lake leadership. It's shocking to see how
fast the wheels of government can move whenever they're aware of a
way to steam-roll Native rights and interests, and how slow things
go when you need something from the government. There are lots of
requests from other First Nations communities, groups and persons
for Indian band status or new reserve lands, but we've never seen
INAC move this fast before and we probably never will again.
Unless, of course, another First Nation should happen to stand up
to the INAC Minister in order to protect their rights and
traditional homelands. Then watch how fast things start to happen.
Part 9 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #1e (attached to Ominayak 06/04/91 letter to Halcrow):
March 08, 1990, resolution of Grand Council of Treaty 8 Nations
refusing recognition of the Woodland Cree (available on request)
Attachment #1f (attached to Ominayak 06/04/91 letter to Halcrow):
June 5, 1990, resolution of Indian Association of Alberta refusing
recognition of the Woodland Cree (available on request)
Attachment #1g (attached to Ominayak 06/04/91 letter to Halcrow):
Band Council Resolutions refusing recognition of the Woodland Cree
from Mohawks of Kahnawake, Treaty Six Nations, Sarcee Nation,
Beaver Lake Tribe, Grand Rapids Indian Band, Bigstone Cree Band,
McLeod Lake Indian Band, Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, and the Skeetchestn
Indian Band Council (available on request)
Part 10 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #2: June 19, 1991, letter to BO from Grand Chief Frank
Halcrow, Grand Council of Treaty 8 First Nations
Dear Chief Ominayak:
RE: Woodland Cree Band
In response to your letter of 04 June 1991. I will attempt to
address your concerns in the order in which you raised them.
Indeed the letter dated 19 March 19091 was faxed to your band
office on that date and hard copy mailed as well.
On 15 March 1991 there was a Treaty 8 Chief's meeting held in
Edmonton at the Continental Inn. It was a request from the
Woodland Cree Band to be on the agenda for that meeting. Woodland
Cree Band requested at that time if the Treaty 8 Chief's would
consider them to become part of the Treaty 8 group being that they
are in Treaty 8 jurisdiction.
The discussion was quite lengthy but no decisions were made
regarding the Woodland Cree Band to be recognized as a Treaty 8
member band. The Treaty 8 Chief's felt that both parties should be
at the table before any decision is to be made. However, it was
decided that the deadline date be placed so that this item is not
ongoing.
The intent was not to discredit the Lubicon Lake Band. In fact,
the Treaty 8 Chief's strongly recognize the Lubicon Lake Band and
fully support your efforts that you have worked long and hard to
achieve.
It is true, that the Woodland Cree Band did not go through proper
channels to become a legitimate organization. Further, that the
Grand Council does not oppose the Lubicon Lake Band and don't
choose to in the future. The direction for the Grand Council to
mediate was a motion put forward from the Chief's at the 15 March
1991 meeting.
That this meeting of last March 1990 was a Treaty 8 Chief's Meeting
hosted by Indian Association of Alberta where at that time Grand
Council first came to light. That the Grand Council didn't start
it's operations till July 1990 and September 1990 legally became a
federally registered corporation. Therefore, March 17-19, 1990
Grand Council was still non-existent. That at March 17-19, 1990 a
motion was passed to establish the Grand Council.
As for the timing, at the 15 March 1991 meeting we were not aware
of the Mulroney Government to announce the Woodland Cree Band
settlement for 11 July 1991.
We, the Grand Council of Treaty 8 First Nations feel very strongly
that your attendance is required at this meeting scheduled for 26
June 1991 at the Continental Inn, Ballroom 'C'.
We apologize for the misinterpretation of the letter dated 19 March
1991 and that the Lubicon Lake Band had to question the faithful
support of his fellow Chief's.
Further, we believe that the media would be very much interested in
the outcome of this particular meeting scheduled for 26 June 1991.
Should you have any questions and/or concerns do not hesitate to
contact myself. It is preferred that we deal directly with
yourself and not a middleperson. We await confirmation of your
attendance for the 26 June 1991 Treaty 8 All Chief's Meeting at the
Continental Inn.
Sincerely yours,
Grand Chief Frank Halcrow
cc: Executive Board
Treaty 8 Chief's
Regena Crowchild, IAA
Ovide Mercredi, AFN
Chief J. Cardinal
Part 11 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #3: June 20, 1991, letter from Bernard Ominayak to
Chief Frank Halcrow
Grand Chief Frank Halcrow
Grand Council of Treaty 8 First Nations
1050 Scotia Place, Tower 1
10080 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB T5I 3R3
Dear Chief Halcrow:
Thank you for your letter of June 19th providing additional
information regarding how the possibility of recognizing the so-
called Woodland Cree Band came to be on the Grand Council agenda.
I can't explain not receiving your March 19th faxed letter or the
hard copy of that letter which you mailed to my office, other than
to say that we've been aware for some time that all communications
to and from our office are monitored, our phones are tapped and our
mail is opened. Faxed communications are of course not immune from
this process since they are transmitted via the telephone lines.
Whether communications are actually blocked and kept from being
received is something we worry about but have so far not been able
to substantiate. With all important communications it's always
good to try and confirm receipt. Also we seem to have better luck
receiving communications sent to our Edmonton office, 3536-106th
Street, T6J 1A4, fax number 403-437-0719.
It was my earlier understanding that the March 8, 1990, Treaty 8
Chiefs meeting which passed a resolution of non-recognition of the
Woodland Cree was in fact an organizational meeting of what is now
called the Grand Council of Treaty 8 First Nations, although I am
aware that the Grand Council did not actually establish an office
and become legally incorporated until later. In any case the March
8, 1990, resolution of non-recognition seems relevant to me, since,
as we both know, the same people were involved then as now
constitute the Grand Council, and their intention in passing that
resolution of non-recognition, then as now, is crystal clear.
Lastly I want to make clear that it is not the support of my fellow
Chiefs which worries me but rather the possibility of efforts by
the Federal Government to try and manipulate the Grand Council for
its own purposes. I know Johnny Cardinal and seriously doubt that
he is making representations to the Grand Council on his own,
especially after the reception he received from the Treaty 8 Chiefs
at the March 8, 1990, meeting. I am also wary of people like Ray
Dupres, who, as we both know, was heavily involved in creation of
both the so-called Woodland Cree Band and the Grand Council of
Treaty 8 First Nations.
I look forward to personally attending the June 26th meeting of the
Grand Council at the Continental Inn in Edmonton.
Sincerely,
Bernard Ominayak, Chief
Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
cc: Treaty 8 Chiefs
Regena Crowchild
Ovide Mercredi
Part 12 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #4: Transcript of CBC Radio News Broadcast (12:30 P.M.)
Wednesday, June 26, 1991
Krysia Jarmicka, CBC News
Treaty 8 Indians from northern Alberta are again refusing to
recognize the Province's newest Band, the Woodland Cree. The
Woodland Cree has asked for recognition from the Chiefs. The Band
was hoping to get it before members vote on a tentative land claim
agreement early next month. Byron Christopher reports.
Byron Christopher, CBC News
The Woodland Cree is a Band that was set up with the help of the
Federal Government only a couple of years ago. The Band is located
at Cadotte Lake, east of Peace River. That is within the Treaty 8
area. The Woodland Cree includes some disgruntled members of the
Lubicon Indians. The Lubicons have been trying to sign a treaty
with Ottawa since 1939. The position of the Treaty 8 Chiefs is
that the Woodland Cree is an artificially created Band by the
Federal Government to undermine the Lubicon land claim. The
tentative land claim settlement worked out between the Woodland
Cree and Ottawa calls for the Band to get more than 50 million
dollars, land title and some services. It's not the first time
Treaty 8 have snubbed the Woodland Cree. They did the same thing
in March of 1990. The Treaty 8 area includes northern Alberta,
northeastern British Columbia, the southern part of the Northwest
Territories and part of Saskatchewan. Chief John Cardinal of the
Woodland Cree is not at today's meeting. Recognition is important
for the Woodland Cree, especially now. That is because members of
the Woodland Cree vote on the land claim offer in a week and a
half. The Band was hoping to get recognition from other Indian
bands before that vote. Byron Christopher, CBC News, Edmonton.
Part 13 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #5: Transcript of CBC Radio News Broadcast (5:30 P.M.)
Wednesday, June 26, 1991
John Hanlon, CBC News
Treaty 8 Chiefs are again snubbing Alberta's newest Indian Band,
the Woodland Cree. Today the Chiefs decided not to recognize the
northern Alberta Band. As we hear in this report by Byron
Christopher, the move is not only a slap in the face for the
Woodland Cree, but for the Federal Government as well.
Byron Christopher, CBC News
Last year the Federal Government used a section of the Indian Act
to create a new Indian Band, almost overnight. The Woodland Cree
Band included some unhappy Lubicon Indians. Keep in mind that the
Lubicons have been trying to sign a treaty with the Federal
Government for more than half a century. After Ottawa fast-tracked
the Woodland Cree, the Lubicons accused the government of slimy
divide-and-conquer tactics. The Woodland Cree Band is located at
Cadotte Lake east of Peace River. It's within the Treaty 8 area.
Bernard Ominayak is Chief of the Lubicon Indians. He says the
Treaty 8 Chiefs are giving the Brian Mulroney government a strong
message.
Chief Bernard Ominayak, Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
What we're saying is, "Listen, Federal Government, we can't afford
to allow you guys to do as you please when it comes to playing
political games with Native people."
Christopher
The Woodland Cree Band was snubbed last year by the Treaty 8
Chiefs, and later by the Indian Association of Alberta. What's
timely about the latest rejection is that within 10 days the
Woodland Cree are voting on a tentative land deal. The Band wanted
recognition from other Treaty 8 Bands before it signed treaty.
Byron Christopher, CBC News, Edmonton.
Part 14 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #6: Transcript of CBC Television News Broadcast (6:00
P.M.)
Wednesday, June 26, 1991
Kathy Daley, CBC News
Another rejection tonight for the Woodland Cree, Alberta's newest
Band. It is trying once again to be officially recognized by other
Indian Bands in the Province, but no such luck. The other Bands
won't recognize the Woodland Cree until Ottawa settles a long-
standing land claim with another Band, the Lubicon Indians. As
Grant Gelinas reports, it's politics Native style.
Grant Gelinas, CBC News
The Lubicon Indians live in Alberta's north, about 400 kilometres
north of Edmonton. They're a landless people who've been promised
a reserve for more than 4 decades. But talks with Ottawa broke off
two years ago. It was a stand-off. The Lubicons set up roadblocks
to protect the resources they laid claim to. Then, almost over
night, Ottawa recognized a new Band -- the Woodland Cree -- which
included disgruntled Lubicons. The Band was offered land in the
same area the Lubicons were offered land.
Chief Bernard Ominayak, Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
We know the intent was to divide and conquer the Lubicon Nation...
Gelinas
Today Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominayak asked other Chiefs from the
north to stand with him, not Ottawa. Before them was the request
from the Woodland Cree to be officially recognized. But they all
voted against the Woodland Cree, including this Chief, who is also
a Conservative-appointed Senator and supporter of the break-away
Band.
Chief Walter Twinn, Sawridge Indian Band
They'll be recognized when both parties have settled their
differences.
Gelinas
Are you happy with that?
Twinn
Sure I am
Ominayak
What we saying is, "Listen Federal Government, we can't afford to
allow you guys to do as you please when it comes to playing
political games with Native people."
Gelinas
The vote comes at a bad time for the Woodland Cree and the Federal
Government. In less than a month the Band will vote on a $55
million land claim deal offered by Ottawa, a vote now not
legitimate in the eyes of their neighbouring Native leaders. Grant
Gelinas, CBC News, Edmonton.
Part 15 of 15
June 02, 1991, Lubicon Indian Nation mail-out on the Woodland Cree
Attachment #7: re-printed without permission from ALBERTA NATIVE
NEWS, June 1991
NOTICE
WOODLAND CREE INDIAN BAND NO. 474
Notice of referendum on settlement agreement
At the request of the Chief and Council of the Woodland Cree Band
No. 474, the Regional Director General, Alberta Region, Indian and
Northern Affairs Canada has ordered a referendum, pursuant to the
Woodland Cree Indian Band Referendum procedures for voting on the
settlement agreement, for the purpose of the placing before the
electors of the Woodland Cree Band a proposal to approve the
settlement agreement. The approval of the agreement will be
subject to the terms and conditions in the settlement agreement
document which will be posted, along with a list of eligible
electors, on June 11, 1991, at the locations listed below.
The following question will be asked of the electors by secret
ballot:
Do you accept the terms of the settlement agreement between Canada
and the Woodland Cree Band No 474, attached to the list of electors
as Appendix "A" posted on June 11, 1991, in respect of the
provisions of Treaty No. 8, and do you authorize and direct the
Chief and Councillors of the Band to execute the settlement
agreement on behalf of the Band and undertake all activities
necessary to implement the settlement agreement?
Voting will take place on July 5th and 6th, 1991 from 9:00 a.m. to
7:00 p.m. at the following polling stations located in the Province
of Alberta:
The Band office of the Woodland Cree Band No. 474
at Cadotte Lake.
Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre 408 - 5 Avenue N.E., Slave Lake
Sagitawa Friendship Centre, 10108 - 100 Avenue, Peace River.
Canada Place, Main Lobby, 9700 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton.
Posting of the eligible voters list and proposed settlement
agreement, with attachments will be posted at the above locations
and at the Cadotte Lake Post Office, Slave Lake Post Office, Peace
River Post Office and in Edmonton at the Canadian Native Friendship
Centre, 11016 - 127 Street.
The settlement agreement may be viewed at the above posted voters
list locations on and after June 11, 1991. Copies are available,
on request, from the Woodland Cree Band Office, telephone (403)
629-3803, or from Roger Cardinal, Electoral Officer, Indian and
Northern Affairs Canada, #630 Canada Place, 9700 Jasper Avenue,
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4G2, telephone (403) 495-2080/2843.
Dated and Posted at Cadotte Lake, Alberta this 4th day of June
1991.
--- FD 1.99c
* Origin: Lubicon News Station: Edmonton, Alberta Canada (89:701/432)
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