[ I believe that the "Woodland Cree" represent a band created by the govern-
ment of Canada in order to produce agreements of this kind. I hope that
more details will be forthcoming from legitimate representatives of the
Lubicon people. --Gary ]
Woodland Cree Accept $56M deal
Former Lubicons in band that settled land claim with Ottawa
written by Don Thomas (Journal Staff writer)
Members of Alberta's newest Indian band are planning for new houses and
running water after overwhelmingly approving a land-claim agreement with the
federal government.
When the tally was in Saturday, 98.5 per cent of the 268 Woodland Cree members
who voted had endorsed the $56 million deal. The band has 670 members of whom
309 were eligible to vote.
The agreement also provides for at least 143 square km of land at Cadotte
Lake, 60 km east of Peace River.
After a formal signing of documents later this summer or fall, the band will
get down to the detailed planning for a community hall, new roads, piped water
and sewer and up to 150 new houses to be built in the next five years.
"We're going to benefit from this. We're talking about running water and
proper heating in the houses. We're still living, some of us, with space
heating and wood burners," says Chief John Cardinal.
"People lived like that 50 years ago. It would be a big change for Woodland."
The reserve includes part of the existing community of Cadotte Lake and is
away from the known oil and gas formations in the area. Most of the land is
useless for farming.
About $35 million is to be spent for housing, roads and other infrastructure.
The balance will be invested, with part of it used for new capital projects
and part to finance economic development projects.
The band was formally recognized by the federal government in August 1989
during protracted negotiations with the Lubicon Lake band at Little Buffalo,
20 km east of Cadotte Lake.
Cadotte Lake and Little Buffalo were among about 10 isolated communities that
joined together in the late 1970s to seek recognition from the federal
government.
As talks bogged down only the Lubicons at Little Buffalo continued the fight
in and out of court, at the United Nations, at the Winter Olympics in Calgary
in 1988 and at road barricade at Little Buffalo.
About 25 per cent of the Woodland Cree band are former members of the Lubicon
Lake bank including Chief John Cardinal.
The band is not recognized by the Indian Association of Alberta but that
doesn't bother Chief Cardinal.
"I really want to keep away from that. If I start talking about other Indian
organizations, I may say something bad and that's one thing we shouldn't be
doing.
"No matter what happens we've got the reserve now, the vote is yes and we're
going to continue on with our lives. What else is there to do?"