> Unfortunately, it's a style (divide and conquer) that the government
> has employed for more than a century. They are doing the same thing
> in the NWT -- they refuse to deal with the great majority of
> aboriginal people there because they refuse to sign a settlement that
> forces them to give up all their aboriginal rights -- and instead are
> dealing with those they determine to be "good little Indians". Not
> only are they working hard at it, but they are spending a small
> fortune doing it.
You're right about the Feds spending small fortunes on things that are
questionable at best. It seems that they're worried more about the speck in
the other person's eye than the plank in their's.
> We just learned that Calgary lawyer Brian Malone, who was appointed
> by the Mulroney government a couple of years ago as Lubicon
> negotiator, has recently been in the northern Alberta community of
> Loon Lake, where a lot of Lubicon members live. He had with him a
> lawyer from the same law firm that Calgary lawyer Bob Young is with.
> Bob Young is the lawyer hired and paid for by the Feds that was
> supposedly representing the Woodland Cree in negotiations with the
> Feds. They are approaching Lubicon members in Loon Lake and trying
> to talk them into transferring their membership to other Bands. One
> old woman, an 83 year old who lives in an unheated shack all winter
> long, was told by these government agents that she couldn't get any
> help with housing unless she agreed to transfer to the Bigstone or
> Whitefish Lake Bands! She refused. But not all can hold up under
> such pressure tactics. Witness the Woodland Cree.
It's sad that the Feds would stoop to goon tactics to try and get their
way, but I suppose that if it worked in the past for them, they'll keep on
trying it until it doesn't work anymore.
> As a taxpayer, I would love to know how much Brian Malone and Bob
> Young and federal p.r. man Ken Colby have made the last few years
> working against aboriginal people on behalf of the federal government
> and paid for with my tax money!!
Probably about the same as the total budget for some developing countries.
> By the way, nice to see some new (at least to me) people
> participating here for a change. This echo has been way too quiet
> the last while.
Well, I've been reading the echo for quite a while, and have left a message
or two, but that's been a little over a year ago. Your postings hit a sore
spot. I didn't really know the details before. I've heard some general
stories on the news. Anyways, the detailed information got me and I had to
leave my two bits worth. I can't stand anybody getting the shaft for any
reason. There is _always_ some solution that can be had. It may not contain
everything that both sides want, but then, one has to give a little to get
a little, right?
Anyways, I'll turn you loose for now. Good chatting with you. Have a
gooder!
Take care.
--- FD 1.99c
* Origin: Sweetgrass *HST* Mail Box Edmonton, Alta. (89:701/511)
-- Walter Medak via oneb.wimsey.bc.ca!onebdos Walter.Medak@f511.n701.z89.imex.org