August 12, 1991
Enclosed for your information is a copy of an editorial on the
Lubicon situation which appeared in the August 02, 1991, edition
of an aboriginal newspaper called "Windspeaker".
* * * * *
re-printed without permission from the "Windspeaker", August 02,
1991
EDITORIAL
LUBICON NATION BATTERED AND WEARY
The latest release from the Lubicon Lake Nation is a mixed read.
Through most of the 21 pages, the usual wit, sarcasm, strength
and defiance of the Lubicons shines through.
It reminds us the real issue faced by the northern Alberta nation
is the governments' unwillingness to settle the long-standing
land claim.
Meanwhile, as Ottawa drags its heels on this protracted dispute,
which spans five decades, it and the province of Alberta continue
to work with powerful international interests to see the
resources of the Lubicons continue to be harvested, filling the
pockets of both governments and the bank accounts of national and
international corporations.
To hell with the Lubicons, they say. Who cares if many members
of this nation have been forced on to welfare?
The spirits of some treaty Indians around the Lubicons like the
Woodland Crees and some of those of Loon Lake have grown weary.
That's understandable given the skill, might, power and money of
the governments and businesses waging war on this land and its
people.
But lest we focus on weary spirits let's not forget who invaded
whose territory. Let's not forget the Lubicons' traditional and
moral claim to this land regardless of the laws the white men
have written since their invasion to justify theft.
Let's remember the money to pay multimillion dollar settlements
like that now being enjoyed by Woodland Cree members flows from
the resources of the unceded Lubicon land. The government is
merely robbing Peter to pay Paul.
What's most significant in the Lubicons' latest document is this
nation too is weary, that governments and multinational
corporations might yet prevail in their war against "this
courageous little society".
The document predicts Daishowa, a Japanese multinational, will
launch a major logging offensive on unceded Lubicon land this
fall.
"If Daishowa cannot be decisively stopped, the result may well be
a fatal blow to the collective psyche of the already badly
battered and profoundly damaged Lubicon society," it says.
"It is not at all clear the Lubicon people are up to once again
leading the charge."
The Lubicons already face criminal charges in connection with a
"lightning surprise raid on a logging camp operating in unceded
Lubicon territory without Lubicon authorization" and now more
than ever they need their supporters to stand behind them.