INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CAUCUS AND GREENPEACE TO CONFRONT
ROMANOW ON MEADOW LAKE BLOCKADE
RCMP riot squads unwarranted at peaceful protest, activists say
(TORONTO) Thursday, 2 July, 1992 -- The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus
and Greenpeace will jointly confront Premier Romanow tomorrow in
Toronto at a first ministers meeting. The groups will demand that
the premier ensure the safety of the Aboriginal Elders and others
who have been peacefully blockading logging roads in northern
Saskatchewan. Late Tuesday night these 31 people were arrested.
Activists from the two groups condemn the use of force against the
people who have been occupying native land at Meadow Lake,
Saskatchewan for the past three weeks. On Tuesday night, people
from the Dene, Cree and Metis nations were arrested for protesting
the illegal clearcutting currently being conducted by NorSask
Forest Products.
"On Wednesday, 125 years were celebrated," said Milton Born with
a Tooth of the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus. "Does that mean that
125 years of oppression is legal?"
The groups will ask Premier Romanow to withdraw all RCMP forces,
drop charges against the protesters, and immediately begin
negotiations with the Elders to obtain a peaceful settlement over
the land dispute. The Elders have demanded that all clearcutting
in the region be stopped, and that the residents share joint
control of the natural resources, and receive assistance in
establishing sustainable logging practices.
"With Canada's forests already in a state of crisis the province
cannot in good conscience permit large-scale clearcut logging in
the Meadow Lake area," said Gord Perks, Greenpeace forest
campaigner.
500 YEARS END, 500 YEARS BEGIN
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Milton Born with a Tooth and Gord Perks through Greenpeace Canada
at 345-8408