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Edmonton, AB T6J 1A4
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FAX: 403-437-0719
November 22, 1992
Enclosed for your information is a newspaper article on recent hearings
of the Lubicon Settlement Commission of Review.
* * * * *
Alberta Native News, November, 1992
FEDERAL EXPERT SUPPORTS LUBICON CLAIMS
by Dale Stelter
A former federal justice minister has spoken out strongly in support of
the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation. E. Davie Fulton, who was a justice
minister in the Diefenbaker government and is a former justice of the
B.C. Supreme Court, also said that the Lubicons' request for $100-million
in compensation is reasonable and not exaggerated.
Fulton made his statements while appearing before the Lubicon Settlement
Commission of Review, on November 2nd in Edmonton. The non-partisan
commission was set up earlier this year by the Alberta New Democrats.
The Lubicon have been involved in a decades-long land rights dispute.
The federal government recently offered the Lubicon a settlement which it
claims is worth about $73-million. The Lubicon rejected the federal
offer, and are asking for about $170-million, an amount they say is
necessary to rebuild their community and gain self-sufficiency, after the
destruction of their traditional way of life by rampant oil and gas
development. Both sides agree on a 246 square kilometre reserve.
Fulton had been appointed in 1985 by the federal government to study the
Lubicon situation. He delivered a discussion paper about one year later,
but the paper was shelved and no action taken on it. Fulton's report
confirmed the position of the Lubicon that the oil and gas development
had had serious consequences upon the band. The report also contained
recommendations centering around allowing the Lubicon to regain control
over their own lives.
While appearing before the Commission of Review, Fulton had many harsh
words regarding the treatment of the Lubicon, and the "terribly
procrastinated" settlement of their land rights dispute. He said that
the situation faced by the Lubicon, and their increasing hardship, is
appalling. He also said that he would be prepared to consider any
request to help out in any way in bringing about a fair settlement.
The following day, the testimony of two independent cost assessors also
lent support to the Lubicon. It was shown that in terms of the money
needed for community, commercial, and agricultural construction, the
proposals put forth by the Lubicon are low by a significant factor. The
federal government has long said that the Lubicon are asking for too much
money.
Also appearing before the commission was John Goddard, author of the
highly-acclaimed book "Last Stand of the Lubicon Cree". Goddard spoke of
some of the background and research that went into the writing of the
book, and said that while he has been continually impressed by the
initiative and resourcefulness of the Lubicon, it has been a painful
experience watching the "incredible oppression that is really beyond my
imagination".
Goddard also detailed many of the controversial tactics the federal
government used in creating the Woodland Cree band. The creation of the
Woodland Cree has been widely criticized as a "divide-and-conquer"
maneuver, aimed at the Lubicon, on the part of the federal government.
Goddard said that the Commission of Review -- which is made up of a group
of citizens -- can take the Lubicon issue out of the hands of politicians
and bureaucrats, and offers hope for bringing about a fair and just
settlement.