CANADA P 5 TAG E P

of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Ministere des Affaires et du Nord canadien Vol. Fourteen, No. Three Ottawa, Canada June, 1971 IA . 59' I >

NATIONAL INDIAN BROTHERHOOD

MEETS AT REGINA

The Indian Association of Al- rights. David Ahenekew, President berta has chosen to "refrain from of the Federation of Saskatchewan active participation in the National Indians, told the news conference Indian Brotherhood, especially the that in principle, he fully agreed with activities of the National Committee the position taken by Alberta on Indian Rights and Treaties." The Indians. move developed after prolonged questioning by the I.A.A., of Na- The Alberta decision drew strong tional Committee expenditures reaction from George Manuel, Presi- which Alberta leader Harold Car- dent of the N. I. B. and from the dinal termed unjustifiable, during Union of British Columbia Indian debate at the July 14th to 16th gene- Chiefs. Manuel told the assembly ral assembly of the National Indian that "political parochialism of pro- Brotherhood held in Regina. Car- vincial members of the National In- dinal then led the Alberta delega- dian Brotherhood is outweighing tion out of the meeting after voting concern for individual Indian's needs in the minority, against a resolution to know what his treaty rights are .. . which gave the N.l.B. the mandate and . that political success in pro- to channel research funds from the vinces ought to be forgotten in fa- Privy C ouncil to the provincial or- vour of national concern for these ganizations. The Federation of Sas- rights." Mr. Manuel expressed katchewan Indians, hosts of the concern that there must be a coor- dination of effort at the national meeting, abstained from this par- Vine Deloria Jr., author, lawyer, Sioux: "It's not a matter of how discour- ticular vote. level to avoid duplication of costly research and that one Indian group aged you get about what your national organization is doing or how many Cardinal later told newsmen that ups and downs it has, you simply have to have a national organization where "the Indian Association of Alberta could not proceed on its own without affecting the stands taken by other you are facing a federal government as large as you are. So all those years is questioning its mandate in relation in the future when you get disgusted and tired, you come in and one poli- to changes in the National Indian organizations. Many of the treaty areas cover more than one province. tical group has control of it and it doesn't look like it is going to do this or Brotherhood. Since we have no di- do that, and there are complaints about it being not at the grass roots or rection from the chiefs we have no He reiterated that the provincial organizations were free to do their being too grass rootsey or too articulate or not articulate, stay with the choice but to refrain from active national organization and build it because you never know when you are participation." He went on to state own research. going to need it." - Deloria's words to the N .I. B. o . that at a later joint meeting with "We think that now the Depart- the Federation of Saskatchewan ment of Indian Affairs must be Indians, the question of whether the laughing, for once again Indians in N. I. B. should be a centralized or de- Canada are fighting amongst them- How the Whites .Tamed th e Wild West centralized organization; would be selves," followed the Union of Brit- discussed. · He stated emphatically ish Columbia Indian Chiefs in a later that the Alberta association was a press statement. "Mr. Cardinal, Hungry for fur s and land, the protest by Indians across the coun- decentralized organization. "The it must be remembered when the white men headed West. It didn't try. General Assembly decision to create National Indian Brotherhood was take long for these aggressive pio- With still photos, paintings . and neers to chop their way through the d h film a central approach makes the N a- in its weak formative stages, used wilderness the Indians called home. narrate quotes, t e attempted tional Indian Brotherhood compar- the Association when the feeling to depict the various tribes of the Within a few decades, the Hudson's Prairies and British Columbia. For able to the Dept. of Indian Affairs moved him, and constantly dictated Bay and Northwest Trading com- 15 or 20 minutes, the film paints a where all decisions are channelled to the executive and the assembly panies had dotted the pays. sauvage co condesending view . quaint b.ut through an Ottawa bureaucracy. with his amateur theatrics and With forts, filled .them with guns people. Bureaucracies are insensitive and threats of withdrawal .. . now, like and pitted the tribes against o . . . . dictatorial to people at the grass a small boy he has stated by his another for the profit of stockho . 'Dusky Indian maidens . could in London or Montreal. . be bought for buttons d left level. A change from a white withdrawal that if you won't play heartbroken.· with a basta - son _brown bureaucracy 1s no my way, then I will take my ball The daring exploits of th se in- from one of those fearless plorers Cardinal charged. and bat and go home." The state- trepid explorers formed the bject or trappersso much honored ed by the Indian Association of Al- ment went on: "If every time a party matter for a CTY documecolony-lovingmentary European natiOns. will go directly to the Privy is in the disgrunted minority they film, The Taming of the Cana 1 . Years later, these Metis offspring, il for one million dollars for choose to walk out there is no as- West, recently rebroadcast on the brown" or "bois- :h into treaty and aboriginal (see page 6) national network despite a year of

l ' . . CAl. IA . 5 9 v• .> Page Two 1 /AN NEWS June, 1971 I IIIII IaI;)/I~/~l ~187II I II/~/ ~011l~l /ll /ll75294l l l/1~111 ~ Ill/ ~4 1b UN JEUNE MONTAGNAIS VA EN IRAN

-=--" -~ C'est le jeune Roland Dominique, chance. Montagnais de Ia bande de Scheffer­ Roland est le fils d' Emond et de ville, qui a ete choisi pour repre­ ·Philomene Dominique, de la bande senter sa race au 2500e anniversaire de Schefferville (Quebec). Edmond, de Ia fondation de \'empire d'Iran, age de trente ans, est chauffeur de en octobre. Les quatre races du carnian de son metier, et Philomene monde seront representees par des est Ia fille de Mathieu Andre, chef gan;onnets qui auront 2500 jours a de Ia bande des Montagnais de Ia date de Ia ceremonie. lis sont Schefferville. Le couple a trois au­ done tous nes le meme jour, le 9 de­ tres enfants: un garc;on de trois ans, cembre 1964: il y en a un du Japon, et deux filles, Normande et Chantal, un autre de la Nigeria, et le troi­ agees respectivement de quatre et sieme est lranien. Un des parents de deux ans. Roland l'accompagnera en Iran. La bande de Schefferville compte L'imperatrice Farah Pahlav Shah­ environ 750 membres qui parlent banov a presente le jeune Roland au l'un des 51 dialectes algonquins. Le monde, lors d'un~ ceremonie tenue franc;ais est leur seconde langue. II a la Place des Nations de Terre des se trouve aussi a cet endroit des Hommes, a Montreal, le 23 juin. Au Nascapie et un groupe important Bien que l'avenir de Roland soit assure, son pere insiste pour lui enseigner cours de Ia presentation, elle a de­ d' Algonquins. son metier. (LA PRESSE) clare que Ia famille royale d'lran paierait \'education de Roland, au Roland parte franc;ais, mais pre­ Canada, tant au niveau elementaire fere sa propre langue. II termine LES INDIENS DE LA C.-B. que secondaire. S'il desire frequenter actuellement Ia maternelle. Ses PRESENTENT UN TOTEM A TOUS LES CANADIENS l'universite, ses etudes seront aussi institutrices, Mme Norma Cyr et payees par la famille royale. II aura Mlle Celine Houle, le considerent Pour souligner le centenaire de la de la societe canadienne, mais que, egalement Ia possibilite de visiter comme un enfant "calme, timide, Colombie-Britannique, un groupe pour bien les accueillir, cette so­ le pays des garc;ons qui partagent sa mais a \'esprit curieux." d'lndiens Kwakiutl de cette province ciete doit reconnaitre les valeurs sont venus a Ottawa, le 20 juillet inherentes a la culture des premiers dernier, afin de presenter un mat habitants du pays. totemique a la population cana­ dienne. Le gouvernement de Ia Co­ M. Wesley Black, secretaire de Ia lombie-Britannique avait confie a province de Colombie-Britannique, M . Henry Hunt, d'Alert Bay, le soin a profite de !'occasion pour remer­ de sculpter un totem rappelant le . cier publiquement le gouvernement centieme anniversaire de l'integra­ federal de son cadeau de $10 mil­ tion de Ia province au Canada. lions. De ce montant, $2\;2 millions Treize artistes indiens avaient ete seront affectes ala construction d'un ainsi charges par le gouvernement Musee de l'art des Indiens du Nord­ de sculpter des totems destines a Ouest, lequel sera erige sur le ter­ etre presentes, le 20 juillet, a cha­ rain de l'universite de Ia Colombie­ cune des provinces et aux Territoires Britannique a Vancouver. Le nou­ du Nord-Ouest. veau musee abritera une collection d'oeuvres artistiques des lndiens Dans une breve ceremonie qui du Nord-Ouest, collection qui est s'est deroulee au pare de la Con­ consideree comme l'une des plus federation, a Ottawa, !'honorable belles du continent. Arthur Laing, ministre des Travaux publics, a accepte le mat totemique Parlant au nom de son mari, Mme au nom du Canada. 11 a declare que Henry Hunt a explique les figures ce totem lui paraissait le symbole reproduites sur le totem du pare de des liens etroits qui unissent l'homme Ia Confederation. Le corbeau qui a Ia nature. II a ajoute que les au­ domine le mat est l'embleme de la tochtones se sont adaptes sans diffi­ famille. Hunt; l'ours, au centre, re­ cultes a cette meme nature. "Depuis presente la beaute et, finalement, le deux generations, nous les Blancs, serpent a deux tetes est le symbole avons vecu un genre de vie artifi­ de plusieurs families indiennes. cielle", a-t-il ajoute. "Maintenant, nous nous efforc;ons de nous rap­ Le sculpteur, M. Henry Hunt, procher de la nature sans y reussir etait un protege du chef Mungo v raiment." Martin, jusqu'a la mort de ce dernier en 1962. Le chef Martin, maitre­ C'est M . James Se.wid qui, a titre sculpteur chez les Kwakiutl, pas­ de chef de la bande d'Alert Bay sait pour l'un des meilleurs sculp­ (C.-B.), dirigeait la delegation venue teurs de mats totemiques de Ia Co­ a Ottawa. Dans son allocution, il a lombie-Britannique. Certaines de declare notamment: "Quand \'horn­ ses oeuvres peuvent etre admirees me blanc vint sur nos rives, nous lui dans toutes les collections d'art avons ouvert les bras. A son contact, de Ia cote du Nord-Ouest, tant au nous avons appris beaucoup de Canada qu'a l'etranger. choses, mais il a appris de nous bien M. et madame Henry Hunt, de Ia nation Kwakiutl, se tiennent avec fierte des choses egalement." Le chef La ceremonie s'est terminee par devant le totem sculpte par M. Hunt., apres le devoilement d'une plaque a Sewid a affirme que les Indiens une danse traditionnelle qu'ont Ia base de cette piece monumentale. veulenr devenir une partie integrante executee les delegues Kwakiutl.

------June, 1971 THE INDIAN NEWS Page Three

Editor DAVID MONTURE First. Your Great Mother, the Queen, wishes to do justice to all her chil- dren alike. She will deal fairly with those of the setting sun, just as she would Editorial Assistant - MICHELE TETU with those of the rising sun. She wishes order and peace to reign ·through all her country, and while her arm is strong to punish the wicked man, her hand The Indian News is a publication devoted to news about Indians and is also open to reward the good man everywhere in her Dominions. Indian communities in Canada and is a vehicle for the free expression of viewpoints and opinions held by Indian people. The opinions and state- Your Great Mother wishes the good of all races under her sway. She ments contained in its pages are not necessarily those of the Department wishes her red children to be happy and contented. She wishes them to live in of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, which produces this publica- confort. She would like them to adopt the habits of the whites, to til/land tion each month for free distribution to Indians and other interested persons and raise food, and store it up against a time of want. She thinks this would and organizations. Any article may be reproduced provided credit is given be the best thing for her red children to do, that it would make them safer the author or this paper. from famine and distress, and make their homes more comfortable. 400 Laurier Ave. W ., Room 360, Ottawa, K1 A OH4, 995-6386 But the Queen, though she may think it good for you to adopt civilized habits, has no idea of compelling you to do so. This she leaves to your choice, and you need not live like the white man unless you can be persuaded to do so with your own free will. Many of you, however, are already doing this. Letters to the Editor I drove yesterday through the village below this Fort. There I saw many well built houses, and many well tilled fields with wheat and barley and po- tatoes growing, and giving promise of plenty for the winter to come. The people who till these fields and live in these houses are men of your own race I should be very grateful indeed if rural and reserve enterprises and em- and they show that you can live and prosper and provide like the white man. you would be good enough to add ployment relocation and training my name and address to your mail- opportunities, education programs, What I saw in my drive is enough to prove that even if there was not a ing list. From what I've seen of the health matters, Indian administra- buffalo or a fur bearing animal in the country, you could live and be sur- publication, it seems to me a vehicle tion and organization - indeed, rounded with comfort by what you can raise from the soil. in which Indians are able to express any facet at all on the Canadian themselves without Departmental Your Great Mother, therefore, will lay aside for you "Lots" of land to interference or pressure. Perhaps picture, back in the past, present and future trends. be used by you and your children forever. She will not allow the white man I'm wrong; I sincerely hope not. to intrude upon these Lots. She will make rules to keep them for you, so that, John McCombie For your readers' background, as long as the sun shall shine, there shall be no Indian who has not a place Scholastic Book Services let me assure them that much of any that he can call his home, where he can go and pitch his camp, or if he choos- Richmond Hill, Ontario information received would be no- es, build his house and ·till his land. ticed by our two main Aboriginal These reserves will be large enough, but you must not expect them to be We would aQpreciate* * * receiving the groups, the National Tribal Council of Aborigines and the Federal Coun- larger than will be enough to give a farm to each family, where farms shall Indian News, a house organ for the be required. They will enable you to earn a living should the chase fail, and Department of Indian Affairs, a cil for the advancement of Abori- should you choose to get your living by tilling, you must not expect to have monthly newsletter which gives offi- gines and Torres Strait Islanders included in your reserve more of hay grounds than will be reasonably suffi- cial government policy on Indian FCAATSI, as well as our own or- cient for your purposes in case you adopt the habits offarmers. The old set- Affairs. ganizations, which are State oriented .. tlers and the settlers that are coming in, must be dealt with on the principles James L. Williams, Principal, Before I close, we here would of fairness and justice as well as yourselves. Your Great Mother knows no difference between any of her people. Another thing I want you to think over Millbrook High School appreciate addresses of all the major is this: in . laying aside these reserves, and in everything else that the Queen Millbrook, Ontario. and other Indian bodies in Canada, shall do for you, you must understand that she can do for you no more than * * * if this is possible. she has done for her red children in the East. If she were to do more for you, Dear Sir, In conclusion, let me express my that would be unjust for them. She will not do less for you because you are her children alike and she must treat you all alike. I am writing for a number of rea- personal thanks and I feel Austra- sons concerning international Abori- lia's appreciation of the high and When you have made your Treaty you will still be free to hunt much of ginal Affairs, with respect to you honest information, especially about the land included in the Treaty. Much of it is rocky and unfit for cultivation, Indian Canadians and us Aboriginal Harold Cardinal - he's the greatest much of it that is wooded is beyond the places where the white man will re- Australians. Native in the world - and the No- quire to go at all events for some time to come. Till these lands are needed for use you will be free to hunt over them, and make all the use ofthem which It would be good if this letter vember 1970 "Brown Paper" ac- cepted in principle by B.C. Indians, you have made in the past. But when lands are needed to be tilled or occupied, could be published in The Indian you must not go on them· any more. There will still be plenty of land that is News so that better communications that appear regularly in Indian News. is international. With best neither tilled nor occupied where you can go and roam and hunt as you have could be achieved, thank you. It always done, and, if you wish to farm, you will go to your own reserve where As an . Aboriginal Representative wishes. you will find a place ready for you to live on and cultivate. (or Chief as you would call us), I David R. Anderson am especially wanting to receive all Member for Mallee Region There is another thing I have to say to you. Your Great Mother cannot the information that is possible di- South East Australia come here herself to talk with you, but she has sent a messenger who has her rect from the many Indian, Eskimo Aboriginal Affairs Advisory confidence. and Metis organizations, groups, Council etc., in Canada and the Territories. Mr. Simpson will tell you truly all her wishes. As the Queen has made Box 128 P.O. Mildura her choice of a Chief to represent her, you must, on your part, point out to I would ·be willing to pay postage 3500, Victoria, Australia us the Chiefs you wish to represent you, as the persons you have faith in. costs if required. We here, as you might know, or Mr. Simpson cannot talk to all your braves and people, but when he are interested to learn, are vitally I read with agreement the poem "They'll ask your number" and talks to Chiefs who have your confidence he is talking to you all, and when concerned with Land Rights and the more recently, Miss Tetu's "Hello, he hears the voice ofone ofyour Chiefs whom you name he will hear the voice need for a Bicultural integration my name is Mary. I am an alco- of you all. It is for you to say who shall talk for you, and also who shall be policy; yes, even in South East Aus- holic." I appreciated Gordon Mill- your chief men. Let them be good Indians, who know your wishes and whom tralia, where most of our full-bloods er's reply to something he could not you have faith in. have since gone under a genocidal agree with. Personally, I liked the assimilation set of policies. As well poem and the attempt to verbalize You will look to the Commissioner to fulfil everything he agrees to do, a feeling . Sometimes our people and the Queen will look to the Chiefs you name to us, to see that you keep as seeking knowledge and your your parts of the agreement. readers' understanding and experi- have difficulty expressing their prob- lems verbally - and in reading an ence of these important subjects, It is our wish to deal with you fairly and frankly. we would like details on urban social article or poem such as this, it helps problems, community development, (see page 7) - An address before the signing ofTREA TY NUMBER 0 N E Page Four THE INDIAN NEWS June, 1971

from the U.S. -

. INDIANS: THE FIRST ENVIRONMENTALISTS by Dee Brown

(Reprinted with permissio n from T he New York Times)

URBANA, Ill. When a giant try," Bear Tooth said to a group of coal corporation recently approach- commissioners from Washington. ed the Navahos and Hopis for strip It is ironic that after almost 500 mining rights to Black Mesa on years of attempting to destroy both their Arizona reservation, the In- the American earth and the civiliza- dians' first concern was not the tion of the American Indian, the money they would receive, but the oppressors are discovering that they damage that might be done to their now need the Indian to save them land. No people in the United States from themselves. America still has need money more than these Indians, national forests, parks, and wilder- whose family incomes average less ness areas, but everywhere they are than $3,000 a year, yet they refused under growing pressures of destruc- to sign until they secured a binding tion. Excessive timber cutting, reck- agreementthat Black Mesa would be less mineral exploitation, damming returned to them "in as good con- and pollution of wild rivers, extinc- dition as received," the terrain re- tion of wildlife all proceed apace. placed, and native vegetation re- If the Government could persuade planted. various Indian tribes to take over protection of these last natural para- Even after this guarantee, a con- dises, perhaps they could be saved. siderable number of tribesmen re- main opposed to the deal, seeing it There are many non-Indians who as a betrayal of the land left to them are a rdent conservationists, of by their ancestors, and fearing the course, but non-Indians always white man's curse of polluted water seem to be making a conscious ef- and air. fort to respect the earth. Indian respect for the earth is instinctive, Ever since their first contact with and if we may judge from the past, invaders from Europe, American In- the Black Hills would be much safer dians have been puzzled by the white in the care of the Sioux than under man's apparent contempt for the Government management. After all, earth. Conservation has always been the Black Hills are Sioux territory an important part of Indian culture, through the Treaty of 1868, and it and their recorded history reflects would be especially fitting for Custer this basic need to work in harmony State Park to be protected by In- with nature. dians.

"The measure of the land and the Similarly the Cherokees, who measure of our bodies is the same exist just outside the Great Smoky The Raven, crest ofthe Huntfamily, staresfrom atop the 16-foot totem pole Joseph of the Nez Perce said in Mountains National Park, might be persuaded to preserve that priceless given to Canada in July by the Kwakiutls to commemorate British Colum- 1g 77 . When he was asked to sur- bia's entry into Confederation. Henry Hunt, who carved the pole, recentiy render Nez Perce land for settle- ,area. The Crows and Cheyennes ment, he protested that he had no could save Yellowstone Park; the came to Ottawa fQr the ceremony in Confederation Park, accompanied by right to do so. "The one who has the Nez Perce and Blackfeet could de- his wife and son, Tony, and Mr. and Mrs. James Sewid. fend Snake River and Glacier Park; right to dispose of it is the one who How The Whites Tamed The Wild West has created it," he said, and then the Iroquois, what is left of New added prophetically: "We are con- York State's parkland and forests. (Continued/rom Page One) tented to let things remain as the brules" by their paleface fathers, as they faced Canada's cold winters Great Spirit made them. The white Perhaps the tribes would not be were to _rise with the Plains_ Indians of starvation, the Prairies' mosquito- men are not, and will change the willing to take on this formidable in hostile frustration agamst the infested swamps and the treacherous nvers and mountains if they do not mission. In a way it would be like white intruders. mountain ledges of B.C. suit them." starting the Indian Wars all over Drunken braves who were driven And as they rolled across the land, again for them to defend the na- to a fierce frenzy by the poisonous the white men gave the Indians the Satanta of the Kiowas often tion's last natural treasures from firewater of white exploiters the dreaded smallpox. Omikewin, as the scolded Government bureaucrats descending hordes of vandals. But same kind that still laughs at the natives called it, "wiped out entire for the settlers' mistreatment of the situation is desperate, and the gullible native who traded valuable tribes and left the gulches reeking the Southern Plains environment. Government should use all powers of pelts for a few trinkets and some with the sour smell of death." "This country is old," he told persuasion, even to guaranteeing the hootch. And the trusting chiefs who General Winfield Hancock, "but you Indians a decent standard of living signed away their lands for empty The missionaries came too are cutting off the timber, and now for their services. This time instead treaty promises. Catholics and Protestants deter- the country is of no account at all." of red men calling on the Great mined to show the "pagan" Indians A sketchy, but sensationalist out- the light of Christianity. Some re- On another occasion he complained White Father, delegations of white line follows, relating the escapades of how soldiers were stripping pro- chiefs may be journeying to the ligious men, such as Father La- and bloodthirsty bravado of those combe, realized although far too tective timber cover from the courses reservations to ask for help from the men who beat a path to the Pacific of vital streams, and of their slaugh- Great Red Fathers. late the harm they had done in Ocean. They fought together or be- converting the Indians into "a do- ter of buffalo for sport. "Has the A.I.P.A. trayed each other for furs and forts, white man become a child," he cile, reverent and teachable band asked, "that he should recklessly of aboriginal men." Unwittingly, kill and not eat? When the red men said the film narrator, they were s_lay game, they do so that they may . . . "A little while and Crowfoot will be gone from among you whither, the shock troops of the white man's hve and not starve." he cannot tell. From nowhere we come, intd nowhere we go. What is life? conquest. It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the The last half of the documentary In Wyoming as early as 1867, the winter time. It is as the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses glorified William Cornelius Van Crows protested the white man's itself in the sunset. My children, I have spoken." Horne, the Yankee "Whipcracker" destruction of their ecology. "Your young men have run over our coun- .. . . Crowfoot, before his death, 1890. (see page 6) June, 1971 THE INDIAN NEWS Page Five

the recent Regina General Assembly not under the impression that we AN INTERVIEW WITH of the National Indian Brotherhood? want to live on reserves. Or they We saw a situation where one of the might think that we may want to be- provincial organizations, the Indian come registered Indians or that we Association of Alberta, over the may want some of the money that Tony Belcourt issue that treaty research funding Indian Affairs is pouring out. Well was to be channeled through the none of this is true. We do not want N . I. B., chose to as they termed, "re- any of these things and in law it's Tony Belcourt, 28, (rom the Metis community of Lac Ste. Anne, Al- frain from active participation until not possible to do any of these things berta, is the president of the Native further consultation with the chiefs." anyway. And I'm wondering if In- Council of Canada which represents It amounted to a walkout on the dian Affairs hasn't been suggesting Canada's estimated 250,000 Metis meeting. At this time arose the ques- these very things to the status peo- and non-status Indians. tion of whether the N. I. B. would ple? If they listen, then Indian Af- continue as a strong coordinating fairs has been successful in causing The Metis say of themselves: structure operating within the con- conflict and I know there already is . "Since we could never claim the pro- text of national unity among the I know there are some leaders who tection of the Indian Treaties, we provincial organizations. Do you have already expressed this view - were forced by law either to partici- feel that perhaps both the positions 'why worry about the non-status pate in the Euro-Canadian culture, of the Indian Association of Alberta Indians'?' which took possession of our an- and the N.I.B. have been compro- cestral lands and which seldom mised by this move? wanted and never accepted us, or to But what's happening is that it's attempt to live in a legal non-culture, going to weaken the total native the latter choice generally being ac- da have recently received $1 million A. In reply to this question, I have voice by dividing us. Now with the cepted, we have become the focal dollars in funding through the De- to make it clear that my answer is Privy Council insisting that treaty partment of the Secretary of State point of racism, prejudice and hatred not in an official capacity because research funding be channeled for core and communications opera- . . . we have been forced, through I don't have an official connection through the N.I.B., what is going to tions. history to live on the fringes of two with the registered Indians or the happen if the Indian Association of societies, unaccepted by one, unable In this interview Mr. Belcourt N.l.B. But I do have an interest be- Alberta and the Federation of Sas- to be accepted by the other." talks of the "Non-people", their cause after all, we are all native katchewan Indians pull out? There aspirations and claims. Again, the people in this country and sometime is no longer a National Indian The Metis organizations in Cana- Church comes into the discussion. along the way we've got to get to- Brotherhood, all because of a matter of whose going to be giving out the Q. Could you define for me the term who native people are. They don't gether, not necessarily by joining money. "Non-people" and explain the rami- know the community setups which in each others organizations, but by fications this word has for non- many cases are governed by the cooperating on certain issues so status Indian people in Canada priest or the Hudson's Bay agent that we can gain the maximum bene- Q. I suppose to control people, the today? or the R.C.M.P. And these teachers fit by our total numbers. best thing to do is to organize them. sometimes disru t whole communi- I'm wondering if Indian people have A. Everyone knows of the existence now organized themselves Trfto a ties. It hurt really, to see what hap- of the Department of Indian Affairs controllable state competing for pened in Regina. I agree that both and its registration of approximately Well, our people deserve a better funds? In Canada, even our revolu- the positions of the Indian Associa- 246,000 native people in bands and education than that. If the Canadian tionaries are subsidized. What are tion of Alberta and the N . I. B. had International Development Agency, your comments? on reserves. But there is a large merit but as I said when I spoke to segment of the actual native popula- for instance, can spend 12 million the N.I.B., I sensed since I've been tion, more than one half, which is dollars to recruit the best crop of in Ottawa, the fact that there could A. I haven't yet been close enough not registered with Indian Affairs teachers and send them to other be some forces in the government to the status Indians' organizations and in many cases is unaccepted by eountries of the world, why can't that might turn around and easily to comment much further. As a mat- registered bands or the Euro-Cana- our own native people get good undermine the native organizations ter of fact we have a bureaucratic dians. Consequently we have about teachers? We need teachers just as because after all we are giving them organization ourselves. Our basis of 300,000 people living in a vacuum. bad as the people of Tanzania. It's some problems. And I think it's the organization lies in our Locals where a rip-off, the whole CIDA organiza- old rule of divide and conquer. the people in the communities elect Q. What programs has the Native tion as far as I'm concerned. In the their representative executive; presi- Council of Canada entered into to meantime we get teachers who know dent and vice-president - parallel date? The organization has received nothing of our people, our ways, When it came to registered In- to chiefs and councillors on reserves. grants, not enough to do the job, but our aspirations. dians, I warned them that we must When our meetings are held the exe- I think you were quoted in the papers avoid competition between status cutives meet, much the same as with describing programs in the field of Q. You feel then that what regis- and non-status Indian groups and the chiefs' conferences on a pro- education. What has developed? tered Indians are saying is wrong stay away from over centralizing the vincial basis. The provincial organi- with our educational system has N.I.B. Let's put it this way - In zations then choose a national exe- A. This is one area (education) the same relevance to non-status Canada there are more than 500,000 cutive. It's basically the same as that's reserved by constitution ex- Indians? identifiable native people, living with the Indian organizations. But, clusively for provincial governments unlike any others in Canada. Of when you start taking over existing as far as ·non-status peopie are con- A. We're talking about the same this number less than one half are government programs, it could be cerned and so our provincial Metis people. There's little difference - registered with Indian Affairs. Now dangerous. We plan to build our own and Non-status Indian organizations cultural differences, yes, in some Indian Affairs this year has a budget programs and the only one that is work in the area of education .... areas because the people have been of 300 million dollars for less than going to build them will be us. Most of our communities are in the forced to live apart. But the psy- one half of the native population and northern part of the provinces and chological factors concerning all their programs haven't been terribly Q. You've chosen to remain a politi- the only teachers that will go into native people in terms of education successful, so naturally the tendency cal lobbying force then, more so these communities are those that and their socio-economic position in would be to put down the non-status than a service organization? have recently immigrated to the Canada are much the same. Indian organizations so they do not become country and need some Canadian ex- Affairs does provide some benefits powerful enough for the country to perience before they'll be accepted to registered Indians and they have listen. A. Most definitely. I don't see our in the major cities. So they ship ·band funds which Metis and non- national organization having a num- them off up north with a couple of status Indians do not have access At present we have nothing to do ber of departments doing different days of so-called orientation at a to. And everybody knows how bad it with the Department of Indian Af- types of work. The action is in the university. First of all these people is for the Indians. The Metis are fairs, we never get any money from communities. As far as I'm con- are not aware of Canadian customs worse off. their budgets and we never will. And cerned, at our level, it is understood and a northern way of life and in the we do not want it either. I hope that that I do service work for the pro- second place they don't even know Q. What were your observations of the status Indian organizations are (see page 6) Page Six THE INDIAN NEWS June, 1971

libel a living person, and that it Blackfoot Sun Dance are portrayed dealt with a long-past era, not with in the movie as senseless, barbaric How the Whites Tamed the Wild West Indian affairs today. rites performed out of blind super- (Continued from Page Four) stition or savagery. The book takes So the program was reshown - time to put these customs in con- who pushed the Canadian Pacific Mr. Karswick also said he had with one concession - the inclusion text, to some extent, pointing out Railway across Canada. The ambi- received a telegram from Indian of a 40-second introduction explain- that Indians had their own moral tious and tyrannical Van Horne en- Affairs Minister Jean Chretien, ing that it was not CTV's intention precepts, values and religions. couraged and subsidised settlers to to "embarrass" the Indians of Cana- outlining a letter sent by the minister And Rasky writes beautifully - fill up the western land. He bought to the president of the CTV network, da. off "troublesome" Indians with even if he does seem to over-laud Murray Chercover. Author Rasky was apparently the exploits of white pioneers. The tobacco and railway passes and confused that the TV show, but not eventually they were pushed off their book is worth reading for its in - The letter said: "In the light of the book, had been so heavily pro- credible, often amusing anecdotes. own territory onto the small parcels strong objections which have been tested. It treats people and subject with a of land called reserves. raised by the Indian people, I ask sensitivity and objectivity sadly But the book at least gives a two- that you review your decision to lacking from the televized version . Although acknowledged in refined sided picture. Whereas the film re-screen the film in July." Granted, any one who already has an circles as a connoisseur of art, Van quotes someone as saying Indian overall knowledge of Indian-white Horne was not averse to spending women are destitute of real beauty, Mr. Chretien's letter said the history in the west or a balanced, millions of dollars and thousands of primary objection is that the film bowlegged and with ''breasts hang- healthy set of values would see lives to satisfy his obsession to "reinforces in the public mind im - ing down to their belt," the book through the 'magnificent' deeds of stretch the railway to the Pacific pressions about the native people's balances any such negative remarks those who tamed the wild West. But coast. As the film says, the true culture in North America which can with admiring views like that of ex- bigotry, the product of fear and heroes of the Rockies were the Chi- only do harm to the efforts by In - plorer Alexander Mackenzie who ignorance, still abounds. The docu- nese coolies imported by Van Horne, dian leaders to revitalize in their said that 'their' women were comely mentary and the failure to prevent whose blood greased the steel track young people a pride in their heri- and that the regularity of their fea- along and across the mountain gor- tage and to gain. the recognition and tures would be acknowledged by the its rebroadcast, are just another re- minder that the Indians of Canada ges of B.C . respect of non- Indian people for the most civilized people of Europe. still have a long fight ahead of them. many contributions that Indian cul- But the film finishes dramati- tures have made .. . " Tribal ceremonies su ch as the - Michele Tetu cally - putting a tear in every pa- triotic eye - with a tribute to Van Arthur Weinthal, CTV's national Horne, who had "fulfilled the dream program director, told The Indian that had fevered the imagination of News that the network remained BELCOURT every explorer . .. He had discovered firm in its decision to rebroadcast the Northwest Passage .. . and in the program since most of the criti- doing so he had forged the steel cism concerned bits and pieces re- vin cial organizations and lobby here The people are wondering about bonds of Canada's nationhood." peated from ·the film out of context. and there to get things for the pro- this promise. The Dominion Lands All the remarks on the sound track vincial groups, not for the national Act for instance, promised one mil- Based on Frank Rasky's book of labelled racist by the protesters, organization. lion, four thousand acres to the the same name, The Taming of the he pointed out, were not editorial, Metis in Manitoba and research has Q. Would you suggest that non- Canadian West was first shown in but rather consisted of direct quotes discovered that only 800,000 acres status Indians have had less prob- March 1970. Several Indian groups from the journals of trappers, sur- was allotted. Now where did the lems in unifying than what we've protested that the documentary de- veyors, priests and others who were other 600,000 acres go? What about in the West at the time. seen from registered Indian groups scribes Indians as "filthy creatures the Metis in Saskatchewan that abounding with vermin" and depicts to date? were promised land in treaties and them as savage, cruel, drunken, de- Mr. Weinthal insisted he had been A. At this point in time, we haven't generate and gullible. perfectly willing to discuss the pro- land acts? Obviously there are many gram with the Indian groups and to had too many problems. Every or- unsettled questions. So what we've A petition complaining that the change or delete any part which they ganization, I don't care what it is, got today is a situation where all film was "inaccurate, biased and could prove to him was racist. has its internal politics. We all know Crown land in Canada is vested with blatantly racist" and asking as- that every member of the Liberal the power of the provinces. Now surance that it would not be shown But Mr. Weinthal's very definite party doesn't necessarily support we've got a problem. There's no again, was sent to the Canadian opinion on the matter would seem to the views of the Prime Minister. question that our people want the Radio-Television Commission by preclude any changes of the sort. But by and large, as far as organizing land they are entitled to - absolute- the National Indian Brotherhood, "If there is anything racist about and rallying behind certain causes ly no question. The Native Council the Union of Ontario Indians, the the film," he said, "it's that it shows which are close to everyone's hearts of Canada has got to take up the Canadian Indian Centre of Toronto, the arrogance and stupidity of the and souls, we haven't had any prob- the Institute for Indian Studies, white men who were callous to the question. Today many of our people lems at this point. We do not have the Indian-Eskimo Association of Indian in the course of the building (see page 7) Canada and the Ontario Native De- of the Canadian West." any divisions because of treaties velopment Fund. or not having treaties, points which CARDINAL WITHDRAWS A few days before the scheduled have tended to divide the status Mr. Rasky, who also wrote the TV rebroadcast the National Indian Indians. (from page 1) script, denied the charges and sent Brotherhood sent a telegram to sociation. To walk out or opt out as a 30-page defence to the CRTC and Prime Minister Trudeau, Opposition Q . Will the Native Council be tak- a first step is at best not honest. the Indian protesters. Leader Stanfield, CTV and CRTC ing up the Land Claims issue in the ... If we are to just use the Brother- deploring the national showing of near future? CRTC. officials told. the Indian it, but to no avaiL hood when our heart desires or when leaders that the documentary did it is expedient then we have reduced not warrant further examination A decision from the federal court A. We are interested in land claims it to the brown bureaucracy of which and s11ggested they meet with CTV was finally made on 16 July, refusing issues because we have to be. At Mr. Cardinal speaks; but if we are to discuss possible editing which to grant an earlier request by the every meeting our people are saying to be honest and proceed in an adult would make it acceptable to all. Indian groups for an injunction "what about our land, where is it?" manner we must also give to the which would prevent the re-screen- "What happened to the commis- Brotherhood and not just take from Early in May 197 1, the Union of ing. Mr. Justice Ker said that if sioners that came around and it. If we are not willing to surrender Ontario Indians arranged a meeting, pressure groups were able to censor promised they were going to give us the authority necessary to allow the open to the press, with the Human programs through court orders, it land when they made the treaties?" Brotherhood to be the national bar- Rights Commission. Representatives would violate the "freedom of ex - They want answers to their ques- gaining agent for Indian people then of the CRTC and CTV were invited. pression" and would limit, delay and tions. There was a colossal rip-off When they failed to show up, the interfere with broadcast journalism we might just as well fall back into when the commissioners were sent Union's lawyer. James Karswick, in Canada. He even ordered the pro- the provincial splinter groups we told r.eporters that if the CTV's plan testing Indian organizations to pay out west. For example, there were once were, and compete with each to reshow the program were not court costs. He based his decisions promises made to the half-breed other for funds. The Department of dropped within two weeks, he would on the lack of evidence that showing people living in the Treaty Eight Indian Affairs and the government seek a court order requiring the the film would violate a legal right area. They were promised 160 acres would like nothing better." And so C R TC to block it. or commit a wrong or slander or of land. Well none of them have it. the debate continues. June, 1971 THE INDIAN NEWS Page Seven

dian people who have had and are vours for all of B.C.'s native peo- having problems with the white ple. There is also an effort being LETTERS ... man's "legal system." Staff mem- made to establish a program of (Continued from Page Three) bers attend meetings of the Native Prison Liaison Workers to visit in - Clubs in all the prisons in the lower carcerated native peoples and work mainland area and the William with them towards their rehabilita- us to see it like it is and to realize Keep the paper coming this way. that perhaps there are white people Head Institution on Vancouver Is- tion and eventual return to Society. who have empathy. Millie Montour land. The U.B.C.I.C. sponsored the United Native Club of Matsqui In- The U.B.C.I.C. took the play Perhaps the Indian people should Fisher River Indian Hospital learn to express themselves more in Hodgson, Manitoba. stitution in its presentation of the "Windigo" to the National Indian poetry and articles. Anyway, Mr. * * * play "Windigo", which was pro- Brotherhood convention in Regina Miller, let's keep expressing our We read with great sympathy the duced for the purpose of raising in July. This was done in the hope opinions, but could we not try to letter by Donnie Yellowfly of the funds to establish an Indian Half- that the other provincial organiza- give white people some credit for Native Brotherhood at Prince Albert way House in the Fraser Valley. tions would recognize the Indian their empathy? Penitentiary. We share his views We are also assisting the Indian talent which is locked away in this I would like to see more present wholeheartedly in the need for all Educational Club at William Head nation's penal institutions and see day news from our reserves and less native people and their organizations in their efforts to set up another the need for their own involvement items out of the past. I hardly think to become directly involved with House in Victoria. We hope to en- with the Native Clubs in prison. we need to foster or initiate any their brothers and sisters incar- courage the establishment of many further prejudice towards the -Euro- cerated in Canada's prisons from Half-way Houses throughout the en- We are sending Mr. Yellowfly a pean or white race - perhaps it coast-to-coast. The percentages of tire province of British Columbia. copy of "Toward Equality" and also would qe more helpful to stay with prison populations .which are native the brief presented by the Law Pro- the present. people are a shocking and sad fact. We have published a booklet gram of the Union of B.C. Indian I liked your article on Bread and Very definitely we all have a grave called "Toward Equality" which Chiefs. Cheese Day on the Six Nations re- responsibility to institute programs tells of the plans of the entire Law serve. You wrote of "Indian being to reduce these percentages. Program as well as information re- Yes, there are people interested. in." But it has been that way for the garding Legal Aid services available So don't despair, Mr. Yellowfly! Iroquois for a long time. We are very proud that the Union in the province. of B.C. Indian Chiefs has become Yours sincerely, very involved with our people in Those involved in the Law Pro- UNION OF B.C. INDIAN . prison. During the past summer, the gram are organizing a Native Court CHIEFS Union has sponsored a Law Pro- Worker system. They are working Donna Tyndall, gramme geared to the needs of In- on further Legal Education endea- Communications Director

Belcourt ... it used to be a large prosperous .... (Continued from Page Six) community. Now there are only a few people left there and the Church are squatting on road allowances ment isn't serving our people, we'll owns all the property, the lake and on Crown lands, and getting do everything we can to replace him property and all the land where my notices that in 30 days they have with someone else. grandfather's house was. All the to get off the land. Many living in arable land is being cultivated by the north traditionally, all of a sud- Q. What are some of the beefs that the mission. And there are signs up den find out that the lake they've non-status Indian people have with on the mission ground: 'NO TRES- been fishing in is being declared a the Church as an institution, and in PASSING, PRIVATE PROPER- trophy lake by the government. some instances, as a business? TY.' The beach property is now These things have to stop. where our people return every year A. It's dangerous to talk about the for a religious pilgrimage and where Burton Jacobs, former chief of Wal- Governments just can't go on Church because the Church is so for one day a year they can forget pole Island, has reason to be proud. doing things without considering the powerful. They preach from the pul- about the no trespassing signs. Both his son and daughter have fact that it hasn't dealt fairly with pit and people listen and their lives received a Bachelor of Arts degree 300,000 native people. They have to and their minds are affected. I think ... Of course it's not only the from the University of Windsor. be dealt with in an equitable way, it is about time the cards were put Catholic Church, the Anglican Elaine majored in sociology and and I'm not suggesting we want on the table. I don't think anybody Church is every bit as responsible Lavern in music and theology. The necessarily a cash settlement. At who knows anything about the set- for the situation. If there is blame two are continuing their studies with this point our organizations are too tling of Canada would question the to be cast on any one institution the hope of obtaining a Master of young to say how it will be settled. fact that the churches were the power for the situation native people are Arts degree. I don't know if anything will ever and force that settled the country in today, the first blame has to go be done on a national scale but I and made pawns out of Indians. to the Churches. know in Alberta, the Metis Associa- The Church made the people Chris- tion of Alberta made a deal with the tian, any other belief to them was Q. Tony, how strong is the Metis Premier and his Cabinet to settle savage. Thus the people were dealt identification with Louis Riel in the land issue in Alberta within a with in a shoddy manner. 1971? period of 18 months. But the Premier no sooner made that promise to 300 The Church today, in terms of A. The identification is very strong delegates from communities in Al- land ownership,. controls large par- on the Prairies. I recently attended berta, than he turned around and cels of land from coast to coast. a meeting of the Metis Society of completely disregarded the promise And the reason they control these Saskatchewan held at Batoche where he made. Things like this have gone large parcels of land is because they General Middleton's forces defeated on ever since governments went out got the land from the Indians, the the Metis led by Louis Riel. The to negotiate with native people, so Metis and the non-status Indians. theme of the meeting was "Back to it's no surprise. The attitude is "who Our people tell many stories about Batoche 1971". This was the kind the hell are they anyway, just a the Church, things we cannot prove of spirit at the meeting which really bunch of poor people who don't have in a white man's court of law be- launched the people on a path for- a voice and never vote, so why should cause much of our history is oral ward. I bother about them?" tradition, passed on from father to Well our people are learning and son. My mother and grandfather They said to the government "OK, they're going to vote and he better. told me about the settling of the you wouldn't deal with Riel when he start caring because if his govern- community I grew up in. At one time (see page 8) Page Eight June, 1971 THE INDIAN NEWS

Belcourt ... (Continued from Page Seven) was elected three times, he wasn't of our elders, we have nowhere to allowed to sit in the House. Well, . go. We're just a bunch of young now you're going to listen to us as people without any roots. we become involved in politics and you're going to listen to the leaders Q. It would seem that we're not that we choose." only faced with a situation where we have to demand better services, Q. Is there a parallel term among or demand in the Metis sense, basic the Metis for the notation "Uncle equality, in the Indian sense, special Tomahawk?" status guaranteed by the constitu- tion. Are we not also involved in a A. We would use the term too, or war of ideologies also? It would Apple Indian - red on the outside seem to come down to a question of and white on the inside. You know identity and what we want to make many of our people are not realizing of Canada. We have to decide wheth- their responsibilities in rectifying er we are going to accept a melting a disastrous situation. They would pot society - which doesn't seem rather ensure their position in so- to be working in the U .S., and which ciety by accepting the status-quo would make us all bland, middle- and sometimes outright support for class Canadians. Or do we want a the establishment. This sometimes society that allows to all, our own leads them to work in direct op- special place - a mosaic as the position to their own people. And present government would call it. this can be done in a crafty, obscure Tony, what kind of a society do you manner. I actually feel sorry for want to see? some of these people when they be- Government Film Commissioner Sydney Newman (left) and Willie Dunn gin to look back on their lives, be- A. I want to make something very at the recent presentation to Dunn ofcheque from the Academy of Motion cause I don't think anybody can turn clear. The Metis and non-status In- Picture Arts and Sciences. against his people and be happy in dians are not seeking official regis- his mind. I really feel sorry for them. tration. Willie Dunn, an Indian film- gift to finance work he is now doing Q. Tony, can you see a generation We don't want to carry around a maker, on contract to the National in the field of video tape recording. of young Metis people involved in card which says "you are hereby Film Board, recently received $2,- Dunn wrote, directed and wrote the an almost frantic search for an iden- registered with Indian Affairs, and 500.00 from the Academy of Motion music for the Film Board-' "The tity, because of what the education this is your number". Let's put it Picture Arts and Sciences, sponsor Ballad of Crowfoot", a story of the system has said they can or cannot this way. Just because a bungling of the famed Oscar award. conflicts between the Indian and the white man over the past century. be? Indian Affairs agent fails to register Government Film Commissioner A talented song writer, musician a number of people, does this mean Sydney Newman presented a cheque and singer, Dunn, a Micmac from A. One of the strongest forces in that you turn off the colour of their to Willie Dunn on behalf of the Montreal, has recently devoted our organization is the young peo- skin, their hearts, and souls? No. Academy. ple. They're identifying with their Who is to say that these people are much of his time to entertaining Indian heritage and saying to every- not native people just because they Mr. Newman said that, although on Indian reserves across the coun- body and anybody "I'm proud of haven't been registered by Indian a $5,000.00 grant was given to the try. This year, Dunn co-directed a it, if you don't like it you can lump Affairs? NFB with no restrictions as to its production entitled "Seeds of Ex- it." And they might even do some use, the Board had decided in keep- ploitation", a film on the Hudson's things to antagonize the non-Indian This takes us back to this business ing with the Academy's policy of .Bay Company. Coming up are a people. They are beginning to know of a "Non-people". We've been left "contributing to the development short film on Louis Riel and a long who they are for a change. Nobody outside. The Indian people can prove of international cinema", to divide playing record of his own songs. A is going to push them aside and it's their identity with a card, but this the money between two of its most single record of his has already been very satisfying when you know that doesn't mean that we are not abori- promising young film -makers, Wil- released entitled, "School Days". these people wiH be taking over our ginal people to this country and that lie Dunn and Fernand Belanger. organizations. We need these strong we don't lay claim to our history. In making the presentation Mr. people emerging all over because We do, and in terms of the word Twenty-nine year old Willie Dunn Newman said that the National we've got a long hard battle ahead citizen, we are every bit as much whose film "The Ballad of Crow- Film Board is deeply honoured that with governments. citizens plus as those that are regis- foot" won the Gold Hugo of the the Academy of Motion Picture Arts tered. So we want also a special Chicago International Film Festival and Sciences made this award to the Q. On the other end -of the scale, recognition of who we are, and we and the Blue Ribbon Award of the Board and that he was personally do the non-status Indian organiza- want a status in this country as the American Film Festival in New delighted in the choice of these two tions· have a system whereby they people that allowed this country to York, said that he would use the film-makers to divide the grant. might involve the elder people in form . It is our responsibility to edu- the decision making process as with cate the Canadian public and is our Saskatchewan could cause a bit of a the senates of elders which many of hope to do this through a series of riot. They didn't want the pulp mill the Indian organizations have es- programs on the C.B.C. and a new because they are sick and tired of tablished? book history of Canada. the water pollution and the raping of the forests. We are going to have to A. This body exists already with We have to be a strong voice on get on the. band wagon and with the the Manitoba M.etis Federation and the direction in which our society environmentalists demand that we I believe such a move in the form of is moving. When our people in Sas- have to begin to recycle our natural a resolution will be coming before katchewan met with Premier Ross resources. We have to get involved the next meeting of the Metis As- Thatcher over a pulp millthat was to with all aspects. of Canadian life and sociation of Alberta. A lot of people · be erected in the north of the we have to use our feelings and our say that you have to get the young province recently, they told the history and our own way of operat- people involved in taking over the Premier that if the province went ing to bring about change. When the leadership, which is certainly true ahead with its plans the people would Prime Minister speaks, people lis- to a certain extent - but without bomb it or burn it. And they. meant ten. When we speak, everybody the advice, wisdom and knowledge it because 15,000 people in nort-hern should listen.