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re11.11111141/1111..."..." RELIGION Referendum: Elders BEHIND Which way share BARS should I vote? wisdom See Page 10 See Pages 6-7 See Page 8 Week Volume 7 No. 15 June 16, 1989 Indian and Metis News...Every Crowfoot wary $874M may Cliff Gun have strings 34- year -old prores onal middleweight funding is a positive first oxer fighting out of By Jeff Morrow an he Panther Gym of Windspeaker Staff Writer step, but could have impact on future assistance. dmonton and has CALGARY "I like the program but it reams of competing seems like another step to or the Canadian mid - The federal government the Buffalo Jump of the leweight crown in the has committed $874 million 1980s. Treaty Indians are ery near future. to bolster Native economic losing the status they have," But now, those development in Canada. he said. plans are in jeopardy But all that will be The Buffalo Jump was a as Gunpowder sits in gained from the funding is term coined by an Indian the Edmonton Remand another step by the govern- Affairs official to describe Centre after missing a ment to dismantle its obliga- the 1985 Neilson Task May 3 court appear- tions to Treaty Indians, Force report which directed ance for driving under insists Blackfoot band Chief government policy in deal- suspension. Sinter Crowfoot. ing with Native people. He believes that he Funding for the Canadi- Native leaders have is in the best shape of an Aboriginal Economic viewed the policy, outlining Development strategy self- determination initia- (CAED) was announced tives, as a way of reducing June 12 at the Sarcee federal expenditures on reserve near Calgary. Indian programs and limit- Minister of Indian ing Treaty rights of the First diari Affairs and Northern Devel- Nations. title, Gunpowder opment Pierre Cadieux and They claim the govern- admits it might be time Minister of State Tom ment's ultimate purpose to hang up his gloves Hockin were on hand to then, as now, was to have as a professional. unveil the five -year funding Native's give up their natu- See story by Keith arrangement they believe ral status as Aboriginal peo- Matthew on page 14. will help Native communi- ple and assimilate into ties become self -reliant Canadian society. through the development of Crowfoot believes the businesses on their reserves. latest cost -sharing initiative Crowfoot, an advocate of between Industry, Science on- reserve business diversi- and Technology Canada fication, charges the govern- (ISTC) and the department Cadieux's hasty departure ment with "lumping" bands of Indian and Northern together in an effort under- Affairs (DIAND) is an mine Native individuality. attempt to mask the govern- He said the government's ment's on -going process of plan to give bands business assimilation. infuriates Ontario chiefs The ISTC has kicked in in municate with the chiefs of Cadieux resign as Minister $399 million and the By Jeff Morrow being ill- prepared his DIAND has agreed to sup- Windspeaker Staff Writer address to the delegates. He Ontario, Deleary said, he of Indian Affairs. ply $474 million. also blasted the minister for will have to do it in English. But Deleary said their The plan has been on the TORONTO his hasty departure from the "There are only a few action, done in the heat of drawing board for two session as chiefs were lining chiefs in Southern Ontario anger, may be fruitless. years. The chiefs of Ontario up at a microphone to ask that know French. We speak "We just don't support Doug Stephenson, threatened the Canadian questions on a number of Ojibway and Cree. He federal government policies. spokesman for the DIAND, government with militant Native issues. might as well have talked And Mulroney is his said the federal government action last week during a "I got so angry, I told the Chinese. ..And somebody (Cadieux's) boss. What does is committed to developing disruptive meeting in Toron- chiefs we have to get off our else wrote his words. It that say? We have to spell Aboriginal self- government to with Minister of Indian asses and do something. I'm proves he doesn't know the out what we want ourselves through economic diversifi- Affairs Pierre Cadieux. angry, and when you're issues," he said. and not rely on the govern- q cation. Anger erupted when angry, you get militant. We The chiefs also seized ment," he said. z He claims the plan will Cadieux left the meeting should organize. You have the opportunity to attack the Cadieux's press secretary, foster a stronger relationship early and chiefs were denied to do something that makes Meech Lake constitutional Maryse Pesant, said the between the Native and a question period. the federal government accord. chiefs' delegation was aware non -Native business com- After his abrupt depar- know you're there. We The accord, which recog- the minister had engage- munities and will result in ture, the chiefs passed a res- should never rule out civil nizes Quebec as a distinct ments and was on a time more jobs on reserves. olution demanding disobedience," he added. society, is opposed by constraint. Government officials Cadieux's resignation. Deleary said chiefs also Ontario Chiefs because they Because of his tight will be travelling throughout "I told him (Cadieux) I became frustrated when say it could weaken Aborig- schedule, she said he must the province in June to should jump across the table Cadieux read a prepared inal rights claims. restrict his presentations and announce the strategy. and shake him," Chippewa speech, in French, outlining After Cadieux left the address all bands in the Stephenson said they Chief Ether Deleary said in his plans to open up better session to attend a meeting same manner. will be In Fort McMurray a telephone interview from lines of communication in Saskatoon, the delegation Over 100 delegates June 27, High Level June the Thames band near Lon- between bands and Indian voted to send a letter to attended the annual assem- 28, Spruce Grove June 29 don, Ontario. Affairs. Canadian Prime Minister bly of Chiefs of Ontario and St. Paul June 30. He criticized Cadieux for If Cadieux wants to corn- Brian Mulroney demanding held from June 6 -8. Page 2, WINDSPEAKER, June 16, 1989 CLOSE TO HOME INSIDE THIS WEEK Indians sue over water rights Peigan fight LaFort lead dam project Crawlers to victory See Page 16 By Gary Gee Windspeaker Staff Writer PEIGAN RESERVE In a last -ditch effort, the Peigan Indian Band plans to solicit nationwide support from Native groups in their fight to block the Oldman River dam. The $350- million dam, estimated one -third com- Favel gets pleted, is expected to begin confidence operation by 1990, to pro- from acting vide irrigation for farmers in See Page 13 the Lethbridge area The band is suing the provincial government in a landmark Indian water rights case over Aboriginal rights to the Oldman River which flows through their reserve, about 150 km southwest of Calgary. They claim those rights are included in Treaty 7. The Peigan also are seeking a court injunction to Wuttunee stop construction of the wins $5,000 dam. In their suit, the band art prize claims construction of the Crowds gather at Oldman River:Right, concert goer wearing protest T-shirt See Page 12 Three Rivers Dam, located three miles upstream from an Indian tribes who have the strong turnout had not runoff needed to carry Oldman dam construction the western boundary of the filed a water rights case changed his mind about nutrients to the flora and was issued without proper reserve, will cause irrepara- until the Peigan band construction. Environment fauna of the river valley. environmental studies being ble damage to the reserve. launched their suit last minister Ralph Klein said A whole valley of cot- done. NEXT They claim flooding of August. that the issue is still before tonwood and willow trees, The group will be back 24 km of valley will destroy "It's probably the most the courts. which are used by band in provincial court June 19 WEEK wildlife, trees, marshland important issue case of all "Building the dam was elders for sundances, sweat- to begin a civil suit, regard- and an ancient tribal burial for native organizations. So always a political decision," lodges, and pipe cere- ing what they believe is a ground. we plan to solicit support Bastien charged. monies, could be lost. violation under the Federal PROFILE: The band is presently across Canada. And there's "One of my beliefs is "Basically, in a few Fisheries Act. appealing an earlier decision a proposal to set up a sup- that it will be selling water years, life in the river valley New Democrat environ- in January when an applica- port network in Alberta," to the United States because will be dead," he predicted. ment critic John McInnis ATHABASCA, tion to hear their case was said Bastien. of the Free Trade Agree- Noted environmentalist believes it's possible the denied in provincial court. The band has hired ment. Shortage of water is Andy Russell agreed with courts will side with oppo- LAC LA The appeal was filed last Thomas Berger, former an issue there right now." that assessment. nents since no public hear- month. commissioner of the The federal and provin- "The Peigans will have ings were conducted before Peigan Chief Leonard Mackenzie Valley pipeline cial government refused to no trees in their valley. a decision was made to BICHE AND Bastien is optimistic the inquiry and Native lawyer conduct an environmental, There will be a big impact build the dam.