January 2, 1,986 Volume 4 No
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January 2, 1,986 Volume 4 No. 43 4) 444 OS .o.41 speaker A NEW DAWN IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS PAGE 2, January 2, 1986, WINDSPEAKER National New land claims policy `grave disappointment' By Jamie McDonell says that he does see the land cessions by First cited by the Cree and Conservative government's Nations. Under that Naskapi peoples as breaking OTTAWA - The federal new policy as a "cautious system, all the lands of the their agreement with them, government's new land and modest step forward" signing Aboriginal people the policy says that the claims policy is "a grave from their former position, were surrendered to the government recognizes disappointment and an he says that an "attitudinal Crown and then some of "the resolution of land insult to the first nations," change" in the government's them (the reserves) were claims is inextricably linked according to the Assembly dealings with Aboriginal granted back to the First to questions of authority of First Nations. peoples "would help more Nations. and control over Aboriginal than any policy." Under the policy, land." GEORGES ERASMUS The AFN indicates it had the of cycle expected that the govern- According to Penner, land for any reserves set up The government hedges ...tired endless ment would upgrade its what is ultimately needed is in areas for which claims its position on self- govem- That, judging by past and backing out of funding policy to enter into "truly a system guaranteeing the have not yet been settled ment by saying that any performance, could mean arrangements that support comprehensive relations" implimentation of agree- would 'never have to be agreements would have to that the government will be self -government whenever with Aboriginal peoples. ments between the federal surrendered. "respect existing fighting Aboriginal self - they want to save some Instead, according to the government and First While the feds have been goverment practices." government at every turn, money. AFN, "it now offers a Nations. Otherwise, cases process in which our such as the recent instance benefit from the devel- of the feds failing to fund The members know that trapping is more than just a opment of our land and programs promised under job to Native people. They recognize that trapping is a resources is deliberately the James Bay Agreement OTTAWA way of life that creates a unique social, spiritual and limited." with the Naskapi Cree of cultural bond between the people, the land and its AFN National Chief northern Quebec will REPORT resources. Georges Erasmus says that continue to arise. The committee, headed by Alberta Tory MP Stan By Owenadeka the policy is akin to "telling Penner says he does Schellenberger, came out swinging against the animal a landlord that he is allowed agree with the government rights movement. Native leaders couldn't be happier to rent his house for a few on one point - that What's the difference between a milkshake and a about the report if they wrote it themselves. years, but once he's made a settlement of land claims Native trapper? "Nothing," according to the animal The first recommendations says the government certain amount of money, should be settled through rights movement. One of their screwball ideas is that should commit itself to saving the trapping industry. he can't make any more. negotiation rather than in it's barbaric to trap animals and milk cows. If they had Another calls on Ottawa to help Native people expand No Canadian would stand the courts. their way, some animal rights activists would outlaw their involvement throughout the fur industry. A third for that. The government says in trapping and milking. says the government should put more money into the "Taxpayers and the its policy statement that But they're going to have a little more trouble trying hands of Native groups trying to fight the anti -fur lobby. government are as tired as "the failure to negotiate to ban trapping -- now that a parliamentary committee The last of the 36 recommendations says the we are of our endless cycle carries with the potential has had its say on the matter. The Committee on government should change its attitude toward trapping of dependency on the not only to disrupt economic Aboriginal Affairs spent the past year studying the fur and publicly state, once and for all, that Canada stands federal government for our and investment in disputed industry. The committee's report is out now and it four -square behind Native trappers. existence, " says Chief areas, but also to create agrees completely with the people in the industry, I liked the way the committee took the side of the Erasmus. "The capping of bitter social antagonisms especially Native trappers. trappers and I liked the way it criticized the our resource revenue that might last for genera- Although the committee came out on the side of the government. Before I get carried away, though, I sharing will not help us to tions." The statement can trapping industry, it warned that the animal rights should remind myself that the report is just a report. It end the welfare syndrome." be taken both as a admission movement is not going to disappear. In fact, most comes from a committee that is not always listened to The AFN also protests of the government's Canadians would be flabbergasted if they knew what: by the government. (Remember the report on Indian the fact that the feds are obligation to negotiate, and some of the activists are up to. For starters, they say self -government that's been sitting on a shelf for the making the constitutional as a threat. that trapping should be banned. But that's not all. They past three years ?) protection of Aboriginal Among suggested say hunting and fishing should be banned too. What's In any event, it'll be up to Brian Mulroney and the rest self -govemment dependent changes to former land more, one particular activist says the dairy industry and of the Cabinet to decide what to do about the upon "the whims of the claims policy was a the wool industry should be outlawed too. The reason, recommendations. But if they think about the history recalcitrant provincial suggestion that the govern- supposedly, is that keeping cows for milk and keeping of this country, they'll be reminded that Canada was governments." ment might be willing to end sheep for wool is exploitation. built on the fur trade -- and that for three centuries fur, While Liberal Indian the total extinguishment of I should make it clear that the animal rights not gold or oil, was king. Affairs critic Keith Penner title that has accompanied movement is made up of many. different people with The government should also consider the present many different ideas Some are "moderates" who just situation. Canada is still the third largest producer of want trappers to use a "humane" trap. At the other end furs in the world. The fur industry is a $600- milliona- of the movement, though, are the hard -core fanatics. year business. Canada exports 909,, of the raw pelts Most of them live in urban areas. Most are and 50" of the fur garments it produces. vegetarians, white, well -educated and upper- middle If the fanatics in the animal rights movement win the class. They want to protect animals and they don't care fight against fur, Native trappers will be the biggest what happens to Native trappers and their families. losers. As things stand now, the vast majority of people They say that since trapping is going to be extinct some in this country use animal-products every day for food day anyway, Native people should just get used to the and clothing. idea, The animal rights fanatics are doing all they can to So I think it's long past time for Canada to tell the Fred Didzena Clint Buehler stop trapping by destroying the market for furs -- just as world that it is legal, proper and moral for Native President Editor they destroyed the market for seal pelts a few years people, and others, to use and profit from the skin and ago. Bert Crowfoot Rocky Woodward meat of animals. The government should defend our General Manager Reporter The animal rights movement is strong because it's trappers and promote the sale of products that come well- financed. The International Fund for Animal Kim McLain George Poitras from the killing of wildlife. As a country we should stand Production Editor Reporter Welfare, for example, pulls in over $6 million a year in to the animal rights movement right now and throw just the United States. Margaret Desjarlais away our wool sweaters, give up milk, meat, fish and Mel Miller The parliamentary Committee on Aboriginal Production Assistant Affairs who knows what else and become a nation of bunny - Gail Stewart has recognized the threat posed by the anti -fur lobby. Joe Redcrow Ad Sales hugging vegetarians. Cree Syllabics Wndaeeaker á a weekly wblication of the Aborgrtwl Multi -Media Secret./ of Alberto. andspeaker Ir published every Thursday at 15001 - 112 Avenue. Edmonton, Alberta, T5M 2V6, Phone. (403) 455-2700. 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Second Class Mail Registration No. 2177 A NEW DAWN IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS r WINDSPEAKER, January 2, 1986, PAGE 3 Traditional park rights, too Fort Chip Cree get reserve, cash The Cree Band of Fort land entitlement also fulfills "We are glad to see the and, confirmation of the Chipewyan, the province of an obligation assumed by terms of Treaty #8 finally release of the province's Alberta and the federal the people of Alberta when fulfilled." obligations to Canada government announced the province obtained A referendum on the under the Alberta Natural December 23 the conclusion control of its natural proposed agreement was Resources Transfer Act.