End to Prisons Urged
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j-OCi-.. cJn i tY'to doz Dale Auger interviewed i W . a R C _ M O M 7 Students play reviewed I O ñ V. < R 7 h 410011101011001 R,D DIA provides C -31 funds INSIDE THIS : wEEK Self -government the Ñ ELECTION '86 will be decided May 8 when Albertans go to the polls. Issues and concerns affecting Native people are covered in special reports, beginning of DIA reorganizati on Page 10. OUR READERS have a great deal to say in Opinions and Letters to the Editor. Pages 6 to 8. By Lesley Crossingham from department to band - ture, the former corporal, run programs. policy and Native claims TERRY LUSTY begins a new series of articles this week, this time on the LLETHBRIDGE --- Re- "Nobody has to take sectors have been dis- history of "Indian Methods of Transportation." See Page 19. organization of the them (programs), he said. mantled and absorbed Department of Indian "In the transfers we are within the new organiz,: Affairs will revolve around talking about now, i.e. child tion." the theme of Indian self - welfare, there are funds Rawson also wanted to government, Deputy that will flow in through squash rumors that the 1VIAA accuses province Minister Bruce Rawson other departments (for department is cutting any announced April 24. training) in a case -by -case programs. However, in an interview system." "Our commitment is ti, of stalling on funds after his speech, Rawson Rawson confirmed that maintain current funding confirmed previous state- in the case of child welfare levels of programs designed ments from department these funds usually come to correct inequities which By Rocky Woodward officials that no extra from the provincial govern- exist for Native peoples and training dollars enabling ment. Native communities," he Sam Sinclair feels the hands to take on new The departments has said. provincial government has programs will be forth- been reorganized into four The department intends been stalling a proposal coming._. sectors, or as Rawson put to turn over program given to them in November One of the main criticisms it, themes. These are self - dollars to communities of 1985, regarding the Metis of the federal government's government, economic allowing them to run and Association of Alberta proposed self -government development, Indian serv- design programs to suit (MAA) regional council related packages is that ices and lands, and revenues their own particular needs. concept, and funding for it. bands will not receive and trusts. However, he assured the At a meeting at the special training programs "And to ensure no Legislature Building in to help smooth the transition growth in executive struc- Continued Page 5 Edmonton April 25 with Minister of Native Atlyirs Milt Pahl, Sinclair, president of the MAA, commented that although $225,000 has been allocated to the MAA (same as last year) and $50,000 of that was accented at the meeting, it is still not the answer. The purpose of the meeting with Pahl was the concern for the regional (Metis) offices for the six Metis zones in Alberta, to Continued Page 14 End to prisons urged By Gunnar Lindabury they are doing society more tide has led to no "forth- harm than good, says right conclusions," and Canada's federal prisons Burke Baker, the lawyer for avoids the real reasons are in a "soup of chemi- the Boucher family. He Boucher and so many cals;" the living conditions charges that the enquiry other inmates committed in them are terrible, and into William Boucher's sui- suicide. "I think the enquiry could have concluded that some of the medical practices Native wildlife that were applied to William Boucher were improper. benefits studied They didn't say that. The report didn't choose to say that out loud. That would By Ivan Morin How the use of natural have been a `forthright renewable resources influ- statement' for which there Native leaders, trappers, ences the cultural, social would have been ample hunters, fishermen, pro- and economic sphere of the support in the evidence vincial government leaders, Native community; how to that we heard," said and world renowned biolo- incorporate Native people Barker. gists were all brought into the management of our Barker has asked for together at a three-day con- natural renewable resour- another public enquiry into ference sponsored by the ces, and how natural the use of "nonmedical" Alberta Society of Profes- renewable resources are drugs in prisons. This was sional Biologists. The sym- influenced by management. not ordered by the com- for posium was set up to The opening address missioner in charge of the address the issue of Native the symposium was made enquiry. WHICH WAY HOME? people and renewable by Alberta Native Affairs The Boucher enquiry The question is the title of the play presented by the Grade 8 class at Ben Calf resource management. Minister Milt Pahl. Pahl told was compared to the hear. Robe School As the cast (picture here) graphically indicates, there is more Judith Smith, the sym- the delegates that the pro- ing on the suicide of Kevin than one answer. See Rocky l)Joodwards review of the play on Page 18. posium chairman, says that vincial government, like the Laurila. "There were sim the conference had three main themes to work with: Continued Page 3 Continued Page 3 - Photo by Rocky Woodward A NEW DAWN IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS PAGE 2, MAY 2, 1986, WINDSPEAKER National Miskitos seek arms OTTAWA - Miskito Indi- But memories of Nicara- ans opposed to the left - guan bombing runs, re- DAVID CROMBIE wing Sandinista regime in settlement of Indian villages ...money for new members Nicaragua are seeking and the destruction of arms from foreign Native homes and livestock is still groups, says the Canadian fresh and Rivera discussed president of the World the need for more arms DIA to provide Council of Indigenous with the visiting group. Peoples. Chartier said there is no Clem Chartier said that connection between the extra funds although there now appears Indian group and U.S. - to be a military standoff in backed Contra guerrillas the region of northeastern attempting to topple the for Bill C -31 Nicaragua largely con- Sandinistas. trolled by the Indians, at There are an estimated least 8,000 more "Miskito 130,000 to 140,000 Indians in OTTAWA Approval of funding will - serve to alle- fighters" could be armed Nicaragua and in refugee funds over a period of five viate some of the pressures with help from the outside camps in -Costa Rica and years commencing in 1985- expected by bands due to world. Honduras. Chartier 86, to accommodate pro- increased population. Chartier was among a wouldn't estimate how jected additional costs Bands affected by the group of Canadian and many now are armed. resulting from changes to changes to the Indian Act American Indian activists But he said: "Some of the the Indian Act, has been will have an opportunity to who slipped into Nicaragua fighters have boots that are announced by Indian apply to the department for recently to tour Miskito vil- falling apart and only a Affairs Minister David this special funding with the lages near the country's handful of bullets." Crombie. proviso that funds will only northern border with "From what I have been "Bands will now be able be spent for costs incurred Honduras. told there are at least to access funds required to as the direct result of rein- Leading the group another 8,000 people who provide additional services statements or registrations CLEM CHARTIER through nine Miskito vil- could be armed." to their new band under Bill C ...news from Nicaragua -31. This lages was Nicaraguan Asked if arming more members," Crombie said. community- oriented ap- Indian leader Brooklyn Riv- ment leader Russell Means, in 1979, but balked Miskitos would derail the In June 1985, the proach is designed to meet Somoza era, head of the Misurata negotiating process with government, through Bill a Sioux, was `bruised" by a when the Sandinistas specific needs and will rebel group of Miskito, the Sandinistas, Chartier C -31, amended the Indian involve some negotiations shrapnel shard hitting his attempted to impose new Sumo and Rama tribes. thigh in the attack, said: "When you're bargain- Act to eliminate unfair and with each band. Chartier village organization that Chartier says that Riv- said. clashed with Indian customs. ing you want to be in as outdated provisions. These Crombie stated that his era, who he called the most But several villagers and strong a position as changes ended discrimina- department is currently popular and charismatic guides for the group were Sporadic clashes between possible." tion against Indian women, developing procedures to Indian leader on Nicara- killed in a first attack and Sandinista troops and Mis- Chartier said he did not restored Indian rights to explain to bands how to gua's Caribbean Mosquito when the propeller driven kito fighters have tapered know if the issue of arms those who had lost them apply for and obtain the Coast, was the likely target off, Chartier there would be brought up at a and significantly enhanced special funding. fighters returned for a said, and of an air force and m acting of the world Native the jurisdiction of Indian Individuals registered strafing second strafing run. is still some hope that nego- rocket attack on the village The Miskito tiations for land claims and people's council in Geneva community governments. under the provisions of Bill originally of Layasiska near Puerta backed the Sandinistas a degree of Indian auto- next week. Crombie had announced C -31 who choose to live off - Cabezas Jan.