WINDSPEAKER, June 26, 1987, PAGE 7 SPEAKING OUT
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IAA baj1es cited in upcoming year By Lesley Cross been going on with the Indian treaty and Aboriginal over Aboriginal matters. molded legislation and q1 government for almost two rights by the current Generally, right across the policyaimedatundermining years. They consult with The Indian As iif of At`(IAA) has government. country, they are unpopular, Aboriginal rights." us, but then totally ignore "There are a lot of things séüër.ál; 'ke they are weak." Smith expressed concern been given stron jndn us. But, if enough pressure we can do. There has to be Smith points out that a over the Meech Lake 1ig ear and ,Pré nt is issues for the upc brought to bear, I think pressure and as long as it is federal election is due Accord, which he says Gregg Smith sees the rgest IüättX,Jí'e. waged we will see changes." steady pressure - united within the next year or so gives far too much power to against governmen .rmed to During the next few pressure, we can change and that a minority the provinces and in many months Smith pledges to the situation." government undermine true Indian se ment. made up of a ways precludes the amend - meet with other Aboriginal During his address to the coalition of the Liberal and ment to the constitution The 44th annual general n an interview after the groupssuch as the Assembly assembly on the first day, New Democratic parties which would allow for true assembly of the IAA took final assembly ceremonies of First Nations and the Smith pointed out to could be formed. self- government. place at the Eden Valley a tired but confident Smith Metis Association of Alberta delegates that the federal "We have to lobby all "We cannot have genuine reserve, one of the two says he is optimistic about inordertomakeaconcerted Conservative government politicians. We have to self -government without Stoney Tribe reserves, the upcoming battle. united effort against what had been the worst inform them of the that amendment and now southwest of Calgary June "We've seen this coming. he describes as the government in history. Conservative government 15, 16 and 17. These discussions have disastrous undermining of "And I don't just mean which has consistently Continued Page 4 INSIDE THIS WEEK Dion Lubicon Lots of sun attacks boycott and smiles DIA debated at Awasis Day' policies at IAA celebration See Page 2 See Page 3 Welfare control Dr. Anne National Pro ball Golf may be shifted gives arts group in future season awards to open for young is in By Dianne Meili should be made in three to youth at Calgary years to monitor progress Indian? full swing Control of Native child made regarding the Native See Page 9 See Page 13 See Page 14 See Page 15 welfare should be shifted to child welfare situation. Native reserves and settle- In reference to the first ments, recommends a two directives, Hodgson report to the provincial pointed out several Indian government. bands have already been given responsibility for child The report comes three welfare and "the success years after Richard Cardinal, has been very positive a 16 -year old Metis foster because children are kept child, hanged himself. The in their own environment." suicide sparked a review of Regarding the nebulous Native child welfare services term "native" used in the in Alberta. Child Welfare Act, Hodgson On Tuesday, Social points out that it makes no Services Minister Connie distinction between Treaty, Osterman announced her Metis and non -status department is agreeable to Indians. Foster children the transferral, considering must be recognized as past government efforts having distinct identities, so had failed. that proper placement can Though the minister is be made accordingly, she still ultimately responsible added. for welfare services It is also recommended "whatever is necessary for that assistance to foster the delivery of these parents be adjusted. The services will be in the hands committee heard "on of Natives themselves," repeated occasions, con- explained Maggie Hodgson, cerns about the need for member and spokesman families receiving a fair and for the working group equitable form off assistance which re,o-oro.onted the when caring for dependent report. children from extended Hodgsc family" the report states. sage in tl Hodgson hopes the could be I government will adopt the several dii recommendations in the regardin i report and that special should b attention will be paid to the the best suggestion of an evaulation child in - ; process in three years to foster ch t ensure that. directives are should b `' ó being implemented. child loo r "Other commissions her own e a o i; have been in place to the Ch NANO t recommend guidelines for should r child welfare and nothing referenc really was done," Hodgson and nc said. She added she would LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON childrE also like to see the report structur guidelines designated as Hoop dancer Jerome Youngchief and son, Kevin, teamed up to entertain the Heart Lake crowd. A social a policies so that they will be mini -powwow was part of Heart Lake's 7th annual Treaty Days which was held last weekend. See story and adjuster strictly adhered to by all pictures on Page 12. --Photo by John Morneau Gray of the cl involved. _ PAGE 2, June 28, 1987, WINDSPEAK+R Government blamed as saying NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS Indians have to tough it out ByLesleyCrossingham international media. I am have been taken for a ride not suggesting we throw by the Department and the The president of the rocks, but we have to put oil companies," he com- National Aboriginal groups Indian Resource Council on some resistance and plained. "Then the Indian blasted government for its start getting our people nations have been penalized getting phased out "Thatcherism" and likened organized. People power is for money mismanaged by the deputy minister to the only thing these people Indian Minerals. There was understand," he added. mismanagement of about OTTAWA Funding for the Aboriginal groups Adolf Eichmann, the - Dion explained that the $3 to $4 million of Stoney who attempted to negotiate the entrenchment of notorious Nazi commander Indian Resource Council money alone, because they self -government at the recent First Ministers executed for his part of against was formed to lobby and to (DIA) are not watching Conference is being curtailed. Representatives of atrocities committed keep resource -rich bands what was going on." the Inuit, Metis, and non -status Indians say they are Jews during the Second informed of government Now the council oversees at various stages of shutting down shop. World War. on policies on resources. The the operation of Indian The Metis National Council has already closed its In a scathing attack Joe Dion, council was formed shortly Minerals West and inspects office. The staff of four at the Inuit Committee on recent policies, of the Indian after a report written by contracts and negotiations National Issues will be laid off at the end of this president Dion for the Department conducted with independent month. The Native Council of Canada, who Association from 1977 to of delegates Indian Affairs (DIA) in 1984 oil companies on behalf of represent non -status Indians, say their staff will be 1980, called upon JOE DION to form a unified front was leaked to the media. the Indian Nations says cut in half after six staff members will be let go. ...blasts DIA The report detailed DIA Dion. Only the Assembly of First Nations, representing against recent policy have to tough it out, Indians mismanagement of Indian "The department did not status Indians, will be able to keep a staff of changes. "It's the old right -wing have to pay their way.' The resources, and shortly want such an organization constitutional experts because it has legally assured government wants to put after, the report was formed but we are here and funding. attitude. It's Thatcherism money where it makes published in the "Kainai we will continue to watch Although Prime Minister Brian Mulroney says transported from England," them popular," he added. News" in February Indian Minerals West," that negotiations on self- government are still he says. 1986 over Dion urged Indian people and then the Edmonton adds Dion. possible, many say the wind down in funding was not Margaret Thatcher is the who to become more vocal and Journal, the task force was Dion will continue expected and that it underlines where Native issues British Prime Minister to take a lesson from other formed. negotiations with the have slipped down on the prime minister's agenda. recently won a third term of office. Thatcher has been Aboriginal peoples. Dion is still critical of government during the Mini Metis dubbed the Iron Lady for "How do the Blacks in Indian Minerals West, the next year and will be -series about her strong stand against South Africa make their department within DIA investigating certain hits national television socialism and public feelings known? They get which oversees Indian legislation, such as the spending. attention by throwing resources. Transfer Act, which "The attitude of our stones. That is how they "Very often Indian people transferred jurisdiction of A four -part series about Metis history over the government now is `Indians get the attention of the who own those resources resources to the provinces. past 200 years entitled "Daughters of the Country," has recently aired on Superchannel. The film, produced by Norma Bailey, won the top award at the International Festival of Films by Women this year. "Daughters of the Country" features a huge cast of professional and amateur Metis actors.