Northern Natives Tell Visiting Queen
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Looking for Home See Pages R6 -7 12 No. 12 August 29 - September II, 1994 Canada's National Aboriginal News Publication Volume $1.00 plus G.S.T. where applicable Crown tarnished, Northern Natives tell visiting Queen By Judy Langford had made the statement. Windspeaker Contributor "It's traditional with a lot of Native groups to take up the oc- casion to talk with the Queen YELLOWKNIFE because traditionally they signed the treaties with Queen Victoria. Angela Chalmers was The Queen's visit to Canada "Some of them still think the wrapped up with political mes- real power is vested with the the flag bearer for the sages from Northern Aboriginal Queen. But the reality has Canadian team during leaders and death threats. changed since those days." the opening ceremo- In Yellowknife, Her Majesty The Gwich'in Tribal Coun- nies of the XV Com- met briefly with chiefs prior to a cil, based in Fort McPherson, monwealth Games in concert of Native music and boycotted the royal visit. The Victoria. The half -Sioux dancing at a local park. council said England's strong originally from The chief of the Dene Nation, stand against fur trapping has Brandon, Man., won a Bill Erasmus, took the opportu- caused Gwich'in hardship. gold medal when she The also by nity to voice his frustration over visit was marred smashed the Canadian a slow land claims process. death threats made by an anony- record in the women's Erasmus told the Queen the fed- mous caller. A threatening note eral government hasn't honored was left in a park and a vulgar 3,000 -metres by five treaties signed during the reign statement about the Queen was seconds to success- of her great -grandmother. He painted on the road leading to fully defend the title said that has "tarnished and sul- the airport. she took four years ago lied" the Crown's reputation. Police said they suspect the in Auckland, New Zea- Erasmus said federalgovern- threats were just mischief. land. ment policies "contribute to un- Chretien dismissed the threats dermining our culture, author- as the work of "crackpots." See story, Page Rl. ity and jurisdiction over our The Queen and Prince Phillip lives." were greeted enthusiastically by The Queen listened politely other Northerners. The Queen but did not respond. Kings and took part in a dedication cer- queens of England no longer emony for the Northwest Terri- hold political power. It's consid- tories new Legislative Assembly ered improper to bring up po- building where she managed to litical subjects with the Queen, insert a couple of words of since she can do nothing about Inuktitut and Slavey (a Dene lan- them. guage) into her speech. Prime Minister Jean Chretien Heinz Ruckemán See Queen, page 3. rsaid he understood why Erasmus To receive Windspeaker in your mailbox every two weeks, just Quebec Natives to ignore election send your cheque or money order in the amount of $28 (G.S.T. By Alex Roslin paper to comment on the elec- LeBorgne echoed Deer's senti- issue of the Cree magazine The Windspeaker Contributor tion. ments in an interview with Nation, former Cree Deputy Of a population of 12,000 Windspeaker. Grand Chief Romeo Saganash N Mohawks in Quebec, not one "People in Kahnawake feel criticized the minority of Crees 1501 Quebec's First Nations are voted in the 1992 referendum, the election is a non -Native is- who did vote in 1989. EDM( A approaching the upcoming pro- none voted in the 1989 Quebec sue. Even though it does con- "I couldn't help but wonder vincial election on Sept. 12 with election, three voted in 1985,10 cern us, we feel that's their proc- how we sometimes so cruelly NAME: a mix of ambiguity and alarm. in 1981, and seven in 1976. Vir- ess -just like we wouldn twant lack consistency in politics," he On one hand, many are tually no Mohawks voted in re- them participating in our proc- said. "If we are indeed a distinct alarmed by the likelihood of a cent federal or Ontario elections, ess." nation, a people (Eeyou), then ADORE victory by the separatist Parti either. This sentiment is shared by why are we participating with Quebecois, which boasts a Quebec's National Assem- other First Nations peoples such hopeless submissiveness number of candidates who don't bly took away Natives' right to across Quebec. Only 29 per cent in -another nation's electoral CITY /T hide their hostility to Native vote in 1915. It was only given of Natives voted in the last Que- process ?" peoples. On the other, the vast back 25 years ago. bec election. This time around, The Crees' current Deputy majority of Native people living "We are a nation. We have it doesn't promise to be any dif- Grand Chief, Kenny Blacksmith, in Quebec are unlikely to cast a been sovereign here for centu- ferent and the rate may go even said he sympathizes with the POSTA ballot in the election. Many First ries, and never have we been lower because of a mounting Mohawk position, but added Nations aren't even allowing asked to become Canadians," animosity between Native peo- that Crees are watching the elec- $10 scrutineers or polling booths to said Kenneth Deer, editor of the ples in the province and the tion closely. N set up in their communities. Mohawk newspaper The East - Quebec public. "Sovereignty is one of the "The elections? Which elec- em Door, in an interview with The of James Bay most fundamental issues facing $40 fo Crees ns tions? It's been a long time since La Presse. boasted an even lower rate than the Crees," he said, noting that ou the elections were held [for band "Voting in these elections for the average - only 26 per cent. the Quebec election could set council]," was how Kahnawake us would be like denying our To some Crees, even that figure the course for the break -up of Aug 29/94 band council member Billy Two identity, and the Mohawks have was higher than they would Canada. J Rivers put it when asked by the always been very firm on that." have preferred. In an opinion PUBLICATION MAIL AEGISTRAlION #2177 Montreal daily La Presse news- Kahnawake Chief Lindsay piece published in the Aug. 26 See Cree, page 3. PAGE 2,AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER 11, 1994, WINDSPEAKER News WHAT'S INSIDE N.W.T. harassment charges soar By Debora Lockyer Lynn Brooks, executive director of the pervisor would stand in front Careers 11 of an Inuit Windspeaker Staff Writer Status of Women Council, said her organi- worker's desk and say the Inuit were dis- zation was drawn into the issue last De- gusting because they ate raw food, whale Economic cember when a woman complained of blubber and oil. She said Inuit were dirty, Development RANKIN INLET, N.W.T. 'horrendous sexual harassment' at KRHB. lazy, and a health hazard to non -Inuit peo- 7 -9, 12 The woman said she was getting no sup- ple, said Brooks. The Government of the Northwest Ter- port from the board and the investigation "A number of the non -Inuit employ- Looking for ritories has responded to a growing of the abuses was dragging on. ees had said that they had witnessed it and Home R6-7 number of complaints of harassment in the "It wasn't just your usual dirty talk in heard this going on. workplace at the Keewatin Regional Health the coffee room. This was big stuff," said They had complained about it. The vic- People and Board and has ordered an investigation Brooks. tim herself had complained on several oc- into Places 6 the working environment. The woman was attacked by a person casions to the executive director and noth- A total of 27 grievances have been she worked with. He broke into her apart- ing was being done," said Brooks. lodged against the KRHB with the Union ment and was stalking her, Brooks said. The executive director of KRHB Sports R1, R4 -R5 was of Northern Workers and 19 with the Sta- The victim told Brooks the incident wasn't appointed the designated sexual harass- tus of Women Council of the N.W.T con- isolated. ment officer at the board, in keeping with cerning both sexual and racial harassment When Brooks put out the word she the GNWT's sexual harassment policy. at the board. would be available to talk NEW CCAB HEAD to other work- The battle the union and the Status of The GNWT has acquired the services ers from the board, she was surprised Women are now fighting is against govern- of the former chair of the Labour Relations when she was visited by 13 women over ment policy. Brooks believes workplace su- Canadian Council for Board of British Columbia, Donald the course of one afternoon. pervisors should not be responsible for in- Aboriginal Business Munroe, who is expected to complete his "Usually, Inuit people, particularly vestigations into sexual harassment. President George Lafond report by October. Munroe is to make rec- from small communities, are very reticent Both organizations have informed the thinks it's time for First ommendations dealing with the work en- about talking about their problems and workers at KRHB that if they have a prob- Nations to get ready to vironment of the staff and the application their issues and to complain about any- lem they should bypass the government deal with the real world. of policies dealing with the investigation thing," she said. policies and go directly to the union.