Spiritual Healer Helps to End Standoff by Kelvin Collins Ers As Assembly of First Nations Keep the Cows Off the Sundance Gustafsen Lake
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"The need for a common vision gets stronger everyday." $ 3.50 where applicable PUBLICAPON MAIL REGISTRATION 52177 Volume 13 No. 6 OCTOBER 1995 Canada's National Aboriginal News Publication POSTAGE PAID AT EDMONTON Craig Sleik The 'War of the Wooden Floor' Six Nations Chiefs' Paul Gate struggles to get free from New Westminster's Kyle Couling (left) and Jason Bishop in game five of the Mann Cup Championship Series for Canadian senior men's lacrosse supremacy. See Windspeaker Sports, Page 19. Spiritual healer helps to end standoff By Kelvin Collins ers as Assembly of First Nations keep the cows off the Sundance Gustafsen Lake. "When a government refuses with Debora Lockyer Chief Ovide Mercredi, and site. When the ranch owner is- The political goals of Sas- to hear members of their group AMMSA Staff Writers members of the Shuswap coun- sued eviction notices, Rosette katchewan Indians are based on speak and forces those people cil could not. The reason others was joined by two dozen sup- a righteous belief that moral into open confrontation, like failed, said Stevens through an porters. The RCMP was called rights and justice are on their what happened at Gustafsen GUSTAFSEN LAKE, B.C. interpreter, was that they were in and the land became the site side, he told the Saskatoon Lake, that government is guilty not trusted. The protesters be- of an armed standoff. StarPhoenix. It is therefore incon- of political terrorism," said The month -long armed pro- lieve in the hereditary and not Since then the RCMP and the sistent to seek their objectives by Sheldon Lefthand, a pipe carrier test at a site near 100 Mile the elected system of leadership. protesters have been involved using immoral and unjust prac- for spiritual healer Stevens. House, B.C. ended with little Mercredi and the Shuswap in a series of gunfights, ending tices, he said. Chief Saul Terry of the Un- ceremony Sept. 17 when Native council represent an extension in an injury to a Native women The AFN also announced it ion of British Columbia Indian squatters left their encampment of European -style government. who was shot in the arm. would not condone the use of Chiefs expressed grave concern and walked into police custody. The protest began when Ro- Two RCMP were also hit by violence to achieve justice for about the labeling of the protest- The end of the 30-day occu- sette declared the land at gunfire, but were unharmed, Native people, it noted that the ers as dangerous fanatics. He pation of land was engineered Gustafsen Lake as sacred. The saved by their bullet -proof treatment of Native people by said it was a ploy by the RCMP by spiritual healer John Stevens. land had been used for the vests. This incident has resulted the Canadian government over to justify the use of armed force The Stoney Indian from Morley, Sundance, a Plains Indian cer- in two protesters being charged the generations has left the peo- to remove them from the Alta. was asked to attend the emony. Where the province and with attempted murder. ple bitter and angry. Sundance grounds. protesters by spiritual leader of police insisted the land was The group garnered support "While almost all of our peo- the camp, Percy Rosette. owned by the James Cattle from many grassroots Native ple would never support vio- Kelvin Collins is a news re- Steven's guidance was re- Company, Rosette was adamant people across Canada. Most lence, many can understand the porter with radio station CFWE, quired, said Rosette in a radio- that the land was never surren- elected leaders, however, con- frustration which leads to such The Native Perspective in Edmon- telephone announcement from dered by Native people and demned the group's militancy. desperate acts," reads an AFN ton. Debora Lockyer is editor of the camp. If Stevens came to the therefore unceded. Blaine Favel of the Federa- press release. Windspeaker. Both CFWE, The camp and told the group to Rosette and his family stayed tion of Saskatchewan Indian Native people are united in Native Perspective and leave the camp, they would do on the land after this year's Nations said that while his opinion regarding the govern- Windspeaker are owned and oper- so. Sundance. He appointed him- members could relate to issues ment and RCMP treatment of ated by the Aboriginal Multi-Me- Stevens achieved a settle- self as a protector of the land of land claims they could not the Native protesters and their dia Society of Alberta, a non -profit ment where such Native lead- and began building fences to condone the violence at handling of the occupation. communications society. PAGEATATATA 2, OCTOBER 1995, WINDSPEAKER News ATATATA WHAT'S INSIDE Arts & Women prisoners find a place to heal Entertainment 10 -13 By Kahlee Keane St. Mary's First Nation in New Brunswick. She was instrumental Windspeaker Contributor in the conception of the Healing Lodge. Her philosophy that an Business 22 -23 environment free of racism, sexism, and classism is required for rehabilitation along with her personal experience of building a CYPRESS HILLS, Sask. healing lodge for women in New Brunswick helped bring about Careers 34 -35 the present objectives for modernizing correction facilities. The Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge made history Aug. 24 when Objectives that include providing a healing model based on Letters to the it opened its doors, becoming the first facility specifically built for Aboriginal teachings, learning and practising various ceremonies federally sentenced Aboriginal female offenders. related to spiritual and cultural well -being and Editor 7 sharing oral tradi- The morning was bright, the tions. air fresh and clean, high up in "Last night during the Drew Hayden Taylor .. 9 the old forest of the Cypress Okimaw Ohci in brief: horse dance, I felt that the an- Hills. This is where the newly cestors are here and it feels constructed Healing Lodge good," said Brooks in her open- Sports 19-21 Location: 160 acres on Nekaneet First Nation in the Cypress Okimaw Ohci, which translates Hills near Maple Creek, Sask. ing speech. Later she said it was as Thunder Hills, stands as a Capacity:30 women to be housed in two-bedroom and three - very important to have medi- symbol of hope. bedroom units. The lodge could house up to 10 children un- cine people and elders from all The facility was the brain NORTHERN ALBERTA _ der the age of six. over Canada come here to help child of several Aboriginal Cost of Facility: $9.2 million with the healing and to keep the women who served on a task Annual operating cost $2.6 million energy strong. In a special focus, force, appointed in 1990, to look Security: all levels: most of the women are non -violent and She also suggested that an into for feder- Windspeaker takes a creating choices considered a low risk to reoffend. For maximum security annual gathering at the site ally sentenced women. One look at some of the women a "safe lodge" has been built. would give support to those member of the task force, Joan Staff: 27 including the director. working and living there. and Lavallee exciting events of Duck Lake, was an Director: Norma Green, known as 'Kikawinaw' which Various members of the invited trans- people of Northern speaker at the opening lates as 'Our Mother'. Green is a member of the Wahpeton planning circle and members of of the facility. She said when band near Prince Albert. the Nekaneet Band expressed Alberta, including the asked to her give opinion to the Opening: The first group of up to 10 women will be trans- their happiness that the vision opening of the Wood task force she surprised herself ferred to the facility Oct. 1 and 10 women a month for the of a healing lodge had become Bison Trail. Metis art- by saying "Close Kingston" and next two month will follow. a reality. ist Brian Clark has that is now what is being done. After four days of fasting Lavallee was referring to carved his contribu- and asking for guidance from Kingston Penitentiary, the only facility in Canada for federally sen- the ancestors the spot was finally chosen, said Larry Oakes, tion to the trail in tenced women. The lack of facilities meant that no matter where a Nekaneet spokesperson and member of the planning circle. stone. woman may have originated, once federally sentenced, she would He expressed his bitter -sweet sadness at "letting the baby go" be sent to Kingston, Ontario. As a result many women See Pages 27 -33. completely after all the time of planning and preparation. lost contact with family and friends during their confinement. In the long process from the task force, through the planning Okimaw Ohci represents a chance for real healing through tra- circle, to the reality of Okimaw Ohci, so many people have shared THE MANN CUP ditional ceremonies, support, understanding and compassion that the vision and the hope of a place being built among the Nekaneet will empower the women to do better for themselves, their fami- people. A place where real healing for female offenders can occur. lies and the community. "A safe place, close to loved ones," said Nekaneet Chief Glen IThe Six Nations Also attending the opening ceremonies was Alma Brooks, from Oakes. Chiefs repeat at the Canadian senior men's lacrosse uebec ignores First Nations concerns championship. Their By Alex Roslin in Northern Quebec intend to At the time of the 1980 Que- lature, a newly constituted body second -straight vic- Windspeaker Correspondent deploy is holding their own ref- bec referendum, 87 percent of that Namagoose said will give tory saw them over- erendums on their political sta- Inuit voted against sovereignty - voice to "the people's will." The come the home -town tus.