Windspeaker July 19, 1993

rJ_já. SPECIAL SECTION A pull -out portion looking at the United Nations World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna, Austria. See Pages Il-112 July 19, 1993 Canada's National Aboriginal News Publication Volume I I No. 9 11.00 plus G.S.T. where applicable Bella Bella bound John Isaac More than 1,000 paddlers from 30 coastal Nations pulled into Hoffman's Beach in Bella Bella, B.C. June 27 for the Qatuwas Festival. Some travelled more than 800 km for the week -long event celebrating the largest flotilla of ocean -going canoes this century. é 1 To receive Windspeaker in your mailbox every two weeks, just DIAND funds Bill C -31 supporters send your cheque of money order in the amount of$28 (G.S.T. By D.B. Smith 'larger community," Long said. "Band membership is a nuitter for bands, and we can support included) to; Windspeaker Staff Writer Native men marrying non - Native that. But until April 17, 1985, there were thousands and thou- women did not, however,lose their W sands of Indian women and their children who had lost their band status. /SOG EDMONTON It's an unfair law from that pèr- EDMC rA membership through no fault of their own." spective, he said. But it's not just an The fight in Alberta over a con- - Richard Long, Native Council of Canada spokesman Indian women's issue. troversial Native status lawjust got 'There are plenty of male chil- a lot easier for the Native Council of week recess, the proceedings will losttheir band membershipthrough dren of these women who are af- NAME: Canada. reconvene in Ottawa for an addi- no fault of their own." fected, too." The council received more than tional three weeks. The NCC is onlya third party in In 1967, the Supreme Court of $186,000 from the department of In 1986, Twinn and five other the law suit, he added. The council Canada decided the amendment ADDRE Indian Affairs last week to finance chiefs in Alberta, including Wayne has set upa 1-800 telephone number was wrong but could only order its involvement in Senator Walter Roan of the Ermineskin and Bruce that Natives can call to be screened Parliament to correct it, Long said. Twinn's challenge of Bill C- 31,coun- Starlight of the Sarcee bands, chal- as witnesses for the trial. Several Native lobby groups fol- CITY /T cil spokesman Richard Long said. lenged Ottawa's involvement in 'We are only there for the 9,000 lowed up the Supreme Court's de- "I am delighted," he said.' We've deciding band membership. witnesses who can't be there,' Long cision and pressured Ottawa into been involved with this matter for Three of the chiefs have since said. We intend to bring as many changing the Act during the 1970s. POSTA seven years." dropped out of the suit, but Twinn people forward as we can. If this In 1985, then-Mi nister of Indian Newly appointed Minister of still maintains that only bands - not lawsuit goes in favor of the plain- Affairs John Crombie prepared Bill Indian Affairs Pauline Browes the government -can grant Indians tiff, it will shut off the rights of those C -31 to correct the 1951 amend- agreed to supply the funds to help status. people. It will perpetuate what the ment. $1G 3 3 defeat Twinn's challenge, Long said. 'The law reinstated people to white Parliament did to take away "He was prepared to say 'from N "We've been fighting Walter status and band membership, and that right in the first place." now on, Indian bands will design $40 fo >ns Twinn, who has money coming out that is where the problem is,' Long In 1951, the Canadian govern- their own membership'," he said. 01 of his ears," he said. "Now, the little said. "Band membership is a matter ment amended the Indian Act to Ottawa has granted status to guys get a shot at the big guys." for bands, and we can support that. deny Indian status toNative women more than 90,000 people across L j 19/93 The 11 -week trial, scheduled to But until April 17, 1985, there were marrying non -Indians. Canada since passing the bill into J begin Sept. 20,will run for fiveweeks thousands and thousands of Indian The purpose of the amendment law in April, 1985. About 9,500 of PUBLICATION MAIL REGISTRATION #2177 in Edmonton. Following a three- women and their children who had was to assimilate Indians into the them are in Alberta. -J PAGE 2, JULY 19, 1993, WINDSPEAKER News WHERE TO TURN Arts & Entertainment Bands not consulted about mine deal 9, R10 By D.B. Smith agreement that stipulates 60 per "There hasn't been any contribution Careers 10,11 Windspeaker Staff Writer to the contntunity other cent Native employment at the than a road. The mine doesn't produce much within the operation, Tsannie said. But ne- community." gotiators have not even worked Economic Development.8 WOLLASTON LAKE, Sask. out how many Natives from lo- - Jacqui Barclay, Saskatoon Indigenous Coalition cal, northern communities will Some Natives in Saskatch- spokesperson be included in that number. News 1,2,3, R1,2,5,11 ewan are worried that the Fed FSIN Executive Officer eration of Saskatchewan Indian cems are access to employment permanent jobs and another Roland Crowe has said the ben- Our Opinion 4 Nations' plan to buy into a pro- opportunities and a guarantee three or four work as seasonal efits of buying an interest in the posed northern uranium mine that the operation would not contractors. mine far outweigh any negative may not be in their best inter- pose future environmental or Unemployment is usually effects on neighboring commu- Sports R6,7 ests. health threats. held at 30 to 40 per cent in sum- nities. The FSIN has not consulted "We'd at least like to benefit mer when seasonal jobs like road The federation is trying to with some of its member bands from it," he said. "To help our upgrading and affected by the Your Opinion 5 sewer and water meet with bands over its purchase of an equity community or get a future guar- extensions are numerous, mining operation to see what . stake in Minatco Ltd., said antee that nothing will go wrong." Tsannie said. But the number of their perspectives are, said fed- Hatchet Lake Chief Joe Tsannie. Minatco owns a 20,455 - people out of work soars during eration spokesman Chief "They never came directly tonne deposit of uranium oxide the winter. Lindsay Cyr. to us," he said. 'They never con- in the Wollaston Lake area of "There's a lot of poverty in But there have been no meet- Slow and steady - that's sulted us at all. They have to at northern Saskatchewan. The the area," said Saskatoon Indig- ings with anyone since he took how John Dorian won least consult with us." Hatchet Lake band, located 600 enous Coalition spokesperson over the economic development The FSIN should hold a re- kilometres north of Prince Jacqui Barclay. "There the of the the 1993 Indian National hasn't portfolio at beginning gional conference for its north- Albert, is only 50 kilometres from been any contribution to the fiscal year, he said. Golf Championship in em member communities before the mine, Tsannie said. community other than a road. There has been mixed reac- Battlefords Provincial going ahead with the deal be- Minatcó s operation has not The mine doesn't produce much tion to the FSIN's proposed buy - Park, Sask. this month. cause the acquisition would af- brought much prosperity to the within the community." in but to date, only one band in The 39- year -old quietly fect them directly. remote community, he said. Of Local bands would like to the Meadow Lake area has raised Chief among Tsannié s con- its 900 members, only four have see a clause in anew mining lease serious objections, he said. caught up to and passed the favored players in the tournament with a Natives get bigger portion of salmon catch strong, steady game. See page R7. of some 75 retired fishing li- Native fishing groups. United Fishermen and Al- Ottawa's move censes. The Fisheries Survival Coa- lied Workers Union spokesman s The two First Nations of the lition, which opposes the reallo- Dennis Brown said fostering the fjlik angers non -Native Nuu -Chah -Nulth Tribal Coun- cation of any fishing rights to separate Native fishery may According to columnist cil on the Somass River were Natives, said the fisheries de- force the union to take the gov- Drew Hayden Taylor, it commercial also authorized to take bigger partment is deliberately creat- ernment to court, especially in who catches:5,000 additional fish will ing tension in the West Coast light of last month's B.C. Court depends on you be added to the bands' 55,000 industry by fostering two sepa- of Appeals ruling that Natives ask. To anthropologists, fishermen limit. rate fisheries. have no inherent fishing rights. the word Ojibway trans- find it Lower Fraser Fishing Au- By D.B. Smith The Native harvest on the "We very offensive River has been at that there are two commercial thorities' head Ernie Crey said lates into something to Windspeaker Staff Writer Skeena set do with the term "puck- 215,000 fish for food, social and fisheries in our province," said the 3 -2 decision ruled out the purposes. That spokesman Phil inherent right to catch fish but ered," which can relate ceremonial coalition VANCOUVER amount does not, however, in- Eidsvik.

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