Natives Enter Mainstream Politics

Whoa! I said whoaaaaa... Dennis Samson of Hobbema twisted this critter sunshine and payoffs for the winners. down in 14 seconds flat, fast enough to grab fourth rounds are acknowledged as one of the place money. Samson and a whole mess of fin . -t in roe; ountry and the Indian rodeo circuit cowboys converged at Hobbema's Panee rodeo a ayytibr Afro -titors together for renewed grounds for the annual Spring Bust Out Rodeo. fr - ndshUonN I :t.'Ai .mpetition. The event got off wet and windy but wound up with 1Weft6 Te sty, Windspeaker Jat 2 7 rü Natives enter mainstream politics TERRY LUSTY, WiMSpeaker BY TERRY LUSTY Windspeaker Correspondent What a week it's been for Murial Stanley -Venne, Mike Cardinal and Willie Littlechild. The politicians have been nominated to represent their respective parties in separate elections. The first occurred June 11 when Muriel Stanley - Venne won the New Financial records Democratic nomination for the Yellowhead federal riding currently held by PC kept Joe Clarke. from public In winning the NDP nomination for Yellowhead, BY DOROTHY SCHREIBER berships will be taken away Stanley -Venne will be out and LESLEY CROSSINGHAM "until we get rid of all the to unseat federal member troublemakers...there's no of Parliament Joe Clarke. law stating we have to put President of the Metis Stanley -Venne says she up with troublemakers." does not feel intimidated by Association Larry Des - Edson Local 44 president Clarke who is a meules has revoked mem- seasoned Sharon Johnstone and veteran when it comes to berships from individuals three of her members had requesting a look at the politics. "Look at what their memberships taken happened to Vander Zalm," organization's financial away on 14 June when they in B.C. she says explaining records. went into the association And he says more mem- that the NDP only lost to head office in Edmonton to him by about 200 votes. look at the organization's Politics is not new to financial records. They had Stanley -Venne. She's been presented a written request running under the NDP to Desmeules on June 10. banner for 15 years and in the last federal election Nomination winners: Willie Littlechild, Muriel Stanley - The disbarred members claims to have had the Venne and Mike Cardinal (right) say they had earlier submit- second highest number of ness, or profit- oriented" provincially come the ted a special resolution cal- next votes (23.6 %). people. Some issues that election. ling for the impeachment of In reference to represent- are of the president and his concern she says are, Mike Cardinal won the ing Native issues, she says, "free trade, the purchasing nomination meeting for board, an issue they hope the "Of course I'm going to be of nuclear submarines... PC candidacy to bring before the associa- for the pro- Cardinal says of his strong on Native matters things not of priority." vincial riding of Athabas- tion's annual assembly in chances of unseating but we have to also repres- Stanley -Venne works as ca/Lac La Biche in Boyle Paquette in the 14,000 Lac La Biche, July 6-9. ent the Desmeules whole consti- a consultant and feels her on the second ballot. member riding, "I think my says the tuency." The plus factor in membership removals experiences and back- With over 1,900 dele- chances are very good - I having Natives in politics, ground qualify her for polit- were not based only on the gates in attendance, Cardi- am very confident." she states, is that they fact the members would ics. She is at present a nal defeated hopefuls Phil And, on June 14, Willie wanted then have the insight to to see the records. member of the Apprentice- Coutney and Larry Armfelt Littlechild also won his speak with some authority ship and Trade "We didn't go about this Certifica- Cardinal's first objective nomination for the Conser- for Natives. tion Board and a lightly...we've been talking board as PC candidate for the rid- vatives on a national level. Stanley -Venne now member for the Legal Aid ing is.to unseat NDP Close to 2,700 voters about this since January. resides at Carvel and is of Society of Alberta. Her past incumbent Leo Piquette as jammed the Wetaskiwin They're trying to disrupt the firm belief that candi- involvements have also the member of the Legisla- drill hall and on the second this organization as much dates should be resident of given her experience and tive Assembly. Cardinal's round of balloting over 50 as they can and we're just the constituency not in which contacts in the areas of jus- main platform for the next per cent of them installed allowing it." they contest elections. Darren She tice, labor and socio- election will be the local Hobbema's Littlechild as Bradshaw, Jack says her platform is people - recreational programs. economy and getting it the PC candidate for the Calahoo and Edwin Findlay oriented because "we care Then, on June 13, Mike going. "We are a number of said they followed bylaw about riding. people." In contrast, Cardinal won the nomina- years behind the other local The nomination meeting she claims to not have Continued on page 2 tion to represent the Pro- constituencies," says much interest in "big busi- gressive Conservatives Cardinal. Continued on page 2 L l PAGE 2, June 17, 1988, WINDSPEAKER CLOSE TO HOME Elders join fight to stop Oldman river dam BY JACKIE RED CROW Joe Crow Shoe pointed to "Our spiritual way of life George Little Moustache, river (Oldman) is also there is already evidence of Windspeaker Correspondent the river saying that if the comes from the rivers, Peigan councillor, told sacred to me, too," he said. pollution on the site where construction proceeds it is a construction has BLOOD RESERVE stones, trees, woods, members of the media, that "There tremendous started will destroy religious mountains," said Crow he believes the government spiritual depth here." and that it violates the A group of Peigan elders artifacts, cairns, burial Shoe before he delivered a failed to consider a $750,000 Russell said he thinks the Alberta Fish and Wildlife and councillors gathered sites, habitat and tipi rings prayer, adding he is con- study which pointed out the provincial government Act. { on a hillside June 13 vital to Peigan religious and cerned about the future religious and cultural cannot avoid listening to Parry is working with a overlooking the proposed cultural ceremonies. Peigan generation. impact of the Peigan Nation the Peigans and envi- group of Peigan elders to of a flood is construction The Oldman River The elders said they if the dam is constructed. ronmental groups now. "I identify and document basin on the Oldman River considered sacred by tribal ' support the Peigan chief However, the chairman think if they (government) Blackfoot syllabics in the to again reaffirm their stand elders and Crow Shoe and council's move to seek of the Friends of the are interested in getting Milk River area. The that the construction will called the river "the a legal injunction to stop Oldman River, Andy Russell, elected again, they'll have second phase of the destroy the spiritual values lifeblood of the reserve." construction of the $350 welcomed the Peigans' to listen now," he said. research will start on Aug. of the tribe. They maintain the Oldman million flood basin which move for a legal injunction. Since the government 15 and a trip is planned to While a drumming group River has been on Peigan would be used primarily for "It's (injunction) a powerful has failed to consider the the Hopi reservation in chanted, spiritual leader land since time immemorial. irrigation purposes for legal development. It's the aboriginal rights and titles Arizona for further study. about 68,000 hectares of best news that has come in of the Peigan Nation, it has The Peigans' move to THIS WEEK farmland in surrounding a long time," said Russell in also seriously neglected thé halt construction of the Politicans towns. an interview after the environmental effects of dam on the Oldman River "We don't want a dam," demonstration. His group the Oldman River. Accord- has not only garnered From page 1 said Crow Shoe. "We want had made two unsuccessful ing to Buff Parry, a linguist support from local envi- was originally called when it to stop. We are just attempts to halt construc- who wants to preserve the ronmentalists but has also the current MP for Wetas- asking for our spiritual and tion in the courts. area because it is so received international kiwin, Stan Schellenberger, Native rights. This is our "I'm a white man but this historically significant, support, said Parry. announced that he will not last stand on the Oldman seek re- election in the next River." federal election. When Crow Shoe had Littlechild, a lawyer and blessed the Oldman River Locals agree on boundaries physical education gradu- on Feb. 6 an eagle was ate, was one of five candi- spotted flying high - above BY KEITH MATTHEW Provincial Electoral The other options were: dates contesting the nomi- the ceremonies and at this Windspeaker Staff Writer Constituencies." This that the boundaries remain option would mean that the nation. In the first round of week's demonstration EDMONTON as they are; that there be balloting he captured a another eagle was again Locals #1928 and #8556 in three locals in the city of commanding 1,189 (46.6 %) seen. The eagle is consider- In a meeting on Wed- the northeast of Edmonton Edmonton, one on the of 2,549 ballots, just a little ed a symbol of deeply nesday, June 15 between would merge into one Local south side of the North shy of the required 50 per religious sighificance in the Metis Locals of with all of the other locals Saskatchewan River and cent plus one.

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