Alberta leads way on C -31 membership codes By Jamie McDonell Register) unjustly, they can be used to restrict their Northern Alberta Indian descendents. bands have led the way in The question in Alberta taking control of their is, for the present, academic membership under Bill since only two individuals C -31. have asked to return to their ancestral reserve (as Seven of the first 12 bands to establish band compared with 469 in B.C., 290 in Manitoba and in LOVED ONES REMEMBERED IN SADDLE LAKE membership codes in 193 Quebec). response to Bill C -31 are A memorial dance was held with the give -away dance during the Saddle Lake Powwow, held June 26, 27 and Besides Sawridge, other from northern Alberta, two 28. The Whiskeyjack family and relatives mourned the loss of Kathleen and Emma Whiskeyjack, who passed Alberta bands that have are from B.C., two from away two years ago within 12 days of each other. On the right is Caroline Whiskeyjack and behind her is Alsena assumed control of their Ontario and one from Whiskeyjack. A memorial dinner was also hosted before the powwow grand entry. Saskatchewan. membership codes are Lubicon, Swan River, The first band in the Horse Lake, Ermineskin, country to take control of Driftpile and Fort its membership was the McMurray. Sawridge band of Slave As of June 28, the closing INSIDE THIS WEEK Lake. Its membership code date for the government's went into effect July 8, 1985 moratorium on additions to -- less than two weeks after band lists, 26 in Alberta's 43 C -31 provisions allowing bands (and 149 of 615 Education IAA's Morley Land claim bands to establish codes across the country) had cuts went into effect. submitted membership Gregg Smith proud of celebrated By establishing member- codes for DIA's approval. attacked by speaks on innovative in Ft. ship codes, a band avoids a The moratorium is being Arcand school Chip wholesale commitment dumping of those extended for these bands See Page 5 14 Page 20 enstated under C -31 onto and any other bands that See Page 8 See Page See their band lists. posted their codes to -DIA "The impact of a band before the June 28 deadline. not having a membership At the end of last May code will be that first approximately 90,000 people 1 generation (descendents of had applied for entitlement disenfranchised band under C -31, roughly 11,000 Fed gov't IAA and Memorial Special members) and others will applying from Alberta. simply be tacked on to Of the 90,000 approx- unleashes AFN race run Olympics band lists," says Jim Allan imately 30,00 have been transfer work on in held in of the Department of Indian added to the Indian Register plan Affairs (DIA). and 6,500 have been turned relationship Saddle Lake Cardston While membership codes down. In Alberta, just over See Page 4 See Page 3 See Page 22 See Page 24 cannot keep out those who 2,700 have been reinstated have been struck from and about 670 have been band lists (and the Indian turned down. Fifty western chiefs refuse to give up rights By Terry Lusty reason, he says, Treaty 6 full independence to looks as though the current the Klamath and Menomi- terms "take it or leave it." chiefs continue to oppose Canada. government (of. Canada) nee. tribes in the United He argues, "if you take -; An alliance of 50 Alberta such things as Bill C -31 and According to Lameman, has taken us off the national States who voted to sell then you do it the way they and Saskatchewan Indian membership codes which Canada has violated the agenda, but our international their reserves following want." On the other hand, chiefs are refusing to bow reinstate former Treaty basic human rights of the lobby will ensure that other pressure from non -Indian if you leave it, they will to Canadian government Indians. First Nations by denying states and peoples are tribal members. implement whatever policy policies and tactics designed The delegation to London them the right to exercise, reminded of Canadian Speaking on behalf of they wish to, he adds. to alter or remove what consisted of Chief Alphonse through their own institu- racist oppression of the Lameman at the Saddle There is something to be they consider their base J. Lameman and councillor tions, their culture. First Nations." Lake band office, Wallace said for the decision - Treaty rights Gabe Cardinal of the "Canada says it is bound Lameman, speaking on Many Fingers said that the making process on the part The chiefs who make up Beaver Lake Tribe number by international human behalf of the Treaty 6 constitutional talks regard- of Indian people, says Many the Treaty 6 Chiefs Forum, 131 who met with Shridath rights treaties like the chiefs, was critical of the ing Indian rights are "a dead Fingers, who pointed to the recently sponsored a Ramphal, Secretary General International Covenant on imposition of the Indian issue as far as the extremely low numbers delegation to meet with of the Commonwealth Civil and Political Rights, Act's new provisions on Conservatives are concern- who have met the now -past support groups and govern- Secretariat. but has denied that we are Indian status and member- ed." deadline for bands to ment in London, England. indigenous peoples with ship. In reference to bands' submit their membership Lameman was delegated According to Allen Jacob of our own culture and land "In membership codes, he codes. to the no other country are Cold Lake, the group is United Kingdom rights," says Lameman. the indigenous people reported, "bands have Only six Alberta bands (U.K.) to remind the British looked upon as "rebels" "This denial of our right to classified by race, only in rejected the whole frame- have had their codes government of their moral because of the strong stand self -government is racist," Canada you say! The work. The government has accepted and "out of 550 responsibilities to ensure they took by not participat- he adds. imposition of people into tried to shove it down their bands in Canada, there that Aboriginal and Treaty ing in the constitutional "Look how easy it was to our communities who have throats." wouldn't be more than 15 rights are not suspended talks. by recognize the right of the a racial, but no other Indians from Treaty 6 do nationally," he stated. Jacob the Canadian government. explains that their Quebecois, who are white, connection -- in some cases not take the matter lightly The issue is far from predecessors made treaties In 1982, the High Court to be a distinct society in one -sixteenth Indian blood, and promise to continue to being dead as far as Treaty with Great Britain and not in the U.K., in a case Canada, but when we, the to our communities is a oppose such impositions. 6 chiefs are concerned say the Dominion of Canada. launched by Alberta chiefs, First Nations, make the blatant attempt to under- Many Fingers charges Many Fingers and Jacob, Therefore, he argues, it is ruled that Treaty rights still same claim, we are shut mine our land base." the Canadian government who promise to pursue not Britain with whom Indians continued even though the down," professes Lameman. In support of his claim, with fostering an attitude just their treaty rights, but should be dealing. For this Canadian Bill transferred Chief Lameman says: "It Lameman cites the case of which says, in no uncertain their very "survival." PAGE 2, July 3, 1987, WINDSPEAKER National By Robin Kuhl Mohawk approached education from a different Why do we educate Vancouver World Conference angle. He spoke a great ourselves? What purpose deal about the Amish does it serve? Is it just to people in the United States. satisfy our curiosity? Is it Mohawk told how his just to help us make more people had the only money and get a better job? Educators seek solutions successful rural economy Do we use education to in the country. control social behavior and He related how the to dominate others? discovered they share conference, the first two events, the prayers, the Tradition was the theme Amish "speak their own These questions faced similar history, similar days were spent concentrat- songs, were carried over of Wednesday, June 10, language, own their own over 1,500 educators at the traditions and similar ing on the traditions of into the last four days of the and the keynote speakers land base, and suffer from World Conference on struggles for independence. Native people. Tuesday conference. During the addressed the need for a none of the same problems Indigenous Peoples' They shared how they were (June 9), the delegates remainder of the week, culturally -based education being faced by Native Education held in Van- overcoming their struggles were bused to the Squamish keynote speakers from system. Americans." He also spoke couver, June 8 to 13. and going forward to build Longhouse in Capilano. around the world addressed Poka Laenui, vice - of how the Amish had done For six days, those who better communities for Verna Kirkness, co- the areas of tradition, president of the World this without getting involved teach and those who themselves, based on chairman of the conference change and survival. They Council of Indigenous in the technology of today. develop curriculum shared strong cultural foundations. and the director of Native addressed how each of People, asked the question, Mohawk says, "Education their dreams, visions, Each country was at a education at the University these areas touched and "Why do we education at its best should do two indigenous experiences, concerns and different stage in their of British Columbia, called affected educa- ourselves ?" He focused on things: it will empower methods of dealing with development, but all had at the events at the longhouse, tion, in what way each area what he considered the people and give them their problems.