High TB Rates Worry
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Hobbema rodeo Potts a smash success to sue Pages 10 -11 Page 2 September 8,1989 Indian and Metis News...Every Week Volume 7 No. 27 Cancer causing agents worry Natives Pulp mills polluting Athabasca By Jeff Morrow in winter, from pollution sial development are Windspeaker Staff Writer caused by two existing scheduled to begin next pulp mills along its banks. week in the mill -site area. EDMONTON The study says pulp mill But if Alberta Pacific discharges in Hinton and Forest Industries Ltd. can't Construction of a $1.3 Whitecourt are reducing prove to the provincial billion pulp mill by Alberta oxygen levels in the Ath- government or the general Pacific Forest Industries abasca River below Cana- public its project is safe for near Athabasca may never dian standards. If all the environment, it could get off the ground if its fu- planned mills proceed, it be scaled down or rejected ture owners can't convince says that poses a threat to all together, said Klein. the government and public existing aquatic life in the The issues that pose the it will be environmentally river if pollution reduction greatest concerns for Na- safe. is not enforced. tive leaders and environ- That was the warning Klein announced mentalists are the amounts from Alberta's Environ- tougher measures could be of cancer -causing chemical ment Minister Ralph Klein taken to ensure the project deposits from the mills into last week after finding meets provincial standards the Athabasca River. major flaws in the including forcing existing Many Native communi- developer's Environment pulp mill companies to ties are dependent on fish- Impact Assessment (EIA) Effluents from pulp mills along the Athabasca River is harming the river improve treatment of ing and hunting along the report. wastes. Mills could be northern Alberta water- A recent government portance of clarifying the velop. That could be a scal- Late last week, a new forced to cut production way. review of Alberta Pacific's questions for the public or ing down of the operation, Alberta Environment this winter, he warned, if Fort McMurray band environmental impact as- the project could meet its a refinement of the (efflu- study strongly indicated there is a serious threat to Chief Robert Cree believes sessment showed 231 areas fate this fall when the pub- ent) treatment process, the that oxygen levels in the the river. the provincial government of concern for the Alberta lic hearings are completed. addition of some equip- Athabasca River are re- His announcement is finally realizing what government. 'There are a number of ment and so on," Klein duced drastica'.ly, particu- comes as public hearings Native leaders have bee' t Klein stressed the im- scenarios that could de- said. larly during severe periods into the highly -controver- 1 Con't page 3 High TB rates worry health officials, IAA Treaty 7 vice- president including 1987 with 152 By Dana Wagg with the Indian Associa- per 100,000 compared to Windspeaker Staff Writer tion of Alberta. 8.7 for the provincial aver- "It's going to require age. Likewise in 1986 with EDMONTON work from not only health 97 per 100,000 and 1985 providers but from our with 82 per 100,000. Pro- The tuberculosis rate own people in wanting it vincial averages in those among Alberta's Treaty brought down," he said. years were 8.8 and 7.6 per Indians is "very unaccept- A total of 176 TB cases 100,000 respectively. able," says an IAA official. were reported in Alberta Back in 1978, the provin- "I think it can be last year. Forty-five of the cial average was 12.5 while brought down considera- cases, almost half were it was 153 for Treaty Indi- bly," said, Gregg Smith Treaty Indians while an- ans, said Fanning. other 13 "I've known for a long cases were time it was Metis. quite a bit Between Tuberculosis rates higher," 10 to 20 among said Smith. people die Alberta's "In a lot every year 50,000 Indians is 10 of cases of the dis- w h e n ease in Al- - 20 times higher there's an berta. One- than the provincial outbreak, third of it's be- those who average. cause of die are people's Treaty Indi- non -use of ans. a medication or follow -up The tuberculosis rate to that medication. among Alberta's 50,000 "As well immunization Indians is 10 to 20 times rates from all our Native higher than the provincial communities are really average, said Dr. Anne low. I think's it's a lack of Fanning, medical director understanding of immuni- of TB Services Alberta. zation, which results in Across the province last some of these things," year the provincial average Smith said. was 7.4 cases per 100,000 Fanning called the high Lost in thought... people while in Indians the TB rates "awful. It's unac- Mary Big John, an elder of the O'Chiese band near Rocky rate was 91 per 100,000. ceptable and I'm commit- Mountain House watches the grand 11th The rates for Treaty Indi- ted to changing it. entry of the Annual Assiniboine Celebration last weekend Alexis. ans show that for other Con't page 2 at years the ratios are similar PAGE 2, WINDSPEAKER, SEPTEMBER 8, 1989 INSIDE THIS WEEK Potts to launch civil suit against Triple Five By Jeff Morrow custody by mall security Windspeaker Staff Writer and was later given a sum- EDMONTON mons by Edmonton Police to appear in court for a A prominent Alberta charge of assault by tres- Indian leader plans to pass. tackle one of the province's "The whole thing could largest corporate giants in have been settled through court after being mauled discussion rather than the and humiliated in public by man (first security guard) three of its employees. deciding to exercise his Suicide Race Percy Potts, vice presi- power of authority and get See Page 19 dent of Treaty 6 for the in a physical confrontation Indian Association of Al- 8 with me." Potts said. berta (IAA), told Wind- speaker Wednesday he Murray Marshall, IAA plans to file legal action g attorney who will be de- against Triple Five Corpo- g fending Potts in the assault ration. Ltd. stemming from e by trespass charge, is cur- an incident at its down- e?. rently drafting a statement town Eaton Centre shop- claim for the subsequent ping mall Aug. 29. ú lawsuit. Potts, who was on a "It's going to be an ac- shopping trip with his tion for Percy Potts shows his mangled hand as a security guard at Eaton Centre turns damages Percy daughter, was wrestled to sustained as a result of the the ground and handcuffed his back on the camera. incident," he said. by three security guards Marshall said he could a Potts after he was accused of mitting human rights were riding the Eaton said the security not reveal any specifics to riding an elevator they complaint to the Alberta Centre Hotel elevator in an guard, who identified him- the claim, but said "Percy claim was for Human Rights Commis- attempt to get to the mall's self as the manager, was Chief honored exclusively has a very strong case." patrons of an adjacent ho- sion against the multi-mil- parkade. angry because Potts ques- A Triple Five spokesper- tel. lion dollar corporation that "But we were lost, " he tioned his authority. son indicated the elevators See Page 12 Potts decided to sue is also owner of West says. "He grabbed me and are clearly marked for use Triple Five after he was told Edmonton Mall. "So we got back off in threw me down, then by hotel guests, visitors and by several people after- "We're pursuing it the lobby and the guy called over two more guys the handicapped. wards that they were never through the court system asked us if we belonged at to put handcuffs on me. My Selma Linzer now. said the stopped by mall employees And certainly if that the hotel." daughter was there watch- security guards were acting when they used the hotel avenue (human rights He noted that other ing, but they didn't seem to in the appropriate interest elevator. complaint) is available I people using the elevators care about that," he said. of their employer, Triple like to it His "To me it was kind of would pursue were walking to and from hand was badly Five Corporation, and there strange that this hap- through there," he added. the Eaton Centre shopping bruised and his thumb was should be no basis for legal pened," he said. Potts admits he and his mall entrance located a few injured in the melee. action by Potts. He is considering sub- 12- year -old daughter Misty feet away. Potts, 35, was taken in to International Gadwa's claims a 'red herring'- Kehewin Traveller See Page 7 ties as collateral, according By DANA WAGG to Gadwa. Windspeaker Staff Writer A 100 -name petition de- manding Gadwa's re- KEHEWIN, ALTA. moval was sent to Indian Affairs recently. And six of NEXT Kehewin Band Chief the eight band council Gordon Gadwa's explana- members voted Aug. 17 to WEEK tion for the revolt on his oust him and appointed reserve is being dismissed councillor Gloria Badger by a leader of his opposi- acting chief. tion. The issue of royalties is a Native "The real issue is him," red herring, declared leaders said Irvin Kehewin. "And Kehewin. it's not through pettiness or 'That is not why we did profiled jealousy." what we did," he said.