Southern drummers Theatre of Giants, and singers are presenting legends of invited to London to Wasakajack and the play in the annual Sly Fox, delight August 19, 1988 Royal tournament and audiences at meet the Royal Edmonton's Fringe Family. See page 3. Volume 6 No. 24 Festival. See page 7. Review of treaties First settler not a Well past his 90th year, Adolphus gov't priority Ghostkeeper is one of the eldest members of the Paddle Prairie Metis Settlement. He was also one of the first to settle in By Patrick Michell The prime minister's new interest in Native the community. The settlement is Windspeaker Corespondent its 50th anniversary (see at a time celebrating issues comes pages 11 -14) Aug. 19-20. SUNCHILD RESERVE Alta when Alberta politicians are recognizing the voting Renegotiating the power of ethnic groups. treaties with Alberta "In federal, provincial Natives is not a high priori- and municipal elections, at ty with the federal govern- nomination meetings, and ment according to the in the process of selecting Indian affairs deputy min- delegates for leadership ister. contests, a politician's abil- Asked whether or not ity to woo closely -knit the Mulroney government groups has often meant a was ignoring its promise to difference between win- "renovate the treaties in ning and losing," stated the provinces such as Alberta 1988 June issue of Alberta and Manitoba, Swain Report. replied "No, we're trying to The prime minister is live up to our obligations. also interested in the recent We are very conscious of form of Indian self - assessing and renegotiating government being exercised the existing treaties." by such Native groups as He added that renegoti- British Columbia's Sechelt ating the existing treaties Indian band and Ontario's had been "Mr. Crombié s Cree- Naskapi Nations. idea," and that it was "not Swain says the govern- really current anymore." ment is now talking "with New Democrat opposi- close to 70 different New political presence t1 tion MP, Jim Fulton, had groups" about setting up accused Mulroney of not self -government legislation having the political will to similar to legislation grant- City locals to strengthen membership settle with Natives. ed to the Sechelt band and Swain disagreed with the Cree- Naskapi. By Keith Matthew have high populations of for the Metis living in Meus could take advan- Fulton saying, "I believe In 1985, Assembly First Windspeaker Staff Writer Metis. We want to be more Edmonton. "Community tage of the immunization -that he does. Nations grand chief, recognized on the local and league funding has been programs and free "I have watched him Georges Erasmus, coun- said the EDMONTON, Alta. provincial levels and we handing out grants to rec- selling such as marriage closely for several years. self-govemment legislation want to take advantage of ognized groups and we and mental health programs One area that I know that was "something that A call most for Edmonton's the fiscal opportunities." should be able to get those which Donald says are he is personally (interested First Nations the Metis locals to across strengthen Stronger locals will be kinds of grants also. We under used by Metis who in is) minority rig - country are not in favor of. themselves has arisen from able to go after grants for could fit into the Edmonton are probably not aware of hts...whether it's french People want a lot the recent more approval of more money to run things Social Services programs." the programs. language rights, Indian than boundary power that." changes for the Acting vice -president rights - those things touch A Native university pro- city's eight zones. for Zone 4, Joe Blyan, feels him personally." fessor, Leroy Little Bear, Local 2085 president the restructuring is a good agrees with Erasmus, say- Lyle Donald wants to start place to start to build a bet- ing that a membership Edmonton Canada's drive to woman dodges ter relationship between the begin the process. Conservative government He says locals and the Metis people is not interested in the change in local dealing bound- living in Edmonton. "Let's aries, which with Natives at a national were approved court put our differences aside level. in June to be re- structured on theft charges and develop a regional Little Bear, a to resemble provincial professor elec- council and when all is said at the University toral boundaries, should of By Mark McCallum dled," says Cyndy Bedard, and done we can Lethbridge, said govern- serve as an impetus go back for Windspeaker Staff Writer friendship centre board and deal with the ment would other leaders to go personal prefer to deal after treasurer. problems." with Natives at the more of the Metis living in band EDMONTON Police linked the suspect "Over the level, because bands the city to sign up. past four do not to the charges with an inter- years have as much "political Donald is concerned since the regional A city woman failed to im audit that the friendship council came into sophisication" and "politi- because the Metis locals of effect appear in court after being centre executive committee there has been a lot of cal weight" as the Edmonton do not have a large charged with one count of requested in unrest in 4 national Native October. Zone because a organiza- strong enough presence in fraud and one count of theft lot of the unemployed tions, which are pushing Harriette Fiddler, 43, the local political scene in connection with the politicians living in Ottawa to include was charged with town Indian while ethnic groups such as Canadian Native one count because sovereignty into of theft over $1,000 this is a govern- the the East Indians and Friendship Centre. and ment he Constitution. one count of fraud town," says. Ukrainian populations are An arrest warrant has over He adds, "we are trying But Mulroney's govern- $1,000 on Aug. 22, 1987 able to demand things from been issued for the police to put this regional council ment continues to reject the in connection with dealings the local politicians suspect for failing to appear back in place. He adds that idea of sovereign Indian she had with the friendship because they are better before a judge on June 28 Edmonton "probably has First Nations existing organized. at the provincial court centre. alongside the biggest Metis popula- the Canadian "I estimate there are at building here in Edmonton. Fiddler, who had been tion in Alberta." govemments, says Swain. least 2000 Metis living in City police launched an the friendship centre's Zone Director, "We told Stan the Mohawk my local alone (the west investigation after a friend- office manager and book- Plante, nation, 'We're says the changes to all end of Edmonton). We ship centre executive com- keeper for some 12 years, the boundaries Canadians, have been "' says Swain, only have 50 registered mittee turned over evidence resigned for unrelated rea- okayed by the Metis referring to talks with Metis in my local right indicating that "there were sons shortly before her Association of Alberta and Continued page 2 now," Donald says. some irregularities in the friendship centre employ- they become effective "Castledowns and Beverly way the books were han- ees contacted the police. October 1. Page 2, WINDSPEAKER, August 19, 1988 CLOSE TO HOME O'Chiese band members winning alcohol battle By Patrick Michell by another reserve which Windspeaker Correspondent banned alcohol consump- tion over 15 years ago. O'CHIESE RESERVE, Alta. British Columbia's Alkali Lake band once had About seven out of 10 as many as 90 per cent of members of the O'Chiese its people abusing alcohol, band are staying sober fol- but now is a "dry reserve." lowing the recent passing However, as Strawberry of a band bylaw outlawing points out, it took the beer and liquor drinking on Alkali Lake people almost the rural reservation. 15 years to become com- Chief Theresa pletely alcohol free. In con- Strawberry said 70 per cent trast, the O'Chiese people of band members are now have taken only three years. sober, although she admit- She attributes her people's ted there have been people willingness to abandon who have started drinking alcohol abuse to a deep again. sense of commitment. "Even though they do Strawberry herself is a relapse, they come back, " reformed alcoholic drank said Strawberry. for 10 years. Her and her She attributes the band's husband Bernie are now success to its leadership, recovering from the effects which must be a role model that the disease of alco- to others in the band. holism has had on their 100 years of wildrose granite: Chief Rita Marten and govt leaders "It has to come to the lives. leadership." Husband Bernie says She is proud of her peo- that their three children are Quarry to help reduce unemployment ple who have learned to now "really happy" because live without alcohol, and By Patrick Michell remaining 15 per cent by Godfrey, responsible for that 35 per cent of Fort their parents no longer Windspeaker the the Metis local. finding the granite 15 years Chipeywan residents are whose quick recovery from drink. alcohol abuse is unmatched Lloyd "Sonny" Flett, ago, said the town is slow unemployed. Those FORT CHIPEWYAN, Alta. president of the Fort to accept carving granite employed work at building Chipewyan Development figures as a means of houses and fishing pickerel Native leaders and Corporation (FCDC), told income. But if they do during the summers. politicians who officially Chief welcomes Bill C- 31'ers about 100 officials, accept carving, they will During the winters, trap - opened a granite quarry in observers and press people have at least a hundred ping is the major economic EDMONTON - Chief Good Fish Lake band along Fort Chipewyan Aug.