Due STORAGE . Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Minisiere des Ajfaires indiennes et du Nord Vol. Thirteen, No. Three Ottawa, Canada June , 1970 IA ALBERT A INDIANS PRESENT "CITIZENS PLUS'' "The true owners of the land are not yet born." Thus reads the Indian Associa- tion of Alberta's Citizens Plus, or the Red Paper, as it has become known, in commenting on Indian lands and legislation for the future. There would seem to be a message here for mankind, as the world fast approaches its environmental crisis. The land is only a man's to hold - not to do with as he damned-well pleases. On June 4, 1970 - some 93 years after the signing of Treaty Seven, the Indian Association of Alberta, led by Harold Cardinal and backed by the National Indian Brotherhood, presented its Citizens Plus counterproposal to Prime Min- ister Pierre Trudeau and 13 mem- Chief Norman Yellowbird presents the Red Paper to Prime Minister Trudeau bers of the Cabinet in an historic (Photo- David Monture) confrontation in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill. The 100-page it because this was designed by that this will not be our last hour. document was prepared after a year the government itself. At the same Our brothers in Alberta present you Squamish Band of almost universal Indian opposi- time we have our own set of ideas Citizens Plus. We hope you wiJl tion to the federal government's In- as to what the Indians should be accept it in the manner which it is Develops dian Policy proposals of last June doing for themselves and we have given, in honesty and sincerity." and represented, in the words of come up with a proposal. We do Housing Proiect Manitoba Indian Brotherhood Pre- Harold Cardinal, in addressing not need this any longer. Our peo- Council members of British Col- sident Dr. David Courchene, "one ple do not need the Indian policy the Prime Minister, declared: "It is hundred years of frustration, rejec- disheartening at this stage in history umbia's Squamish Band have stud- paper. This is the reason I am re . ied, planned and negotiated for two tion, broken promises and discrimi- turning it to Mr. Chretien." to have made so little apparent pro- nation." gress towards reaching an under- years to set up a housing and land development project on the Capi- The meeting began with Mr. David Courchene then came on standing of each others point of strongly with a plea that sincere and view." He added, rather more opti- lano and Mission Reserves in North Trudeau introducing the members Vancouver. of the Cabinet, and Walter Deiter, honest dialogue must follow on the mistically, that native people could N.I.B.. president, introducing the part of both government and the take encouragement from the mere An agreement with the Central Indian representatives. Chief Jim native people in acting on the Red fact that a meeting was finally being Mortgage and Housing Corporation Shot Both ·Sides of the Blood Re- Paper's proposals. "This past year, held at this level, which indicated and the Department of Indian Af- serve chanted .an untranslated In- like the past 100 years, has been a new willingness on the part of fairs has enabled the band to finance dian prayer and then came the sym- mostdifflcult. for our_people.. But the government to come to grips the development with a $780,000 bolic presentation: Chief Norman unlike the past 100 years, . thisyear with the situation. He said that the CMHC loan guaranteed by the De- Yell ow bird presented the Red Pa- is notending in frustration and Alberta chiefs·.were not there onlv partment of Indian Affairs, which per to the Prime Minister on behalf anger. We have, for the first time to reject the government's propo- will be repaid from "grants to of the Indian chiefs of Alberta, in our history, joined together as sals, but to come up with viable bands" funds received from the De- while at the same time Chief Harry one. We are not only brothers in alternatives. partment at the rate of $120,000 Chonkolay, . dressed in treaty uni- colour and blood, but we are bro- per year for six years. There · will thers in purpose, intent, aspirations, Mr. Cardinal went on to reiterate also be an annual grant from band form, returned the green Indian that the government must recognize Policy proposal booklet to Indian hope and effort. The government funds of $66,000 plus revenues re- .of Canada has had one hundred its historic, legal, moral and consti- ceived from rentals. This will re- Affairs Minister Jean Chretien. tutional responsibilities in relation to Chief Chonkolay does not speak years to prepare its white paper. We sult in the band having full owner- have had but one year to prepare aboriginal rights and treaty obliga- ship of the homes in 10 years. Eriglish.- His comments, translated tions. He charged that Indian by Walter Deiter, went as follows: our views. We now have but one Claims Commissioner Lloyd Barber Centred around a park-like area "I am returning the paper to Min- hour to meet with you. This hour ister Chretien. I completely reject is one hundred years . : . We hope (Continued on Pag first .CA1 IA 5 9' I54 . Page Two \llil IIII I ll\ June. 1970 ta3klll ll! ~ l l~ 8 7~ 0 11ll~l7530\ll I l l\ ~ Il66hl\ ~~~~ ClTlZENS PLUS a aussi de­ juge. Le jury donnera preference Le Livre ~ouge mande la formation d'un nouveau Concours des arts aux coutures faites a Ia main, au repond 'au ministere qui ne serait responsable et metiers indiens cuir tanne a la maison et aux tein­ qu'aux lndiens. A present M. Chre­ tures et peintures naturelles. Livre Blanc tien, ministre des Affaires indiennes, Nous vous prions de n'envoyer est aussi responsable pour les pares La Guilde Canadienne des Me­ que des articles sans inscription. par Michele Tetu nationaux et les lieux historiques, la tiers d'Art, en collaboration avec Les articles dits de souvenir ne se­ conservation, et le Grand Nord la Fratemite nationale des Indiens, a ront pas acceptes. canadien. annonce un concours et une expo- b) arts et metiers contemporains: Le ·silence qui a ensevele plus d'un . sition d'art indien canadien, gui se siecle de pauvrete et discrimination Le premier ministre a repondu nous acceptons l'artisanat de toute aux critiques formulees dans le tiendra du 10 au 22 novembre, sorte, y compris les textiles (tissage, .a ete brise ]e mois dernier par 1970, . a la Place Bonaventure a CITIZENS PLUS, le "livre rouge" livre rouge, mais il a admis que le tapis, nattes, decorations murales, Montreal. • de Harold Cardinal, president de Gouvernement avait ete tres na!f etc.), objets de bois et de pierre, 1' Association des lndiens de 1' Al­ dans le livre blanc, qu'il etait un Le but de cette exposition est de . poterie, ceramique, email, metal, berta. peu trop theorique, un peu trop faire connaitre et apprecier !'excel­ bijouterie, cuir, peinture, imprimes abstrait, pas assez pragmatique. lent travail fait, a travers le Canada, C'etait la premiere fois que le et lithographies. Mais le livre rouge, a-t-il dit, est par les artistes contemporains et premier ministre et son cabinet se Les methodes et materiaux tradi­ pragmatique et rationnel. les artisans traditionnels indiens. sont rassembles pour porter oreille tionnels ou modernes peuvent etre Les Indiens et Metis canadiens peu­ aux demandes des Indiens du Ca­ M. Trudeau a ajoute que si les utilises. vent y participer. nada. Le livre rouge repond aux Indiens voulaient atteindre. leur but Les objets a exposer doivent etre propositions du "livre blanc" que en venant a Ottawa, obtenir une Les prix - un total de $2000, emballes soigneusement et etre en­ M. Jean Chretien, ministre des Af­ nouvelle forme de liens entre le avec des prix individuels jusqu'a voyes, aux frais des concurrents, a: Gouvernement et les lndiens, il faut $200 - seront decernes par un faires indiennes, a depose au Parle­ Arts et Metiers des lndiens du ment il y a un an. qu'on ait au moins un peu de con­ jury de trois personnes. fiance l'un en l'autre. Canada, M. Walter Deiter, president de la Le premier ministre a declare a/s de Monsieur R. Racine, Plate­ Fraternite nationale des Indiens, et forme de Chargement, les chefs des associations indiennes que son cabinet allait certainement Place Bonaventure, Montreal 114, des provinces ont donne leur accord considerer les soumissions du livre P.Q. et leur appui aux propositions du rouge, et a souligne son desir de livre rouge. faire connaitre au Canada }'unique Sauf indication contraire, les ar­ culture des lndiens. ticles seront vendus a des musees Devant plus de 200 auditeurs in­ diens, les chefs Chonkolay et M. Trudeau a donne son appro­ ou au public. L' artisan do it indi­ Y ellowbird ont chante une petite bation a la commission impartiale quer le prix de ses travaux sur la formule d'inscription. Le. produit priere indigene pour le succes de la pour examiner les droits et traites presentation. des lndiens. II a affirme son inten­ de Ia vente lui sera envoye aussitot tion de changer les lois au bienfait que possible apres la cloture de M. le docteur David Courchene, des indigenes, et d'instruire le pu­ 1' exposition. vice-president de · la Fraternite na­ blic afin qu.e ces lois ne soient nas tionale des Indiens et president de Les frais d'assurance des articles effectuees dans un manque de c~n­ envoyes a !'exposition seront payes 1' Association des Indiens de Mani­ naissance.