>-òc.Nß.IÒ 40181Af;7 INSIDE THIS WEEK The way Native people are treated by judges was the topic of a recent conference in Banff. One speaker accused judges on judging Native people by white middle class standards. Another said racism was a form of genocide. See stories on Pages 4, 18 and 19. Protest at Grouard AVC By Terry Lusty the other as mayor of High Prairie. The people of GROUARD -A volatile, Grouard feel he should be though peaceful demonstra- representing and serving Indian Minerals West tion is in effect where local community interests, but residents are incensed with wonder how he can when to be probed by IAA a political decision to build he is also the mayor in an Alberta Vocational town. Centre married student By Monday, May 26, the By Albert Crier progress report at the housing comnplex at High nucleus of a protest group upcoming IAA annual Prarie rather than Grouard. had stationed themselves Alberta's oil and gas pro- meeting to be held June 10, The complex would house just outside the AVC. ducing Indian bands have Il and 12, at Duffield. 50 families. Local organizer and given the Indian Associa- Indian leaders from all The decision to locate spokesman Jeff Chalifoux tion of Alberta (IAA) a over Alberta came to the the housing at High Prairie expressed bitterness and mandate to strike up a late hour emergency meet- has not been well received dismay towards Shaben Task Force that would look ing to respond to recent at all. Many of the commu- and Dumont whom, he at the alternatives to the reports of government nity people who spoke with claims, were the driving present handling of Indian mismanagement of oil and "Windspeaker" condemned forces behind the selection resources. gas development on Indian both the president of AVC, of High Prairie. (Chalifoux The decision was made lands. Fred Dumont, and MLA is the Zone 5 board member at an emergency meeting One of the problems with Larry Shaben for having for the Metis Association of May 28 in response to the way things are run "stabbed them in the back" Alberta.) reports of Indian Minerals regarding oil and gas pro- and "sold them down the The hair is up oil the West mismanagement of duction on Indian reserves river." back of the necks of the resource development on is the lack of communica- Signs reading, "Leave community residents. their lands. (See stories, tion between Indian Miner- AVC in Grouard, move Youth and adults alike were Page 3) als West and Indian bands, Dumont," were typical of parading up and down the "The producing bands according to McDougall. feelings which are running road in front of AVC. Even have mandated the IAA to "Indian people do not high. Dumont's involvement some Elders are participa- set up a task force," said receive information; they in the decision to have the ting. Wilf McDougall, president (Indian Minerals West) complex in High Prairie has The momentum of the of the IAA. The task force have never released any been interpreted as a protest, by Tuesday evening, will review the present actual figures and this has "conflict of interest" appeared to escalate with situation, look at the LOCAL GROUARD ELDERS because of his dual roles options available and give a Continued Page 3 ...peaceful support one as president of AVC, Continued Page 10 New Native ministers (more coverage, Page 4) By Clint Buehler Alberta has a new Native Affairs minister - in fact, it has two of them. Premier Don Getty has named Neil Crawford min- ister responsible for Native Affairs (program unit) and Jim Horsman minister responsible for Native Affairs (legal unit). No information has been released on how the changes will affect provincial government dealings with Native people. Crawford and Horsman ROUND DANCE assume responsibilities STUDENTS, friends and relatives joined hands for a round dance. The pow- formerly handled by Milt wow was part of a Native awareness project held at Edmonton's Oliver Pahl, minister responsible Elementary School. For more coverage on the event See Page 12. for Native Affairs in the Photo by Ivan Morin previous government, who - was defeated in the May 8 provincial election. Crawford will also serve as minister of municipal Loivent abuse tackled Page 7 affairs and government house leader, and will have responsibility for housing and for the Public Service Employee Relations Board. Horsman is also attorney general, minister of federal MILT PAHL and intergovernmental affairs and deputy govern- ig replaced by two ment house leader. r--- - PAGE 2, MAY 30, 1986, WINDSPEAKER National Crombie touring Soviet Union Native, northern communities Indian Bands to get Indian Affairs Minister Union together share much undertake high -level portation vehicles; and discussions with polit- examine the expe- compensation for David Crombie is on a two - of the opportunity week tour of the Soviet responsibility inherent in ical, governmental and riences of the Soviet mercury pollution Union. economic development of scientific decision - Arctic and Antarctic The tour will take the the polar region. makers regarding Institute in Leningrad, minister and an 11- member Soviet northern devel- and the Siberian Branch delegation to areas in the "As External Affairs opment policies as of the Academy of OTTAWA - Indian Affairs Soviet Arctic never before Minister Joe Clark made they relate to renewable Sciences in Novosi- Minister David Crombie visited by an official clear during his Soviet visit and non -renewable birsk, in light of an has introduced legislation Canadian group, and rarely last year, the government resources; ongoing study into the in the House of Commons seen by westerners. of Canada fully recognizes learn first -hand about feasibility of a Polar that will enable the awarding that development of the the Native population Institute for Canada. of compensation for mer- While in the Soviet polar region must take of the Soviet north, The minister's Soviet cury pollution to two Indian Union, the minister will place in a spirit of interna- and the hunting, fishing, host for the visit is Dr. G.I. Bands in northwestern examine first -hand Soviet tional cooperation. My goal and trapping activities Marchuk, the vice- premier Ontario. northern development in visiting the Soviet north which form the basis of of the Soviet Council of A $16.667 million settle- strategies, the impact of is to strengthen such their traditional lifestyle, Ministers and the chairman ment agreement was development on traditional cooperation." and which they share of the State Committee on reached with the Grassy Native communities and on The minister said the with Native people in Science and Technology. Narrows and Islington the Arctic environment, tour will provide "a unique Canada's north; The formal invitation was Bands in November 1985 to and explore opportunities opportunity to learn about explore the market extended to the minister compensate the commu- for strengthening Canada- the socio- economic, cultural potential for Canadian last year when he met in nities for mercury contam- USSR scientific and and economic development northern technology, Canada with V.I. ination of the Wabigoon- economic cooperation in of the more than 900,000 especially for off-shore Vorotnikov, the premier of English River system. Of the circumpolar region. Native people living in the oil and gas develop- the Russian Republic. the total settlement, the The minister says that Soviet north." ment, housing con- The minister will return Grassy Narrows Band will "Canada and the Soviet It will also allow him to: struction, and trans- to Canada on June 9. receive $8.667 million and Islington, the remaining $8 million. The bands will use CENSUS COUNTDOWN the settlement funds to address pressing social and DAVID CROMBIE economic problems attrib- ...made change utable to the pollution. A Message to All Aboriginal People... The Grassy Narrows the settlement. The two and Islington Indian Bands paper companies involved Mercury Pollution Claims in the negotiations, Reed Settlement Act provices for Inc. and Great Lakes This is the final "Census Countdown" feature. In the president of the Metis Association of Alberta, said the settlement of claims Forest Products Ltd., are past four weeks, the Aboriginal Peoples Program, with "hopefully, the Metis members will co- operate in a arising contributing $5.75 million from the contamina- the co-operation of "Windspeaker," has published manner by which we can achieve a proper head count. tion, and all and $6 million respectively. abolishes articles highlighting the importance of the Census and Metjs individuals missed by: the Census due to existing and future rights of The contamination of the the message to "count yourself in." intentional purposes and not by error is one thing, but I action of Band members. A river system was discovered This week's article will reiterate the important points am quite happy with the Census. sum of $2 million from the early in the 1970s, and the of the June 3 Census. "It's about time that this program came about. total settlement will be source of the pollution was (A) By June 2, every household in Alberta will have However, it gives us an opportunity to take an accurate devoted to a Mercury traced to a Dryden, Ontario received the short or long census questionnaire. The and proper head count of the Metis people. I think the Disability Fund for the paper mill owned by Reed. main point to remember is -- this Census involves self - onus is upon us. payment of benefits to The mill was subsequently enumeration and is by no means subjective. Fill out the "This census is of importance to us; it's so vital those with health problems purchased by Great Lakes Census questionnaires as accurately and completely as towards our arguments for land, resources, self - consistent with mercury Forest Products in 1979.