t a Of Rebels with a cause dig in at Lubicon By Lesley Crossingham Windspeaker Correspondent LITTLE BUFFALO, Alta. Hector Whitehead and Johnny Seeseequon throw another log on the fire in the middle of "no man's land" one kilometre outside the boundaries of the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation. The two youngsters are part of the Lubicon Nation's "front guard" and take turns manning the border stations the band erected when they asserted their jurisdiction Saturday Oct. 15. There are four border stations located on the major roads running into the 10,000 square km traditional Lubicon land and each station is manned 24 hours a day by a team of dedicated band members, some as young as 14 years of age. But Hector and Johnny don't see their role as being rebellious, they say they are just protecting their land. They are prefaced to stay out there as long as it takes. And they are not the only ones. Each day new contingencies from churen groups, supporters and other Indian nations across the country arrive at the small Indian Nation volunteering for service. Billy Two Rivers expressed his support for his brothers saying the Lubicons should take back their land without asking. "If you take something back from a thief you'll see how mad he gets," he says, drawing a parallel between the Lubicon border crossing and the RCMP checkstop located one kilometre into Canadian territory. Two men were arrested on Saturday and charged with impaired driving. In the village of Little Buffalo many residents said they were surprised at the "swarms" of media and the support they received from other nations. 'No man's land': Chief Bernard Ominayak and young sign holder at the barricade front line "I feel excited," said an exuberant Rene Jobin. "There are so many people. The younger people are going to start rebelling but they won't be using bows jurisdiction, local oil companies made a last minute blockade, Johnny and Hector left their school books and arrows,' he added, referring to the newly erected barricade. mass evacuation. As reporters from all parts of in their tents to check a passing car. They warmed Veronica Whitehead said "people were concerned about what other people Canada struggled into Little Buffalo with their themselves by the fire as they watched the blue were going to do," adding she was pleased so many turned up for support. cameras, satellite dishes and mobile film labs -- oil flashing light on the RCMP squad car one kilometre "I feel better. There is somebody else supporting us, not just fighting us," rigs were dismantled and loaded on huge trucks. away. said a smiling Dennis Laboucan. Pump jacks were stopped and camps were deserted. "We don't mind the cold" says Johnny, "we're A few short hours before the Lubicon Nation said they would assert their But as the sun rose on a frosty .third day of the going to stay." Barricades torn down by RCMP Lubicon supporters jailed By Susan Enge 20, RCMP moved into olds, Quakers, and church Moore from the .Court of Randall, a member of the Windspeaker Staff Writer Lubicon territory and began representatives were also Queen's Bench in Calgary. Committee Against arresting anyone manning arrested. According to Chief Ominayak is call- Racism. LITTLE BUFFALO, Alta the barricades and tearing Peace River RCMP ing for more supporters to Attorney General Ros- man newly re- established down the ropes strung up spokesperson Staff Sgt. tad is calling the block- Six days after road between wooden poles. Julyan, approximately 20 barricades, says Terry ades "illegal acts" and Kelly, a Lubicon blocks were first erected in Earlier in the week, people were arrested and assistant says they were taken down Little Buffalo, the Lubicons are in custody. in Edmonton. Church Getty refused to negotiate "in the interests of safety- - group representatives from have finally forced renewal with the Lubicons until all While rushing to the for the people living and with Pre- the Edmonton Interchurch of negotiations four blockades were taken main road block Chief working in the area --and mier Getty over the disput- Council are busy preparing down. However, after they Ominayak was turned back protection of the environ- land another delegation for Lit- ed claims. were forcefully removed, by his close advisors who ment." He says he saw At tle Buffalo. press time, Getty Getty called Chief Orni- did not want him arrested Lawrence "no alternative but to seek Courtoreille, vice- presi- expressed desire to meet nayak and requested a pri- because he was needed to an injunction against the with Bernard Ominayak in dent for Treaty 8 Chiefs, is vate meeting. negotiate with the province. Lubicon band. Peace River on Oct. 21 with During the raid armed A court injunction was organizing a special sup- the hopes of reaching an police officers arrested sev- issued Oct. 19 after it was port group. Lubicon members are agreement over the amount eral Lubicons as well as applied for by Attorney "Everybody is prepared not recognizing Canadian of land the Cree want for lawyer James O'Reilly and General Ken Rostad. The to go out (be arrested) so jurisdiction or laws on their reserve. chief advisor Fred Lennar- injunction was approved we need people out here," their lands which covers a The day before, on Oct. son. Women, fifteen year yesterday by Chief Justice said an excited Daphne 10,000 square km area. Page 2, WINDSPEAKER, October 21, 1988 CLOSE TO HOME ï,:i,e,:%eWA.S>."ictiOM./.7%iVA/:'M.%%í3"i.W:WO© /i'L;ï;ï TERRY LUSTY. Special to WiM,peeke, Lubicons still in land claim limbo By Susan Enge pation angers the Cree area. To date, the revenue Windspeaker Staff Writer leader. made from oil resourced "If we can get an agree- here has not been shared EDMONTON ment in principle, we with the band although would take the blockades efforts have been made. Negotiations are stalled down to work out other "We started at 10 per between Alberta govern- issues. But, we can't cent (revenue share) which ment officials and Lubicon afford to play hide and is negotiable. But, we At the roadblock: Leaders converge nation Chief Bernard Orni- seek with the federal min- haven't received a red cent nayak. The tw:; sides do ister anymore," said Orni- so far," said Ominayak. not appear close an agree- nayak. Since blockades went ment as both parties begin The most pressing issue up and the Chief declared to dig in their heels over facing all sides is the their traditional lands as a Natives unite at blockade what size a Cree Indian question of membership. sovereign nation, totally reserve should encompass The Lubicon nation leader independent from Canadi- By Susan Enge has not been heard." critical need for communica- on the shores of Little says there are 477 eligible an jurisdiction, every Windspeaker Staff Writer He said the Lubicon's road tion links between the band Buffalo Lake in northern land claim recipients out- pumping oil station has blockade barring free entrance office and blockade stations. Alberta. lined in their geneology shut down and their rigs LITTLE BUFFALO, Alta. to 10,000 square km is "not Larry Desmeules, presi- Premier Getty told study. However, federal have been dismantled and civil disobedience." He said dent of the Metis Association reporters in Calgary on negotiators cannot agree trucked outside the area. Rose Auger jumped in her they have the right to assert of Alberta sent a letter to Pre- Oct. 17, negotiations on this number. They Resumption of their activi- vehicle in Faust early Monday jurisdiction and he plans to mier Getty affirming his sup- would not resume with the claim the band has ties will not continue until morning, Oct. 16, with one "stand side by side, shoulder port for the Lubicon land Lubicon Indian nation approximately half that each company purchases a thing in mind - to help protect to shoulder with our broth- claim. His major concern until their barricades, on number. Because the size $300 permit from the the "traditional ways" of the was for the safety of Metis four roads leading into of the reserve is based on Lubicon nation, says Orni- Cree. A long time Alberta residents in Little Buffalo their traditional lands, its membership, resolution nayak. If court injunc- She was dressed in a Native leader felt negotiations who may require medical were dismantled. of the dispute remains in tions are sought by various brightly coloured dress with has gone on long enough. attention and need to cross In response, Ominayak limbo until both sides can oil company officials multicoloured moccasins, her "All it takes is McKnight the blockade. told reporters the next day agree to the membership forcing the barricades hair was decorated with a (Federal Indian Affairs minis- Harry Allen, acting that road blockades would question. down to allow entrance, beaded rosette hair tie. ter) to phone Bernard (Omi- national chief of the Assem- come down if the Premier According to Treaty 8 Ominayak says their court Although she speaks Cree flu- nayak) and say let's make a bly of First Nations said a let- would resume discussions signed in 1899, every orders will not be recog- ently, she spoke in English to deal. We've waited a long ter was sent to Prime Minis- on his latest rumoured '90 member is entikled to 128 nized. a pack of reporters that after- time but we're grateful to Pre- ter Brian Mulroney urging sq. miles offer.' acres of land. This treaty noon at a press conference.