B.C. band locked in dispute

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A small Treaty 8 Indian band in northern B.C. is locked in a land-claim dispute with the government similar to the one that has gripped the Lubicon Indians for more than 50 years.

Indian leaders of the McLeod Lake Band are now in a desperate search for members they believe are living in Alberta.

Band councilor Verne Solonas said the TseKeh'ne Indians are fighting the province and the federal government for 40,000 square-acres of land, but they have to first prove they're part of Treaty 8.

"We have to be very accurate about the band membership so we don't get ripped off by the government," he said.

McLeod Lake, which is 85 km north of Prince George, B.C., has about 315 members; 100 live on the reserve.

Solonas said band lawyers will appear in provincial court in December to battle for land the TseKeh'ne are entitled to under Treaty 8.

But he said they need to prove the band has enough members to fill the area.

Many of the band's members have moved away from the reserve and can be traced t outlying communities throughout the province. But Solonas said there are "dozens" of people who can't be tracked down. He believes many of them may be living in Alberta.

"But we don't know who they are unless they contact us," he said.

Just like the Lubicon claim, Solonas said the type of land the Tse Keh'ne would be entitled to under Treaty 8 is determined by the band membership.

"It's the same as what the Lubicon have gone through," he said.

The Lubicon Lake Band has been at odds with the federal government for more than 50 years over the number of members it has and the rights they're entitled to under Treaty 8.

Solonas said the band stands a good chance of proving its claim if its members are found.

"If you look at the map, you can see we're clearly within the boundaries of Treaty 8," he said.

"(But) it's up to the court to decide."

Pat Cleary, director of research for the Treaty 8 Tribal Association in Fort St. John, B.C., said the McLeod Lake Band could force the provincial government to recognize it as a legitimate band under Treaty 8.

"Historically, they're well within their rights," he said.

For more information contact Solonas at (604) 750-4415.