Elders meet, urge unity

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A first sign of Native solidarity surfaced last week when elders from bands across Alberta gathered to address treaty rights in the Whitefish Lake school auditorium.

It's a sign the Canadian government cannot ignore, said band Whitefish Lake Chief Ernest Houle.

Unity among Treaty Indians has been too weak for too long he said, and the maze of political procedures has hampered Native progress.

According to Houlde, the two-day session, which attracted over 120 provincial elders could be the beginning of a new era in the fight for equality.

Elders declared their willingness to strengthen ties with other bands.

They also called for the creation of a Native task force to relay their concerns to the federal government.

Houle blames this inevitable move on the government confusing bureaucratic systems.

The biggest concern of the conference was fishing and treaty rights.

"We have to deal with the federal fisheries, Indian Affairs and the provincial government - three different departments - and they're all conflicting."

The issues are the same with all bands and the solutions aren't quit so simple, he says.

"I'm not surprised by the response here. The elders' views are the same. But what we need now is one strong voice in negotiations."

He says the results of the meeting will be presented at the all-chiefs meeting March 18 in Enoch. Official statements will then be turned over to the Assembly of First Nations.

Houle attributes the successful turnout to a strong, overdue sense of social change among Alberta Native bands.

"I can see the younger people are going to the elders and expressing their concerns. They realize the elders are good facilitators.....There are so many things that affect them."

He says Native rights issues are beginning to culminate into something the federal government can no longer ignore or evade.

"Willie Littlechild (the first Treaty Indian elected to Parliament) set a path for Native people across Canada. Our strength is beginning to grow."

Erminskin elder, Littlechild's mother Justine, was on hand for the conference to give her support and input.

"We, as a Indian people, are behind and something needs to be done now."