'Windspeaker' scoops story

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The recent controversy over fishing rights at Cold Lake has proven itself to be a major scoop for "Windspeaker."

When the events began on April 10, "Windspeaker" was the only newspaper to be contacted and invited to cover the story. It was the only paper to get photographs on location.

Why? Because the band is sick and tired of "hostile media," said Allen Jacob, Band councillor.

"The press," he continued, "have been used in the past as a very powerful tool against Indians. Not only have they eroded Native rights and Treaty rights through manipulation of the press in Canada, but they have been instrumental in eroding the people."

"The daily press was been unfavorable towards Native issues, claimed Jacob. He gave, as an example, the coverage on the first white chief in Alberta, Elaine Janvier, which he said, "was blown out of proportion." In reporting on Janvier and the opposition to her election, the press accused Cold Lake band members with being racist.

It is because of situations like this, Jacob explained, that "we have only talked to those who understand the issue." It was for reasons similar to this kind of negative reporting that the regular media was uninvited.

"Windspeaker" was "given the mandate to correct what Canadian propaganda and mass media has done to Indian people," said Jacob. "The important audience is the Indian community so we are only feeding information to certain media," he continued. To Jacob, "there is an Indian reality that no one understand except the Indian himself."

It was for that reason that only "Windspeaker," initially, was invited. Because it is sympathetic and understanding about Indian concerns, a reporter from the Bonnyville Nouvelle also made an appearance.

The real scoop, however, belongs to "Windspeaker."