Aboriginal unity urged at national gathering

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Aboriginals from across Canada gathered in the nation's capital in a show of unity to promote Native rights.

The four-day gathering had four aims: to mark 1993 as the International Year of the Indigenous People; celebrate Natives' survival as distinct people; share Native culture among Natives and non-Natives and to demonstrate unity in the fact of government policies that identify Native identity and rights.

"If you call yourself a nation, you have to include Aboriginal people," said Native Council of Canada president Ron George. "Let's start a new partnership so we won't repeat the last 500 years in the next 500 years."

A caravan procession led by the Eagle Spirit Runners spent six days travelling from Dawson Creek, B.C. and Vancouver to the Ottawa gathering. They joined with other Natives at stop-overs along the way. Other caravans came from the north, Quebec and the Maritimes. A "tent city" was set up at Lebreton Flats where the participants lived the duration of the gathering, from June `10 to 13.

Franklin Dawes of Lilloet, B.C. delivered an impassioned, poignant plea for change during one rally. He spoke of the sexual abuse he encountered as a child attending residential school and later boarding school. The pain of being taken away from relatives by federal authorities after his parents died took its toll. While in Toronto Dawes became addicted to alcohol and drugs and prostituted himself to finance his addictions.

Two years ago Dawes discovered he is HIV positive. "This is not right. (Sexual abuse) is happening even though residential schools are now closed. There is sexual abuse in group homes."

Native Veterans Association President Harry Lavallee spoke of being stripped of

his Indian status when he returned from fighting in World War Two. This happened when Lavallee chose to stay on traditional land instead of moving to a reserve.

Lavallee, who is Metis, spoke of the humiliation Native veterans received in contrast to non-Native counterparts. "We received nothing. Some of us lost our status, some of us lost our land. We had to fight in the courts. We had to fight in the towns."

The gathering was sponsored by the Native Council of Canada, a national organization representing off-reserve Natives and Metis.