Alberta treaty Indians miffed at lack of government consultation

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Treaty Indians in Alberta are angry that Ottawa did not consult them over its plans to begin self-government consultations in the next six months.

The federal government made no references to treaty Indian rights when it announced its plan for extensive self-government talks last month, said Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations Chief Al Lameman.

"It seems that the provincial and federal governments are dealing and we aren't being involve din he plans. That has always been a concern of the treaty nations. It will continue to be a concern as long as the grass grows and the rivers flow."

The Liberal government's campaign promises of a mutually acceptable framework for bilateral discussions on treaty issues were not included in the Jan. 19 announcement, leaving many of the chiefs fearing they would be overlooked, said Lameman, former chief of the Beaver Lake First Nation near Lac La Biche.

"Specific pre-election undertakings were given to treaty Indians as to how treaty issues would be resovled...The recent policy statement by the minister of Indian affairs was a great disappointment."

Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin shocked many in the Aboriginal community three weeks ago with his surprise announcement that Ottawa would begin a process to recognize Natives' inherent right to self-government outside the Canadian Constitution.

The Confederacy, which represents more than 50 bands and 140,000 Natives in central and northern Alberta, won't go to the bargaining table unless Ottawa acknowledges their treaty as a document designed between autonomous nations, Lameman said.

Extinguishing the treaty rights established in 1876 to achieve self-government now is unacceptable, he said. Treaty Indians in Alberta have unique interests and concern, dating back to their original relationship with the Crown.

Irwin said he is aware that words such as "extinguishment" and "exchange" tend to cause fear and discourage Natives from coming to the negotiating table. But giving up title to treaty rights will not be a condition required to legislate self-government.

More than 200 First Nations in B.C. are now negotiating with the province's treaty commission without risking the loss of their treaty rights, he said.

"And that's my policy across the country."

Ottawa is only at the beginning of a long process, said Ken Kirby, Alberta's regional Indian Affairs director. Meetings between federal, provincial and Aboriginal officials over the next six months are designed to determine the actual negotiation process and are not negotiations in themselves.

"No one can carry on a discussion about self-government without bringing the treaty issue into it," he said.

Ottawa would deal with the Treaty Six Nations, Kirby said. But Lameman insisted he did not want to be "lumped" in with the other First Nations during negotiations.

The Treaty Six chiefs also want assurances from Ottawa that Indian Affairs will not start off-loading its responsibilities for Natives to the provinces and that current funding levels will not fall any further.

The Treaty Six chiefs have invited the minister to explain his plans for treaty Indians at their confederacy conference on the Samson Reserve near Hobbema, Alberta from Feb. 23-25.

There has been no word from Indian Affairs as to whether the minister will attend.