BC bands back fight to hunt on leased land

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An Eden Valley Indian, found guilty last month of hunting on Crown land leased by southern Alberta ranchers, has garnered the support of British Columbia Natives in an appeal battle to retain his traditional rights.

George Alexson, whose 1989 acquittal was overturned by a Court of Queen's Bench justice in Calgary Jan. 19 hopes to be back in court April 3 to defend treaty hunting rights in Alberta.

Only this time, he'll have the backing of BC Indians who are fighting simi8lar claims on their home turf.

The bitter range war between area ranchers and traditional hunters from Eden Valley won't be settled so quickly, according to Alexson, who claims the government ruling may have opened up a larger-scale argument for unrestricted access to Crown land.

Alexson has already gained the backing of some interior BC bands which have a string of court battles on their record for hunting on leased Crown land.

"And they've won their cases," said Alexson. "They've said they'll support me in whatever way they can."

Alexson said there needs to be pressure placed on Ottawa to recognize treaty rights and has found BC band willing to provide advisors who are experienced in fighting for their hunting rights.

Alexson, 39, was charged in 1988 with hunting on Crown land without permission by the Alberta Fish and Wildlife department near Longview, Alberta 75 km. south of Calgary.

He was acquitted of the charges late last year by a provincial court justice in Calgary who ruled that Alexson didn't nee permission by virtue of his treaty rights.

The ruling was overturned by Justice H.S. Prowse last month and Alexson was slapped with a $300 fine.

It places Native hunters back to square one in their fight for unrestricted access, Alexson said.

"But that will be divesting to other Alberta Natives who should have access to their land," said Alexson.

Eden Valley area ranchers maintain that they should have a right to control the hunting on land they lease from the government to graze their cattle.

The province leases more than 5.3 million acres of land. More than 4.5 per cent of it is Crown land used by Alberta ranchers to graze their cattle. There are about 5,000 lessees in Alberta.

Bill Chelsea, chief of the Alkali Lake Band in mid-central BC, said this conflict is nothing unusual to his band which, like other BC bands, does not hold a treaty with the federal government.

He said the Alkali Lake Band is prepared to offer Alexson as much support as needed in his case.

"We're in full support. We feel very strongly about this," he said.

Alkali Lake appealed a 1983 provincial court ruling that accused band councilor Arthur Dick of hunting deer on Crown land.

The band is still awaiting a decision from the Supreme Court of Canada.

Chelsea said that his 500-member strong band aren't bothered by the government or area ranchers as much as they used to be when they hunt because the case is still pending.

"But when the (traditional hunters) do get into trouble, it just gets thrown out of court. It may be Crown land, but it's our land, too," he said.

Jim Stillas, chief of the Ulkatcho Indian Band Williams Lake, BC said his 490-member Indian band is "in full support" of Alexson and is willing to offer financial assistance and to lobby for him in his court case.

Saul Terry, president of the Union of BC chiefs said he's willing to sand behind his member bands if they want to support Alberta Indians.

"There's no question whether we'll support him (Alexson) or not," he said.

" We will support anyone who wishes to protect their treaty rights," he declared.