Charges against Ominayak likely, says RCMP

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Charges will likely be laid next week against Lubicon Lake Chief Bernard Ominayak in connection with the torching of equipment used by a logging company harvesting trees on land claimed by the band, says Peace River RCMP Staff Sgt. Lynn Julyan.

Julyan said charges will be laid against several people and "Ominayak will likely be one of them."

RCMP searched a cabin owned by Ominayak in the fish Lake area four days after men disguised with ski masks set fire to trailers and burned about $20,000 worth of equipment at the Buchanan logging camp, said Julyan. He said the RCMP were looking for gasoline, cloths and beer bottles because "the evidence would support the investigation." Sounding defiant in an interview Tuesday, Ominayak said "I believe in the cause and no RCMP or developer is going to stop me. If they want to stop me, they'll have to hang me."

When asked how he intends to plead if he's charged the chief said he is protecting his people's rights and "that's not wrong under any kind of law. How can the Creator point the finger at me who has devoted his whole life to helping my people? How can anybody be wrong doing that? I certainly haven't done anything I can be found guilty for."

On Nov. 8 Ominayak issued a final warning to all logging companies working on lands claimed by his band. He told about 200 protesters in Edmonton the Lubicon Nation gave notice "effective today all companies will have to have proper authorization permits from the Lubicon people if they wish to continue exploiting resources on unceded Lubicon land."

He said logging equipment working on lands claimed by the Lubicons would be "subject to removal at anytime. This is the only warning they'll get."

Rod Hill, a Mohawk observer from the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario said police will invite trouble if they arrest Ominayak. "Then the war paint comes on," he said.

Meanwhile, Norcen Energy Resources plans to resume production by mid-Dec. from 18 oil wells in the Lubicon Lake area which have been shut in since Nov. 30, 1989 after threats from Lubicon members to sabotage the wells which are partly owned by Petro-Canada.

Ominayak said the band plans "to stop Norcen whether the RCMP arrest me or not. What kind of laws does this country have when the government lets developers steal our resources?"

He said the Lubicons have been patient by "putting up with more than any developer would have. They've destroyed our way of life. The solution is simple: 'deal with us or stay out.'

Ominayak said he hopes there will not be a violent confrontation but "if that's what it takes to stop it then fine."

Julyan said the RCMP has "beefed up patrols in all problem areas."

Ominayak said it is "terrible when heavy-handed forces control a political problem. The RCMP has no business being involved.

Indian Association of Alberta president Regena Crowchild said she does not condone violence. "I'd rather see peaceful negotiations to reach solutions."

Dana Andreassen, executive assistant to Attorney General Ken Rostad, would not comment specifically on the equipment burning incident but did say "if illegal activity is found on behalf of the Lubicons, they will be legally dealt with."

Roosted could not be reached for comment.