Council opposed to Peigan diversion

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The Lone Fighters Society vows to continue work to divert water from the Oldman River in an attempt to stop construction of the controversial $350-milliom Oldman River Dam.

At a news conference Tuesday Peigan Chief Leonard Bastien broke his silence to tell reporters the Lone Fighters don't have the backing of the council, which planned to meet with federal and provincial officials to start a series of meetings to resolve the issue peacefully."

But he emphasized he understands the Oldman River protest. "Personally, I'm against the Oldman River Dam because of the cultural genocide on our people," he said.

He feels the actions of the group have brought out issues which need to be addressed at the bargaining table - issues that likely wouldn't have come forward had it not been for the protest.

The council's decision came the same day the province warned it would take quick and decisive action if water is diverted. Cabinet ministers stopped short, however, of spelling out what steps the government might take."

"That anyone would commit an illegal act and disrupt the flow of the river is unacceptable," said Forestry Minister Leroy Fjordbotten, who represents the riding of Macleod.

"Be ready for the sparks to start flying (if water is diverted)," said Lethbridge West MLA John Gogo.

Bastien said a government proposal outlines four areas for discussion. They include conducting an environmental impact assessment study; studying the economic development benefits of the Oldman River Dam project and reviewing the social and land claims issue.

The committee would consist of chief and council, Native Affairs Minister Ken Rostad, MLA Fred Bradley and Fjordbotten.

The meeting is expected to be held before the end of the month.

Lone Fighter spokesman Glen North Peigan contends it was pressure from his group, which made the provincial government willing to negotiate. But that's not good enough, he said, because the province already provided money several years ago to study the economic, cultural, social and environmental impact of the dam.

"I can't help but be cynical because the government has received numerous studies and they've ignored all of them. Why should they listen to us now?" asked North Peigan.

The Lone Fighters, equipped with a small bulldozer, began their attempt to divert the water Aug. 3.

Bastien said the Lone Fighters group may violate a 1981 agreement with the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID) which assures water for 113,000 acres of land and domestic water for about 900 farm families and towns of Picture Butte, Barons, Nobleford, Iron Spriings and Turin, if they're successful in their diversion attempt.

That agreement followed a 23-day blockade started May 9, 1978 by then Chief Nelson Small Legs Sr. over a diversion weir and canal, which the band claimed sat atop tribal land. The irrigation district claimed it was on Crown land.

The Peigans claimed $500,000 in compensation for disruption of reserve land and payment by the province of an annual fee for the use of the waterworks. After a series of confrontations, the province agreed to pay the band a cash settlement of $4 million plus an annual "user" fee of $300,000 for the water rights. In exchange, the band would provide the province with the continued use of about 300,000 acres of land.

North Peigan said "the chief has no business making deals with the province because he didn't initiate the action. We feel insulted," adding the Lone Fighters aren't surprised they didn't receive the support of chief and council.

He said they'll likely not attend the government meeting to discuss the diversion dispute. Bastien and some members of council met last week at the Lone Fighters camp with officials from Alberta environment, LNID and Indian Affairs. "I think they understand our position."

North Peigan insisted the diversion project - expected to be completed this week - won't be abandoned until work on the dam is halted.

"Our actions are notbased on economic concerns, it's an Indian and environmental matter," he said. "It's not too late to save Indian burial sites and other plants, roots, etc."

The $350-million dam is about 75 per cent completed.

North Peigan claims the band's stand on the Oldman River Dam over the last 12 years has been filled with contradictions.

"It's been hypocritical because initially the band was against the construction of the Oldman Dam because it would involve the flooding of tribal burial grounds."

He explained that in 1983 then Chief Peter Yellow Horn spoke of a "$100-million price tag for the rights and lands involved" in the construction of the dam. Later that year the Peigans proposed to have the dam built on the reserve, however, the province chose the present site because the "Peigans were asking for too much money."

About five years ago the band filed a claim in Court of Queen's Bench because they believed they owned Oldman River water rights. The dispute is still before the courts.

According to a Lone Fighter member who attended a band meeting Aug. 13 (which was closed to the media) band members were split on whether to support the Lone Fighters.

"I don't think a lot of people fully understand the impact of the dam. They think there will be lots of economic development and job opportunities. They're not looking at the long-term effects," North Peigan said.

He said only "a handful of women opposed the group using the name Lone Fighters group. We have members who are direct descendants of the clan."

Band members were upset they learned of the group's activities from the media. "We warned the chief and council two months ago and we told them again prior to (starting) diversion (work)," said North Peigan. "It was up to chief and council to inform band members about our efforts."

Another Lone Fighter supporter, Lorna Born, says lack of communication about their diversion attempts has created confusion and division among Peigan membership.

Numerous media reportsabout Peigan splinter groups opposing the actions of the Lone Fighters group have appeared daily in local newspapers and television reports.

The group hasn't refuted claims by the Peigan women's groups and other who have expressed their opposition to the Lone Fighters actions.

We don

t want to fight with our own people. Our battle is with the federal and provincial governments.

"Our protest is for one goal only - and that is to save the Oldman River. Money and publicity are not the issues," said Born in an interview at the Lone Fighters camp.

She believes their efforts will benefit the future generation. "If we don't take control of the Oldman River, our kids will live with consequences that will be very sad. Our ancestors left us this land to enjoy."

"In the future water is going to be a currency like gold. Europeans, Japanese will be looking at this area to purchase water. If we lose control, we'll never have that chance."

She contend if chief and council had moved quickly to inform band members about the Lone Fighters attempts, then more people would have understood their protest.

The group says it's not worried about a provincial threat to sue. "Those are pressure tactics to stop what we're doing," said North Peigan.