Daishowa breaking agreement made in 1988: Ominayak

Page 7

Daishowa Canada officials say the Lubicon Lake Indians band misunderstood the details of a verbal agreement made in 1988. Jum Morrison, the general manager f Daishowa's corporate offices in Edmonton, says "no commitments were made in 1988. We expressed sympathy toward the lubicons. We have fulfilled all our obligations with them. They understood the agreement much differently than we did."

In March 1988 following a meeting in Vancouver with Lubicon Bernard Ominayak, Daishow vice-president Koichi Kitagawa said his company would co-operate with the Lubicons to develop an acceptable logging plan for the area, which the band claims as its traditional hunting and trapping area.

Ominayak says "there was an agreement not to log until our claim is settled. But regardless will not allow it to continue."

Wayne Crous, Daishowa's communication co-ordinator, told Windspeaker in Oct. there would be "no logging in Lubicon-claimed areas by Daishowe, its contractors or subsidiaries." He said the company stands by the agreement made in 1988 to leave the land alone until the claims is settled.

But in a telephone interview Nov. 27 Crouse said "the Lubicon misunderstood the agreement. There was no objection to the continuation of traditional logging by companies like Buchanan who were there before Daishowa came along. We said we wouldn't log as a corporation and we're not. Really Daishowa is in the middle of this issue."

Crouse says Daishowa has "no control over contractors and suppliers."

Lubicon Lake band advisor Fred Lennarson, who attended the 1988 meeting, says Daishowa promised not to log in the disputed area without first consulting with the band.

"Morrison is a liar. He says something different every time he opens his mouth. I was there. They said there would be no logging until there is a land settlement."

Brewster, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daishowa and Buchanan Lumber of High Prairie, began clear-cutting on Lubicon-claimed land in November. Ominayak says this is a clear breach of the 1988 agreement.

Morrison says Daishowa "would not log in any new areas. Brewster is cutting in an area it has logged for 12 years," Morrison also claims the company's Forest Management Agreement lies outside the disputed land claim area.

But Barry Heinen, Daishowa's woodlands operations superintendent, says "the agreement still stands. We won't log within our FMA until the dispute is settled. The government issued the FMA without recognizing the land claim."

Brewster, Buchanan and other companies in the area supply Daishowa with spruce and aspen chips for its $500 million pulp mull which began operating in September.

Daishowa's primary source of timber is at stake in the dispute. The Lubicon's 10,000 square kilometer land claim lies entirely within the company's 29,000 square kilometer FMA.

Ominayak says "the Lubicons never ceded our traditional area to the federal government in any legally or historically recognized way. The federal government, didn't have any right to transfer our traditional area to the provincial government."

Volunteers needed to work with offenders

Page 8

Heather Andrews, Windspeaker Staff Writer, Edmonton

You could make a difference in the life of someone who has been in trouble with the law.

The Edmonton Young Offenders Center, located in northwest Edmonton on 127th Street, is encouraging volunteers to become involved in the daily operation of programs.

"We invite the community to become involve with the Native offenders in the center," says Jackie Fiala, the center's Native program co-ordinator. It's difficult for the youths to make the transition from living at the center and moving back into the community. It could be eased by interaction with volunteers before release, she says.

Volunteer don't need special skills, although individuals or groups who could teach handicrafts, lead fitness groups or address social issues are more than welcome. "Being a friend, sharing time and allowing a strong relatinship to form are equally important," says Fiala.

Caseworker Kendal Shannon, who is responsible for volunteer programs, agrees. He interviews the volunteer hopefuls, gives them a tour of the facility and conducts an information session before the volunteer makes a decision whether to become part of the program.

"We need role models, who are motivated to helping people, especially young people who have gone astray with the law," he says, noting many of the youths are very lonely.

The Fort Saskatchewan Correctional Center has similar needs, although the co-ed population is adult. Myrna Roy is in charge of the Native adult programs at the facility, located on Fort Saskatchewan's southern edge.

"Offenders need to learn they can build meaningful relationships, so they can duplicate the experience when they get out. The people volunteering concentrate on the positive aspects of life on the outside and give the offenders a chance to share an experience companionship," she says.

Both programs would welcome people who could assist with Native cultural topics. someone who speaks Cree and could help others learn the language and someone to do traditional Indian handicrafts would be appreciated.

"Whether people help at the young offender center or here at the Fort, they will get lots of support from the staff and can ask for help or a consultation at any time should they have concerns," the young Metis woman says. Training programs are offered which will help volunteers understand the justice and curt systems, security and procedures.

"And we will talk about the expectations on the part of our volunteers, too," she says.

Fiala and Shannon can be reached at 457-7717. Roy can be reached at 922-2436.