Former chief to lead boycott of province's largest tourist attractions

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A former Siksika Nation chief has declared he will lead "a network of boycotts" against five of the province's largest tourism revenue makers.

Roy Littlechief told a small gathering of supporters and media at a Sept. 7 conference is "appalled by the gate, jealousy and revenge being shown" by politicians towards Canadian Indians.

"We intend to set up a network of resistance against the big money tourism (center): The Jasper and Banff parks, the Calgary Stampede, Edmonton's Klondike Days and West Edmonton Mall," said Littlechief, who was Siksika chief for one term in the early 1980s.

"Meetings will be held beginning early next week, which will lead to the establishment of a network of Natives who are prepared to begin real action against big money and tourism sites, which will be hit first."

Littlechief, referring to Mohawk blockades in Quebec and the Peigan diversion attempts of the Oldman River, said Canadians and First Nations have to seriously seek peaceful and fair solutions to these problems by focusing attention on "governments, business and our community leaders to force change on the part of the federal government which continues to ignore the very real problems.

"I directly appeal the the Indian chiefs of Canada to get serious about our land claims, water rights and the theft of raw resources. A war chest should be established and a national network created to develop strategy and action which would hit big business, whose priorities are profit and gree. Let's ht them where it hurts - in their pocketbook."

Littlechief was vague on the degree of support his new protest group has but insisted they will "be ready for action" by the spring of 1991.

"Natives across this country are becoming extremely frustrated with governments and with people within their own community who have gone over to the side of those with the most money. These people have half their body on the reserve and the other half in the department of Indian affairs...They've been bought off and it's time for action without involving those who don't care for our interests."

Littlechief was critical of the role being played by Siksika Chief Strater Crowfoot but denied he intends to run again for the position.

"I will not run again but I and others are fed up with the situation as it now stands," he said.

Littlechief said the group will start organizational meetings in Alberta immediately and then begin moving across Canada.

"We will be prepared by spring to begin serious boycott movements against big money tourism sites in Alberta if real concrete decisions have not been made in the area of land claims and other outstanding issues between us and senior governments."

Littlechief, who has just completed four years of training at a Bible college, was active in the American Indian Movement in the 1970s.