IAA tackles full plate of issues

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The Indian Association of Alberta is calling on the provincial government to ignore the Woodland Cree band.

The IAA charged the band was created by Ottawa to "undermine the rights of the Lubicon Lake Nation."

The Woodland Cree band - officially recognized by the federal government last August - is seeking a land-claim settlement separate from the long-standing Lubicon claim.

But the IAA at its annual assembly June 5-7 at Sarcee reserve voted to ask Alberta to reaffirm the 1988 Grimshaw agreement reached between Premier Don Getty and Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominayak as a step to settling Lubicon claims.

But the IAA at its 47th annual general assembly overwhelming passed a resolution saying "the Woodland Cree band is an undemocratic artificial creation of the government of Canada designed to undermine the rights of the Lubicon Nation."

The band is made up of dissident Indians who challenged Ominayak's efforts to settle the Lubicon's long-standing claim for a reserve.

The IAA said it "strongly supports the Lubicon Lake Nation and it jurisdiction and ownership of the lands and resources in its traditional territory."

Social services transfer

In another resolution the IAA said it "vigorously" opposes the transfer of social services responsibility for Indians - on and off reserves - from Ottawa to the province.

Under a proposed agreement, the federal government plans to transfer responsibility to Alberta for the funding and administration for social services.

But the IAA fears the province won't live up to the "spirit and intent" of the treaties. The resolution notes Alberta's Indians haven't been consulted about the transfer arrangement and the province is "not party to any of the Alberta treaties."

The IAA demands the proposed transfer "be suspended" until Indians are consulted and made fully aware of the consequences of the agreement.

Game farms opposed

The IAA assembly unanimously opposed the provincial government's plan to allow game farms and to legalize the sale of elk meat. Members said the proposed law "will have an adverse effect on treaty hunting rights."

Alexander Chief Allan Paul said the move poses a threat to already depleting stock of wild moose, elk, and deer, which central and northern Alberta Indians depend on for food.

It's already so bad most Indian hunters are now returning "empty-handed" from hunting trips, said Paul, who maintained the proposed law would put wild animals at risk from hunters who kill animals for commercial purposes.

Hunting rights

The assembly also voted to force the IAA to continue the fight to protect Indian hunting and fishing rights.

Reference was made to recent Supreme Court of Canada decisions protecting aboriginal and treaty rights, especially a case involving a BC Indian's right to fish.

The assembly ordered the IAA to "take the necessary political, legal and policy actions to restore, protect, and strengthen hunting, gathering and fishing and trapping rights."

Research task force

Again citing recent Supreme Court decisions favoring aboriginal and treaty rights, the assembly decided - with some opposition - to push for an IAA task force to study the possibility of expanding the mandate of its treaty research arm - Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research (T.A.R.R.).

It wants to see if T.A.R.R., now restricted to conducting research into specific land claims, should include research into aboriginal and treaty rights - and attempt to get the additional financial resources from Ottawa to do it.

Some bands, however, opposed the resolution, fearing Ottawa will then view T.A.R.R. as the sole land-claims' funding agent - and reduce the amount it might other wise provide for land claims' research to Alberta.

A Peigan band spokesman complained T.A.R.R. isn't doing a good enough job and "until we're satisfied with T.A.R.R.'s handling of our specific claims, we're opposed to an expanded mandate.

The assembly vote 73 to 40, with eight abstentions, to immediately set up he task force, which will report to an all-chiefs' conference after the study is complete.

Education fund sought

Citing the horrendous school drop-out and illiteracy rates among Indians, the assembly called on Ottawa to provide the IAA with an extra $2 million a year over the next 10 years to combat the problem.

The money would go towards developing an IAA Indian education branch to develop curriculum material "about and for Native people" as well as providing administrative support services, and special education services for handicapped Native students.

The proposed branch would also offer permanent teacher certification, a teacher appeals' board, a post-secondary student appeals' board and an association for Native school boards that includes training and legal advice and "other support services as required by local band governments and education authorities."

The assembly said the Indian education branch is needed to deal with the high demand for basic adult education services on Indian reserves, as well as dealing with the inability of India people to obtain meaningful work due to a poor basic education and "the subsequent and obvious social degradation of the Indian people of Alberta."

Drug and alcohol abuse

Noting Native alcohol and treatment centers release about 270 Indians each month, the IAA annual assembly called for upgrading programs to serve them.

The upgrading programs should be run, controlled and staffed by Natives, the assembly said.

"Moreover, these programs must have a stong students assistance program built into them to better respond and assist Native people maintain their continued sobriety and health."

Referring to drug and alcohol abuse as "an illness," the general assembly threw its support behind Siksika Nation's efforts to develop an adolescent treatment center.

The assembly ordered the IAA to make a "strong representation to the government" to fund " such a vital an necessary service."

Ambulance operations

Provincial plans toregulate ambulance service came under fire at the general assembly, which decided to ask the Alberta Indian Health Care Commission (AIHCC) to "take steps necessary" to reverse the detrimental effects of proposed legislation on funding arrangement between Indian bands and the federal government for pre-hospital transportation.

To date the province has ignored Indian appeals to be involved in the drafting of the proposed Ambulance Services Act.

Police and braids

The IAA general assembly also had an answer to problems that the RCMP and city police have had in recruiting Indians- let them wear traditional braided hair while on duty.

The assembly said Indians interested in law enforcement careers would join if allowed "traditional and customary hair styles." It urged governments and the police "to deal justly with the Indian people of this country and to ensure our people can perform police duties while retaining our traditional integrity."