Journalists protest cutbacks

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Federal government cutbacks to Canada's aboriginal communications program, which was being viewed as a model for a Native publications group in the United States, are under fire by journalists across North America.

The vice-president of the Native American Journalists' Association (NAJA), said members of his organization are stumped at Canada's decision to "pull the rug out from under" Native people, who were being given the opportunity to strengthen their unity and self-reliance.

"I can hardly believe it," John Tetpon told Windspeaker from his office at the Anchorage Times daily newspaper in Alaska.

"Your program is something we recognize as the very best system for giving people, who have such little voice, a way to be heard."

NAJA has 165 members including Native publications in the U.S. and Canada and journalists from American mainstream newspapers specializing in Native issues.

Tetpon said his group is striving to make Native newspapers, which are currently operated by tribal administrations, more independent.

He said Canada's aboriginal communication program was being viewed by NAJA as a model of independence and his group will monitor the cutbacks.

"I think the government of Canada is moving toward a racist stance when it comes to Native people. Journalists in the United States and Alaska are going to keep a close eye on what happens.

NAJA was established in 1984 to support Native communications across the continent.

Federal Finance Minister Michael Wilson slashed $3.5 million from the Native communication program in his February budget.

The decision to kill Native communications has also been condemned by the president of Canada's only national association of journalists.

Stephen Bindman, head of the Center for Investigative Journalism in Ottawa, has written Prime Minister Brian Mulroney criticizing the cuts citing the importance of Native media.

"Native peoples need modern communications technologies to exchange specialized information, to maintain their own languages and cultures and to communicate with the broader Canadian society on issues of concern to Native people."

"On behalf of Canadian journalists, we urge your government to restore these important voices to our country's Native people," his letter read.

The 1985 Neilson task force on Native programs recommended communications funds be provided by the federal government to ensure Native people are informed of issues affecting them.

Carlton University professor Bob Rupert has also circulated a letter of protest aimed at restoring federal monies to the aboriginal communications program.

He said he resents the federal government for using Native media as a target for reducing its debt at a time when communications has become a vital part of Native survival.

"It's one thing to tell Native people they have to accept their share of the attack on the national deficit. Everybody has got to accept some responsibility. But Native newspapers were trying to get on their feet and become self sufficient -- and they were getting there," he raged.

"It seems to me newspapers should have been the last to be cut."

Meanwhile, the chairman of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission told a television producers conference in Brandon, Manitoba Native communications across the country is in danger of dying if it isn't supported by other media.

Keith Spicer urged the producers to provide training and equipment to their Native counter parts so they could continue operations.