Tension mounts as police advance

Page 11

Sept.7: Like every morning for the past eight days the sun broke over the horizon with a promise of another hot day.

The wind that is constant over the prairie land on the Peigan Nation reserve, 25 km from Fort Macleod, had not yet begun to stir the grassy meadows.

Inside the Lonefighters camp the only sound to be heard was a D-9 Caterpillar still working to divert the Oldman River back onto its original course.

In order to help farmers in the Lethbridge area, a weir had been built which changed the curse of the river in 1923.

The Lonefighters Society are attempting the diversion to protest construction of the $353 million Oldman dam, which Peigans say will destroy sacred grounds and Peigan Land.

Then it happened.

A Lonefighter runner had spotted what he said were 16 RCMP cruisers and vans, along with Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID) officials with heavy equipment heading for the weir.

The Lonefighter had run across the prairie and out of breath he could only holler from a distance to warn the camp.

In seconds the camp was ablaze with movement. Trucks were sent to each "though out" position the Lonefighters had estimated RCMP would move on.

Soon the sky was filled with noise from RCMP helicopters.

At there channed the D-9 operator, after scurrying back to camp, was told to build bunkers in different strategic areas.

At the channel RCMP officers were watched closely as they moved in closer. Lonefighers began to shout at them to "Get off Peigan Land! Go home!"

At this point only the channel separated the two groups from total confrontation.

Then the Lonefighers hurled rocks at the RCMP standing on top the channel wall.

"They were too close," commented a Lonefighter. "We warned them."

It was then that Lonefighter leader Milton Born With A Tooth fired two warning shots that sent the RCMP scurrying for cover.

The standoff began.

One victory yelp went up from the Lonefighters when the RCMP decided to have the heavy equipment removed from the area for civilian safety reasons.

Some of the Lonefighters noticed an RCMP officer, Ray Gauthier, from the Pincher Creek detachment at the channel and Born With A Tooth, through Peigan band council negotiators, asked he be removed in full view of the Lonefighters.

Lonefighters said they had confrontations with Gauthier on other occasions and as spokesman Glenn North Peigan put it, "We despise him."

They also warned that the lone RCMP helicopter circling overhead must be removed from Peigan air space or it would be shot down.

The RCMP complied with both requests.

The Lonefighters claimed victory in both incidents.

Over the course of the day, the RCMP sealed off the area and surrounded Lonefighters' bunkers and the camp.

Above the weir on the high ground the RCMP set up an observation post, where they controlled the weir area and left flank.

In the middle and all along the trees near the Lonefighters channel and the bunker which protected their camp, an RCMP tactical squad and regular RCMP officers dug in to face the Lonefighters.

Behind the camp and on Peigan land at a T in the road over 35 RCMP officers in full riot gear set up a roadblock.

Since it was over two km. away it gave the Lonefighters some breathing room.

During this time Peigan councillors Leander Strikes With A Gun and George Little Moustache met with RCMP officials in hopes a peaceful solution could be reached.

At the weir Lonefighter Raymond Crow Shoe had a run in with the RCMP.

"When I got to the weir no one was there. I walked across the weir with a club and met the RCMP. I told them they should be ashamed for what they were doing. This is under federal jurisdiction and you're federal police.. Why are you backing provincial authority on Peigan land," Crow Shoe said he hollered.

Crow Shoe said at one point he and an officer shoved each other.

"I was knocked down but I got back up and that's when two of our councillors arrived," Crow Shoe said.

Crow Shoe added he had nothin but good words for RCMP Supt. Owen Maguire who told his officers to back away and "at least he reasoned with me in a friendly manner."

The evening was tens. Many prayers were said and people worried over what tomorrow would bring.

Sept.8: No one slept. During the early morning hours the RCMP at the T moved closer to the Lonefighters' camp, taking over a position once in the hands of the Lonefighters.

Born With A Tooth and spiritual leader Devalon Small Legs ordered security to tighten up.

A 24-hour truce was in effect but sometime near noon the Lonefighters expected the RCMP to move in.

The RCMP said they had an arrest warrant for Born With A Tooth on two firearms charge.

At the hill overlooking the camp about seven RCMP officers were confronted by Lonefighters angry that they had moved closer to their camp.

A run-in between Ray Gauthier and Lonefighter spokesman Glenn North Peigan occurred and one Lonefighter drew a line across the road with his cowboy boot. The police in a casual sense honored it.

North Peigan was upset Gauthier was still in the vicinity and they exchanged words.

Most importantly, Leander Strikes With A Gun informs everyone Chief Leonard Bastien and his council have passed a band council resolution stating the RCMP are trespassing.

Lonefighters are informed it was read to the RCMP by Chief Bastien but "they are ignoring it."

Last night food and a few peace groups were sneaked into the camp. The RCMP are now monitoring these roads.

In the late afternoon it became clear the RCMP were planning a movement.

A tactical squad, more RCMP with riot gear and an ambulance are on top the hill. Police squad leaders were looking over a map and tension was high.

A lone cameraman said he will join me in the camp if the RCMP mount a movement on the camp.

"You're going to be there. I suppose I should be. That way with our presence there, maybe no one will be hurt," he said.

Meanwhile, the helicopter is back in the sky and Lonefighters are dug in.

Then councilor Stikes With A Gun ran into the camp with news.

The news was delivered by Small Legs to everyone in camp.

He said a Calgary judge ordered everyone to maintain the "status quo" until he made a decision on the diversion.

The estimated 120 RCMP and two dozen heavily-armed tactical team members pulled out.

In the Lonefighters' camp[ there was nothing but joy. The tension was gone and everyone was hugging and sobbing.

Court of Queens Bench Justice William Egbert ordered the adjournment because the Lonefighters had not given the government 48 hours notice of their application and he wanted further time to review the evidence on the original Aug.29 injunction declaring the diversion work illegal.

The Lonefighters claim this sudden turn of events as another victory and many of them couldn't wait to shake the hands of their councillors and lawyer Drew Galbraith for not quitting in trying to reach an agreement.

Believe it or not, after 10 days of hot sun and tension and only 15 minutes after the good news was heard, it rained and a rainbow appeared in the sky.

It seemed as if Mother Earth was smiling on the Lonefighter's camp.