Treaty 7 chiefs request Olympics Committee's help

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CALGARY - The Calgary Olympics Committee (OCO '88) has been dragged into center stage by Treaty 7 chiefs who this week demanded that OCO officials pressure Ottawa to reopen the Lubicon Lake band land claim.

In an interview after a day-long meeting in Calgary Monday, Indian Association of Alberta Treaty 7 Vice-President, Narcisse Blood, announced that the chief's want to see some positive steps taken on the Lubicon Lake land claim which has been in negotiation for 42 years.

"There has been no decision (by Treaty 7 bands) to boycott the Olympics or the Glenbow Museum," said Blood. "But we ask that OCO assist Lubicon Lake with their land claim."

Blood added that a final decision on whether to boycott the Olympics will be made next month after chiefs have had time to consult their band members.

The chiefs met with Lubicon Lake Chief Bernard Ominiyak who explained the Lubicon Lake stand on boycotting the Olympics and their campaign to pursue museums around the world to refuse the loan of Native artifacts to Calgary's Glenbow museum for exhibition in their 1988 display.

So far, the campaign against the Glenbow has drawn support from the Indian Association of Alberta (IAA), the Metis Association of Alberta (MAA), the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and the Grand Councils of Crees of Quebec.

Other support is gathering, as this week the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) announced that it had passed a motion supporting the Lubicon Lake Band. The NCAI represents 122 Indian nations in the United States.

In an interview after the meeting, Blood announced the decision of the Treaty 7 chiefs and added that now "the ball is in the OCO's court."

"The Lubicon Lake people were forced into this boycott situation by the govern-ment" said Blood.

In an interview, Chief Ominiyak said he wasn't disappointed that the Treaty 7 chiefs had not chosen to boycott the Olympics at this time.

"I'll be attending the follow-up meeting in October. I understand that they have to go back to their reserve and talk with their membership," he said.

Ominiyak also agreed with Blood that the land claim issue appears to be in OCO's court and that he didn't have any plans to contact OCO himself.

"If there is an invitation from OCO, we're willing to sit down and talk. We always keep an open door policy," he added.

At press time both OCO chairman Frank King and Native liaison co-ordinator Sykes Powderface were in conference. OCO spokesman Rene Smith said OCO officials are discussing the Lubicon situation and plan to make an announcement on OCO's role within the next few days.