Urban Native group announces new plans

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The Native Urban Affairs Committee (NUAC) wants to change its name, but first it must have permission of Calgary city council.

During a meeting April 16, chairman Andy Bear Robe pointed out that he would prefer the word aboriginal rather than native, as native is not a true definition of Indian, Metis and Inuit people. Some discussion ensued and the committee made a resolution to change the name to Calgary Aboriginal Affairs Committee.

The resolution will be taken before the next meeting of Calgary's city council and will have to be approved before it becomes official.

Bear Robe also announced that the committee's annual meeting will be held during Stampede week at Calgary's Stampede Park. He also announced that Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominiyak had been invited to speak, but no reply had yet been received. The annual meeting is attended each year by members of city council and Mayor Ralph Klein.

Council member George Calliou also announced that a Lubicon Lake Workshop to inform interested Calgarians of the band's land claim and boycott of the Calgary Winter Olympic Games is also being planned. It is expected to be held in June.