Retyped for your information is a copy of a letter recently sent to Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney by the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Georges Erasmus regarding the Lubicon Lake situation. The Assembly of First Nations is the representative of Treaty Indians in Canada. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- National Indian Brotherhood ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS Head Office: Territory of Akwesasne Hamilton's Island Summerstown, Ontario K0C 2E0 Tel: (613) 931-1012 Ottawa Office: 47 Clarence Street, Suite 300 Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9K1 Tel: (613) 236-0673 TELEX 053-3202 November 7, 1989 Right Honourable Brian Mulroney Prime Minister of Canada House of Commons Centyre Block, Room 309-S Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 Dear Mr. Prime Minister: As you are aware, the people of the Lubicon Lake Nation have been waiting for over fifty years now for acknowledgement of their rights to their unceded, traditional lands. During this time, the Lubicon have been forced to stand by and watch as their traditional economy and way of life has been destroyed through the ongoing efforts of resource development companies. This destruction has been allowed to continue with the full knowledge of successive federal and provincial governments. What you may not be aware of, however, is the fact that the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, the Honourable Pierre Cadieux, has recently established the Woodland Cree Indian Band and promised to designate an Indian reserve for this band within the traditional territory of the Lubicon Lake Nation. Furthermore, the Registrar of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) has added the names of at least twenty-six persons to the list of the registered Lubicons without the consent of the Lubicon Lake Nation. These names were subsequently left on the Lubicon list for several days and then removed and placed onto the Woodland Cree's band list, in violation of existing legislation and policy guidelines. It is especially appalling to note that, as these actions were being carried out, the Minister and his representatives were attacking the leadership of the Lubicon Lake Nation by falsely representing those artificial band members as being Lubicon dissidents. This can only be seen as a blatant and malicious attempt to undermine the integrity of the Lubicon Lake Nation, and as a means of subverting their rights to their traditional homelands. The above actions were taken despite the fact that the Lubicon Lake Nation has their own Membership Code, as is provided for under the INDIAN ACT. You can appreciate that the actions referred to above directly contradict your government's own stated policy in relation to Indian self-government as well as a number of INAC's written policies and guidelines. The Section 10 membership provision of the INDIAN ACT can only be an absurdity if the Minister, or his appointed officials, may over-ride the authority of an elected Chief and Council whenever they see fit to tamper with a band's membership list! This calls into question the whole notion of democracy which Canada supposedly upholds. This type of approach towards the rights and needs of First Nations cannot be allowed to continue. As you well know, the government of Canada has a fiduciary, moral and legal obligation to preserve and safeguard the interests and rights of First Nations' citizens. This obligation is supported by international law, covenants, human rights principles, and it is also entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. Mr. Prime Minister, this intolerable situation demands that immediate steps be taken to review the activities of your Minister of Indian Affairs in order to determine whether or not the fiduciary, moral and legal standards relevant to his position and responsibilities have been upheld. This review should take the form of a public inquiry so as to ensure that justice may not only be done, but also be seen to be done. In your capacity as a responsible head of government it is, I believe, your duty to act upon these matters in a manner that is consistent with the public trust that is embodied in the Office which you now hold. Cynicism, distrust and deception should have no place whatsoever in the foundations of relationships between nations, governments or peoples. Neither should these decidedly unworthy attributes be allowed to cast shadows upon Canada's reputation as a fair and benevolent society. However, this is exactly what will result if your government's present strategy towards First Nations rights is allowed to subsist. I must point out that these are not idle words, nor should they in any way be considered as an exaggeration. This assertion is strongly supported by recent disclosures that your government has spent several million dollars during the past fiscal year on private legal services in an effort to avoid settling Native land claims. Surely this country's resources could be put to more constructive and honourable usues than this. These circumstances are not merely local in nature, nor shall their effect be felt by only those First Nations which have been directly implicated by the actions of your Minister of Indian Affairs. The future interests of all First Nations in Canada stand to be prejudiced by this because it can only serve to seriously undermine your government's stated policy of advancing the cause of First Nations government. This is a national issue of far-reaching importance and to merely ignore it will only lead to a continuation of the injustices which have already been brought about. Finally, the burden of responsibility in this regard is upon you, Mr. Prime Minister, and I demand that you take immediate steps to discharge your duty in a manner consistent with the significance that this matter holds for all First Nations and for Canada as a member of the world community. Sincerely, THE ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS Georges Erasmus National Chief cc:Lawrence Courtoreille, Indian Association of Alberta Bernard Ominayak, Chief, Lubicon Lake Indian Band The Honourable Pierre Cadieux, Minister, INAC Ethel Blondin, MP, Liberal Critic, Native Affairs Robert E. Skelly, MP, NDP Critic, Native Affairs ----------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information contact web:car by e-mail or in writing Aboriginal Rights Support Group Committee Against Racism P.O. Box 3085, Station B Calgary, Alberta T2M 4L6