From: Aboriginal Rights Support Group, Committee Against Racism, Calgary, Alberta Native Concerns Committee, Alberta & Northwest Conference of The United Church of Canada Alberta Federation of Labour Edmonton Interchurch Committee on the North Friends of the Lubicon REQUEST This letter has been written to remind you of the continuing struggle of the Lubicon Lake Cree People. It is sent to you in the hope that you will participate in a nationwide letter-writing campaign to pressure the Federal Government into fulfilling its constitutional responsibility of settling this 50 year old landclaim. As well we hope that you will participate in other activities listed on the enclosed strategy sheet. It is important that we are not bystanders when our own government tries to crush a small group of Aboriginal peoples because they stand up for their constitutionally guaranteed rights and the rights of their children. If the Lubicons are to survive culturally and physically this issue must be resolved very soon. GRIMSHAW AGREEMENT The Lubicon struggle for just recognition of their constitutional rights came to a head in October 1988 with the Assertion of Jurisdiction over Lubicon traditional lands and the Grimshaw Agreement between Chief Ominayak and Premier Don Getty which set aside an adequate amount of land for a reserve. This agreement-in-principle had to be recognized by the Federal Government, however, and after two months of negotiations the Federal Government presented "a final take- it-or-leave-it" offer. FEDERAL NEGOTIATIONS The size and the complexity of the "final take-it-or-leave- it" offer make it impossible to deal with in this letter. This "final take-it-or-leave-it" offer failed to provide the Lubicon people with the capability to ONCE AGAIN BECOME SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY INDEPENDENT AND SELF-SUFFICIENT. Basically all this so called "offer" provides is housing and a school. Facilities and equipment necessary for the Lubicon people to manage and operate their own affairs are lacking, as is essential vocational training, as is all commercial and economic development, and as is all independent financial capability. An example is the request by the band to include the development of an on-reserve gravelpit as part of the settlement. The Government's "take-it-or-leave- it" offer makes no commitment to fund this and similar projects so vital for the development of a once again self- sufficient Lubicon economy. As Chief Ominayak said in a public statement on January 31st formally rejecting the Federal Government's so-called offer, "ACCEPTANCE OF THIS `TAKE-IT-OR-LEAVE-IT' FEDERAL OFFER WOULD ENSURE THAT THE LUBICON PEOPLE REMAIN FOREVER DEPENDENT UPON WELFARE TO SUPPORT OURSELVES, AND UPON OUTSIDERS TO MANAGE AND PROVIDE FOR US". "WE WILL NEVER VOLUNTARILY ACCEPT," the Chief said, "SUCH A HUMILIATING AND DEGRADING FUTURE". GOVERNMENT P.R. CAMPAIGN Hand in hand with this offer the Federal Government orchestrated a public relations campaign carried out by a hired public relations adviser in Calgary. Within a couple of hours of the rejection the campaign was rolling at full steam, an indication to the Lubicons that the Federal Government knew in advance that the offer was completely unacceptable and that the Government concocted this farce of fake negotiations to engage in this publicly financed act of disinformation. The objective was and is to mislead the public nationally and internationally about the whole sordid affair and to discredit the Lubicon people and their aspirations. This disgraceful episode was orchestrated out of the Prime Minister's Office by the Prime Minister's Chief-of-Staff. A FUTURE WITH A SETTLEMENT What would the future look like with a just and equitable settlement? It will give the Lubicon people the means to survive culturally and physically with dignity; to once more be self-sufficient and not dependent on government hand-outs; to have a future for the children who now can only look forward to the welfare and hopelessness so prevalent in most Native societies; to once again live off the earth, not by destroying it but by raising animals and harvesting crops, and TO ONCE AGAIN LIVE WITH RESPECT FOR THEMSELVES AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN We ask you therefore to write directly to Prime Minister Mulroney demanding that he respond directly without hiding behind his Minister of Indian Affairs. * Let him know what you think of his use of taxpayer's money to try to deceive taxpayers about this long- standing and increasingly well known Canadian disgrace. * Let him know that he can no longer avoid personal responsibility for the continuing Lubicon tragedy. * Demand that his ( and OUR ) Government start meeting it's Constitutional responsibilities by dealing with this issue, for once, fairly and honourably. * And to let him know that enough is enough send noted copies to the Leaders of the Opposition parties, your local Member of Parliament, the Opposition parties' Indian Affairs critics, the Assembly of First Nations President Georges Erasmus, and to the editors of your local newspapers. OTHER VITAL SUPPORT * Snowball this letter and this idea by doing your own mailings of this package and send names & addresses of other individuals and groups to the Aboriginal Rights Support Group, Committee Against Racism (address below) * Print or place this request in your newsletter and other publications * Let us know if you are interested in this campaign as well as other activities supporting a fair and long overdue settlement for the Lubicons * Let us know if you would like more background information material (free) as well as a 43 page analysis of the Federal "take-it-or-leave-it" offer ( Please send $ 7.- for copying and mailing ) "There's a widespread myth in Canada and around the world, fostered by successive Canadian Governments, that Canada is a place where the rights of Aboriginal people and human rights generally are respected. This myth is maintained partly because many Canadians truly believe that it's the case, despite abundant evidence to the contrary, and partly because it serves Canada's interests internationally to have people believe it. The truth is quite different, as the experience of the Lubicon people makes clear." (Bernard Ominayak, Chief of the Lubicon Lake Nation) Please direct all your mail to: Aboriginal Rights Support Group, Committee Against Racism P.O. Box 3085, Station B Calgary, Alberta T2M 4L6 PS: Letters are needed as soon as possible but we also need a steady stream throughout the upcoming year. Therefore we are hoping that different constituencies and/or organizations can make a commitment for the following months. November Learner Centres December Let's all write Christmas Cards to BRIAN MULRONEY January 90 Peace Groups February Oxfam & other NGO's March Women's Groups(International Women's Day) April University, College, & High School students May Labour Groups ( May Day ) June July August Solidarity & Human Rights Groups September Environmental Groups October All Church Groups OUR GOAL IS 50 LETTERS A MONTH TO BRIAN !!!!!!!!!!!! This letter was originally produced and mailed out in August of 1989. Organizing events usually takes lots of time, energy, and resources. While letter-writing seems far less glamourous it is the most efficient means of public pressure at our disposal. Letters mean votes to politicians, and letters need no complicated logistics to happen. They can be written with a minimum of resources, from just about anywhere in the world and usually don't require a lot of logistical support.