WPC 2BPV`Courier 10cpi|x?xxx,kx6X@ɓ8;X@   Ő3' 3' 3' 3'     4 <D     " 4 <D` hp x (#%'0*,. #:2PkCP#TheCommissioners Speak #:2PkCP# #:d2PkCP#Following are excerpts from statements made by Commissioners: #:2PkCP# #:x2PkCXP#I dont have the formal education of some of the otherCommissioners, but I was born and have lived my whole life in thePeace River country. I know the people here, including theLubicons. I know how the Lubicons lived off the land in the pastand how they live today. I know the country and whats possibleto do here. I know the cost of doing things here and I know thevalue of the resources which have been extracted from thedisputed Lubicon territory, especially over the last ten totwelve years. I also know whats right. Its been suggested by some that the Commission is just a bunchof New Democrats trying to embarrass the government. I want tomake the point that Im not a New Democrat. Im not trying toembarrass the government and Ive not participated in anydiscussions with my fellow Commissioners about party politics orways to embarrass the government. My reason for participating inthe Commission is simply to try and help get the Lubiconsituation settled fairly and honourably. Nobody is talking about giving the Lubicons anything. Weretalking about settling a longstanding dispute over thousands ofsquare miles of land which the Lubicons have never given up butwhich others have moved into and exploited to the tune of anestimated $7 billion. Lawyers and politicians can argue foreverabout the legalities of all of this, but several things arecertain. Its certain that this multibillion dollar development activityhas destroyed the traditional Lubicon hunting and trappingeconomy and all but destroyed the Lubicon society. Its certainthat the value of the settlement which the Lubicons are askingfor is only a tiny fraction of the value of the resources whichhave been extracted and continue to be extracted from thesedisputed lands perhaps 2 per cent of the value to date. Itscertain that were not talking about spending taxpayers money tosettle with the Lubicons, but rather investing a small portion ofthe value of the resources taken from this disputed land so thatthe Lubicons can try to rebuild their society instead of beingforced to live on welfare to the everlasting shame of the restof us. And its certain that all interests in the area notonly the interests of the Lubicons will be continually at riskuntil this dispute is fairly and honourably settled. John MacMillan I am a professor of anthropology at the University of Alberta. Iteach in that department and also have taught in the School ofNative Studies and in the faculty of law. One of my primary areas of specialization is Aboriginal Rights. Ihave written a number of articles and a book on this topic,especially as it relates to political rights, and have beeninvolved in the process of constitutional development. I also served as an expert witness in one court casethat pertained to this topic. I have taught courses inAnthropology, Law and Native Studies and topics arising from thisarea of research interest. Another area is what is known as LandClaims. In addition to researching, writing and teaching on thattopic, I have been involved in land claims directly when Ibecame involved with the negotiations undertaken by the DeneNation that began in the early 1980s. I remained involved, atleast peripherally, until the collapse of those negotiationsabout two years ago. A third area is what is often referred to as The Native Economy. I have also written, researched and taughtin this area. Additionally, I served as an expert witness duringthe Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Hearings. My primary geographicalarea has been the North and in particular the Mackenzie Valley. Iwork primarily with [the] Dene. I have had a long acquaintance with the situation of the Lubicon.As I recall, early in the 1970s I was approached by one of theChiefs of the isolated communities one of which is LubiconLake regarding work needed to be undertaken to support theirassertion that there were outstanding issues to be addressedregarding their treaty rights. I was also heavily involved insupporting the position of the isolated communities when, in themid1970s, their court case was undermined by the passage ofretroactive legislation in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. I met Chief Bernard Ominayak about ten years ago and have been incommunication with him and other individuals involved in theLubicon case for at least that long. I have been frustratedgreatly by the lack of progress in settling this Lubicon treatyissue. I am struck by the fact that the governments of Canada andAlberta refused to appear [before the Commission]. We arecitizens of the country and as such, ought to have theopportunity to hear our elected government officials state theirpolicies and answer reasonable questions. Their refusal only addsto the doubt I must carry with me about the honour of the Crownand its intentions. Michael Asch Last year, I was asked to sit on the Lubicon SettlementCommission established by the leader of the New Democratic Party.I am not a member of the New Democratic Party. On the contrary,as the President of the Indian Association of Alberta, I urge ourcitizenship to maintain our rights as citizens of our FirstNations and to not participate in governments which are not ourgovernments. Until I was asked to sit on the Commission, I had never reallylooked closely at the details of the various offers made by thefederal and provincial governments concerning the Lubicon People.When the Lubicon Peoples rejected various offers based upon theiranalysis, we supported them. This is each nations right. The chief and his people make decisionsfor themselves. No other nation or peoples have a right tointerfere with their decisions. The details and the information which were presented to the[Commission] during the review has led me to analyse and reviewthe whole process of having our rights recognized as IndigenousPeoples in Canada. How are the rights of the Indigenous Peoplesgoing to be protected? It is a challenge to the nonIndigenousPeoples. In the rush for material wealth, are governments andmultinational corporations prepared to sacrifice peoples? Thesad answer which returns from all over the world where IndigenousPeoples come in conflict with socalled civilization is the lossof the Indigenous Peoples. Is this going to happen in theLubicons case? Or are people going to stand up and say, enoughis enough? Indigenous Peoples have been saying that for fivehundred years, but who is listening? One of the things that must be included in this report is theIndigenous Peoples philosophy of life. We are not here on thisEarth to make ourselves wealthy, to make ourselves known orfamous in our own time. The future of [our] childrens childrenmust always be in front of our minds. What are we going to leavefuture generations? This is not a rhetorical question. This isthe basis of our philosophy. When the federal government makes these ridiculous offers of cashcompensation to the Lubicon Cree without recognizing thefundamental rights to the land and resources, they insult allIndigenous Peoples. What is for the future generations? What is going to be on the land for the children of the future?What are they going to feed their children and their childrenschildren? We must think in terms of seven generations. This isthe teaching which has been told to us by the Elders, never tothink about ourselves, but to think into the future. This is theway that the Lubicon Cree have approached this whole negotiationwith the federal government. The Lubicon approach and process must be respected and honouredby all Peoples. It is a very valuable lesson which is being shownto us by the Lubicon Peoples. All Peoples who believe in justicemust support them. Regena Crowchild Im originally from Quebec and Ive lived in the Peace Rivercountry for the last 41 years. Im married and we have 4children. As a youth I quit school after I reached grade six:thats as far as the local school went. Then I started helping myfather in the logging industry at Keg River, some 120 miles northof Peace River. Im presently owner and president of Boucher Brothers Lumber withheadquarters in Nampa some 20 miles south of Peace River. Thelumber industry has been my life. Over the years weve had Nativepeople working for us and still do. Im presently advisor to theAboriginal Logging in Peace River and sit on the Board of Directors forAlberta Forest Product Association which oversees forestryconcerns such as wild life, the environment, transportation,logging, marketing, etc. Im also president of ManningDiversified Forest Products, a new company that includes businesspeople in northern Alberta among whom are two Metis groups,Paddle Prairie Metis and Zone Six. I accepted to serve on the Commission because I feel that theLubicon should be treated no less fairly than any other Nativecommunity in this country. They should have their own land, andgood economic opportunities. I hope this Commission can furthertheir goals. Normand Boucher I guess the next step is an acknowledgement by both the federaland provincial governments officially that there has been aninjustice done and that there will be a resolve to it. It seemsthat ... they often want to deny theres a problem. I think thatperhaps there have to be ... stages... recognize who youretalking to, [and] recognize what youre talking about. And ... recognize the injustices done, the loss of the economics and wayof life, and in particular the exploitation of their land, thefact there was so much profit made off it at the expense of thesepeople. Not to mention the erosion of their livelihood due to thegeographical and structural changes. Are there reasons for the government not achieving a result? Itseems that this has been going on back to 1899. Do they have ahidden agenda? If they do, then perhaps that needs to be talkedabout. Because it just seems that negotiations dont normally go on forever, and yet that seems to be the case here. Don Aitken Im a priest, a member of the Oblate Missionaries who have workedin Lubicon country since the 1850s. Im presently provincialsuperior of some 145 Oblates belonging to Grandin Provinceserving in Alberta and the NWT. Im also president of the OblateConference of Canada. Originally from the Peace River country in northern Alberta, Ifirst came into contact with the Lubicon while pastoring inGrouard from 1978 to 1986. Bernard Ominayak became chief backthen and I got to know him and his people gradually over theyears. In my various contacts with the Lubicon I saw vividly the socialbreakdown resulting from government neglect: destruction of atraditional economy, poverty, lack of decent housing andfacilities, unemployment, dependency on government handouts,alcoholism, violence, tragic deaths, family breakdown, divisionsin the community, despair, high level of still births,tuberculosis, etc. I feel that such disastrous results on apeople is a severe indictment on the Indian Affairs Departmentwhose responsibility is the protection and welfare of Indianpeople in this country. When asked to serve on this Commission, I had little hesitation in accepting, hoping to help a downtrodden peopleobtain justice at last if I could. I wish ... to use the voice of one who has some moral authorityin our world, Pope John Paul II. In his 1987 Fort Simpson visitto the Aboriginal Peoples of this land [he] declared: Onceagain I affirm your right to a just and equitable measure of selfgoverning, along with a land base and adequate resourcesnecessary for developing a viable economy for present and futuregenerations ... I pray that the Holy Spirit will help you all tofind the just way so that Canada may be a model for the world inupholding the dignity of the Aboriginal Peoples. The Lubicons after 54 years of waiting are still hoping to have ajust and equitable measure of self governing. There are goodprospects for an adequate land base. Their struggle to develop aviable economy has been the stumbling block in most of theirnegotiations with the government. Canada, far from beingrecognized as a model for the world in upholding the dignity ofthe Aboriginal Peoples, has been condemned by people around theglobe for the way it has dealt with the Lubicons. We pray for thesake of the Lubicon people and Canada that the work of this commission may be instrumental in bringing this important issueto a fruitful and just conclusion. Jacques Johnson I live with my husband and two teenage daughters on a small farmnear High River. I have been actively involved in promoting ahealthy environment both as a volunteer and as a businesswoman. Since 1988 I have been encouraging others to Reduce Reuse andRecycle in my community. This led to the formation of theFoothills Recycling Society and working with my MLA tosuccessfully establish two permanent recycling depots. I am the owner of earthcycle paper corp., one of the firstcompanies to bring recycled paper into Alberta forresale. A goodpart of my energy has gone into public education. I believe that each of us can make a difference. When asked to be a member of the Lubicon Settlement Commission ofReview, I came with no preconceived ideas and with only a smallamount of information of the situation which I had gleaned fromthe media. At first I thought that the asking amount forsettlement seemed high. However, after learning more about theLubicon situation, I have changed my thinking. It is not toomuch, in fact, it is a fair and reasonable amount considering thehardships the Lubicon people have faced. It also seems to be afair and reasonable amount considering that estimates put oilrevenues taken from the Lubicon area about $7 billion and thatsettlement would be a small percentage of this amount. Some of the findings were unbelievable. Particularly troublingwas how our government officials have negotiated with the Lubiconpeople. Government officials are elected to represent the people. Yet I found their actions (orinactions) were not done in good faith on behalf of the Canadianpeople. It is unfortunate that the government did not appearbefore the Commission to clarify some of these matters. I wouldhave welcomed the opportunity to hear the government prove thesefindings incorrect. They did not appear. Therefore, I am left todraw my own conclusion from what was reported to me. [Mr. Fulton] stated that prejudice is the position you takebased upon a lack of knowledge of the facts, or deliberatedisregard of the facts... whereas sympathy ... is a conclusionyou arrive at based upon knowledge of the facts. I couldnt help but feel sympathy for the Lubicon people when Ifound out what their history has been. Sandy Day I believe the money asked for by Lubicons does not necessarilyhave to be what they receive, but the governments offer isextremely low. The Lubicons should not have to be held to spend the money theway the governments have demanded in their offer to theLubicons. I believe that any settlement will be a political one, and notone that is generated and influenced by government bureaucrats. With federal and Alberta provincial elections looming in thehorizon of 1993, it is very important that this report help toform parts of election platforms. If this does not happen, itwill again be shelved and the bureaucrats will play games withit. Wilfred Barranoik I would like to comment that I find both [government] proposalsto be very paternalistic, especially with respect to thecompensation. I can accept that the Lubicons may have to justifythe amount of funding they require for infrastructure or economicdevelopment as this amount is based on need. This amount shouldbe settled now and not be the subject of future applications forfunding. However, the Lubicons should not have to justify whatthey are going to do with the money they receive as compensationfor past losses. It is theirs to do with as they like. No onetells me how to spend my money. I, for one, came with a fresh mind as I had not, prior to sittingon the Commission, looked into this issue in any detail. As such,the hearings were an eye opener for me. The Lubicons were missed in the original treaty settlements in1899 and 1939. In 1939 they were promised a reserve and to datethis promise has not been fulfilled. It is therefore clear thatthey should be dealt with at this time, in a manner thatcompensates them for this delay as well as providing them withthe resources to establish a selfsufficient society. Jennifer Klimek I am an ordained minister, directing the Native Concernsportfolio of the Mennonite Central Committee Canada (MCC). Thisincludes extensive involvement with Native peoples across Canada on a community level, with Native organizations, and with alarge number of individuals. Through the direction of MCC work, Ihelp provide volunteer personnel in needed areas of education,health, social work, research and advocacy. Advocacy for land rights in the face of extensive development hasbecome a major interMennonite focus. MCC responds to Nativecommunities in a combination of advocating honourable settlementof land issues, fair inclusion in the constitutional process, andwith locally based, culturally viable economic developmentprograms. I am a representative of the Aboriginal Rights Coalition (ARC),an interchurch venture which has addressed Aboriginal Rightsacross Canada. MCCs connection with the Lubicon community istaking place through the support of local gardening ventures, theconducting of a health program during the TB outbreak, andthrough MCCs participation in ARC. Resolution of the Lubicon case is not only in the interest of theLubicon Cree. It is also in the interest of other Canadians.Native and nonNative peoples want to live within a country thatdeals fairly with all peoples. The year 1992 has focused specifically on the 500 year history ofconquest. Having inherited that history of conquest does notvalidate its continuation. The industrial conquest of the Lubiconcommunity and its territory represents an ongoing conquestmindset that has gone largely unchecked and has happened at theterrible expense of the Cree peoples. The dramatic contrast between the wealth of the corporations whoharvest the resources in the Lubicon region and that of the localLubicon community is astounding. Menno Wiebe #:2PkCP# #:2PkCP#Mandate and Establishment of the Commission #:x2PkCXP#On May 21st, 1992 the Leader of the Official Opposition in theAlberta Legislature, Ray Martin, established the LubiconSettlement Commission of Review with the following Terms ofReference: Whereas negotiations between the federal government and theLubicon Lake Indians have been stalled without progress sinceJanuary 1989; And whereas talks between the Lubicon Lake Indians and theprovincial government of Alberta collapsed in June 1990; And whereas the public interest requires an independent,objective review of both the federal government proposal and theLubicon Lake Indian proposal for settlement of Lubicon Lake landrights; And whereas the federal governments most recent offer of March1992 has not advanced negotiations; And whereas because of the lack of progress Lubicon societycontinues to deteriorate at an alarming rate; Now therefore, this Commission of Review that has been convenedwill have responsibility to investigate, compare, assess andreport publicly on: 1. The federal governments offer of January 1989 as modified bythe public exchange between federal representatives and Lubicon representatives in September 1989 and furthermodified by federal proposals presented in March 1992; 2. The proposed Lubicon comprehensive draft settlementagreement; 3. The relative merits of each proposal, including the likelihoodthat each proposal would allow the Lubicons to once again becomeeconomically self sufficient; 4. Any other matters pertaining to the proposed settlements whichthe commissioners may deem necessary or relevant in assessing theproposals. The report of the Commission shall be completed and releasedbefore July 31, 1992. #x\  PCXP#