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EDITORIAL
Page 6
The indifference shown recently by Jim Horsman, Alberta's Intergovernmental Affairs minister, toward European concern for the treatment of the Lubicon Lake Band, raises serious doubts about the provincial government's sincerity in dealing fairly with Native issues.
Horsman is responsible for legal matters concerning Native people of Alberta.
Horsman said in the provincial legislature on June 16, that he was not aware that Alberta's image was tarnished in Europe. Meanwhile, he refused to talk with John van Tilborg, a member of the European parliament, sent to do an investigative study regarding the way the Lubicon Lake land claim is being handled by Canadian governments.
Tilborg, was in Canada to do an in-person study of the Lubicon Lake issue June 16, and held meetings with the Lubicon Lake Band and the Indian Association of Alberta IAA, to hear their side of the issue.
He also met with Roger Tasse, the recently appointed federal negotiator on the Lubicon Lake land claim and with opposition party members, at both levels of government.
Horsman said he had other things to do and missed his chance to give the Alberta government perspective on the prolonged debate on how to resolve the small band's 46 year-old land claim.
If Horsman hopes that European concern regarding government treatment of Indian issues will die out before the planned 1988 World Olympic Games in Calgary,
he is sadly mistaken.
Tilborg left him a reminder that European support groups for Lubicon Lake boycott of the games will continue if a just land settlement is not reached by 1988.
When answering opposition questions in the Alberta legislature, Horsman sounded like he was setting precondition to the provincial involvement in the Lubicon Lake land claims negotiation.
The land in question belong to all Albertans, Horsman said, neglecting the fact that Treaties were made with Indian nations 100 years ago, so the west could be opened for settlement.
The Lubicon Lake Band was recognized years ago, as falling within Treaty 8 boundaries and therefore entitled to have land set aside as their own.
Maybe the Alberta government is feeling left out, since they are not directly involved in the negotiations soon to be underway between and the band and the federal government.
Horsman's statement indicates that the provincial government will drive a hard bargain in the land claims negotiations, if and when the Lubicon Lake Band's claim to
their hereditary lands.
Will the Alberta government keep its ears closed to opinions that do not agree
with their version of the issue?
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