Alberta treaty chiefs oppose accord

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Canada's constitution peddler Joe Clark has assured Alberta treaty chiefs that the federal government will consider honoring Native self-government on a nation-to-nation basis as they've demanded. That is, of course, if the upcoming referendum succeeds.

Speaking to 25 Alberta chiefs at the Nisku Inn near Edmonton, Clark said Native leaders will be given the opportunity to negotiate self-government on their own terms.

"The prime minister has written today to treaty chiefs that he is ready to start the process personally in the first quarter of 1993," Clark said, adding negotiations will proceed if the Oct. 26 referendum on the constitutional succeeds.

All the chiefs Clark met with oppose the controversial constitution accord. They claim the Assembly of First Nations is being given too much power to negotiate on their behalf. It was the first time Alberta treaty chiefs were given a chance to discuss their positions with a high-ranking federal official.

"This is a beginning," said Beaver Lake Chief Al Lameman after meeting with Clark for nearly 90 minutes. "We've never had the opportunity before to sit down with

the government and tell them where we're coming from."

Lameman noted Alberta chiefs are more confident their concerns for self-government will be taken more seriously.

The federal government should recognize that Treaties are as individual and distinctive as the Indian nations they represent, and should not be "lumped together"

in Canada's constitution.

"We're saying we have to talk outside those institutions. We have our own

treaties to deal with."

Lameman represents a group of dissident Treaty 6 chiefs who've expressed

strong reservations about the constitutional package which would entrench the right to self-government, guarantee equal access to social programs to off-reserve Indians and

give official recognition to Metis as one of Canada's aboriginal peoples.

Leaders from Treaty 8 have also questioned the government's intentions to honor Indian rights, but it's been Treaty 6 and 7 chiefs who have been the most vocal.

Blood Chief Roy Fox has said he will refuse to allow Elections Canada officials

to set up polling stations on his southern Alberta reserve. And the coalition recently sponsored a full-page ad in the Globe and Mail criticizing the methods used to iron out

the deal.

But not all Alberta chiefs were ready to reject the proposal, which has become known as the Charlottetown Accord.

Siksika Nation Chief Strater Crowfoot left the chiefs' meeting before it even commenced, claiming his Alberta counterparts were "playing politics:" with the future of treaty peoples.

"This is a major juncture in our history. We have to be willing to listen to what

is best," he said. "We have to look at our options."

AFN Alberta spokesman Jerome Morin said Alberta chiefs who oppose the

deal are missing the point, and they may jeopardize the accord if they vote no in the referendum.

"They must understand that their treaties will not be altered," he said. "We have

to allay these fears."

In a similar appeal for the acceptance for aboriginal self-government, the Inuit

of the Northwest Territories are insisting the right should be guaranteed even if the referendum fails.

"Right now, I don't think that a no vote would mean no to aboriginal rights,"

said Inuit leader Mary Simon. She said the inclusion of inherent Native right can't be abandoned simply because Canadians won't accept the entire package being offered.

To pass the referendum, approval of only seven provinces out of 10 is required. Simon said failure should have no bearing on existing rights.

Added Rosemary Kuptana, president of the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada: "The Charlottetown accord is not a panacea for all social and economic challenges facing aboriginal peoples, but it is the clearest opportunity Canada has made available to us

to regain control of our lives and our communities."