Big Bucks support Munro

Page 4

Editorial

When one understands the Canadian parliamentary system, it is not hard to believe that Canada's Indian peoples, were, for the first time, permitted to vote in 1960.

It was also in 1960 that Canada's first residents were allowed to openly purchase liquor without fear of being prosecuted by the courts or of being severely reprimanded by the lords of the reserves, the Indian agents.

It was a gallant act initiated by the federal government to permit Canada's Indian peoples to exercise their democratic rights: to vote an purchase alcohol.

It has been 24 years since Indians were granted these rights and in this transition period, the Indian peoples of Canada have experienced traumatic setbacks but at the same time have made great strides in developing their reserves.

Canada's Indian people made sacrifices and took great pains to become master of their own destinies on their reserves. They quickly learned the Indian Affairs system which ran their reserves. They learned from trial and error. They slowly upgraded their living conditions, they constantly improved and provided economic programs, they pushed for better and higher education, they developed Indian leaders. Now they are determined to have self-government.

There is quite a contracts between the level of Indian political activity today and that of the early 1960s. The Indian First Nations are not only exercising their rights to vote but are engaged in political campaigns.

Recently the Dakota-Ojibway Tribal Council of Brandon, Manitoba made a campaign contribution to John Munro to the tune of $10,000. This issue was raised in the House of Commons and heavily criticized by Tory Indian Affairs Critic John McDermid, MP for Brampton-Georgetown, Ontario.

McDermid alleged that the donation Munro received was from federal program funding but Alfred Everett, band administrator for the council, says otherwise.

Everett says that the funds donated cam from profits of the Dakota-Ojibway Investments Ltd., an investment company that turns a profit on such enterprises as an office building and a restaurant in Brandon.

Why all the fuss over a campaign donation of $10,000 to Munro? The money came from private profits and the issue here is that Canada's Aboriginal peoples are getting involved in national politics.

Besides, what was Munro supposed to do? Refuse the donation and insult the 7,200 members of the Ojibway Nation who have faith in him as cabinet minister and who have confidence in his bid for the leadership of the Liberal party.

It is an encouraging sign in Canada that Aboriginal peoples are getting involved and playing the game of politics. Why can't they play the game when non Natives of this country, private or corporate, contribute thousands of dollars to political campaigns.

It is just great for the Dakota-Ojibway Tribal Council of Manitoba to be involved with a candidate vying for the leadership post. Not only must the Aboriginal peoples of Canada make contributions to party hopefuls seeking leadership, whether it may be for the Liberal, Progressive Conservative or New Democratic Party, but they must be involved in backroom activities where most of the power brokers play their game.

The Aboriginal peoples must screen and analyze all party leaders and their party's platforms and look at the alternatives that are being offered to address Aboriginal socio-economic problems.

This is happening. In Alberta, Joe Dion, former president of the Indian Association of Alberta, is the campaign manager for Munro. Dion loves the idea of Aboriginal peoples in Ottawa and across Canada who secretly support the Liberal party of Canada.

Names like Walter Twinn, Harold cardinal, David Ahenakew and Sol Sanderson, have been identified as Liberal supporters by their fellow Indian politicians across Canada.

It is only 24 years ago that Aboriginal nations were allowed to exercise their right to vote and now Canada's first citizens are engaged in heavy politics showig Euro-Canadians that they too can play the game of survival in politics.

This tells the average Canadian that the Aboriginal nations of this country are prepared and ready to accept any new challenges.