Boycott defended

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The refusal to participate in first ministers talks on Aboriginal self-government, by a number of Indian First Nations, is an indication that Canada is failing its Treaty obligations that were inherited from British Treaty commitments made in 1876, said Chief Eugene Houle of the Saddle Lake First Nation.

The united stand on several First Nations within the Treaty Six area is based on the principles of Treaty rights and Treaty responsibilities. It is a return to tribal customs and a revival of a participatory democracy within First Nations, said Houle.

Houle was talking about the action by a number of tribal councils who refused to take part in the First Ministers' Conference (FMC) on Constitutional matters, scheduled to be held March 26 and 27 in Ottawa.

Many of the First Nations (Indian bands) within the Treaty Six area have refused all along to be involved in the whole FMC process that is dominated by provincial governments, said Houle.

"We have never agreed that it (Treaty issues) was a domestic problem," said Houle.

He related the history of treaty relations between Indian people and government in Canada. Great Britain did recognize the sovereign nation status of Indian tribes by making treaties with them, said Houle.

Later, when Canada wanted control over its constitution, Britain directed Canada to live up to the government's Treaty responsibilities, as a condition to bringing the Canadian constitution back to Canada, in 1980, explained Houle.

Houle maintains that the failure of successive Canadian governments to recognize the respect the sovereign nation status and authority of the governments of Indian First Nations is the problem facing Indian people.

"We have been telling the governments of Canada, but they are not agreeing. They say no, to nation status, only what we will give to you," said Houle.

"We cannot not have our treaty put in that position," added Houle.

The interpretation of treaty provisions has all too often favored the non-Native, said Houle.

"The treaty rights of the white man have never been questioned, such as interrupted use of shared land," said Houle.

Treaty provisions toward Indian are payments for the sharing of land. "We gave up certain things in return for other things," said Houle.

An example he gave, as in the area of treaty health provisions, that address the responsibilities of the government to assist Indians who are affected by diseases brought from Europe, by the whiteman.

Organizations like the Indian Association of Alberta, the Federation of Saskatchewan Indians and the Assembly of First Nations, are not fully representative of Indian people, because they were created under the Societies Act, said Houle.

"The government of Indian nations get their authority from their people," said Houle, adding that Treaty Six First Nations will not allow other organizations to represent their interests at FMC talks.

Treaty Six forums have included the participation of most of the 33 Alberta bands and 17 Saskatchewan bands in the Treaty Six area, reported Houle.

Most of the reserve communities in the Meadow Lake, North Battleford and Shellbrook districts of Saskatchewan and the Tribal Chiefs Association in northeastern Alberta are involved, added Houle.

Treaty Six forums are a meeting of Nations to discuss the difference between the Indian Act legislation, the Society Act and Indian treaties, among other mutual interests, explained Houle.

A Treaty Six delegation is going to Geneva, Switzerland soon, "to remind other world nations that we want to be dealt with as nations," said Houle.

The British House of Lords will also be lobbied by representatives of Treaty Six

to remind Britain that "to dissolve a treaty, requires the consent of both parties of the Treaty," said Houle.

"Britain can not wash its hands off treaty responsibilities," said Houle. He pointed to the post-treaty negotiations presently underway between Britain and China on the future of Hong Kong after 197, as an example of British treaty responsibility.

International support and awareness will be sought by Treaty Six First Nations, said Houle. "We will tell the world of our nation's stand, and if so, we are prepared to go it alone."