Chiefs wary of self-government proposals

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The drums were barely silent, the smells of sweetgrass still lingering, when the debate over entrenching self-government rights arose for delegates at the first ever national treaty conference here in Edmonton.

Despite pleas from Assembly of First Nations Chief Ovide Mercredi for "one voice," treaty chiefs from across Canada expressed doubts that Mercredi's moves for constitutional guarantees of self-government are in their favor.

In a strongly worded speech following Mercredi's remarks, Alberta's Beaver

Lake chief Al Lameman warned against the "trap" of entrenching self-government rights.

Entrenching the right, Lameman said, could open negotiations on the existing treaties, a process that could water down the rights treaty Indians now have.

Lameman said instead of sitting down at the constitutional table with Ottawa, Native leaders should be working on a process that would force the federal government to fulfil its treaty obligations. He also warned that entrenching self-government rights would "domesticate" the treaties, stripping them of the status of international law.

But Mercredi continued to argue for self-government guarantees in a new constitutional deal. He said the Native community may have to wait years before moving ahead for self-government if the current opportunities are not taken.

"We have the opportunity to be full participants, to be part of the decision-making...We never had that before," he said, referring to the Ottawa's recent decision to invite Native leaders to the final negotiations.

"This is not a process that will diminish our rights. It is an opportunity to amend the constitution of Canada, ensuring the rights we have are not just recognized, but guaranteed and implemented."

Mercredi also objects to arguments that treaties have international legal force, saying international law is only "persuasive" and that individual countries do not have to obey it.

Delegates to the four-day conference are hoping to develop a common position for Mercredi to take back to the constitutional table. But by press deadline, as the first day of the conference wound down, reaching a consensus appeared doubtful.

Some chiefs, however, indicated that the conference may swing in Mercredi's favor.

Siksika chief Strator Crowfoot said chiefs from the Treaty 7 area in southern Alberta are evenly split in their support for the assembly. Jerome Morin, AFN chief for Alberta also said he thought an agreement could be reached by the close of the conference.

Meanwhile, in what appeared to be an overture to the special constitutional concerns, Treaty 3 Chief Robin Green made special note of the presence of women.

"It's important for the future," he said.

The Native Women's Association of Canada recently lost a court bid to win

a seat at the table during final constitutional negotiations. The organization said existing, political groups, like the AFN, are male-dominated and do not reflect their interests.