Delegate wants sell-out chiefs 'stamped out'

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It started when Chief Morris Shannaccappo, a member of the chiefs committee on fiscal relations, got up to speak on Feb. 20, the first day of the Assembly of First Nations' special assembly called to deal with the federal government's First Nations legislative package on governance.

"We're getting beat up. Not only by the white government, but also by our own people," he said.

The chief of Rolling River First Nation (Manitoba) complained that the AFN has taken a position against all the components of the Indian Affairs minister's suite of legislation, but some chiefs were in Ottawa lobbying in favor of part of it-the Fiscal and Statistical Management act (Bill C-19).

It was a matter that concerned the national chief as well.

Matthew Coon Come said he knew the 90 First Nations in British Columbia who supported Bill C-19 were lobbying in Ottawa.

"They haven't asked the AFN to help," the national chief said. "When they do, we will be in a dilemma."

Coon Come said he was also aware that Saskatchewan chiefs were seeking amendments to some of the governance bills. Although he understood that their strategy is to minimize the harm they believe could come if the bills were passed into law unchanged, the position is contrary to the AFN resolution rejecting the bills completely, amended or not, he said.

Later, Coon Come would try to explain that he sympathized with the B.C. chiefs' position. He felt they had a right to lobby for a Bill that they felt would be beneficial in their region. But he agreed that any binding national legislation that sought to impose fiscal institutions in other regions was unacceptable.

That statement brought him grief from the treaty chiefs.

Those chiefs have been saying quietly for quite some time that they believe the B.C. chiefs are in a weaker position because they have no treaties and are more easily influenced by the federal government. There have even been accusations that some B.C. chiefs are selling out the treaty rights of other First Nations in order to get what they want.

Former Native Women's Association of Canada president Marilyn Buffalo, proxy for Samson Cree Nation Chief Victor Buffalo, angrily told the AFN executive that they have to stop straddling the fence on this issue and provide some leadership.

Buffalo said her chief and council see the governance legislation as a direct attack on them, motivated by their $1.5 billion oil and gas revenue lawsuit against the feds, a lawsuit designed to retrieve monies lost to Samson through alleged government mismanagement of the First Nation's oil and gas royalties.

She said her community's legal representatives are planning to call Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault as witnesses to cross-examine them about that if the Bill is passed.

"It's the 11th hour and guns are pointing at us," she said. "I'm going to go on the record and say that $50 million has spent by Samson fighting these people when that money should be spent on education and justice."

She called for a strong plan of action from the national organization.

"Let us get organized because this is our last shot, chiefs. It's not enough to lobby on the Hill. You have to organize your people. The government is talking about removing the non-derogation clauses in all its legislation. What are we going to do about that? Are we going to have more conferences?"

Joseph Steinhauer, a Treaty 6 delegate, took on the national chief personally.

"Mr. Coon Come. I address you personally. We have to fight for our rights. The time is now," he said. "I think it needs to be done now. Now!"

In the mind of Fisher River First Nation (Manitoba) proxy, Councillor Keith Sinclair, the question was not whether the chiefs who were lobbying on behalf of the Bill were sell-outs. The question he asked was what should the assembly do about them.

"How do we deal with those people who are going to take the golden carrot," he asked.

Later, Kitigan Zibi First Naion Chief Jean Guy Whiteduck, a moderate chief who rarely speaks at AFN meetings, shocked many observers with some very strong comments.

"One of the biggest problems we have is our political structures, how they're structured," Chief Jean Guy Whiteduck said. "Who's paying these people to advance these ideas? Mr. Nault has done his homework. The train is down the track and we're 10 miles behind. We've done a lousy job."

He insisted that First Nation leaders need to abide by the decisions of the national organization.

"If we don't have a national voice we will be stepped on," he said. "If we don't stick together we will be terminated. We need to stamp out those people who collaborate with government to help terminate us."

Some executive members advised caution, defending those who put their regional needs ahead of the national position. Vice chief Bill Erasmus made mention of "legal action against the AFN because of motions that have been passed at recent meetings." He did not mention specific details and AFN staff did not provide any additional information.

Keeseekoowenin Ojibway First Nation (Manitoba) Chief Dwayne Blackbird rejected caution.

"We need to speak with one voice, including the executive members," he said. "I came here to do what I have to do. Not to make any goddamned friends. We have to have one voice here and I came here to make damned sure we do."

The national chief admitted the conflicting messages that legislators were receiving from First Nations' leaders were not helping the cause.

"They don't know where we stand because we're sending mixed signals," he said.