Government blamed as saying Indians have to tough it out

Page 3

The president of the Indian Resource Council blasted government for its "Thatcherism" and likened the deputy minister to Adolf Eichmann, the notorious Nazi commander executed for his part of atrocities committed against Jews during the Second World War.

In a scathing attack on recent policies, Joe Dion, president of the Indian Association from 1977 to 1980, called upon delegates to form a unified front against recent policy changes.

"It's the old right-wing attitude. It's Thatcherism transported from England," he says.

Margaret Thatcher is the British Prime Minister who recently won a third term of office. Thatcher has been dubbed the Iron Lady for her strong stand against socialism and public spending.

"The attitude of our government now is 'Indians have to tough it out, Indians have to pay their way.' The government wants to put money where it makes them popular," he added.

Dion urged Indian people to become more vocal and to take a lesson from other Aboriginal people.

"How to the Blacks in South Africa make their feelings known? They get attention by throwing stones. That is how they get the attention of the international media. I am not suggesting we throw rocks, but we have to put on some resistance and start getting our people organized. People power is the only thing these people understand," he added.

Dion explained that the Indian Resource Council was formed to lobby and to keep resource-rich bands informed of government policies on resources. The council was formed shortly after a report written by Dion for the Department of Indian Affairs (DIA) in 1984 was leaked to the media.

The report detailed DIA mismanagement of Indian resources, and shortly after, the report was published in the "Kainai News" in February 1986 and then the Edmonton Journal, the task force was formed.

Dion is still critical of Indian Minerals West, the department within DIA which oversees Indian resources.

"Very often Indian people who own those resources have been taken for a ride by the Department and the oil companies," he complained. "Then the Indian nations have been penalized for money mismanaged by Indian Minerals. There was mismanagement of about $3 to $4 million of Stoney money alone, because they (DIA) are not watching what was going on."

Now the council oversees the operation of Indian Minerals West and inspects contracts and negotiations conducted with independent oil companies on behalf of the Indian Nations says Dion.

Dion will continue negotiations with the government during the next year and will be investigating certain legislation, such as the Transfer Act, which transferred jurisdiction of resources to the provinces.