Group claims strong representation for Alberta off-reserve Indians

Page 3

The Alberta Association for the Betterment of Off-Reserve Indians (AABORI) was incorporated in 1984. For two years the association has struggled to become a viable voice for off-reserve Indians, and following a special manual meeting April 29, a new executive is looking to the future with hope.

President (and founding member) Ray Tallman of Grouard says the Native Council of Canada (Alberta) has recently said it represents off-reserve and general list Indians, but "we were incorporated before - we're valid and strong."

Lawrence Willier of Faust was a founding member of NCC (Alberta). He says it was organized and "designed to help non-Status to retain their status. We fit the criteria (of the Alberta Association of the Betterment of Off-Reserve Indians) to a T, because we are now off-reserve Indians.

Willier is one of many Natives who recently gained status. He told them they could represent general list Indians? Willier was elected vice-president of AABORI.

Willier charges that the NCC (Alberta) has not consulted its membership, and told the AABORI meeting, "the real argument is that today I get a vote, but we never had that in the (NCCA)."

About general Indians joining AABORI, Willier notes: "It shows unity. A unified front between Indians that are not on the reserve and the general list Indians.

"We need to negotiate for ourselves. The chiefs are using us as blackmail, telling the federal government they need land for us. We want to do our own negotiating."

AABORI board member, Harry Campiou of Driftpile also says NCC (Alberta) "can't claim to represent us now that we have status." And, he adds, "Indian chiefs cannot represent us until the new membership codes are in place."

Also elected to the new executive were Rob Walker as treasurer and Wendy Freeman as secretary. AABORI expects to launch a major membership drive.