Lonefighters digging in for long winter siege

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The Lonefighters Society say it will spend the winter near the Oldman River diversion site in an effort to "heal the river" despite the provincial government's injunction forbidding them to continue the river's diversion.

Lonefighter Raymond Crowshoe says they will carry on protesting construction of the Oldman River dam in southern Alberta, which Lonefighters say threaten Peigan burial grounds and the environment.

The Lonefighters Society say they were only 15 hours from completing their diversion of the river when a Calgary judge upheld a provincial court injunction (Sept. 12) that stopped the Peigans from completing the diversion.

Crowshoes says despite the loss of their caterpillar, the injunction and the arrest of Lonefighters' leader Milton Born With A Tooth, Lonefighters are regrouping.

Lonefighter spokesman Glenn North Peigan says "Born With A Tooth's arrest temporarily stopped us" from continuing the diversion, and he hopes the government will now halt dam construction and go ahead with an environmental impact study.

If that happens, he says "We'll be good little Indians and go away."

Crowshoe maintains the society won a victory over the province in it's treatment of the Peigans over the controversial Oldman dam.

"The government has exposed itself and now all of Canada can see what Native people are up against," he says.

Presently the Lonefighters are winterizing their camp on Good Rider flats near their river diversion. They say it will remain a peaceful camp despite Alberta Environment's prediction that they will return to "fix" the river before Nov. 1 deadline for ground freeze-up.

Crowshoe suggests by settling in for the winter the Lonefighters have stepped into a more political arena.

"Our job is to protect and protest eroding Native rights, traditions and culture. Our lands, minerals and resources were taken in exchange for a life of segregation," says Crowshoe.

"We've been branded as outlaws and subjected to assimilate and genocide through not so subtle forms of apartheid," Crowshoe added.

The Lonefighters say they will continue their efforts to head the river through protests and forums.

Recently a protest was held at Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump only kilometers from their camp, and a debating forum in Lethbridge was attended by 500 people.

Meanwhile contempt of court charges have been filed against Born With A Tooth for breaching the court injunction.

RCMP say the Lonefighters continued work on their diversion after the injunction was in place.

Born With A Tooth is also facing two firearms charges and has been denied bail on two occasions.

Lethbridge Judge Clarence Yanosik says he is not convinced that Born With A Tooth is not a threat to public safety.

Born With A Tooth says keeping him in jail - is a political whitewash.

"Somebody has to be the sacrificial lamb, " Born With A Tooth says.

Meanwhile the Peigan Lonefighters wait to see when the RCMP and Alberta Environment will return to repair the Oldman River diversion.

"They say they're coming before November 1. We'll wait and see," says North Peigan.