Lubicon gains support

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A Dutch parliamentarian said he will urge European support action for the Lubicon Lake Band, after investigating claims of human rights violations by the Alberta govern-ment against the band, in an interview with "Windspeaker" on June 17.

"I was really chocked. I had expected to see bad things, but not this bad," said Jon van Tilborg, a member of the European Parliament, who completed an investigation tour of the Lubicon Lake area.

Tilborg is a member of the Green Progressive Alliance, which is affiliated with the Rainbow coalition group of the European Parliament. He was sent by Holland's Grael Party to do a fact-finding visit to Canada and in particular to Lubicon Lake.

Tilborg, who will report his findings to the Human Rights Committee of the European Parliament on his return said there would be riots in Europe, if a similar situation occurred there.

He said, he had learned about the Lubicon Lake problems a year ago, and had

met with Indian representatives at the second convention of North American Indian support groups, at Lultzhausen, Luxemborg, last April.

The European visitor said he saw the damage done to the Lubicon Lake area,

from a plane taking him to meet the chief, Bernard Ominayak and band members.

"They (Lubicon Lake people) told me the story of their history and how the government created the present situation, making it impossible to live the way they had before. They only want their rights and are only asking for what is theirs," said Tilborg.

"I will make known what is happening here (in Alberta)" promised Tilborg. He proposes to introduce a resolution at the European Parliament, to ask Canada and Alberta to stop the human rights violations in regards to the Lubicon Lake land claim.

There was already a resolution brought forth at the European Parliament on the enforced relocation of the Hopi Indian nation in Arizona, reported Tilborg.

The Lubicon Lake Band was overlooked by Treaty 8 commissioners and has yet

to receive a reserve it was promised in 1940.

The government handling of the Lubicon Lake land claim to 91.4 square miles of land and the activity of the oil companies in the area are evidence of human rights violations, said Tilborg.

"It's really unbelievable,. They have ruined the land," said Tilborg, alluding to the resource development activity.

He sees the Alberta government proposal for settlement of 25 square miles, as not a serious offer.

He also supported Lubicon Lake charges that blame the Alberta government for scaring moose and other game from the area.

"What I saw will damage Canada's good reputation on human rights," said Tilborg, adding "It's really a violation of human rights agreements that Canada signed with the United Nations, the Helsinki accord and other documents."

Tilborg sees the Canadian government action on the Lubicon Lake claim, as being minimal.

"The Alberta government has been delaying and blocking all possible solutions and the federal government is not doing very much," said Tilborg.

He is not impressed with the federal handling of the report completed by Davie Fulton, who did a study of the Lubicon Lake issue.

"It's really ridiculous that they made the report confidential, if you don't have anything to hide why keep it a secret," asked Tilborg.

The Fulton report suggested that the band is entitled to at least 80 square miles of reserve land.

Tilborg was scheduled to meet Roger Tasse, the federally appointed negotiator for the 46 year old land claim of the Lubicon Lake, in Ottawa, before he returns to Europe. He will also meet with Keith Penner of the Liberal party and Jim Manly of the NDP, both Indian Affairs critics for their parties.

He was refused a meeting with Jim Horsman, Alberta's Intergovernmental Affairs Minister, who said he had other commitments. Horsman is also in charge of dealing with legal matters related to Native people in Alberta.

"If I can take the time to come over here from Europe, I can't believe they (Alberta Gvernment) would not want to meet" said a surprised Tilborg.

Horsman said during question period (June 16), in the Alberta legislature that the lands in question are crown lands, therefore, the property of all Albertans. He also indicated that he was not aware that Alberta's image was tarnished in Europe, in answering a question by Leo Piquette (NDP).

Tilborg reported that European people are very much interested in North American Indians and that numerous groups have formed to support the rights of Canadian and American Indians.

"I support Indians who say they are independent nations, and as independent nations they should have the right to go to the international Court at the Hauge, to receive an independent hearing on their concerns," said Tilborg.

Tilborg reiterated the European parliament's support for a boycott of the 1988 Olympics to be held at Calgary, if the Lubicon Lake issue is not resolved.