Lubicon gets support

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Unanimous, powerful support was given to the Lubicon Lake Cree Nation in defence of their land rights at the Second European Meeting of American Indian Support Groups, held at Lultzhausen, Luxembourg, April 9 to 13.

In addition, the unprecedented resolution gave unconditional support to Chief Bernard Ominayak and his people's efforts to bring about a boycott of the 1988 Winter Olympics, which are slated to be held in Alberta.

A second resolution approved by the principles being put forward by the Canadian-based organization, "Indigenous Survival Internationale. The European Support groups have a number of objectives, one of which is to eliminate the stereotypes that the population have concerning the Indian peoples of the United States and Canada. Another is to give political support to North American Indian Nations who are in a state of crisis as they defend their Treaty and Aboriginal Rights.

The European Support Groups number twenty organizations in nine countries, including: Austria; Republic of Western Germany; Switzerland; Sweden, France; The Netherlands; Belgium; Italy; and, Luxembourg. Other nations have developing nuclear groups that wish to become involved. At a four-day conference there were eighty delegates with the largest numbers representing Austria and Germany.

The members of the Support Groups come from all walks of life with strong representations from the following occupational groups: journalists; publishers, book shop operators; foresters; artists; professors of universities; and, teachers. Among the young attenders are students of high schools and colleges.

There were five representatives from Canada, including: Chief Ted Moses of the James Bay Cree; Thomas Coon, Indigenous Survival Internationale; James O'Reilly, Montreal lawyer who has done work for the Lubicon Lake Crees; Roy L. Piepenburg, consultant with the Indian Association of Alberta, and a staff person of the World Council of Indigenous Peoples.

Among the top-ranking Europeans who gathered to support Indian rights was John van Tilborg, The Netherlands, a member of the Grael in Rainbow Group of the European Parliament. The Rainbow fraction, as it is called, has strong conservationist orientation, like the Green Party in Canada. Van Tilborg has made a commitment to the Support Groups and the Lubicons Lake Cree Nation that he is considering introducing a similar resolution to one that was adopted by the meeting - one that would lead the twelve member nations of the European Parliament to boycott the 1988 Winter Games. More than that, he is willing to introduce Chief Bernard Ominayak and his representatives to the members of the Human Rights Commission of the European Parliament. Van Tilborg stated very clearly that the Lubicon Lake land matters and the oppression of the people raise fundamental human rights issues which have international implications.

Delegates to the European Support Group meeting became interested in North American Indians through a wide range of personal experiences. Some learned about the unique problems of the people through reading and studying in schools and universities. Others have travelled widely in the United States and Canada, even living for a year or two with the people on their reservations. When the Canadian Indians sent lobbyists to Europe following the Constitutional Express episode in 1981, they established contact with Europeans who are now staunch advocators of Indians' rights. Some of the delegates had liaised with Indians the Geneva, Switzerland forums such as the Human Rights Committee and the Working Group on Indigenous Peoples. Some made first contact at the hearings of the Russell Tribunal.

At present the European support Groups are engaged in a total of five Indian rights case, and at the meeting they have detailed explanations of the nature of their involvement and process that is being made. They are in support of the Lakotas in South Dakota, who are attempting to retake the BlackHills, In Arizona, where 10,000 Navajos are being pressured by the U.S. Government to vacate their traditional lands, political, technical and moral support is being provided. In Nevada, where nuclear tests are taking place on traditional western Shoshoni lands, co-operative resistance is being mounted. The Innu - the Naskapi - Montagnais of Labrador, who have been protesting damaging, low-level supersonic flights over their lands and village, are also receiving support. In the case of the Lubicon Lake Crees, the Support Groups have concluded that genocide of the people is taking place: in the short-term it is cultural, and in the long-run it will lead to physical destruction of a terminal nature.

Considering these circumstance regarding Lubicon Lake's people, the Indian Association of Alberta is committed to strong support for the boycotting of the 1988 Winter Olympics. As a result of the meeting, the Support Groups are contemplating specific political actions in support of Chief Bernard Ominayak. Working committees comprised of government officials, officers of European sports federations and athletes in training will be formed to bring the Lubicon Lake land claim issue before the public with the aim of avoiding the 1988 participation in the Olympics. Lobbying will also be directed by the committees to international organizations such as the Socialist International and, of course, the European Parliament. They will also facilitate European lobbying tours for leaders from Lubicon Lake so as to secure widespread support for the boycott. At the appropriate time, it is planned to stage demonstrations in front of Canadian embassies throughout Europe. Consideration is also being given to an European-wide action day to generate awareness of the Lubicon Lake Cree's genocide.

At the Support Groups meeting attention was given to the matter of how the 1988 Winter Games will impact the Stoney Indian Nation. The Olympic site that has already been chosen includes lands used raditionally by the Stoney people. The European people are now aware of the unresolved land claims of the Stoneys, and the resistance of the government of Alberta in helping to settle them.

In regard to "Indigenous Survival Internationale," the Support Groups issued a statement that reads:

"The Support Groups endorse and support the principles that the protection of subsistence economies is essential to the cultural survival of indigenous peoples as well as being compatible with respect for and conservation of the environment."

Included in the conference was a media workshop. Various materials which could be used for public relations on behalf of Indian people were examined and assessed. Featured was a sixty-minute video-tape that tells the tragic story of the forced relocation of Navajos who live in close proximity to the Hop Indian reservation in northern Arizona. Visual educational materials such as books, newspapers, reports, posters and photographs were on display so as to facilitate informational exchanges.

On April 11, in an art gallery in the city of Luxembourg, there was a classical display of twenty-four outstanding pieces of painting, photographs, and sculptures about Indians. The theme was "The Survival Struggle of the Indigenous Nations." It reflected the people's defences against termination of their rights and almost certain genocide. There were artistic contributions from Indians of North America and European artists from Poland, Federal Republic of Germany and Luxembourg. School children from Luxembourg had their works on display. The renowned Austrian artist, Kryzysztof Glass, completed a special commission for the show.