Lubicons still in limbo over claim

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The federal and provincial government have failed to settle the Lubicon land claim despite a federal negotiator's announcement that an interim settlement could be reached, without input from the band before the new year.

Indian Affairs minister Bill McKnight met with Alberta Attorney General Jim Horsman before Christmas to review the situation says Barb Deters, senior communications officer for Horsman who says both governments still refuse to allow former justice minister E. Davie Fulton to become involved in the negotiations.

But Lubicon chief Bernard Ominayak is refusing to negotiate with governments unless Fulton is allowed to act as mediator and report to the parliamentary Standing committee on Aboriginal Rights.

The Cree chief says he wants Fulton involved as a neutral body to "keep the talks on track and honest."

The committee supports the Lubicon position and unanimously passed a motion requesting "E. Davie Fulton report to the committee on the matters affecting land rights, negotiations and conduct of such negotiations regarding Lubicon Lake band."

Federal negotiator Brian Malone says the government will not allow Fulton to report to the committee because statements made during negotiations could be used against the government in future court proceedings.

However, Lubicon lawyer James O'Reilly says "that's nonsense" and advises Malone that any reports "which Fulton might make would not be used in the courts."

At present negotiations are "virtually at a standstill," says Deters.