Native leaders disturbed by violence comments

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Metis activist and once vice-president of the Metis Association of Alberta, Joe Blyan, is up in arms over comments made by the president of the MAA quoted in the Edmonton Sun, on November 17, in a story headlined, "Natives Warn of Violence."

"Some day young people are going to stand up and be more militant and, some day, if the government doesn't deal with us, there will be bloodshed," Sinclair was quoted as saying.

"I am really upset with his comments. It's just an indication of a frustrated old man," said Blyan from his home at the Metis Settlement of Caslan, while further mention-ing that Sinclair's comments were embarrassing to the Metis people and uncalled for.

Blyan says this type of thing has to stop, and indicated that he may return to the Native political arena because of a lack of leadership that he feels is not happening.

"There has been no attempt by the MAA to call the membership at large to have input. The MAA is failing. The vice-presidents and the MAA should be calling us into an assembly and tell us what is happening. A lot of us don't know.

"They should travel like they said they would. They said that they will eat bannock and soup in our houses, but I haven't seen anyone from the association yet," commented Blyan.

Blyan is worried about the First Ministers' Conference scheduled for April of next year and, "we are still not together on certain things."

"I challenge all Metis people to come out and reorganize things. There are a lot of us in the bush that are saying 'come on, let's all do this together.' I have been a board member of the MAA, a vice-president and I don't want to stand by and watch us die. It must be said that the association is falling apart," Blyan angrily stated.

Blyan also challenged other Metis leader who challenged the leadership at the MAA's last election to come out and unite. "I demand an election and an assembly to deal with all the important issues at hand. I don't want to die in the hands of this leader. No one has to support me as a leader, but we have to come alive and we only have until April to do it," Blyan said, while mentioning that he does not think there is one Metis person that has an answer and that all Metis together have the answer.

President of the Metis Women's Council of Edmonton, Thelma Chalifoux also feels that Sinclair's comments in the Edmonton Sun were an embarrassment.

"We as Metis people are trying to move ahead and he makes statements such as that. Does he not realize that Native people are not the only ones that read the Sun?" Chalifoux questioned.

Metis historian Terry Lusty said that when Sinclair made those comments it was during a demonstration on November 16, at the Legislature Building that marked the 101st anniversary of the execution of Metis leader Louis Riel in Regina, and that Sinclair turned it into a political affair, instead of commenting on why the 30 odd people were really there, which was in remembrance of the hanging of Riel.

Recently re-elected President of Metis Local 1885, Stan (Butch) Plante, said

that it does hurt in regards to the comments made by Sinclair and that it would seem that frustration was expressed.

"There were a number of positive statements made, and it depressed me to see that they (the media) picked up on those comments instead of the positive ones that were said. I can only say that Sam should not have made them, and the press should not have reacted to them in the manner that they did," said Plante.

"The important thing is the commemoration in regards to Riel. It is number one, but we need to use all political avenues and let people know what Metis is all about. When we talk about bloodshed, it's just like Gainers, a rally or a demonstration, where someone could get injured. I am not saying we go out with clubs and guns, but we must demand our rights," said Sam Sinclair, in a telephone interview from his office at the MAA.

Sinclair further stated that the Metis must become serious in this bsiness and that it has to be a united front.

"I was in the Second World War, and fought for the right of democracy for all people . Now I am fighting for my people and if people want to water it down, then they are in the wrong game. That is my position," said Sinclair..