Native rights activists remembered at city rally

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On Nov. 7, the Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash joined forces with representatives from First Nations and Canadian Human Rights organizations in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and the United States to honor those who have sacrificed their lives for Aboriginal people's land, treaty, economic, social and cultural rights.

The gathering of about 150 people maintained a two-hour presence on Parliament Hill in frosty weather. The procession moved from the Parliament buildings to the Human Rights Monument in Ottawa's downtown area. At the monument, participants were guided through a remembrance ceremony by Algonquin traditional teacher, Bob Lovelace.

Afterward, everyone enjoyed a feast prepared by the Odawa Traditional Powwow Committee and the Aboriginal Rights Coalition. Entertainment was provided by Willie Dunn, the impressive Shoshona Kish and Raven Polson-Lahache women's drum groups, as well as the Eagle Heart Singers from Toronto.

Participants assembled to focus attention on the continuing violence perpetrated against, and injustices suffered by, Indigenous people in Canada and throughout the world. The groups' primary local concerns include the life imprisonment of Aboriginal rights activist Leonard Peltier, and the Canadian government's unwillingness to call a public inquiry into the events at Ipperwash Provincial Park in 1995 where Dudley George was shot in a land claim protest.

"These two cases...shame governments and shame the justice systems in Canada and the US," said Warren Allmand, President of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development.

Leonard Peltier was arrested in l976 in connection with the murders of two FBI agents. "For 23 years, he has been serving time for a crime he didn't commit," said Allmand, who has been working on Peltier's case for 15 years. He insists Peltier's trial was a travesty of justice, that a review is in order, and that executive clemency should be extended to him.

On Oct. 12, Justice Minister Anne McLellan announced her decision with respect to the review of Leonard's extradition from Canada. She concluded that the extradition was lawful.

At a press conference held Nov. 1 in Toronto, Canadian lawyers, Allmand, and representatives of the Leonard Peltier Defence Committee announced their intention to reject McLellan's decision. A rally was held in Washington D.C., where some have proclaimed November Leonard Peltier Month.

At the Ottawa rally, Marilyn Buffalo, President of the Native Women's Association of Canada, addressed the issues of injustice experienced by First peoples across Canada. She spoke about the ongoing inquest into the deaths of Connie and Ty Jacobs of Alberta. They were shot to death by a RCMP officer during an attempt by children's services to remove Connie's children, including nine-year-old Ty, from her care.

"Without truth there will be no justice," said Buffalo, who also pledged her continued support for an Ipperwash inquiry.

Ann Pohl, spokesperson for the Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash, questioned the government's handling of George's death.

"In Canada, being the world human rights champion...one would expect our government to move rapidly and effectively to bring out the whole truth about what happened," said Pohl. "This would both remove this cloud of suspicion and ensure that these events are never again repeated."

Pohl alerted participants to the rising tensions across the country as courts recognize Aboriginal rights, and stressed that a federal inquiry into the George shooting is more urgent than ever.