Native 'used' to deflate boycott

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Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominiyak is dismayed by the recent announcement by Calgary mayor Ralph Klein that a Blackfoot band member will receive an all-expenses European tour to counter-act the Lubicon boycott of the Calgary Winter Olympic Games.

"The main point is that I hate to see our people being used in this way against the objectives of Native people across the country," said Ominiyak in an interview from his Little Buffalo office.

Blackfoot administrator Adrian Stimpson will accompany the mayor on $40,000 trip to such places as Frankfurt, Germany; London, England; Paris, France; as well as attending the Olympic torch lighting ceremony in Greece.

In a news conference, Klein said he hoped the trip would help deflect the negative publicity generated by the Lubicon Lake band's boycott.

Stimpson was unavailable for comment, however, his wife Lesley said her husband is a close friend of the mayor but that Stimpson does support the Lubicon's basic stand.

Stimpson added that the mayor had asked for volunteers for the multi-city trip.

However, Ominiyak is skeptical over the selection of a Native person to accompany the mayor on his public relations tour saying "I don't see how Klein is going to fight the truth.

"This is negative and false information that's being dealt with . . . I think most people really do know what's happening with our land claim.

"I am against the principle of this trip. There shouldn't be any question as to where people stand in fights like this," he added.

The Lubicon Lake Cree band is boycotting the Calgary Winter Olympic Games over their 47-year-old land claim. However, this week the Alberta government announced it is willing to negotiate a land base with the band and has urged the federal government to release the Fulton report. The report is highly critical of Ottawa and has never been released.

Stimpson will be leaving for overseas Nov.7.