Natives given pipeline to Edmonton council

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A proposal for a Native affairs committee got the thumbs up from Edmonton city council Tuesday.

Kathy Vandergrift, executive assistant to Mayor Jan Reimer, said the committee was proposed two years ago and since "Reimer's coming we've been going full steam ahead with it."

Larry Desmeules, president of the Metis Nation of Alberta, said the idea has taken awhile to set up "because of lack of push on our part."

Vandergrift also said delays by Native groups involved in the committee plan stalled it. City council didn't push to establish the committee because "we felt it important the idea come and be owned by the Native community," she said.

Calgary established a similar committee in 1979 but Edmonton's committee will have "a higher political involvement," said Desmeules.

The Native affairs committee will tackle problems facing urban Indian and Metis people, he said.

An inner city violent crime task force reported a dismal picture of life on Edmonton's drag. More Natives are involved in violent crime, either as victims or offenders, than any other group, said the report released in February.

The seven-member committee, which include Desmeules, Regena Crowchild, president of the Indian Association of Alberta, and Reimer, stands to have a lot of clout, said Vanergrift.

"It not only will advise council, it's structured so it can make recommendations to any level of government."

Vandergrift said the committee is "the urban aboriginal voice wherever it needs to go."

The committee, officially called the Edmonton aboriginal affairs representative committee, will have a number of steering committees which will allow Native agencies and groups to participate, she said.