Natives seek Queen's help

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A group of Manitoba Native leaders presented a letter to Buckingham Palace last week, urging the Queen to get involved by helping to bring post-secondary education to Canada's

reserves.

"We. The first nations of Manitoba, together with our breathen first nations across Canada urgently request Her Majesty the Queen...to join us in protection of our sacred treaty

rights," the chiefs wrote in the letter.

They were in London for a brief visit while attending an United Nations convention of Aboriginal leaders in Geneva, Switzerland.

Their letter was personally given to one of the Queen's aides at her official residence in central London.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman, who spoke anonymously as its customary in royal tradition, assured the delegation the Queen would receive and read the letter.

The letter said the treaties signed with Indian bands across Canada during the last century guaranteed education on the reserves.

However, the Mulroney government argues it applies only to primary school education. Education, usually a provincial responsibility, falls under federal jurisdiction.