New band alarms Chiefs

Page 2

Goodfish Lake band Chief Ernest Houle finds the creation of the Woodland Cree band of northern Alberta alarming.

But Lubicon Lake Chief Bernard Ominayak is taking it all in stride.

Ominayak told reporters Wednesday he's not opposed to the creation of the Woodland Cree as long as it doesn't interfere with his band's long-standing land-claim dispute with the

federal government.

"We've been in this fight for 50 years and we don't intend to go away," Ominayak said.

"If the federal government wants to create a new band outside our membership, that's fine," he added.

Negotiations between Ominayak and Alberta Premier Don Getty will go ahead as planned Aug. 9.

But Ominayak said if the federal government doesn't help to resolve the disputes his band may stage a blockade of roads leading on to its land at Little Buffalo, 470 km northwest of

Edmonton.

Federal negotiators have not yet accepted an invitation to sit in on the meetings.

"If we find they are not sincere, and Ottawa is trying to come to our people, it (blockade) is something we'll have to look at," he said.

Ominayak criticized the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs for putting the Woodland Cree at the front of the list while other Native groups have been waiting years to gain

official status.

Houle said his band has been trying to obtain official recognition from the Department of Indian Affairs for 113 years and questions the government's intentions.

The Goodfish and Saddle Lake communities are recognized as one band and must share federal funding.

Even though the bands are run by two chiefs, Houle said the process of being recognized federally has been a slow one.

President of the Indian Association of Alberta Roy Louis says he won't recognize the Woodland Cree as a distinct bans as long as the federal government has a band in its creation.

He said the Lubicon band settlement must be reached before the new band is recognized.

"It's good to have bands recognized, but it has to be done properly," Louis said.

"The federal government just dit it overnight. We have other bands waiting," he said.