Sawridge band signs self-gov't deal

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The northern Alberta Sawridge Indian band has signed a self-government that will give its people control over their own affairs and provide a base for other Native bands wanting

self-government.

Chief Walter Twinn and Indian Affairs Minister Pierre Cadieux put the self-government initiative into writing Sept. 26, signing the deal in Edmonton.

The agreement-in-principle will leave the decision-making process up to the band's administration and enable it to control its own, police force, health services and school boards.

"I believe this will be looked at by other bands as a model," said Cadieux during the signing at the Indian Affairs office in Canada Place.

The Sawridge Indian band, located in Slave Lake 248 km north of Edmonton, was the second Alberta band to reach a similar agreement and the fourth in Canada.

Last May, the Alexander Indian band near Morinville was given $350,000 by the federal government to conduct a study to determine if its members want total control of their affairs.

Because the Sawridge band has a strong economy already, Cadieux said its chances of success are greater than most bands.

"We are in (similar) negotiations throughout the country. (But) this isn't something I sign every day. You have to have a good economic base. It's a process that will be picked up," he

said.

Twinn said his people have been waiting a long time to be able to call their own shots.

"We want to be answerable to our own people," he said.

"This type of an agreement will give us the elements to work with,"

The agreement has been under negotiations since July 1988.

The band, which has just under 100 members, controls substantial wealth from oil and gas revenue.

Cadieux pointed out that the agreement reached with the Sawridge band could give incentive to Prime Minister Brian Mulroney to call a First Ministers conference in an effort to define

the meaning of self-government and how it could change the Indian Act.

He said past meetings in 1085 and 1987 ended in failure because Canada's premiers were unable to define the term.