'Unfair' treatment to mother may jeopardize her unborn baby

Page 6

EDITORIAL

There is a young woman in hospital in Edmonton, far away from those who love and are for her. She is there because she suffered a complication that could have cost the life of her unborn child.

The woman in question is a young Sucker Creek woman who says her life has become a nightmare of stress and worry since she and her husband received an eviction notice from her band. This strain brought on the health problems that jeopardized her unborn baby.

Cindy Calliou-Sawka says she is being treated unfairly. She says the Chief and council are picking on her because she is an Indian woman married to a whiteman, whereas many of her fellow male band members, who are married to white women, are allowed to stay on the reserve.

The Sucker Creek chief says he cannot talk about the incident because his lawyer says it might jeopardize any law case, but says that band membership is in the hands of the band. The letter sent to the Sawka family also raises the question of Bill C-31 which amended the Indian Act and gave the power of membership to the band.

Ultimately, membership in a band must be decided by the band itself. However, according to the Indian Act membership cannot be based on discrimination, be it on the grounds of sex or religious beliefs.

But, the thorny question is ? if bands are to decide on membership, surely this in itself is discrimination. After all, they have to discriminate against non-aboriginal people automatically, otherwise the term Indian band would lose all its meaning.

On the other hand, because the Indian Act allowed non-Indian women to become "Indians" when they married a band member prior to 1985, there are already many "white Indians" out there.

Obviously those women who were born to Indian parents and who can trace their ancestry back to the great chiefs, feel cheated. They are, after all, just as "Indian" as their brothers, yet many say they are being deprived of their birthright.

The question is complex, it is highly emotional, but it is a question that must be dealt with soon. However, as politicians bow their heads and try to make some sense of this muddle, perhaps they should take some time to look at the real people involved.

As Cindy Calliou-Sawka sits in hospital this week wondering what effect this is having on her baby ? a baby that might have been lost ? those people in council, in politics, and even the band members should try to think of the human cost and remember their Native traditions.

Cindy returned to the reserve to be with her mother before the birth of her baby. Would it have harmed anyone if she had been allowed to stay for a few months? Don't let the legislation formed by non-Indian people ultimately destroy the love and compassion Native people have always had for those in need.