Yes, no sides gearing up for October referendum

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Both sides of the national unity campaign are gearing up in western Canada's Native communities for the Oct. 26 referendum on the constitutional package.

Assembly of First Nations Chief Ovide Mercredi kicked off his "Yes" campaign

in Regina with a pitch to inner-city high school students, urging those old enough to vote to cast their ballots for the deal.

Self-government is a right, not a gift, and taking part in the referendum gives people a chance to participate in the future of the country, he said.

Support is also flowing from the Metis Nation of Alberta and its president Larry Desmeules, who promised to actively campaign for the accord in the province's Metis and Native communities.

But opposition to the agreement, which will enshrine the right to self-government if it is ratified by Ottawa and the 10 provinces, is emerging in British Columbia - a province where the package is subject to intense criticism.

Saul Terry, president of the Union of B.C. Indian chiefs, said the package may be good for the premiers and the provinces, but it doesn't offer much to B.C. Natives. He criticized the deal for failing to recognize the integrity of individual First Nations.

Manitoba MLA Elijah Harper, who rose to national prominence for his opposition to the failed Meech Lake accord, reacted cautiously to the new agreement.

The Native community stands to gain from the deal if it contains all that its supporters claim, said Harper as he urged Native leaders to consider it carefully before making their decisions.

"We should not be rushed into it," he said. There is a sense of urgency to getting on with ratifying the deal, but it depends on whose timelines you're operating on."

Ed John, chiefs of B.C.'s Tl'ast'en band, said education is the key to ensuring the deal's passage. If people are given time to understand the package and it is explained sufficiently, they will come to support it, he said.

But the Native Women's Association of Canada has asked the Federal Court of Canada to halt the referendum vote, arguing the deal violated the rights of Native women because they didn't have a seat at the constitutional talks.

The court adjourned the case on Sept. 22 for at least two weeks to give other Native groups time to intervene if they want to.

The assembly of First Nations asked for the delay to prepare for the hearing.