Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

The Chiefs of Treaties Six, Seven and Eight assembled in Tsuu T'ina First Nation this week have unanimously endorsed a resolution calling on the federal Minister of Indian Affairs to honour a 1981 agreement with the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation to reimburse the Lubicons for social assistance provided to their members and to discipline senior Indian and Northern Affairs Canada officials for "trying to tear Lubicon society apart."

A copy of that resolution follows.

Similar resolutions from other aboriginal and non-aboriginal organizations would help make it clear to the Minister of Indian Affairs that ongoing attempts to undermine settlement negotiations by senior INAC officials working with the Alberta Government will not go unnoticed or unopposed.

---

RESOLUTION #4

CONCERNING THE LUBICON LAKE INDIAN NATION

WHEREAS the participating Treaty Chiefs of Alberta met in assembly in Tsuu T'ina First Nation on July 4th, 5th and 6th, and have declared their desire to unite in support and cooperation amongst each other; and

WHEREAS in 1981, Indian Affairs Minister John Munro agreed that the federal government would reimburse the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation for provision of certain basic services, including social services, despite the lack of settlement of Lubicon land rights and a recognized Lubicon reserve; and

WHEREAS in 1991 the Alberta government and the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada negotiated a social services funding agreement providing that the Alberta government will provide social services to Indians "not ordinarily residing on a Reserve"; and

WHEREAS the Lubicon people were not consulted about this 1991 social services funding agreement and have never agreed to the Alberta government providing Lubicon members with social services; and

WHEREAS the 1991 agreement specifically applies to "Treaty Seven and Treaty Eight Indian First Nations, Tribes, and Bands only" and the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation is not a signatory or party to either Treaty Seven or Treaty Eight; and

WHEREAS the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation does not have recognized Reserve lands to ordinarily reside on or off, but rather retains aboriginal land rights over unceded Lubicon Territory and is still trying to negotiate a settlement of Lubicon land rights with Canadian governments; and

WHEREAS the Alberta government and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, are now trying to use the 1991 social services funding agreement to tear Lubicon society apart and subvert Lubicon land negotiations by forcing members to join another First Nation or go begging to the Alberta government for subsistence welfare to feed their families;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Alberta Chiefs in assembly demand that the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada:

1. Honour the 1981 agreement to reimburse the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation for social assistance provided to Lubicon members wherever they reside, pending settlement of Lubicon land rights; and

2. Take immediate disciplinary action against the senior INAC officials working in concert with the Alberta Government to subvert Lubicon land rights by trying to use the 1991 social services funding agreement to tear Lubicon society apart; and

3. Direct all appropriate government officials support the settlement of Lubicon land rights; and

4. The Lubicon Lake Indian Nation will implement and administer the responsibility and obligations of this resolution.

Moved by: Grand Chief Frank Halcrow

Seconded by: Chief Roy Whitney & Grand Chief Eric Gadwa

FOR: 28
AGAINST: 0
ABSTAIN: 0