Reproduced for your information are several media reports regarding the vandalization of logging equipment belonging to Buchanan Lumber. Buchanan Lumber is one of at least two companies cutting timber on land claimed by the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation. For more information on the ongoing struggle of the Lubicon Indians see Topics "Lubicon History - Part One - Eight", as well as numerous other topics posted to this conference. ************************************************************************ Transcript of CBC TV Newsday Broadcast (6:00 P.M.) Monday, November 26, 1990 Bob Chelmick, CBC Newsday The Lubicon Indians are being blamed for torching a northern Alberta logging camp over the weekend. No one was hurt. The arson caused, however, $50,000 damage. The Lubicons are neither admitting nor denying responsibility for the attack, but they do say the logging company, Buchanan Lumber, got what it deserved. The Indians claim the company has been stealing resources from land they believe is rightfully theirs. And as Lynda Steele tells us, just last week the Lubicons threatened to take action against the company if the logging wasn't stopped. Lynda Steele, CBC Newsday The attack took place at this logging camp near Peace River, about 360 km northwest of Edmonton. RCMP say a group of about 10 people crept up to the logging camp Saturday night and embarked on a vandalism spree, slashing tires and torching several pieces of heavy equipment. Camp workers say beer bottles filled with gasoline were hurled at a company pick-up truck, this 5- man trailer and two company skidders. Logger Frank Noskey claims the attack was carried out by a group of native men, one of them brandishing a foot-long hunting knife. Frank Noskey, Buchanan Lumber He walked in here and poked all the tires and he used a bomb, beer bottle bombs or some damn thing. He put the gas in it and he threw it all over the place. Steele Was everybody kind of scared? F. Noskey We were kind of scared, yeah. They made us mad, too, because they tried to burn us up. Steele The loggers think the Lubicon Indians are responsible, because for the past two months the lumber company and the Indian Band have been arguing over who has rights to the forest. The loggers say legally it belongs to the Crown. The Lubicons say morally it belongs to them. Chief Bernard Ominayak, Lubicon Lake Indian Nation Our intention is to prevent logging or any more stealing of our resources. How we do that and when we do it is up to us. Steele The loggers are frustrated, too, saying they're being caught in the middle of a 50-year-old land claim dispute between the Lubicons and the Government. Lawrence Noskey, Buchanan Lumber It's a political issue and I believe it should be dealt with by the politicians, not out here. We're out here just trying to make a living. Steele The politicians say they have been trying to resolve this dispute. Ken Rostad, Alberta Attorney General We've had land negotiations going on for some time with the Band. We have an open door, as soon as they wish to sit down and discuss. Steele But the Lubicons say they're done talking. If they don't get their land claim settled soon, Chief Bernard Ominayak says anything could happen. Lynda Steele, CBC News, near Peace River. ************************************************************************ The Edmonton Journal, Monday, November 26, 1990 LOGGING CAMP TORCHED IN LAND-CLAIM AREA Ian Williams Journal Staff Writer Little Buffalo Arsonists have torched equipment used by a logging company harvesting trees on land claimed by the Lubicon Lake Band. Peace River RCMP said two skidders, one truck and one trailer at the Buchanan Logging Camp, about 50 km north west of Red Earth Creek, were burned Saturday night. In a telephone interview from Little Buffalo, Lubicon Lake Chief Bernard Ominayak did not link members of his band to the logging camp fire. He said only: "They (Buchanan Logging) have been warned several times not to be in there. That's all I can say right now." All police would say is that several people entered the logging camp and set fire to the equipment. Tires on the equipment were also slashed. On Nov. 8, Ominayak told a gathering of about 200 people in Edmonton to protest Japanese logging that "we have given notice, effective today, that they have to have the proper authorization permits from the Lubicon people if they wish to continue." He explained that logging equipment now working in lands claimed by the band would be subject to removal at any time. After the Nov. 8 meeting, Ominayak told reporters that subcontractors working for Buchanan Lumber of High Prairie had been logging about 48 km northeast of Little Buffalo despite a warning delivered on Nov. 4. Ominayak also said that a Daishowa Canada Co. Limited. subsidiary, Brewster Construction Limited, had been intruding on to Lubicon land, despite statements that they would stay out. "We are prepared to stop the logging, whether it be Buchanan or Brewster," he said. Ominayak also gave notice on Nov. 8 that all companies wishing to enter Lubicon lands will require operating permits, licenses and leases from the Lubicon people. He added that companies will also have to comply with Lubicon environmental protection and wildlife management laws. ************************************************************************ The Edmonton Sun, Monday, November 26, 1990 VANDALS HIT LOGGERS RAID ON LAND CLAIMED BY LUBICONS by Shelly Decker Staff Writer A lumber company -- which was warned recently by the Lubicon Indian Band to stop logging on disputed land -- was hit by vandals over the weekend. And while Lubicon advisor Fred Lennarson didn't know if any band members were part of the arson and vandal raid on Buchanan Lumber's equipment, he said it would be understandable if they were. "If the Lubicons have acted in defence of their unceded land, that wouldn't look bad to me," Lennarson said. "For somebody to react to that seems to me only logical. That they have been as endlessly patient as they have is incredible," said Lennarson, referring to the Band's 50-year-old land dispute. Peace River RCMP are still searching for several vandals who torched the equipment and slashed tires. A truck, trailer and two skidders -- large machines used to yard logs -- were damaged in the 9 p.m. Saturday attack on the logging camp, 50 km northeast of the band's settlement at Little Buffalo, which is 360 km northwest of Edmonton. RCMP didn't have a damage estimate and Buchanan Lumber officials weren't available for comment. Last month, Lennarson said the band wasn't going to allow any logging on the land they claim as theirs. He refused to say what action the Lubicons were considering. Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominayak last night denied knowing who was responsible for the damage. The Lubicon leader said the band is against violence but wouldn't say it disapproves of vandalism: "Anything is possible if things don't get straightened out, as long as people are prepared to steal and keep stealing". New Democrat house leader Pam Barrett said if the Lubicons are connected to the rampage then the provincial Tories should be aware "frustration with the provincial government is mounting and people feel their backs are to the wall". ************************************************************************ Transcript of CBC Radio News Broadcast (12:00 Noon) Monday, November 26, 1990 Krysia Jarmicka, CBC News A second logging company in northern Alberta is worried that its equipment may soon be destroyed. Over the weekend someone set fire to trucks and logging equipment that belongs to Buchanan Lumber Co. in High Prairie. The company has been logging on land claimed by the Lubicon Indians as their traditional hunting territory. Now Brewster Construction, which is working in the same area, says it's worried the same thing may happen to it. Byron Christopher reports. Byron Christopher, CBC News Flames lit up the northern sky Saturday night when someone torched logging equipment and a trailer. The stuff belonged to Buchanan Lumber. Buchanan was logging in a disputed area -- the Lubicons' traditional territory. It's disputed because two parties claim ownership -- the Alberta Government and the Lubicon Indians. The Government told logging companies they could clear- cut. The Indians have warned that anyone working in the area without their permission would be kicked out. It's not clear what Buchanan Lumber is going to do now. The head of the company, Greg Buchanan, has not returned my phone call. Wood from the Lubicons' traditional territory is going to the new Daishowa pulp mill in Peace River. Buchanan Lumber isn't the only outfit in the disputed area. Brewster Construction, a subsidiary of Daishowa, has about 20 men and some heavy equipment there. A company official, Layman Brewster, says he's worried. His men are working there 24 hours a day. Brewster says he's running an extra shift and the guys are keeping a look-out. The RCMP say that no one has been charged. Byron Christopher, CBC News, Edmonton. ************************************************************************ For more information contact web:car by e-mail or in writing Aboriginal Rights Support Group Committee Against Racism P.O. Box 3085, Station B Calgary, Alberta T2M 4L6