Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
                                        Little Buffalo Lake, AB
                                        403-629-3945
                                        FAX:  403-629-3939

                                        Mailing address:
                                        3536 - 106 Street
                                        Edmonton, AB T6J 1A4
                                        403-436-5652
                                        FAX:  403-437-0719



March 12, 1990


On February 23, 1990, Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney "shuffled"
his Cabinet, among other things appointing his fourth Indian Affairs
Minister in five years.  If there'd earlier been any question about the
purpose of these frequent Cabinet "shuffles", there can be a question no
longer.

Prime Minister Mulroney uses his Cabinet members as shields to protect
himself from the political consequences of his actions, discarding or at
least recycling these political shields as they become so battered that
they no longer serve their intended purpose.  Unless and/or until people
start holding the Prime Minister directly responsible for the actions of
his Government, it's unlikely that much will change.

The plight of the Lubicon people is a case in point.  With the exception
of David Crombie, who did try to undertake some independent initiatives,
successive Indian Affairs Ministers have clearly been selected for their
willingness to read from a prepared script.  Crombie was of course
censored for his efforts, including the appointment of E. Davie Fulton,
and his initiatives were cut short.

The newly appointed Indian Affairs Minister Tom Siddon is in the mold of
those selected for their willingness to read from a prepared script, or
perhaps for their inability to do anything but read from a prepared
script.  No one expects anything substantively different from Mr. Siddon
than from his equally unimpressive predecessors McKnight and Cadieux.

It's notable that Mr. Siddon's appointment as Indian Affairs Minister is
generally considered a "demotion" from his former portfolio as Fisheries
Minister, which he is generally considered to have blown.  "Demoting" a
failed Fisheries Minister to the Indian Affairs portfolio says a great
deal about Mr. Mulroney's requirements for a Minister to handle the
incredibly difficult and complicated Indian Affairs portfolio.
Also notable is the fact that Mr. Siddon's immediate predecessor, Pierre
Cadieux, has now been appointed Solicitor General with responsibility
for the RCMP -- Canada's national police force.  Presumably Mr.
Cadieux's experience as Indian Affairs Minister will stand him in good
stead in directing the RCMP.