Retyped for your information is a statement by Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominayak as well as some media coverage. ************************************************************************ 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 STATEMENT OF LUBICON CHIEF BERNARD OMINAYAK REGARDING THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE KANESATAKE MOHAWKS AND THE GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND QUEBEC, July 11, 1990 The Lubicon Lake Indian Nation fully supports the heroic efforts of the Mohawks of Kanesatake to defend their lands against armed invasion. As is the case with aboriginal nations across the country, the Mohawks of Kanesatake have been given no choice but to exercise the internationally recognized right of self-defense. Quebec Premier Bourassa, known for his creative manipulation of Canadian law to suit his own political purposes, is trying to portray himself as an upholder of the rule of law. Efforts to portray Premier Bourassa as an upholder of the rule of law would be funny if one man hadn't already been killed and the lives of countless others needlessly endangered. Premier Bourassa is claiming that the heavily armed invaders of Kanesatake were merely enforcing the rule of law by upholding a Canadian court injunction ordering the Mohawks to dismantle a road blockade. The Lubicon people know all about Canadian politicians like Premier Bourassa and injunctions granted by Canadian courts preventing aboriginal people from protecting vital aboriginal interests. Neither are truly concerned with law breaking nor enforcing the rule of law. What's really involved, in this case like so many others across the country, is the exercise of brute political power and force of arms to steal unceded aboriginal lands and resources. Moreover, irrespective of the motives of Canadian politicians like Premier Bourassa, the Canadian courts have no more right to issue orders to dismantle a blockade on unceded aboriginal land than the US courts would have to order the Canadian Government to dismantle Canadian border crossing check points along the Canadian-US border. The issue is one of political jurisdiction -- or whose law applies -- not one of law breaking or the rule of law. Such disputes over political jurisdiction are properly settled through negotiation, not force of arms disguised as upholding the rule of law. Under the Canadian Constitution it is the exclusive responsibility of the Canadian Federal Government to resolve such jurisdictional disputes involving unceded aboriginal lands. At the moment this responsibility falls to current Federal Indian Affairs Minister Tom Siddon. Mr. Siddon, apparently unaware of his constitutional responsibilities, has publicly characterized the confrontation at Kanesatake as "a provincial police matter". Ignorance of this magnitude is startling even in a Federal Indian Affairs Minister. The Lubicon Lake Nation therefore demands that Mr. Siddon be immediately replaced with someone who has some idea about the responsibilities he or she carries, that Provincial Storm Troopers be immediately withdrawn before there is additional loss of life, that all efforts to challenge Mohawk jurisdiction over unceded aboriginal lands at Kanesatake immediately cease, and that the Canadian Federal Government of Prime Minister Brian Mulroney immediately commence negotiations with the Mohawks of Kanesatake to resolve on an urgent basis the outstanding jurisdictional dispute between the Mohawks of Kanesatake and the Federal Government of Canada. ************************************************************************ Transcript of CFRN TV Eyewitness News Broadcast (6:00 P.M.) Thursday, July 12, 1990 Daryl McIntyre, Eyewitness News Here in Alberta, Lubicon Chief Bernard Ominayak says that his Band fully supports what he calls "the heroic efforts of the Mohawks". The Lubicons are planning their own action on the ground following the latest deadlock in land claim talks. Fred Kazakoff, Eyewitness News It was almost two years ago that the Lubicon Lake Indian Band had its barricades in northwestern Alberta removed by RCMP. Police were heavily armed, but there was no gunfire. Today the Lubicons are still fighting for a land claim settlement. Their latest efforts at negotiations have failed. Fred Lennarson, Lubicon Advisor There is nothing going on now that offers the Lubicon people any hope at all that they'll be able to protect their vital interests through anything other than action on the ground. Kazakoff Lennarson doesn't think another barricade will be set up. The Lubicons are looking at other options which they won't specify. They're not finding it difficult to identify with the Mohawk cause in Quebec. Lennarson They've got people on the other side who attack them with concussion grenades and tear gas canisters and fully automatic fire, and they either just collapse and decide that they have no rights, or they fight back. They're in that situation. Kazakoff The Lubicon advisor says about all the Lubicon people here can do at this time is pray that the Mohawks will survive what's going on. The Quebec Indians are also getting support from individuals on Alberta reserves. Enoch Nation Member If we were in that situation I think we'd do something about it too. Enoch Nation Member I think any Natives would stand behind the Mohawks -- across Canada they would. Enoch Nation Member This is everybody's world. Everybody should try and get along. Everybody's from one country. We should all be one nation. Kazakoff To the Lubicons the situation in Quebec is an indication that Indian people across the country don't see much of an alternative other than action on the ground to defend their interests. Fred Kazakoff, Eyewitness News. ************************************************************************ Transcript of ITV News Broadcast (6:00 P.M.) Thursday, July 12, 1990 Ross McLaughlin, ITV News Native problems in Quebec may soon be realized in Alberta...the situation could very well be mirrored here in Alberta within months. As Wendy Theberge reports, the Lubicon Indians now say failed negotiations with the Federal Government leaves them with no choice but to start planning another show-down of their own. Wendy Theberge, ITV News The fight between Canada and its Natives has been simmering for decades with only relatively minor flare-ups. But the defiant stand in Oka, Quebec is the latest indication that the struggle to be heard has reached the boiling point -- not just for the Mohawks, but for Natives everywhere. Fred Lennarson, Lubicon Advisor What's going on in Kanesatake -- the potential for that exists from one end of the country to the other. Theberge Here in Alberta, a spokesman for the Lubicon Indians stresses aboriginal people, not only the Lubicons, have tried every peaceful option available. Fred Lennarson says Natives have hired lawyers, gone to court, petitioned politicians, tried to negotiate -- all to no avail. Lennarson So aboriginal people look around and they see for years they've been doing all these things while their vital interests have been continually eroded. There's very little left to protect, and they know it. Theberge Desperation to salvage what's left of their claim prompted the Lubicons to set up a blockade two years ago. Negotiations were promised as a result, but Fred Lennarson says those talks have gone nowhere and the Lubicons now say they have no alternative but to take another stand. Lennarson I foresee the Lubicon people taking action on the ground to assert their jurisdiction and protect their vital interests. Theberge The Lubicons' second blockade will likely be erected this fall. And this time violence cannot be ruled out. In his words, Fred Lennarson says: "If they roll over you through force of arms, what other choice do you have?" Wendy Theberge, ITV News. ************************************************************************ 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