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 January 30, 1990 Enclosed for your information is a copy of a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney from Kahnawake Chief John Bud Morris. Attached to the letter is a copy of a Mohawk Council Resolution on the recent Canadian Government "creation" of the so-called Woodland Cree Band. ======================================================================== Mohawk Council of Kahnawake P.O. Box 720 Kahnawake, Quebec, J0L 1B0 OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CHIEFS 19, Tsothohrko':wa/January 1990 Right Honourable Prime Minister Brian Mulroney House of Commons Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario K1A A06 Wa'tkwanonwera:ton (Mohawk Greetings): For some time now, we have been following the situation concerning the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation, Canada and the Province of Alberta. Lately, we have grown suspicious of your governments' motives, at least more so than before. That suspicion has now evolved to mistrust in the Canadian government's capacity to negotiate in good faith with the Native people. This mistrust has come about for several reasons. It strikes us as extremely prejudicial that the Honourable Mr. Cadieux would create the so called "Woodland Cree Band" in the face of long standing, unresolved negotiations over the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation unceded territory and compensation. Further, we are very concerned that this ancient divide and conquer tactic will be used elsewhere by Mr. Cadieux when other Native leaders exasperate him so in the negotiation process. Attached, you will find a resolution from the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake which further details our position on this issue. On the matter of the so called final offer of the Federal Government, we find the attitude displayed by the Federal negotiators, and their political representative to be a major stumbling block to a final agreement. The situation has improved somewhat with the participation of Premier Getty, but alas, it appears that ironically enough, the Lubicon and Premier Getty are having to drag the Federal government along. I suspect a similar situation will occur with the Kahnawake Mohawks and Quebec having to pull your government into negotiations on long standing unresolved territorial issues in Kahnawake. Indeed, recent public statements made by Cadieux clearly indicate that the Federal government is not willing to enter into discussions with the Province of Quebec and the Mohawks of Kahnawake on the matter of "Territorial Claims" (Le Devoir, January 4, 1990). Should this attitude be the norm of the Federal government, I would politely suggest that these norms be changed in the interests of Canada and all Native people. This coming decade represents a challenge which all sides must participate fairly and equitably if we are to avoid the misgivings of the past and their consequences to Native and Canadian societies for the future. Nia:wen (Thank You), MOHAWK COUNCIL OF KAHNAWAKE Signed Chief John Bud Morris Enclosure cc: Chief Bernard Ominayak, Lubicon Lake Indian Nation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Mohawk Council of Kahnawake P.O. Box 720 Kahnawake, Quebec, J0L 1B0 OFFICE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CHIEFS The Council of the MOHAWKS OF KAHNAWAKE Agency KAHNAWAKE Province QUEBEC Place COUNCIL OFFICE Date Day 20 Month 11 AD 1989 Do hereby resolve: MOHAWK COUNCIL RESOLUTION NO. 82/1989-90 PROPOSED BY: Chief John Bud Morris Seconded by: Chief Hazel Lazare WHEREAS, the Mohawks of Kahnawake are in full support of the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation and their assertion of rights over their aboriginal territory, and; WHEREAS, the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation have made sincere efforts to negotiate fairly with the governments of Canada and Alberta concerning the former's aboriginal territory. WHEREAS, the Government of Canada has chosen to undermine these negotiations and lessen its obligations with respect to Lubicon Lake Indian Nation by using extraordinary measures, to wit: The creation of a previously non-existent group of natives called the "Woodland Cree Band", and; WHEREAS, this creation of the Canadian government has no right whatsoever to negotiate aboriginal land rights with respect to the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation aboriginal territory or any other aboriginal territory, and; BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake denounces the tactics used by the Canadian Government as archaic and genocidal, and; BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake recognizes the full authority of the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation to determine who its citizens are, regardless of the actions of Canada, and; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake does not recognize the "Woodland Cree Band" as being part of any aboriginal nation, and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Canadian Government live up to its obligations and responsibilities by recognizing the Lubicon Lake Indian Nation aboriginal rights and territory, and; BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT the Government of Canada suspend the powers of the present Minister of Indian Affairs to enact section 17 of the Indian Act and declare null and void the Minister's creations of the "Woodland Cree Band" until such time as Lubicon Lake Indian Nation aboriginal claims and assertions are settled to the satisfaction of the latter. (Signed by 10 Chiefs and Councillors of the Mohawk Nation.) ************************************************************************ 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