Lubicon Lake Indian Nation
                                     Little Buffalo Lake, Alberta
                                     Phone:  403-629-3945
                                     Fax:  403-629-3939

                                     Mailing address:
                                     3536 - 106 Street
                                     Edmonton, Alberta T6J 1A4
                                     Phone:  403-436-5652
                                     Fax:  403-437-0719


August 17, 1994


Enclosed for your information is a letter sent to the Lubicon Settlement
Commission of Review by Federal Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin on July
27th.

How Mr. Irwin's letter is to be understood is anybody's guess in light of
his July 11th rejection of Lubicon negotiation proposals and the July
15th Lubicon refusal to cede their aboriginal land rights as a pre-
requisite to negotiations with the Federal Government.

Perhaps Mr. Irwin is suffering from the same condition as caused his
Mulroney Government predecessors to sign up-beat letters with little
apparent relationship to the frustrating truth.



                        *     *     *     *     *



July 27, 1994, letter from Federal Indian Affairs Minister Ron Irwin to
the Lubicon Settlement Commission of Review

Dear Ms. Klimek and Father Jonson:

This is in response to your letters of April 20 and May 27, 1994,
addressed to the Prime Minister, concerning the Lubicon Lake First
Nation's land claim.  The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to you
directly.  This reply is further to my letter of April 29, 1994 to Father
Johnson in this matter.

I would first like to confirm that I continue to have a lead role in the
resolution of this claim.  I have discussed with my Cabinet colleagues
how to address the issues which arise in this claim, and my office has
been back in touch with the Lubicon to discuss how we proceed.

The federal proposal is to reach agreement with the Lubicon Lake First
Nation on as many of the issues affecting this claim as possible, through
discussion and negotiations.  I believe that with good faith demonstrated
by all parties agreement can be reached on a number of fronts, thereby
providing some benefits to the Lubicon members in the shorter term.  I am
pleased that direct negotiations with the Lubicon will soon be underway.

In closing, I would like to assure you and the members of your Commission
that the Government of Canada agrees that the resolution of this claim
must be a priority.  I am convinced that, with reasonable expectations by
all parties acceptable and fair solutions will be agreed upon.  As you
say, this matter has been ongoing for much too long.  It is now time to
begin addressing the issues in a constructive manner.

Your continued interest in this matter is appreciated.

Yours truly, Ronald A. Irwin