Waterbird's Nest: Tribal leaders arrested on contempt charges

Dale Auger

Dale Auger: On Art, Blood and Kindred Spirits
by Terri Mason

Defining Dale Auger in one sentence is akin to releasing the colours of a diamond in one cut. It can’t be done. It’s the many facets that release a diamond’s true brilliance, as it is the many facets of Auger’s life, education, ancestry, experiences and beliefs that have shaped and polished his work into the internationally acclaimed and collected artist that he is today.

Born a Sakaw Cree from the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta, Auger’s education began as a young boy when his mother would take him to be with the elders. “I used to say to myself, ‘Why is she leaving me with these old people?’ – but today I see the reason; I was being taught in the old way.”

Auger’s respect for traditional teachings led him on a journey to study art, opening the door to a doctorate in education. He is a talented playwright, speaker and visual artist whose vividly coloured acrylics have captured the attention of collectors that reads like an international ‘Who’s Who’ spanning English to Hollywood royalty. The essence of his work is communication, and now Dr. Auger has come full circle, interpreting the life of his culture – from the everyday to the sacred - through the cross-cultural medium of art.

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http://www.daleauger.com/printversionbio.cfm

Monday, March 24, 2008

Tribal leaders arrested on contempt charges

By: Kate Harries

KINGSTON, Ontario - The Ontario government is facing a storm of protest over the jailing of seven aboriginal leaders in a dispute over its licensing of mining exploration.

Six leaders from Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, or Big Trout Lake First Nation - Chief Donny Morris, Deputy Chief Jack MacKay, and councilors Samuel Mckay, Bruce Sakakeep, Darryl Sainnawap and Cecelia Begg - were imprisoned March 17 after Justice George Smith imposed a six-month jail sentence for contempt of court.

In February, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation leader Bob Lovelace was given the same term for the same offense. Justice Douglas Cunningham also imposed fines totaling $50,000 on Lovelace, Ardoch Algonquin Chief Paula Sherman and the non-status First Nation.

Smith refrained from fining KI because the community has been virtually bankrupted by $600,000 in legal fees. The dispute in both cases centers on Ontario's archaic Mining Act, which fails to provide for constitutionally mandated consultation on aboriginal interests.

On both cases, peaceful protests against exploration resulted in injunctions prohibiting interference with drilling.

''It's quite appalling,'' said an angry Chris Reid, the lawyer who represents both First Nations. Speaking to reporters on the steps of the Kingston courthouse the day after the KI sentencing and just before appearing on Lovelace's behalf, Reid accused the government of Ontario of being ''in the pockets of the mining industry.''

Referring to claims by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Michael Bryant that he has been trying to negotiate an end to the dispute, Reid said: ''The government of Ontario is lying to people, telling them that they're trying to resolve this situation.''

Bryant put no substantive proposal to the KI leadership, Reid said, and didn't even contact the Ardoch Algonquins until a month after Lovelace was imprisoned with ''a vague unspecified proposal to meet; and the response was, well, that will be tough to do since Ardoch's chief negotiator is in jail.''

There's more to the story here: http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096416887