By: Krista J. Kapralos
American Indian leaders say they've already won even though the presidential election is months away.
Both Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain and Illinois Democratic Sen. Barack Obama have made more promises to Indian tribes than any other candidate in history, tribal leaders say.
Both candidates have promised to appoint Indians to high-level positions in Washington, D.C.
"In terms of support and communication, it can only go in one direction, and that's up," said Steve Robinson, a policy analyst for the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission.
Federal Indian policy during the administration of President Bush has "hit rock bottom," he said.
Over the past seven years, the Bush administration has slashed federal dollars for American Indian programs such as housing projects and salmon hatcheries.
And funding for Indian health care began stagnating under the Clinton administration. For example, the Tulalip Tribes negotiated a $3.8 million federal grant for health services in 1993, but that fund hasn't increased since then.
Tribal leaders expect some of that money to be increased or restored during the next administration.
"Both candidates are listening to native America," said Mel Sheldon, Tulalip tribal chairman. "It's a really exciting time."
Keep reading here: http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080616/NEWS01/864091724/-1/NEWS#Pledges.by.McCain.and.Obama.give.tribes.hope
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Native blockade planned to protest big rigs
By: Renato Gandia
Big rigs, semi-trailers and other oil and gas vehicles may be forced to find a different route to their sites near a northern Alberta community due to native blockades expected to go up Friday.
Kelly Lake Cree Nation plans to block Highway 43 near Beaverlodge and Highway 2 near Dawson Creek to draw attention to health and safety concerns caused by oil and gas exploration in the area, about 540 km northwest of Edmonton, said Clayton Anderson, a consultant working for the band.
The blockade is in conjunction with an emergency disaster preparedness drill the community plans for Friday to Monday.
Band members are concerned about the effects of drilling activities on the quality of their water and the heavy volume of industrial traffic roaring through the community of 400 people every day, Anderson said.
The roads to the community that sits on the Alberta-British Columbia border are not built to handle numerous big rigs and semi-trailers with massive loads, he added.
Large and medium-sized energy companies know about the band's concerns, but they're not prompt in fixing the problems, he said.
Large vehicles are transporting dangerous and toxic goods used in exploration, but no one seems to have an evacuation or disaster preparedness plan in case of an explosion, said Anderson.
Regular motorists will be allowed to pass but anything or anyone affiliated to any oil and gas operation will have to find another way to get to their sites.
Big rigs, semi-trailers and other oil and gas vehicles may be forced to find a different route to their sites near a northern Alberta community due to native blockades expected to go up Friday.
Kelly Lake Cree Nation plans to block Highway 43 near Beaverlodge and Highway 2 near Dawson Creek to draw attention to health and safety concerns caused by oil and gas exploration in the area, about 540 km northwest of Edmonton, said Clayton Anderson, a consultant working for the band.
The blockade is in conjunction with an emergency disaster preparedness drill the community plans for Friday to Monday.
Band members are concerned about the effects of drilling activities on the quality of their water and the heavy volume of industrial traffic roaring through the community of 400 people every day, Anderson said.
The roads to the community that sits on the Alberta-British Columbia border are not built to handle numerous big rigs and semi-trailers with massive loads, he added.
Large and medium-sized energy companies know about the band's concerns, but they're not prompt in fixing the problems, he said.
Large vehicles are transporting dangerous and toxic goods used in exploration, but no one seems to have an evacuation or disaster preparedness plan in case of an explosion, said Anderson.
Regular motorists will be allowed to pass but anything or anyone affiliated to any oil and gas operation will have to find another way to get to their sites.
Local descendant stakes claim to Strawberry Island
By: Doug Etten
What some members term as the "heart of the Lac du Flambeau" is also one of the most sacred pieces of Ojibwe ground within the boundaries of the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation.
That sacred piece of land known as Strawberry Island is now in the hands of Bill Poupart, a local member of the Ojibwe who says the island now rests with those who care about it the most deeply.
"Today I am proud to say that one of the most meaningful and spiritual lands that has stood at the fingertips of the people of the Ojibwe nation for years is now in the hands of the people," Poupart said.
Though the 26-acre island is still owned by a private company, Poupart is now the sole controller of the land, which has been at the center of controversy. Numerous attempts to purchase the island from Bonnie Mills-Rush have broken down.
Strawberry Island sits on Flambeau Lake on the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation. Beginning in 1995, control about what development can occur on the island, as well as a battle over ownership, has been the center of a lengthy and at times heated battle between the tribe and the current owners, the Mills family, who reside in Colorado.
The disputes began in 1995 when Walter Mills applied for a building permit to construct a retirement home on the island.
After years of complicated negotiations, accusations of greed on one side and extortion on the other foiled deals between the Lac du Flambeau tribe and Mills-Rush.
The tribe last approached the owners just over a year-and-a half ago according to Mills-Rush, but she has not been in contact since.
"The last offer I got from the tribe was for $250,000," Mills-Rush said. "That is nowhere near the value of the island and we have no interest in that amount."
Keep reading here: http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=7961
What some members term as the "heart of the Lac du Flambeau" is also one of the most sacred pieces of Ojibwe ground within the boundaries of the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation.
That sacred piece of land known as Strawberry Island is now in the hands of Bill Poupart, a local member of the Ojibwe who says the island now rests with those who care about it the most deeply.
"Today I am proud to say that one of the most meaningful and spiritual lands that has stood at the fingertips of the people of the Ojibwe nation for years is now in the hands of the people," Poupart said.
Though the 26-acre island is still owned by a private company, Poupart is now the sole controller of the land, which has been at the center of controversy. Numerous attempts to purchase the island from Bonnie Mills-Rush have broken down.
Strawberry Island sits on Flambeau Lake on the Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation. Beginning in 1995, control about what development can occur on the island, as well as a battle over ownership, has been the center of a lengthy and at times heated battle between the tribe and the current owners, the Mills family, who reside in Colorado.
The disputes began in 1995 when Walter Mills applied for a building permit to construct a retirement home on the island.
After years of complicated negotiations, accusations of greed on one side and extortion on the other foiled deals between the Lac du Flambeau tribe and Mills-Rush.
The tribe last approached the owners just over a year-and-a half ago according to Mills-Rush, but she has not been in contact since.
"The last offer I got from the tribe was for $250,000," Mills-Rush said. "That is nowhere near the value of the island and we have no interest in that amount."
Keep reading here: http://www.lakelandtimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=7961
National native leader supports calls for 'Lost Boys' inquiry
As posted on CBC News.ca
Canada's top aboriginal leader is throwing his support behind a Manitoba man who has camped out on the provincial legislative grounds for two weeks in an attempt to convince the government to call an inquiry into provincially funded group homes.
On Monday, Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations leader, visited the tent at the Manitoba legislature where Sam McGillivray has been living for the past two weeks.
McGillivray told the national chief about his experiences at the Cathedral Valley Group Foster Home for Boys, located near Grandview, Man., in the 1960s and 1970s.
McGillivray has already filed a lawsuit asking for damages for the trauma he went through at the group home, which included what he called "child labour" on neighbouring farms and abusive treatment.
He and other boys also saw the bloodied body of the group home's owner's wife, who was shot and killed by a boy at the home, he said.
McGillivray and others who lived at the homes — who now call themselves "Warriors of Lost Boys" — are asking the province to hold a public inquiry into the operation of the Cathedral Valley and other group homes.
Fontaine said he will also ask Premier Gary Doer to do just that.
"There's so much that we don't know about what actually transpired, and before we decide what steps to take to fix this, we need to get to the bottom of this," he said. "A public inquiry would accomplish that, in our view."
A healing centre or compensation could flow from an inquiry, he suggested. Other provinces may face similar demands, as it was common to send aboriginal children to group homes in the 1960s and 1970s, he added.
McGillivray said he could hardly believe he'd obtained the support of such a prominent leader.
"I'm absolutely numbed by his response," he said.
McGillivray said he intends to continue living in his tent until the province agrees to hold an inquiry.
Canada's top aboriginal leader is throwing his support behind a Manitoba man who has camped out on the provincial legislative grounds for two weeks in an attempt to convince the government to call an inquiry into provincially funded group homes.
On Monday, Phil Fontaine, Assembly of First Nations leader, visited the tent at the Manitoba legislature where Sam McGillivray has been living for the past two weeks.
McGillivray told the national chief about his experiences at the Cathedral Valley Group Foster Home for Boys, located near Grandview, Man., in the 1960s and 1970s.
McGillivray has already filed a lawsuit asking for damages for the trauma he went through at the group home, which included what he called "child labour" on neighbouring farms and abusive treatment.
He and other boys also saw the bloodied body of the group home's owner's wife, who was shot and killed by a boy at the home, he said.
McGillivray and others who lived at the homes — who now call themselves "Warriors of Lost Boys" — are asking the province to hold a public inquiry into the operation of the Cathedral Valley and other group homes.
Fontaine said he will also ask Premier Gary Doer to do just that.
"There's so much that we don't know about what actually transpired, and before we decide what steps to take to fix this, we need to get to the bottom of this," he said. "A public inquiry would accomplish that, in our view."
A healing centre or compensation could flow from an inquiry, he suggested. Other provinces may face similar demands, as it was common to send aboriginal children to group homes in the 1960s and 1970s, he added.
McGillivray said he could hardly believe he'd obtained the support of such a prominent leader.
"I'm absolutely numbed by his response," he said.
McGillivray said he intends to continue living in his tent until the province agrees to hold an inquiry.
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