Media.Knet.Ca

From Monday's Globe and Mail -

Natives hold key to Ontario power - A proposed east-west energy grid can't proceed without their support
KAREN HOWLETT - Posted ON 02/04/07

Native leaders are sharply divided over a proposed transmission link that would import electricity from Manitoba to power-hungry Ontario, potentially throwing a wrench into the Harper government's green plan.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has earmarked $586-million of the $1.5-billion Canada EcoTrust Fund to help Ontario reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and fight climate change by building the so-called east-west link. Manitoba has an abundance of hydroelectric power, so the grid could supply Ontario with a clean source of power and help the province phase out its pollution-spewing coal plants. But the link cannot go ahead without the support of native communities in Northern Ontario because it would run through their traditional territories.

Native leaders in 19 of the 49 Northern Ontario reserves represented by the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation agreed late Thursday night to have their communities push ahead with the project and seek an ownership interest in it. But leaders of the remaining 30 communities said they could not throw their support behind the project until the Ontario government outlines its stand on broader economic development issues.

They want a revenue-sharing agreement with the government and a commitment on how the grid can become a springboard for other economic development initiatives.

"I don't think the chiefs are saying outright 'no,' " deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler said in an interview. "We need to know exactly what the full picture is before we can even begin to reach a decision."

Steve Erwin, a spokesman for Ontario Energy Minister Dwight Duncan, said the government is encouraged by the first nations' interest in the proposed project. But some of the NAN leaders are anxious to move faster.

The Wabun and Matawa tribal councils, which represent communities near Timmins and Thunder Bay, set up the First Nations Energy Alliance last week to explore having the reserves' own equity in the transmission line, said Harvey Yesno, head of the NAN steering committee for the project.

"They said, 'Enough is enough. We want to create jobs and business opportunities,' " he said.

A source close to the federal government said Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice is equally keen to get the project up and running. Not only is it a key part of the Harper government's newfound commitment to cleaning up the environment. The project has the added advantage of potentially doing something positive for aboriginals, who have felt slighted by the Harper government, the source said.

"Minister Prentice has been clear that he encourages economic development for aboriginals," said Deirdre McCracken, a spokeswoman for the minister. "But as for anything related to the east-west power grid, for the time being it's very much up in the air."

The project would involve spending about $10-billion to develop a 1,250-megawatt hydro dam known as Conawapa on the Nelson River in northeastern Manitoba. A high- voltage transmission line from the dam to James Bay in Northern Ontario and south to Timmins and Sudbury would cost another $1.5-billion.

The megaproject would take at least a decade to complete. But it is expected to run into stiff opposition from environmentalists, who will see the transmission line as a significant threat to the boreal forest. The project will not proceed until the Ontario government signs a long-term agreement with Manitoba to purchase the electricity produced at Conawapa. Talks are under way between the two provinces.

The Ontario government is counting on the project to help address the province's looming electricity shortage. By 2015, demand is forecast to exceed supply.

For their part, native leaders are trying to find a way to work together on the project rather than split off into different groups. NAN leaders signed a resolution at 10:30 Thursday night endorsing the continuation of discussions with the provincial government.

Hydro power megaproposal

The Conawapa Generating Station would be capable of producing 1,340 megawatts of electricity on the Lower Nelson River, 28 kilometres downstream from the existing Limestone Generating Station. Conawapa would require no significant water storage upstream, since flooding would be contained almost entirely within the natural banks of the Nelson River.

Ontario's existing installed generation capacity

includes nuclear, coal, oil, gas, hydroelectric, wood and waste-fuelled generation, which results in a total installed capacity of approximately 30,000 MW.

Coal: 21.4%
Oil and gas: 16.5%
Hydro: 25.8%
Nuclear: 36.1%
Other: 0.2%

A massive new east-west power grid could both help burnish the Harper government's image as environmentally friendly and help Ontario address its looming electricity crisis. But the proposed Conawapa project -- a $10-billion dam on the Nelson River and a $1.5-billion transmission line that would take 10 years to build -- faces numerous hurdles.

The four routes

The location of the transmission line is an open question. The Ontario government is studying four route options, all of which would affect a number of native communities.

DIRECT ROUTE: 1,750 kilometres from the proposed Conawapa dam to Sudbury. In a 2006 study for the Ontario government, favoured "from a technical, economic and environmental perspective" by consultants SNC-Lavalin Inc. and McLeod Wood Associates.

THUNDER BAY ROUTE: 1,750 kilometres from Conawapa southeast to Thunder Bay and then east to Sudbury.

WINNIPEG ROUTE: 2,400 kilometres from Conawapa to the Winnipeg area, then through the Thunder Bay area to Sudbury.

FAR NORTH ROUTE: 1,750 kilometres from Conawapa toward James Bay, then south through Kapuskasing to Timmins and Sudbury. Favoured by consultant's report from an environmental perspective.

Native bands Manitoba

The provincial government is promoting a partnership with native bands that would see these communities borrow a third of the project's financing costs in return for a share of the revenue from the project. The government also signed an agreement with Fox Lake Cree Nation in Gilliam to bring the community in as a partner. In addition, it paid the Cree group restitution for earlier projects that flooded the Fox Lake territory.

Ontario

The Nishnawbe-Aski Nation, which represents 49 communities in Northern Ontario, will not throw their support behind the transmission line until the provincial government outlines its position on broader economic development issues. NAN also wants a revenue-sharing agreement with the province and an ownership stake in the project.

Press release ...

Team Spirit: Aboriginal Girls In Sport Call for Program Proposals

NOTE: Priority Areas Expanded AND Deadline Extended

Team Spirit: Aboriginal Girls in Sport is a national project designed to increase community sport opportunities for Aboriginal girls and young women (ages 9-18). Team Spirit is a partnership between the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) and the Aboriginal Sport Circle, and has received Sport Participation Development Program funding from Heritage Canada, Sport Canada.

CAAWS and the Aboriginal Sport Circle are now seeking proposals from organizations across Canada to develop and deliver a community sport program for Aboriginal girls and young women. Proposals from Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavik, Yukon will be prioritized for this funding. Four programs will be selected to receive $3,000 in funding for the 2007/2008 fiscal year. Proposals are due April 23, 2007.

To download the Call for Proposals and proposal template visit: http://caaws.ca/onthemove/e/aboriginal/communication.htm

Ontario government press release ...

McGuinty Government Invests Over $1.6 Million For Aboriginal Health - Multi-Year Commitment Addresses Disease Prevention And Health Promotion

TORONTO – The McGuinty government is providing $1,685,737 over two years for thirteen initiatives that address the disease prevention and health promotion needs of Ontario’s Aboriginal communities, Health Promotion Minister Jim Watson announced today.

The funding will go to Aboriginal organizations and agencies to implement culturally appropriate initiatives that will best address particular challenges facing the Aboriginal population.

“The McGuinty government appreciates that Aboriginal communities experience particular challenges with respect to healthy and active living and tobacco misuse, which is why we are pleased to invest in these 13 necessary programs,” said Watson. “We asked organizations and agencies that service these communities to tell us how best to address these challenges in their communities and these initiatives are as a result of this healthy partnership."

"This funding is very important to Aboriginal communities across Ontario," said David Martin, President of the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres. “These programs will help us to address incidents of chronic disease, such as diabetes and cancer which are many times higher that the provincial average. Most important, we will empower our youth to lead efforts to reduce commercial tobacco use in our communities. We very much appreciate this opportunity to work with the Ontario government toward improving the quality of life for Aboriginal people."

The thirteen programs that have received funding are:

• The Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, Kanonkwa’Tesheio:oi Health Centre in Cornwall ($96,146)
• The Anishnawbe Mushkiki Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Thunder Bay. ($166,250)
• The De dwa da dehs ney's Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Hamilton. ($209,870)
• The Ganaan De We O Dis ^Yethi Yenahwahse Aboriginal Health Access Centre in London. ($6,042)
• The Gizhewaadiziwin Access Centre in Fort Frances. ($131,600)
• Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Thunder Bay. ($35,800)
• The N'Mninoeyaa Aboriginal Health Access Centre (North Shore Tribal Council) in Cutler. ($175,000)
• The Noojmowin Teg Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Little Current. ($131,250)
• The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres. ($346,630)
• The Ontario Native Women's Association in Thunder Bay. ($84,435)
• The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health in Ottawa. ($146,828)
• The Wassay-Gezhig Na-Nahn-Dah-We-Igamig Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Keewatin. ($128,888)
• The Union of Ontario Indians in North Bay. ($25,000)

The McGuinty government also recently introduced the province’s first Aboriginal-specific mass media campaign to raise awareness of the harmful effects of commercial tobacco.

Smoking kills an average of 16,000 people in Ontario each year. Tobacco-related diseases cost the Ontario health care system at least $1.7 billion a year, result in more than $2.6 billion in productivity losses, and account for at least 500,000 hospital days each year.

Ontario’s tobacco consumption has fallen by 18.7 per cent or more than 2.6 billion cigarettes since 2003. During that time, the government has increased its investments in tobacco control six-fold to a total of $60 million, including a $10 million increase in 2006 over the previous year.

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BACKGROUNDER March 30, 2007

Improving The Quality Of Life For Aboriginal People

As part of Ontario’s Action Plan on Healthy Eating and Active Living and the Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy, the McGuinty Government is committed to the prevention of chronic disease and the promotion of healthy eating and active living.

The Ministry of Health promotion is funding Aboriginal organizations and agencies in 2006/07 and 2007/08 to carry out projects supporting Aboriginal-specific prevention, education and cessation activities, as well as tobacco control resources in Aboriginal communities and culturally appropriate healthy eating and active living projects.

Funding recipients include:

The Akwesasne, Mohawks of Kanonkwa’Tesheio:oi Health Centre in Cornwall is working with local school boards to provide smoking cessation education to high school students and the Boys and Girls club as an extra-curricular activity. ($96,146)

The De dwa da dehs ney>s Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Hamilton working in partnership with YMCAs will educate Aboriginal youth to live and promote tobacco-wise lifestyles. ($209,870)

The Gizhewaadiziwin Access Centre in Fort Frances developed a smoking cessation video to discourage Aboriginal youth from smoking and to help those who are smoking quit. As well support groups for Aboriginals and their families to lead healthy eating and active living initiatives including community kitchens, baby food making workshops, and sport and recreation activities were established. ($131,600)

NAN - Nishnawbe Aski Nation in Thunder Bay developed a conference and traditional land-based learning camp for Aboriginal youth that encourages cessation of commercial tobacco use and promote active living. ($35,800)

The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres is providing a train-the-trainer program to staff at its 28 friendship centres across Ontario. The training will promote physical activity, healthy eating and smoke-free living to women and youth. ($346,630)

The Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health in Ottawa developed a project entitled “Walking the Healthy Journey Throughout the Life Cycle”. The project will focus on prevention and cessation of commercial tobacco use, healthy food choices that are available on a limited budget and increasing physical activities that reflect Aboriginal traditions. ($146,828)

The Union of Ontario Indians, headquartered in North Bay, received support to begin development of an “Anishinabek Nation Smoke-Free Strategy” to address the health and economic burden of commercial tobacco use in 43 member First Nations. ($25,000)

The Anishnawbe Mushkiki Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Thunder Bay was funded to work with the Thunder Bay Urban Aboriginal Strategy and the Lakehead School Board to develop active living and healthy eating initiatives in five schools and neighbourhoods. Monthly active living activities and children’s community kitchens will be held at each site. As well, the Centre will develop a 12 week life skills training session on the causes of tobacco abuse, smoking myths and realities, helping participants move towards quitting or harm reduction approaches ($166,250)

The Ganaan De We O Dis ^Yethi Yenahwahse Aboriginal Health Access Centre in London received funding to support healthy living training for 30 health care workers from London Urban Aboriginal agencies, as well as from the seven surrounding area reserves. ($6,042)

The Noojmowin Teg Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Little Current received support for community workers to participate in the “Community Nutrition Advisory Program” being facilitated by the Sudbury and District Health Unit. These newly trained community staff will then coordinate two Take Five programs within the seven local First Nations areas targeted towards First Nation parents and their children and focused on reducing health problems including obesity, diabetes, heart problems and other health issues. ($131,250)

The N'Mninoeyaa Aboriginal Health Access Centre (North Shore Tribal Council) in Cutler received support to develop the “Grow Healthy Families” project. This initiative fosters families taking responsibility for their health by providing them with tools, support and infrastructure to be successful and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. ($175,000)

The Ontario Native Women's Association in Thunder Bay will develop community health gatherings in Kenora and Sudbury. The gatherings will include speakers on diabetes awareness, physical activity, nutrition and overall healthy living. ($84,435)

The Wassay-Gezhig Na-Nahn-Dah-We-Igamig Aboriginal Health Access Centre in Keewatin received funding to hire a health promotion coordinator. The coordinator will carry out community-based activities designed to promote traditional healthy nutrition and active lifestyles that focus on issues including asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and other nutrition topics. ($128,888)

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For further information:

Adam Grachnik
Minister’s Office
416-326-8497

Julie Rosenberg
Ministry of Health Promotion
416-326-4833

Chief Terence Nelson of Roseau River First Nation letter is followed by the Ottawa Sun newspaper story about the National Day of Protest ...

Grand Chief Chris Henderson
Southern Chiefs Organization
225-530 Century Street
Winnipeg, MB
R3H 0Y4

March 31st 2007

Dear Grand Chief

Re: Emergency Treaty 1-11 Gathering, April 10th

As Chairman I thank you for attending the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Chiefs meeting yesterday. DOTC will convene an emergency Treaty 1-11 gathering in Winnipeg on April 10th 2007. We thank SCO for agreeing to help coordinate that meeting.

The National Day of Protest set for June 29th 2007 was passed by resolution of the Chiefs at the December 2006 Assembly of First Nations Ottawa summit. AFN represents over 600 First Nations in Canada. The response from the Conservative government of Canada to this planned national day of protest is to threaten the First Nations.

Our national Assembly of First Nations and our provincial organization, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and regional political organizations are funded by the government and vulnerable to cuts.

The reality however is that the federal and provincial governments receive far more benefits, literally hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars from the resource sales from the traditional territories of Treaties 1-11. Immigrant Canadians get hundreds of billions of dollars each year from the sale of resources taken from our lands.

At this gathering, we as First Nations will respond to the Federal Government threats.

We ask that each Treaty First Nation bring its written list of grievances and treaty violations to put into a document to be presented to Canada.

We will invite the Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Railway companies to listen to the Treaty First Nations. We will present the railway companies with those treaty violations. The railway companies have already each written to the Conservative government asking for Canada to resolve the issues with First Nations so that business is not interrupted by protest. The reason we would present these lists of treaty violations to the railway companies is to legally warn them that their right to benefit and use of our traditional treaty territory is in jeopardy.

Canadian National Railway tried to get injunctive relief from the courts last year and testified that they stand to lose at least 27 million dollars a day in revenue from a 24 hour railway blockade. That estimate from CN is only for a Manitoba blockade and is only the losses to CN, it does not include the losses to CP or the companies that both rail companies transport goods and services for.

A national day of protest that includes shutting down railway lines across Canada even for one day is an economic disaster of huge consequences for all Canadians. Last year although we did not do the one-day railway blockade as planned, the courts did however refuse to grant CN the injunctive relief it was seeking. Minister of Indian Affairs Jim Prentice asked for more time, we gave him that time.

If the Treaty terms and conditions have not been fulfilled, we as Treaty First Nations are the only indigenous people capable legally to deny the right of immigrants to our lands, the right to use and benefit from our treaty traditional territory. That obligation, the lawful obligation (as recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada) for the treaties rests entirely with the Crown as represented by the federal government of Canada. In my response letter to CN’s letter to Prentice which I attach for you, I stated to CN.

While I thank you for your letter, I of course don’t agree with CN’s position that they are “an innocent third party” because we see clearly the billions and billions of dollars of resource wealth that CN transports every year from lands that the indigenous people have never relinquished or only gave conditional access to.

In order to legally block railway lines, Treaty First Nations must first declare the Treaties to be in jeopardy as a direct result of the failure of the Crown in fulfilling the lawful obligations that the immigrant government has to the treaty terms and conditions. We must have those written violations from each Treaty 1-11 First Nations in a document on April 10th 2007.

My personal goal is to have the Treaty 1-11 First Nations jointly demand that CN and CP voluntarily cease operations for 24 hours on June 29 or face the threat of month long roving blockades across our treaty territories.

Canadian Industry, such as CN, CP, Enbridge and most of the oil companies have all sent letters or voiced concerns to the federal government of Canada to take seriously the legal responsibility to sit down with the First Nations and resolve these matters. So far, all the Conservatives have done is threaten the First Nations.

On April 10th, I will bring to the attention of the Treaty 1-11 First Nations other options including some very serious legal help from south of the border. We all know that the courts in Canada, including the Supreme Court of Canada have clearly decided in numerous cases the explicit responsibility, the duty of the Crown to negotiate, to consult and come to agreement with the indigenous people on developments within the traditional territories of the original owners of the land.

The effect of development within the Tar Sands, the environmental devastation is cause for indigenous people to sue the Crown for those losses. This legal action can occur not only in Canada but the indigenous people can follow the sales of their property into the states.

Oil companies and lumber companies operating in Canada need to take serious attention to this.

Please send this letter to the technical working group of Treaty 1-11 at the scheduled meeting in Saskatoon next week. The techs must prepare the documents needed for each Treaty First Nation that attends the emergency summit on April 10th.

I attach for you, the letter I sent to CN. I will draft a Roseau River’s list of treaty violations. This will be Roseau River’s version, it will only be a draft, one that other First Nations may use or disregard when they make their own list of treaty violations.

It is sad, that the current government of Canada has set a course for confrontation with the indigenous people. I had hoped that the Minister of Indian Affairs Jim Prentice had heard the frustration we voiced at the July 4th 2006 meeting in Calgary.

The Globe and Mail just reported that Radical natives are included on the same list as the Tamil Tigers and Hezbollah in a new counterinsurgency manual being prepared for the Canadian army. The manual is in the final stages of preparation, but The Globe and Mail has obtained an early version of the document.

The draft outlines tactics, including ambush, deception and killing, which the military could use both at home and abroad against military opponents.

If Americans don’t take this situation seriously, they face heavy losses in Canada. American companies, especially those who are financed in publicly traded stocks from the stock market will be hit very hard even greater than what happened in Mexico in 1994.

We need to ensure that the treaty First Nations realize that the April 10th meeting is an emergency meeting, one we must be prepared for.

Mii-gwetch! You can contact me on my cell at 204-782-4827.

Sincerely

Chief Terrance Nelson
Chairman for DOTC Council of Chiefs
ROSEAU RIVER ANISHINABE FIRST NATION GOVERNMENT
P.O. Box 30, GINEW, Manitoba R0A 2R0
Phone (204) 427-2312 Fax: (204) 427-2584

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The Ottawa Sun story ...

Natives plan rail blockade - First Nations groups call for day of action
By JORGE BARRERA, NATIONAL BUREAU - Mon, April 2, 2007

Parliament Hill -- Unbowed by federal government threats to cut funding, First Nations across the country continue to make plans for a one-day shutdown of the railway system that could spread into weeks.

Relations with the government have soured significantly since Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's budget completely ignored demands to make First Nations poverty a priority.

Things weren't helped on the weekend after it was revealed that the Canadian military labelled the Mohawk Warrior Society and radical Native groups as "insurgents" in a draft anti-guerrilla field manual obtained by Sun Media.

Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice's aggressive stance on First Nations demands has also pushed relations to a level of acrimony last seen under the Liberals, when former Indian Affairs minister Bob Nault was pushing unpopular reform legislation.

"The Conservatives have united First Nations across the country," said Terrance Nelson, chairman of the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council Chiefs, which represents nine Manitoba First Nations. "They have pissed off one hell of a lot of chiefs."

Anticipating the actions of the Conservative government, the Assembly of First Nations overwhelmingly passed a resolution in December calling for a day of action on June 29.

Prentice reacted by sending open letters last week to the Globe and Mail and the Winnipeg Free Press threatening to cut federal funding to First Nations groups if the actions went ahead.

The minister's actions were interpreted, in the words of AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine, as a "direct threat" and stoked an already roaring fire.

During a planned April 10 Winnipeg emergency meeting of treaty-holding First Nations, which cover western Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and parts of British Columbia, attendees are to compile of a list of treaty violations that will then be presented to Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway.

"My personal goal is to have the Treaty 1-11 First Nations jointly demand that CN and CP voluntarily cease operations for 24 hours on June 29 or face the threat of a month-long roving blockade across our treaty territories."

TAKE NATIVES SERIOUSLY

Nelson said the Conservatives need to take First Nations seriously.

"We want a share of our resources and we want to sit down and clearly talk about our treaties that said we would share in the resources of our own wealth," said Nelson, in an interview with Sun Media.

"If the federal government wants a fight with First Nations it is a very stupid thing to do and we will prove it."

Fort Frances Times news online ...

Ottawa promises to help pay for occupation cost
March 30, 2007 - (CP)

    TORONTO —Ottawa is ponying up $26.4 million to help the Ontario government cover the cost of a year-long aboriginal occupation in the southwestern Ontario town of Caledonia, and giving federal negotiators leave to settle additional land claims in the region.

    Indian Affairs minister Jim Prentice said yesterday the federal government recognizes the province is shouldering high costs for policing and buying the half-finished housing development that sits on the disputed tract of land.

    “Because of what happened in Caledonia, the government of Ontario had to incur additional expenses,” Prentice told a news conference in Ottawa.

    “The payment of $26.4 million includes $15.8 million towards the acquisition . . . of the Douglas Creek Estates property and $10.6 million to offset Ontario’s extraordinary policing costs.”

    Ontario calculates the cost of the dispute at more than $46 million, with almost half that sum going to round-the-clock staffing by provincial police.

    After loudly calling for a federal contribution to offset the rising cost of the occupation, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said the government is happy to hear Ottawa acknowledge the province’s financial burden.

    “It’s an important symbol that the federal government does understand it has a valuable role to play,” McGuinty said during a stop in London, Ont.

    “The other thing that’s really important here to note . . . is that the prime minister is granting an expanded mandate to his negotiators and hopefully that will lead to an accelerated process so that we can resolve this in a peaceful manner,” he added.

    David Ramsay, Ontario’s minister responsible for aboriginal affairs, said the expanded mandate for federal negotiator Barbara McDougall—currently at the table with the province and Six Nations representatives—now has the authority to attack up to 26 outstanding Six Nations land claims in the region.

    Rather than slow the pace of negotiations, Ramsay said it actually might help resolve the dispute more quickly since it addresses the real reason the occupation began in the first place over a year ago.

    Six Nations protesters aren’t counting on that yet. The federal announcement came as a complete surprise to most.

    “There appears to be a lot of money changing hands but nothing has changed hands with Six Nations,” Cayuga subchief Leroy Hill said in a statement.

    Janie Jamieson, who speaks for the occupiers, said the announcement seemed more designed to placate taxpayers than Six Nations.

    Six Nations protesters moved into the 40-hectare development last February, saying it was taken from them by the Crown 200 years ago.

The AFN press release and the CTV.ca new item below highlights how the current government is creating a crisis using First Nation people in an attempt (and hope) to favourably position themselves for voters and mainstream society. Then on April 2, the Minister of Defence assured Canadians that the final version will not contain any reference to Aboriginal Canadians (see Globe and Mail story below).

Assembly of First Nations National Chief demands that Federal Government Immediately Repudiate and Remove Reference to First Nations from Military's Terror Manual List

            OTTAWA, April 1 /CNW Telbec/ - Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine today demanded that the federal government immediately remove any reference to First Nations in a Department of National Defense draft counter-insurgency manual listing international terrorist threats. According to a report by The Globe and Mail, radical Native American organizations such as the Mohawk Warriors Society are listed in the training manual as insurgents, alongside other insurgent groups.

            "Any reference to First Nations people as possible insurgents or terrorists is a direct attack on us - it demonizes us, it threatens our safety and security and attempts to criminalize our legitimate right to live our lives like all other Canadians do. Just being referenced in such a document compromises our freedom to travel across borders, have unimpeded telephone and internet communications, raise money, and protest against injustices to our people," stated AFN National Chief Phil Fontaine.

            "I am calling upon Prime Minister Stephen Harper to immediately and without reservation, reject and remove any references to First Nations from all versions of the training manual."

            "It is shocking and outrageous to learn that the Canadian military would consider First Nations people as insurgents or equate us to Hezbollah or Hamas. Not only is there not a shred of evidence to make this link, First Nations have always served Canada well by their contributions to the Canadian services. Such absurd allegations only serve to undermine respect for the military and lead us to believe we will not be able to rely on their protection the way other Canadians do."

            Moreover, the federal government has also recently threatened that it would aggressively audit and possibly cut off funding provided to First Nations organizations who participate in, or support a peaceful National Day of Action on June 29th. This, taken with the report that we are included in the list of insurgent organisations in the military's manual, raises serious questions about the federal government's respect for freedom of speech and freedom of assembly for First Nations people. It appears that they want to silence us.

            "The proposed June 29th National Day of Action is intended to bring focus to and generate awareness of the deplorable social - economic status of First Nations peoples in this country. Too often, First Nations poverty and the injustices suffered by our communities are not well understood. We aim to begin changing that by reaching out to Canadians and by putting our issues and our solutions front and center. First Nations people are people of integrity and we will abide by the rule of law while exercising our right to free speech," said the National Chief.

            The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

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/For further information: Bryan Hendry, A/Communications Director, (613) 241-6789, ext. 229, cell: (613) 293-6106, bhendry@afn.ca; Nancy Pine, Communications Advisor, Office of the National Chief, (613) 241-6789, ext. 243, cell: (613) 298-6382, npine@afn.ca/

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From CTV.ca news ...

Army manual lumps radical natives with Hezbollah
Updated Sat. Mar. 31 2007 - CTV.ca News Staff

Radical natives are included on the same list as the Tamil Tigers and Hezbollah in a new counterinsurgency manual being prepared for the Canadian army.

The manual is in the final stages of preparation, but The Globe and Mail has obtained an early version of the document.

The draft outlines tactics, including ambush, deception and killing, which the military could use both at home and abroad against military opponents.

The document was put together in September 2005, under an access-to-information request.

A cover letter stated that although the manual was considered a draft version, it had been circulated for immediate use as a training manual until the final version was completed.

The final copy is expected to be released to the military within months, The Globe reports.

The draft is specific in listing some natives as potential enemy combatants.

"The rise of radical Native American organizations, such as the Mohawk Warrior Society, can be viewed as insurgencies with specific and limited aims," the manual states.

"Although they do not seek complete control of the federal government, they do seek particular political concessions in their relationship with national governments and control (either overt or covert) of political affairs at a local/reserve ('First Nation') level, through the threat of, or use of, violence."

The Mohawk Warrior Society played a role in Quebec's Oka crisis of 1990 that led to a 78-day standoff with police and left an officer dead.

The draft manual surfaces at a time when many feel the recent federal budget ignored many of the issues faced by natives, and as a months-old dispute between natives occupying a housing development near Caledonia, Ont. and residents, drags on.

Stewart Phillip, the Grand Chief of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs said he is "absolutely outraged" by the manual.

"It's a complete attack on our political rights," he told The Globe.

"What we're seeing is the deliberate criminalization of the efforts of aboriginal people to march, demonstrate and rally to draw public attention to the crushing poverty that is the reality within our communities."

Phillip recently said he expects "a summer of aboriginal protest" against the government.

Many natives and the federal government are at odds over the $5 billion Kelowna Accord, a document negotiated by former prime minister Paul Martin to address native issues but never tabled by the Conservatives, and the plight of the residents of Kashechewan.

The reserve in northern Ontario has faced water contamination, sickness and flooding, but Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice says the government can't afford the $474 million price tag estimated to move the embattled Kashechewan reserve, as requested by the residents.

Prentice has warned the government will impose financial penalties against native groups that use federal money to plan summer protests against Ottawa on issues such as land claims and poverty.

"Working together to find common solutions is a much more constructive way of dealing with issues than planning blockades," he wrote to The Globe.

According to the manual, an insurgency is "the actions of a minority group within a state who are intent on forcing political change by means of a mixture of subversion, propaganda and military pressure, aiming to persuade or intimidate the broad mass of people to accept such a change."

The response to that, the manual states, can go beyond military response to include psychological tactics to defeat the enemy.

The manual seems to focus on the Canadian military serving in places where governments have lost control and factions are fighting for power.

The Canadian Forces has not yet commented on the manual and it is not clear whether native groups have been previously listed as a potential opponent.

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From Globe and Mail story ...

Final version of terror report will not refer to natives, O'Connor says
BILL CURRY - POSTED ON 02/04/07

OTTAWA -- References to radical natives in the Canadian army's counterinsurgency manual will not appear in the final version of the document, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor has announced.

The use of "radical Native American organizations" as an example of insurgents in a draft version of the manual has incensed native leaders, who viewed the wording as a threat to their political rights to protest.

Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine said yesterday the inclusion of natives in the manual could threaten the ability of Canadian natives to travel internationally.

But in a written statement, Mr. O'Connor explained that the document was simply making reference to past examples of insurgencies and was not meant to suggest that natives in Canada are a potential military target.

"The draft counterinsurgency manual was produced in September, 2005, under the previous government. The draft manual is not a final document, and continues to evolve and be updated," the statement from the minister said.

"The final version will not contain references to any current aboriginal organizations. The draft manual does not make comparisons between aboriginal groups and any insurgent groups," he stated.

"The draft manual does not state that any other particular group is a potential target of the Canadian military . . . What the draft document does do is use examples of past insurgencies from Canada and abroad to illustrate how some groups have resorted to violence or the threat of violence in the past in order to gain political influence or concessions."

The minister's office said the draft manual has been used to train Canadian soldiers for the mission in Afghanistan. The reference to natives will be removed because the manual is only for use in relation to that mission, a spokeswoman said.

The Globe published a report on the manual on Saturday. The report noted that the Mohawk Warrior Society was involved in the 1990 Oka crisis in Quebec, which spawned a 78-day confrontation with police and the military that left a police officer dead.

The draft manual's 164 pages outline a wide range of measures that could be used to assess, manage and defeat an insurgency.

On the 11th page, under the heading "Overview of insurgencies and counter-insurgencies," a paragraph is highlighted, which states: "The rise of radical Native American organizations, such as the Mohawk Warrior Society, can be viewed as insurgencies with specific and limited aims. Although they do not seek complete control of the federal government, they do seek particular political concessions in their relationship with national governments and control (either overt or covert) of political affairs at a local/reserve ("First Nation") level, through the threat of, or use of, violence."

There is no other mention of natives in the manual, nor does the manual add further context as to why that paragraph is included.

Five pages later, the manual gives other examples of insurgents, listing Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and the Tamil Tigers.

Mr. Fontaine issued a statement yesterday describing the mention of radical natives as "shocking."

The following two stories documents document the struggle that the people of Kashechewan are having with the Conservative government ...

From CTV.ca ....

Prentice: $474M move for Kashechewan too costly
Updated Fri. Mar. 30 2007  - CTV.ca News Staff

Canada's Indian Affairs minister says the federal government can't afford the $474 million price tag estimated to move the embattled Kashechewan reserve.

Jim Prentice said it would be more feasible to spend $200 million on repairs rather than completely move the 1,800 people in the northern Ontario community.

"It's not realistic and frankly to move 30 kilometres up the river, ... there's no economy there, there's no jobs there, there's no economic future there," he told CTV News.

The report, commissioned by Indian Affairs, was prepared by engineering firm Neegan Burnside. The firm estimated it would cost $263,000 for each man, woman and child to move north.

The document does not stipulate the cost to move Kashechewan 450 kilometres south to Timmins, Ont. -- a move recommended by a special adviser appointed by Prentice but rejected by the residents of the reserve.

"It's a community of 50-60,000 people. It has modern schools hospitals, colleges all of the things that young people would take advantage of," Prentice said.

However, opposition parties are siding with the people of Kashechewan.

"When you move a whole community that has lived for thousands of years in Canada's north and put them as a little suburb to a big urban area, you're essentially condemning that community to ultimately being absorbed," said NDP leader Jack Layton.

The Mushkegowuk Council, which is responsible for the Kashechewan reserve, maintains they would rather move their residents north to their traditional hunting grounds.

"The majority of them said that they would rather re-locate to safer, higher ground," said Chief Jonathon Solomon.

The repairs to flood-plagued reserve near Albany River would include extensive work to a failing protective flood wall, housing, along with repairs to the school and buildings.

The Cree hunters were forcibly relocated to the flood plain in 1957 by the federal government.

Liberal MP and former Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott was forced to deal with a barrage of criticism in 2004 as the reserve made headlines for an E. coli water crisis.

On Oct. 27, 2005, Scott signed an agreement worth $500 million to rebuild the entire Kashechewan community on higher ground north of the reserve.

"It was approved and booked,'' by former finance minister Ralph Goodale, Scott said.

However, the Conservative government has since reneged on the funding, saying the Liberals never officially committed to the deal.

"If Andy Scott can show us where the $500 million was booked, we'd be glad to see it because we sure can't find it anywhere,'' Prentice spokesman Bill Rodgers said.

The minister said it would not be practical to maintain the current reserve through another flood season while a new one was being built.

The entire town of Kashechewan has had to be evacuated three times since 2004 because of flooding and water supply contamination on the low-lying site.

With a report by CTV's Rosemary Thompson and files from The Canadian Press

+++++++++++++++++++

From CBC News ...

Prentice turns down Kashechewan move request
Last Updated: Friday, March 30, 2007 - CBC News

Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice has turned down a request by the embattled Kashechewan reserve in northern Ontario to relocate within its traditional hunting grounds, reserve officials say.

Stan Louttit, grand chief for the Mushkegowuk Council, which is responsible for the Kashechewan reserve, told CBC News Friday that Prentice rejected the option of relocation as too costly and offered $200 million to redevelop the community at the current location.

"Disappointment" was how Louttit described his reaction, as he said relocation was the preferred option of the vast majority of the community's 1,700 residents.

In an interview Friday with the Canadian Press, Prentice said a new engineering report estimates it would cost about $474 million to move the reserve to higher ground — an option he called "prohibitively" expensive.

"If the situation is that the community wishes to stay in their traditional territory, then the most prudent option is the current Kashechewan site, where there's probably $150 million to $200 million of infrastructure in place already," Prentice said.

Louttit said the next step is for Kashechewan Chief Jonathan Solomon to go back to the community with this offer and decide how they will respond.

Earlier this month, Solomon said Prentice had balked at a report saying the community preferred to be relocated 30 kilometres upstream, within their traditional lands.

The report found a majority of residents wanted to move off the flood plain of the Albany River, where their homes have been repeatedly swamped during spring thaws.

It contradicted an earlier federal report recommending community members be moved to the city of Timmins, about 480 kilometres to the south.

Three evacuations since 2004
The federal report, prepared for Indian Affairs by former Ontario provincial government cabinet minister Alan Pope and released last November, recommended moving the reserve to the outskirts of Timmins to give community members access to hospitals, schools and employment.

Solomon has called on the Tories to honour a 2005 deal worth $500 million reached with the previous Liberal government to build a new community within their traditional hunting grounds in 10 years.

"It was approved and booked" by former finance minister Ralph Goodale, Liberal MP and former Indian Affairs minister Andy Scott told the Canadian Press Friday.

Prentice had repeatedly said the people could choose to relocate, but following the release of the survey earlier this month, a spokesperson for Indian Affairs told CBC News the cost projections had forced the ministry to take a second look.

Ottawa moved the community, against the residents' will, to the low-lying land in 1957.

Flooding and tainted water have prompted three evacuations since 2004.

The evacuations came as the community struggled with squalid housing, domestic violence, addiction and a number of reported suicide attempts.

Prentice himself has called conditions on the reserve "deplorable."

From the Vancouver Sun ...

Aboriginal actor annoyed - They don't need to involve whites in telling their stories, Adam Beach says
Alex Strachan, CanWest News Service - March 30, 2007
Adam Beach is irked.

He is irked that many filmmakers continue to tell stories about aboriginal issues from a white, anglicized point of view, often through the eyes of a white lead character.

If this weekend's National Aboriginal Achievement Awards do anything, he says, it will be to show the outside world -- and aboriginal people themselves -- that the first nations, Inuit and Metis culture is a thriving, vibrant community that deserves to tell its own stories in its own ways.

"There seems to be this idea that if you're going to do an Indian movie, you have to have white people involved so it will sell the film," Beach said. "When I hear that, you're saying to me that our people aren't interesting enough to sell a film on their own. I see it time and time again. They'll show a white person come to a reservation, be introduced to the culture and then help the Indian person become more aware of their culture through a white perspective."

The Aboriginal Achievement Awards prove that doesn't have to be the case, Beach says. Casual viewers watching it for the first time will be surprised, amazed even, by what they see.

Jennifer Podemski, creative producer of this year's ceremony and a colleague of Beach's from several stage and TV roles, asked him to host this year's ceremony. Podemski wanted a more youthful energy in the program, and she thought Beach would appeal to a younger audience.

Beach agreed, even though it meant taking time out of his busy schedule taping Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, which he recently joined as a regular character. He plays a Brooklyn detective opposite rapper/actor Ice-T.

The NAAA ceremony was taped March 16 in Edmonton. It will be televised Saturday on Global and the APTN specialty channel.

"I felt very honoured," Beach said, "because it's an opportunity to show the successes of our people. We're only honouring a select few recipients, but there are many more people like that in the country. It's important that we show that, because right now we need more role models for our younger generation of aboriginal people. We need to put them on that pedestal, to show that there are people who are making a difference in the world. We need to show our young people that if you succeed, we'll be there to support them."

Viewers can expect to see performances by the Juno-nominated Leela Gilday, accompanied by the Awasisak Nikamowak children's choir from the Prince Charles School in Edmonton, and Gemini nominee and former Aboriginal Achievement Awards host Andrea Menard.

"My best memory of that evening was seeing so many people who were friends of mine I hadn't seen in a while," Beach said. "I really enjoyed being around them because I'm pretty busy with my work and I rarely get to see anybody."

His favourite part of the show itself was a contemporary interpretative dance performance with aboriginal singer Fara Palmer.

"I thought it was really beautiful," Beach said. "It just showed that we have a lot of artists -- actors, singers, dancers, musicians -- who have done a lot with their lives. We just need more of our own people to become more involved and say, 'Yes, we can accomplish our dreams in these types of occupations.'"

Beach is no stranger to a hardscrabble upbringing. He was born of Saulteaux descent in Ashern, Man., and raised with his two brothers on the Dog Creek First Nations reserve. His mother was killed by a drunk driver when he was just eight years old. She was eight months pregnant at the time.

His father died shortly afterwards, in a boating accident. Beach and his two brothers grew up with his aunt and uncle in Winnipeg.

Beach fell into acting after he signed onto a drama class in high school. He thought drama would be a cool place to "goof off" with his friends. Instead, it became his passion.

A lead role with the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, guest-staring roles in TV shows like Walker, Texas Ranger and Touched by An Angel, and starring roles in North of 60, The Rez and Law & Order: SVU soon followed.

Beach's dream role is playing the iconic comic-book hero Turoq, one of the gods of the Arctic, in a live-action version of the '70s comic and present-day series of video games. Beach has just recorded the voice of Turoq for an animated TV version.

"I've always dreamt of doing a live-action movie," he said, laughing. "I'm in talks right now. Who knows? A lot has been coming true for me in the past year -- it's amazing. I've been living a dream."

The 2007 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards airs Saturday, on Global and APTN. Check local listings for times.

Press Release ...

Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice Smears and Threatens First Nations

March 29, 2007, Ottawa - Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice must immediately apologize to Canada's First Nations people and withdraw threats to audit the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs if they dare to protest against the Conservative government, Liberal Indian Affairs Critic Anita Neville said.

"It is shocking and appalling the Minister would resort to threats to quash the democratic voices of those who may choose to show their disapproval with the Conservatives' recent budget, which contained almost nothing for Aboriginal Canadians," said Ms. Neville.

In a March 29, 2007, letter to the Winnipeg Free Press, Mr. Prentice threatened to undertake forensic audits of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs if they participate in a national protest against the Conservative government. In a March 28, 2007, letter to the Globe and Mail, he also insinuated - without justification - that the Assembly of First Nations plans on using federal funds for the protest.

In his letter to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, Mr. Prentice says: "I am prepared to order forensic audits of every organization that participates in blockades and civil disobedience to ensure that monies intended for children were not used to plan these activities."

"This is the act of a bully," Ms. Neville said. "It is a threat against freedom of speech, freedom of association and against democracy itself. It is unacceptable and cannot be justified.

"The Minister has no evidence whatsoever that any federal funds would be used to organize a protest, but in publishing his letters he has insinuated that is the case - again, without any justification.

"This is a tactic that is not uncommon with the Conservative Party. We see it with the Wheat Board and with women's groups funded by Status of Women Canada. But it must end.

Both Manitoba Grand Chief Ron Evans and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Phil Fontaine have declared June 29 as a national day of action to protest the government's lack of accountability when it comes to addressing the needs of Aboriginals.

The government's 2007 budget did nothing to replace the Kelowna Accord which was reached with First Nations and the previous Liberal government and which the current government has scrapped.

++++++++

Winnipeg Free Press story ...

Minister trying to silence aboriginal critics, MP says
Fri Mar 30 2007

WINNIPEG -- The federal Liberal critic in charge of First Nations issues is calling on Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice to apologize for letters he wrote to two newspapers.
Winnipeg MP Anita Neville said in a release that some of Prentice's comments in the letters are "shocking and appalling".

Prentice wrote to the Winnipeg Free Press on Thursday, saying he was "surprised" by threats made by Grand Chief Ron Evans of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to block development projects.

Chiefs from across Canada have warned native blockades may rise because young people are frustrated by the virtual exclusion of First Nations from the recent federal Tory budget.

But in the letter, Prentice said the budget contains $1 billion in new spending that targets housing, children and families, education and economic opportunities, areas of concern mentioned by Evans.

Prentice said that he hopes $50.8 million in taxpayer grants and contributions to the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs isn't used "in planning illegal and disruptive blockades."

"I am prepared to order forensic audits of every organization that participates in blockades and civil disobedience to ensure that monies intended for children were not used to plan these activities," he wrote.

Neville accused Prentice of making threats to "quash the democratic voices" of aboriginals who wish to show their disapproval of the budget.

"This is the act of a bully," Neville said. "It is a threat against freedom of speech, freedom of association and against democracy itself."

She said Prentice "insinuates" in both letters that federal funds would be used to organize a protest.

Prentice also wrote to the Globe and Mail on Wednesday to comment on a column which refers to calls by Phil Fontaine, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, for a national day of action June 29.

The column says the day will be used to disrupt road, rail and port service across Canada to protest the lack of action on aboriginal issues.

Prentice wrote: "I hope none of the $27 million in grants and contributions received annually by the AFN will be used in planning illegal blockades," but does not threaten an audit.

He wrote he's committed to finding solutions to difficult issues and that progress has been made. "We look forward to that progress continuing, but not under threats of blockades and disruptions."

-- Canadian Press

Ontario First Nations Governance team members Robert Houle, Regional Manager, Geraldine King, Public Education and Communications Officer and Don Jones, First Nation Liaison met with KO Chiefs and staff on Thursday. The meeting took place at the KO Research Institute in Thunder Bay. Deer Lake's Chief Royle Meekis and North Spirit Lake's Chief Sally Kakegamic along with K-Net staff joined the meeting by video conference.

During the meeting Mr. Houle made the commitment to open an office in northern Ontario. As well, the team spoke about the possibilities of working with K-Net to utilize the network connections and video conferencing to support First Nations.

Contact information for the Ontario First Nations Governance office is:

Ontario Regional Office & Central Operations
1 Nicholas Street,
Suite 900
Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7
Phone: 613-562-9644

Click here to visit the National Centre for First Nations Governance web site ...

The immediate priority of NCFNG staff is to strengthen, build and maintain relationships with and amongst First Nation citizens of Canada.  This is being done through direct interaction with First Nations through NCFNG’s five regional offices.  Staff has already begun the ground work by getting the word out about the Centre, its service lines and opportunities for First Nation citizens to become a part of NCFNG’s growth and development which is essentially the growth and development of all First Nations and their right to self-govern.

The mandate of the Centre is to support and enhance First Nation’s ability to make operational the function of governing.  All services offered through the Centre are under the control and direction of First Nations and at their request.  These programs and services will be culturally enriched and empowered by First Nation traditions, customs, laws and inherent governing powers.  The work of the Centre is all about ensuring First Nations have all the tools they need to build sustainable governing structures.

The operations and administration of the four key business lines are conducive with the activities of the President’s Office, based in Coast Salish Territory on the Squamish Reserve in West VancouverBritish Columbia.

 “This is about the freedom of our people: freedom of our minds,” says Satsan, (Herb George) NCFNG President.

Recognition of the inherent right to self govern was a process that took years to accomplish.  And now that is legally recognized, the time has come to live the right:  the reality. 

“We have the right to govern ourselves.  That might not happen right away, but right now we can lay a foundation” states Satsan.   And that, he says, will be accomplished through the collective working partnership between NCFNG and First Nations.

For Satsan, it is all about the future:  a future that we all own and have a responsibility to strengthen for our children.

“We need to put a new memory in the minds of our children”.

We are now officially open for business ready to assist First Nation communities. We offer our services to you to help enhance your inherent right of self-governance. This is what will begin a new era of story-telling, filled with hope, promise and opportunity; opportunity to know our selves and our cultures; opportunity in the economies for personal wealth generation and opportunity in creating the governance structures that meet our needs. In all of this we must keep in mind the obligation of our present generation: to provide for the needs of our seventh generation. Please feel free to contact a Regional Manager in your area