Lubicon to rally at legislature for National Day of Action

Members of the Lubicon LakeIndian Nationplan on taking one of Canada'slongest native land-claims disputes to the steps of the Alberta legislature in Edmonton Friday afternoon.

As part of the National Day of Action for Canada's first nations, band members and their supportershope to bring attention to their century-long fight with the federal government.

In 1900, when surrounding bands signedtreaties to help protect their traditional land rights, the Lubicon were missed by government workers because of the band'sisolated location.

There is no running water where the Lubicon live —about 400 kilometres north of Edmontoneast of Peace River. The bandcurrently has about 500 people.

As well, council memberAlphonse Ominayak says local lakes have been contaminated by heavy oil exploration and forestry in the area.

"The only thing we can use this water for is washing, and even that dries your skin to the point that you're starting to scab over if you shower too much," said Ominayak.

The water is just one example of a long struggle that has garnered international attention from the United Nations and the World Council of Churches.

Last year theUN urged Ottawa to settle the Lubicon land claim. The UN had made the same recommendation in 2005.

The Lubicon have no reserve land, and 90 per cent of them live off welfare.

The Lubicon believetheir fight has fallen off the public radar over the past decade. Fred Lennarson, an advisor to the Lubicon chief and council,hopes that will change after Friday's rally at the legislature.

"The rights they do have are ignored," said Lennarson, who has advised the band for 30 years."The Lubicons are the only recognized band in Alberta that don't have any water."

Lennarson says the Lubicon are different from many of the other first nations in the country.

"In these other situations, quite often you've got an indigenous society —with a reserve and with housing, and hopefully with a little bit of economy —negotiating a dispute with the government of Canada," said Lennarson."That's not what's happening up here.

"The Lubicons have no recognized reserve. The rights they do have are ignored. They're pushed aside. There are no negotiations."

Aboriginal chiefs take out ads

Alberta aboriginal chiefsalso marked Friday's national day of action with an ad in daily newspapers calling for an end to colonization.

The ad, whichran in Edmonton and Calgary newspapers Friday morning, says the treaties natives signed are "not land surrenders."

It says colonization has resulted in First Nations communities becoming mired in poverty.

The ad also recounts past injustices such as the denial of the right to vote, outlawing of spiritual practices, residential schools and concerns about natural resources.

It urges non-aboriginals to press the federal government to honour treaties and promote first nations self-government.