And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (S.I.S.I.S.) writes: PHIL FONTAINE: WHY THE AFN CAN'T/WON'T MOVE ON GUSTAFSEN LAKE In 1997, a resolution was presented to the AFN by Chief Stewart Philip of the Penticton Indian Band and Chief Ron Jules of the Adam's Lake Band, calling for a public inquiry into "all aspects" of the Gustafsen Lake and Ipperwash matters. It was passed and accepted, and commits the AFN to actively pursue implementation of an inquiry. However there has been no visible moves or steps taken in the Gustafsen case. Why not? The question has been repeatedly asked of Mr. Fontaine's office and finally the following reply was received: :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: Subject: Response from National Chief Phil Fontaine re Gustafsen Lake and Ipperwash Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1999 15:11:14 -0500 The following is National Chief Fontaine's response to your concerns expressed regarding the above-mentioned issues: "This is in response to your e-mails to my office in which you relate to me some of your concerns regarding the situation and issues at Gustafsen Lake in British Columbia and Ipperwash Provincial park in Ontario. I wish to thank you for your interest and support for First Nations rights and issues. It is very encouraging to hear your views and to know that Canadians are concerned about the need to expeditiously address the many outstanding issues faced by First Nations. You are quite correct in pointing out that the Assembly of First Nations has been directed by the Chiefs of the First Nations to assist them in bringing about a resolution for dealing with the many difficult issues that threaten to lead us into conflict with Canada. For my part, it is a matter of deeply-held personal belief that all of the problems and issues facing Canada and the First Nations can be settled and resolved if all parties commit themselves to an open, principled and constructive dialogue. Clearly, however, there is much that needs to be done to ensure that a fair and just process is in place to diffuse the frustration and lack of opportunity for dialogue and shared understanding that has served to force our communities into the kind of unfortunate situations we have seen at Oka, Ipperwash and Gustafsen Lake. You are, however, incorrect, to assume that nothing is being done to deal with the Resolution 19/97. In fact, quite the opposite is the case. It might be helpful for you to know that the AFN does not currently have either the staff of the resources to pursue the full implementation of this very important resolution. In response to this problem, I and my staff have been engaged in ongoing discussions with the Department of Justice Canada to establish a Justice Unit at the AFN that will be able to respond to the many incidents of injustices that arise, as well as implementing justice-related resolutions like the one you have written me about. Furthermore, as National Chief, I have been very involved in and concerned directly with Justice issues. My involvement, both publicly and behind the scenes and at the request of the people directly involved, has resulted in an independent investigation in the very sad circumstances whereby an RCMP constable shot and killed Connie and Ty Jacobs at the Tsuu T'ina Nation in March of this year. Also, with regard to this incident, the AFN has been asked to conduct an independent review into the circumstances that led up to this incident, including factors that may have played a role - such as race and gender. We are pursuing this as vigourously as possible. In addition, when Harley Timmers was shot and killed by an RCMP officer in Whitehorse this past summer, Grand Chief Shirley Adamson asked for my intervention to support their call for a public inquiry. That support was immediately forthcoming. In the overall view, the fundamental issue behind many confrontations is land rights. To address this issue, my office has been diligently pursuing a joint policy development process with the federal government to bring about fundamental reform of the existing federal specific claims policy and process. The approach of the AFN, at the national level, has been to attempt to rectify the policy environment that is supposed to facilitate the peaceful settlement and resolution of exactly these kinds of issues before they progress into circumstances involving dangerous confrontation. I can truly appreciate your frustration at the amount of time it is taking to seek proper investigations and reviews with regard to police aggression towards First Nations peoples, as I am directly involved with my staff to make progress on these issues. However, I wish to assure that all that can possibly be done, given limited staff and resources, is being done and more will continue to be done. In protection of First Nations Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, Phil Fontaine National Chief Melissa McKelvey Assembly of First Nations 10th Floor 1 Nicholas Street Ottawa, Ontario K1N 7B7 Telephone: (613) 241-6789 Fax: (613) 241-5808 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] :-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-: TELL THE AFN TO IMPLEMENT ITS OWN RESOLUTION NOW! Phil Fontaine, AFN Grand Chief - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: Chief Stewart Philip,Union of BC Indian Chiefs - mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
