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Vancouver Province
Wed 21 Jul 1999 News A4 

Native leaders gather: Aboriginal groups seek accord Illustration: 
Color Photo: Reuters / Mexican Aztec Lazaro Arvizu takes part in the opening cerimonies.; Color Photo: (Phil) Fontaine 

Canadian and American native leaders joined forces in Vancouver yesterday to fight for what one delegate called North America's most impoverished people. 

``This is a monumental and historic occasion,'' said national chief Phil Fontaine, as his Canadian Assembly of First Nations and the National Congress of American Indians met for the first time in 60 years. 

Speaking to a packed meeting hall, NCAI president Ron Allen said unity would help ``to challenge the governments of Canada and the United States . . . and strengthen our capacity to fight for the most impoverished people on the North American continent.'' 

Close to 5,000 native people from 630 First Nations communities in Canada and 250 in the U.S. are attending the assembly's 20th annual meeting, which runs until Friday at the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre. 

But critics say the assembly doesn't work properly with native groups in Canada. ``We should unite in Canada before we start going outside to unite with others,'' said Marilyn Buffalo, head of the Native Women's Association of Canada. 

Native youths protested with banners outside the convention centre over ``corrupt'' native leaders who they say are selling out communities. 

Meanwhile, the federal government has appointed a mediator to try to resolve a leasing dispute on the Musqueam reserve that has seen some annual rents boosted by over 7,000 per cent. 

Vancouver lawyer Glenn Sigurdson will meet with Musqueam First Nation representatives and the non-native tenants of Musqueam Park.
--
Peter Ronald
Tel: 250.361-3621
Fax: 250.361-3682
Email: impulse@islandnet.com

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