Jump to content

Lubicon Lake Indian Nation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Factsforus (talk | contribs) at 08:13, 26 January 2014. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Lubicon Lake Nation
Country Canada
Province Alberta
Census divisionDivision No. 17
Government
 • TypeFirst Nations Council
 • ChiefBernard Ominayak.
Time zoneUTC-7 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-6 (MDT)
Postal code span
T8S 1S5
Area code780
HighwaysHighway 2
Highway 684
Highway 743
Highway 744
WaterwaysPeace River
Smoky River
Heart River
Pat's Creek
Website- Lubicon Lake Nation Website

Template:Contains Canadian text The Lubicon Lake Indian Nation is a Cree First Nation in Northern Alberta, Canada. They are commonly referred to as the Lubicon Lake Nation, Lubicon Cree or the Lubicon Lake Cree.

Lands claim dispute

The Nation has been embroiled with the Government of Canada regarding disputed land claims for decades. Their primary complaint is that oil and gas development on or near their land has dangerously threatened their way of life, their culture, and the health of those in their community.[1] Amnesty International has commented on the struggle of the Lubicon by issuing a report imploring the Canadian government to respect the land rights of the Lubicon. The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has found Canada in violation of article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights They have repeated their call for Canada to take immediate action to avoid irreparable damage. This call was first made in 1990 and was repeated in 2003 and 2006. This struggle has been described in a book, Last Stand of the Lubicon Cree, by John Goddard. Repeated attempts to gerrymander and politically overthrow Lubicon leadership especially that led by internationally renowned Chief Bernard Ominayak have been organized by the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta and documented by the Lubicon Lake Nation.[2][3]

Current and past chiefs

The current Chief of the Lubicon Lake Nation is Chief Bernard Ominayak. Ominayak was unanimously acclaimed in the 2013 Lubicon Lake Nation General Election officiated by Assembly of First Nations Chief Electoral Officer, Loretta Pete Lambert.[4] [5][6][7] Ominayak has been the chief of the small first nation since the 1970s. Prior to this, Chief Walter Whitehead served the Lubicon before stepping aside to allow Ominayak to run for the position. [8] Whitehead now sits on the Lubicon Lake Nation Elders' Council who provide guidance and advise to the Nation government in accordance with Lubicon tradition, custom and law.[9] The Nation has 5 elected Councillors: Bryan Laboucan, Alphonse Ominayak, Dwight Gladue, Larry Ominayak and Dwight Jordie Sawan.[10]

Population

The Alberta government estimated in 2009 that only 32 people from the Lubicon Lake Band lived on reserve, one of the smallest on-reserve populations of any First Nation in the province.[11] This is because the Lubicon Lake Nation live on their own sovereign territory which has never been ceded under treaty to the Canadian crown and as such do not have a "reserve."[12] The 32 person estimate released by the Alberta provincial government is likely related to members living on other First Nation reserves. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada numbers indicate 274 Lubicon members living on their Traditional Lands.[13] Neither of the Government released numbers are likely to be accurate as the Federal Government has a documented history of denying Lubicon membership status and numbers in order to control the size of any future settlement. [14]

Leadership issues

Since the 1980s, there was a division in the Nation, solidified with the formation of the Little Buffalo band. Steven Noskey led a council created in 2009. The Lubicon Lake Nation Council continued to be led by Chief Bernard Ominyak. On the week of July 23, 2012, Noskey notified the Canadian government that he was stepping down, leaving Ominyak as the sole chief for the nation. This leadership resolution was ratified in writing by the majority of Lubicon citizens.[15]

References

  1. ^ http://www.lubiconlakenation.ca/about
  2. ^ Tomlinson, Garrett (February 20, 2013). Election "Lubicon Lake Nation Standing Strong against Fraudulent Election: Demands Aboriginal Affairs Cease assimilation tactics in nation". Lubicon Lake Nation. Retrieved June 28, 2013. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ^ Lubicon Lake Nation (July 10, 1995). "Another Effort to Dismember the Lubicon Society". Grant Neufeld, Nisto.com. Retrieved June 28, 2013.
  4. ^ Tomlinson, Garrett (June 4, 2013). "Lubicon Lake Nation holds 2013 general election: longtime Chief Bernard Ominayak retains title". Lubicon Lake Nation. Retrieved June 28, 2013. {{cite news}}: line feed character in |title= at position 65 (help)
  5. ^ http://www.LubiconLakeNation.ca/contact
  6. ^ http://www.lubicon.ca/pa/luback.htm
  7. ^ http://sisis.nativeweb.org/lubicon/main.html
  8. ^ Dawn Martin-Hill (2008). The Lubicon Lake Nation: Indigenous Knowledge and Power. Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press.
  9. ^ http://www.lubiconlakenation.ca/index.php/governance/statement-of-elders-council
  10. ^ http://www.LubiconLakeNation.ca/contact
  11. ^ http://municipalaffairs.gov.ab.ca/images/2008pop(2).pdf
  12. ^ "Lubicon Lake Nation". Lubicon Lake Nation.
  13. ^ http://www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/eng/1351794569236/1351794633025
  14. ^ Ivan Morin (December 1998). "Lubicon Land Claim Talks Back On Track". Saskatchewan Indian. p. 6.
  15. ^ "Lubicon finally unite". APTN National News. July 26, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lubicon_Lake_Indian_Nation&oldid=592448176"