August 9, 2000
Attached is a letter to the Minister of Indian Affairs from renowned scientist, environmentalist, author and broadcaster David Suzuki. Dr. Suzuki accurately portrays the decision to cut off funding for Lubicon Nation members at Trout and Peerless Lakes as "harassment" by the Regional Office.
Although the Minister's office is telling journalists that it has only received 20 letters on this issue, the Friends of the Lubicon has now received several times that number - not including mass-produced postcards which have been sent in bulk by supporters - and most of the letters received are from organizations representing many thousands of supporters.
It will become increasingly difficult for the Minister's office to lie about the importance of this issue as more letters of this sort continue to come in.
August 9, 2000
David Suzuki Foundation
2211 West 4th Ave.,
Suite 219
Vancouver, BC,
V6K 4S2
www.davidsuzuki.org
Dear Mr. Nault
I have followed the fate of the Lubicon people with great dismay. Your dept. (before you were its Minister) has continually acted as an antagonist, promoting divisions within the community and constantly throwing up bureaucratic hurdles. It is astounding to me that Chief Ominayak and his small group of people have persisted in the struggle. I attended the SLAPP suit launched by Daishowa against Friends of the Lubicon and was shocked at the heavy handed attempt of a foreign company to muzzle Canadian free speech.
It is disgraceful that Lubicon country has been inroaded by oil and gas lines, roads, and logging, yet have received so little support or compensation.
On behalf of all Canadians who care about justice and compassion, I urge you to tell your Regional Office to stop the harassment of the Lubicon and start working on their behalf. At the least, honour longstanding agreements you've made with the Lubicon on how you will treat them.
David Suzuki
fol-request at masses.tao.ca