Newsletter #9

Khwe Akwataru,

We have input on the current issues on Wendake from more than one source. Presented below is a differing viewpoint to the one presented in our August 13, newsletter.

You are invited to comment.

Ishgooda

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ANNOUNCEMENT AND BACKGROUND INORMATION: WENDAKE, QUEBEC

On Wednesday, the band council of Wendake will announce in a public council, the government of Quebec's proposal concerning the Quarante Arpent land claim.

The Quarante Arpent was sold illegally (without a referendum) by the band council chief and by the government of Canada in 1904. On this reserve near Quebec there were 30 traditional families living on farms. Ten years ago, some traditional people were successful in being elected to the band council of chiefs and they then claimed 3 pieces of land taken away from us in the past years.

The traditional chief of Quarante Arpent was Staniclas Sioui, who opposed for 1 year the sale of his reserve by the band council chiefs of Wendake. Ten years later, the court has recognized that the Quarante Arpent was sold illegally.

Now the same political council ( band council) is re-negotiating the price for this land. According to some people the government is offering 9 million dollars for this land as compensation for the land we have lost. Today, Quarante Arpent is occuied by a town called Val Belair near a Canadian Army base. The traditional people, descendants of these 30 families are upset to see their grand-father land sold again for money by the same political structure.

We do not need money; but, we DO need land. The traditional people hope the band council will keep this in mind.

We are 3000 Huron and the land left to us to live on is about one mile square. Half of the population has to live outside of the reserve because of our lack of land.

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NOTE: The above was received from the traditional Wolf clan leader of the Longhouse in Quebec. - Ishgooda