New First Nations chief’s hard tactics find favour

July 14, 2000
Source: Canada.com
Original story - link verified on August 19, 2000

The threat of confrontation to assert First Nations rights is the most powerful tool that Matthew Coon Come holds as he takes command of Canada's top native group, aboriginal leaders say. In his role as the newly elected national chief of the Assembly of First Nations... "He goes out and he wants to get things done, he's not for piddling around," said Gregg Smith, executive director for Treaty 7 Tribal Council. Treaty 7 comprises the Blood Tribe and Peigan First Nation, both near Lethbridge, and the Calgary-area nations of Stoney, Siksika and Tsuu T'ina. The Tsuu T'ina Nation is seeking compensation for 240 hectares of prime land near the Glenmore Reservoir they sold to Ottawa 69 years ago. The Siksika band maintains it is entitled to land on Castle Mountain, located between Banff and Lake Louise. The Blood Tribe is seeking compensation for the loss of use of hundreds of hectares of land that it says were invalidly surrendered.

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