VANCOUVER -- The Constitution Express train was bound for Ottawa today carrying about 800 B.C. Indians determined to delay patriation of the constitution until the government reaffirms the special status of Indians.
Two trains -- one CP Rail and one Canadian National Railways train -- were to leave from separate train stations in Vancouver today and cross the country, picking up other Indians along the way. The two trains were to join in Winnipeg Wednesday, arriving in Ottawa Friday with 1,000 or more natives.
Once in the capital, they were to join strategy sessions leading to the second annual all-chiefs' conference of the National Indian Brotherhood and an attempt to ensure Indian status under civil rights amendments planned in conjunction with patriation of Canada's constitution.
If the Indians failed to get changes in the federal government's constitutional package, they planned to take the Constitution Express to New York in a bid to have the United Nations intervene.
A parliamentary committee is currently reviewing the government's constitutional proposals, which call for the British Parliament add a charter of rights to the British North America Act before sending it home to Canada.
The proposed bill of rights does not set out special rights for Indians, but states that it is not intended to affect any rights or freedoms not specified in the charter, 'including any right or freedoms that pertain to the native peoples of Canada.'
Seats on the two trains have been bought by the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs for resale to the travellers. Some elders were to travel by air to avoid the long train trip and others plan to travel by car.
Travellers were encouraged to wear Indian native dress and the union has warned against alcohol and drugs on the trip.
'We cannot tolerate any alcohol or drugs,' a union announcement said. 'This is a very serious journey that we are undertaking, to defend our existence as Indian people ...'
'Trudeau has challenged the Indian people to prove that we have our own rights and freedoms and these have meaning for us. We must show him, in the courts and we must show him to his face.'
