BY SIMON SEBASTIAN

The on-going war of words between Grand Council Treaty 3 and INAC minister Robert Nault has become almost farcical with Grand Chief Leon Jourdain's latest announcement that he has "fired" Nault because he has "abused his powers."

Jourdain and several other chiefs-primarily from Ontario and Manitoba-still stinging from Nault's unwillingness to cave in to their opposition to the FNGA and restart self-government talks in their regions, used an AFN Chiefs Confederacy meeting held in
Ottawa in late December to escalate their rhetorical war with the Rainy River MP.

From Manitoba Southern Chiefs leader Grand Chief Margaret Swan, to Nishnabe Aski Nation Grand Chief Charles Fox, to Six Nations Chief Roberta Jamieson and back to Jourdain again, criticism of Nault was relentless and included allegations that Nault had penalized their first nations and groups for opposing the minister's various legislative reforms over the past 24 months.

It's a theme Jourdain has returned to again and again in the last six months when official confirmation that his regions self-government talks had been suspended.

In a mid-December press release Jourdain said he had decided "the best course of action is to wait for the Chretien Government to topple taking Bob Nault with it."

"I didn't fall into line as the Minister expected and now the Minister has refused to do his job, he won't meet, return phone calls, or even consider constructive approaches which would put the best interests of his constituents first."

And the Treaty 3 leader has regularly pointed to the recent federal court case where the Pikangikum First Nation successfully overturned Nault's decision to place the reserve under third-party management after it refused a co-management deal with INAC.

In that decision Mr. Justice O'Keefe ruled that Nault had abused his authority and made decisions that were "patently unreasonable."

News that Jourdain had unilaterally dismissed the minister has drawn more than a few chuckles even within the Treaty 3 region itself particularly from off-reserve first nations citizens, who have largely led the call for drastic reforms in accountability from first nations leaders.

"It's pretty funny really chuckled," Ryan Deer. "Our people have been saying the chiefs don't represent us, that they act unilaterally to exclude us from our rights on our reserves and that they abuse their power. But the chiefs always say we're a minority of whiners and complainers and that they get their mandate from the people.

"The fact is the Chretien government isn't going anywhere soon and Nault isn't either. They still don't get it of course that Nault has the support of the Prime Minister and cabinet. And I bet they're still going to take INAC money aren't they? Either you're doing business with someone or not. Who do they think they're kidding.," he said.

And as for Nault's political support within his own riding it appears as high as ever in the Rainy River electoral district.

His no-nonsense tough talking demeanor is renown in the region according to Emile Johnson, an Ojibway and former long-time Dryden resident.

"This is a steak and potatoes guy who worked in the paper mills and was a union negotiator. When he got the Indian Affairs job we knew his reputation. He's fair but he doesn't tolerate b-s. When he's got a job to do he'll do it and mean mouthing him won't even put a dent in him.

"The time for the chiefs to put up or shut up is getting closer and closer and like spoiled kids some of them are still dragging their heels and holding their breath. They had a chance in Treaty 3 to get something really going on self-government but they dragged it on and on spending millions and I never got one step closer to getting my rights on my reserve so I say you tried it your way and it didn't happen now lets try it Nault's way.