"See PM Uninterested in Indian 'Summit'"

OTTAWA (CP) - An Indian delegation professed Monday to be only partly satisfied with personal assurances from Prime Minister Diefenbaker that none of their treaty or traditional rights will be infringed by giving Indians the right to vote in the federal elections.

The five-man delegation met briefly with Mr. Diefenbaker in his office and invited him to a "summit" conference with chiefs of the Six Nations Indians.

"He didn't appear interested at present in a conference," said Donald (Falling Wind) Richmond, a Mohawk from the St. Regis reservation which straddles the Canada-United States border near Cornwall.

Mr. Diefenbaker said following the meeting that he pointed out to the delegation that under present law Indian treaty rights do not constitute recognition of sovereignty of the Indian nation.

The Indians' treaty and traditional rights would be upheld but that did not permit the Indian confederacy to act as a law unto itself.

Mr. Richmond said the delegation was partly satisfied by Mr. Diefenbaker's assurances that the measure to give Indians the vote, now before Parliament, will not infringe present rights.

But the Indian religion still followed by some of the Six Nations confederacy meant that the Indians cannot exist as a nation if they abide by Canadian laws.

"We want complete freedom of religion on the reservation," he said.

"Our government was the first on this continent and we feel we have the right to maintain our government."

Mr. Richmond has been described as the official spokesman for the longhouse faction among Indians of the Six Nations confederacy which opposes integration with white men.

He has been quoted as saying that "in the event an Indian takes part in a foreign government he alienates his rights as an Indian."