ACCUSED HAD FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO GROW 'MEDICINE'

Three white, middle-aged men accused of helping with a large
marijuana grow site on a Saskatchewan First Nation first applied to
the self-described head chief of Turtle Island for adoption to become
Indian, a Regina court heard Wednesday.

With membership came certain advantages -- like the ability to grow
"medicine" in a sovereign land without need for a permit, Lawrence
Hubert Agecoutay explained to the jury. But there was more.

"I told them that they didn't have to pay tax because the Indians
don't have to pay tax," added Agecoutay, who prefers to be called
Chief or Kitchi O-Stew Ka-Nee-Ka-Na-Go-Shick Okimow-Wacon Ka-Nee-Ka-Neet.

Agecoutay spent his second day on the witness stand testifying in his
own defence. The 52-year-old, his brothers Robert Stanley Agecoutay,
48, and Joseph Clayton Agecoutay, 47, as well as Chester Fernand
Girard, 59, Nelson Edward Northwood, 58, and Jack Allan Northwood,
55, -- the men Agecoutay says sought adoption to be closer to the
Creator -- are charged with illegally producing marijuana and
possessing the drug for the purpose of trafficking.

Girard's lawyer Drew Hitchcock told the jury he will not be calling
any evidence.

Defence lawyer Robert Mulligan, who represents Nelson Northwood, is
expected to open his case today. The other accused have not yet
indicated whether or not they'll be calling evidence.

The six were charged after an RCMP raid on Aug. 21, 2005 uncovered
more than 6,000 plants, primarily growing in six large greenhouses
and four smaller plots near the homes of Joseph and Robert Agecoutay
on the Pasqua First Nation.

"You call it marijuana, I call it medicine," Lawrence Agecoutay said,
taking issue with Crown prosecutor Darrell Blais' choice of words in
cross-examination.

In his earlier testimony, Agecoutay said he is a pipe carrier and the
international, traditional, inherent and spiritual chief of the
"Soto" Nation (the spelling he uses) and for the Anishinabe
Federation of Sovereign Nations. He is a band member of the Pasqua
First Nation and even worked on its treaty land entitlement case,
until the elected chief and council "weeded me out," he testified.

A seal featuring a turtle on documents seized from his home also
refers to Agecoutay as the head chief of the Anishinabe Nations of
Turtle Island Indian Reserve. Turtle Island refers to the Americas.

"I am not a Canadian," said Agecoutay. He said a sovereign nation
makes its own laws. Asked if he feels he is exempt from Canadian drug
laws prohibiting marijuana production, Agecoutay again said it was
medicine and added that "the criminal element is the THC." THC is the
chemical in marijuana that produces a high. Agecoutay said the
medicine is a powder created from crushing the plants.

He said he was directed by the Creator to grow the medicine to help
his people dying of cancer and diabetes and had a five-year plan for
a centre that would eventually churn out medicine, hemp clothes and
fuel. Knowing nothing about horticulture himself, he relied on
Girard, who showed him a book titled The Emperor Wears No Clothes
about the medicinal use of marijuana and hemp.

He met the Ontario man and the Northwoods, B.C. brothers who disagree
with Canada's tax laws, through his Anishinabe Website, which
advertised adoption for a $10,500 fee. Unable to come up with that
amount, Girard offered to provide seed for the medicine -- saying
each seed was worth $20 -- and use his expertise to grow the plants.

Agecoutay said he often used his treaty card to buy supplies for the
site, with money loaned by Girard, so there was no tax.

"He (Girard) makes money grow," Agecoutay said, clarifying that he
meant the money would stretch if there was no tax.

"I agree, he makes money grow," Blais replied as the courtroom
erupted in laughter.