Inquiry report shows more Samson woes

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The release of a report which was intended to dig to the root of troubles at the Samson Cree Nation didn't make much of an impact when it was unveiled by a band-appointed board of inquiry on Sept. 3.

The need for the report stemmed from problems on the reserve which boiled over last August when several band members locked themselves in the Samson band office in Hobbema. The protestors, some belonging to a group called the Warriors, wanted more say in band council decisions, and more accountability from their leadership.

On Sept. 3, last year, a general band meeting resulted in the creation of the board of inquiry to look into the issues brought up by the protestors. The board was made up of community members, including one member of the Warriors group.

One year and more than 50 public hearings later, the report's release was very low key. Even the Samson chief hadn't read the 140 page document, despite receiving an advanced copy the week before.

"I've been quite busy. . . I haven't had time to read it, but I will make time to read it," said Chief Florence Buffalo, adding that she didn't know if any of her 12 councillors had read the document either.

Within the report there were three main issues addressed by most of the people making presentations at the hearings. Board chairman Tony Mandamin presented a summary of the report's highlights.

The Election Law of Samson Cree Nation has long been in question. Some believe the current chief and council should not have been put into office because the Election Law was flawed. Mandamin said the board of inquiry found nothing wrong with the current law, but told the band members that they have the right to amend the law to ensure proper representation.

"This is your law. This is the law that the members make, not chief and council, not Indian Affairs. The power to make that law is an Aboriginal right that Indian people have had since before the coming of the white man," he said. "In it, you set out the rules by which your leaders are chosen and in it you may set out how your leaders are expected to carry on their important work."

The board also advised the band members to amend the law to include a code of ethics and conduct for the leadership.

A second large issue was band finances.

In the report, the board recommended that the chief and council hold more meetings on the Samson reserve, keep travel expenditures in line with that approved in the budget, and if travel is necessary, to reduce the number of band officials going.

To deal with the finances, the board of inquiry recommended more access of band members to the finances of the Samson First Nation. The board also called for the creation of financial laws to govern and monitor what monies are used for band operations. To enforce the creation of the laws and the conflict of interest amendments, the board suggested hiring a person as a band watch-dog called the Samson Government Opisaste-ikew ino.

An opportunity for questions about the report, council and the board met with little response from the people at the Samson Cultural Centre.

It may have ended there, if Harley Rain hadn't asked his question.

He wanted to know if the band council, all of them, would meet with the membership at an open band meeting in the near future.

Chief Buffalo's answer was evasive.

"Last month I told the council that whoever wanted to take their holidays could take them now," she said, letting Rain know that there may not be many councillors around, and even for the ones who were not on holidays, schedules were tight. "Our days are pretty booked. If I can, maybe I'll sit down with council. . . I'll mention to them about the open band meeting."

After another band member asked for a more definite commitment, Buffalo finally nodded her head to the open meeting suggestion. She hinted that it could be sometime in September.

"Somewhere around there," she said. "It's got to be done very soon, quite soon."

Rain said a meeting cannot come soon enogh. The people have waited for one full year since the band office occupation and nothing has changed, he said.

He can't see why an elected official would not take the time to read a document which may point out the cause of troubles amongst her people.

"She should have read it overnight ," he said. "It doesn't take a week to read something like this."

He was also angered that only two band representatives showed up.

"They should have been here. This is important. We are the ones who put them there."

But he was also disappointed at the turnout of band members. He thought there was a good reason for the empty seats, however. Many people don't want to draw attention to themselves by speaking out, he said.

"It's best if they don't say anything in front of chief and council otherwise they won't get a handout or something," he said, adding that many members were probably out shopping with their quarterly oil revenue cheques which the band handed out the day before the meeting, two weeks earlier than normal.

Band member Dennis Green agreed.

"A hungry man is not going to complain on a full stomach the day after," he said.

Although Green said he was very disappointed in the report, he said it may be a stepping stone to better things.

The Samson Cree Nation Band Council held it's regular meeting on the Wednesday Alberta Sweetgrass is printed. It was not know as of deadline if a date for the open band meeting had been set at the council meeting.

Chief Buffalo did stress her commitment to working on the more important issues noted in the report.

"We will certainly try to deal with the ones that need to be dealt with right away," she said.

Each member of the board of inquiry received $200 for each of the 50 hearings attended over the last six months. The project is reported to have cost $150,000.