RCMP investigate fraud claims at Enoch school

Enoch First Nation chief and council have been asked to step down in their role as Kitaskiwan Education Authority and to appoint a separate school board.

“We’re taking it under advisement. But right now we’re trying to finish our budget and we have year end to do. If we can put (discussion of the issue) between budgets, but we’re scrambling now,” said Clark Peacock, Enoch councilor, who holds the education portfolio.

Peacock said the request came from a group of Enoch members following a demonstration March 9 on Enoch land east of the River Cree Resort.

The demonstration, which saw 40 Enoch members turn out at its height, was called to bring attention to the issues that exist at Kitaskiwan school.

Allegations of fraud, child abuse, and neglect of duty have been leveled against school administrators Dr. Phyllis Cardinal and vice principal Deana Morin.

Chantal Patenaude, communications officer with the Edmonton office of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, confirmed that an unscheduled second nominal roll count for the 2010-2011 school year took place on Feb. 9 in which it was discovered that 37 students registered at the school were not in attendance. As a result INAC withheld $160,000 in funding.

Patenaude said that although INAC had received ad hoc information though out the year and had been advised of potential issues since last fall, no official complaint was lodged with the department’s Band Audit and Allocation Management Team. INAC didn’t act until Enoch Chief Harry Sharphead turned over documentation to the RCMP.

The Edmonton Commercial Crimes section of the RCMP is carrying out an investigation, part of which could include a forensic audit. When the investigation will conclude and what charges, if any, will be laid, is speculative at this point, said K-Division Sgt. Tim Taniguchi.

As a result, said Michelle White, spokesperson for the group leading the charge for change at the school, chief and council were asked to take immediate action against Cardinal and Morin.

Two motions were brought forward at a February band council meeting, one to terminate the contracts of the staff in question and the other to suspend them. Both motions were defeated. Peacock, who was present at the vote, would not offer any details on the discussion that took place.

Peacock said, “I can’t tell you what happens in an in-house meeting. I can’t tell you what people voted. It could conflict the investigation of the RCMP by things being in the media. Pressure to INAC because INAC’s a player. Pressure to the teachers, people who are involved in it, the board.”

Peacock noted that a quorum was present for the vote. A quorum is five of the nine council members. He would not say if all nine members were in attendance.

“The council is split,” said Peacock, who added the “school issue has been ongoing for quite some time” and there is no immediate action in place to resolve the issue.
“We believe for various reasons that chief and council have made the decision to dismiss this matter because of their own personal interests and that they haven’t made the decisions according to the proper procedures as governed by the Canada Corporations Act and the Kitaskinaw  authority bylaws,” said White.

A mediator from Sherwood Park has put a proposal to council to allow her to work within the school. Peacock said council may look at the proposal in early April.

“We’ll try to mediate the situation in the school. Not so much to resolve (the conflict) but to keep good order and peace and to carry out daily teaching without major disruptions,” he said.

Disruptions are happening both in the school and in the community, said White, who holds staff are being intimidated in the school.

While Elder Linda Cardinal was at the demonstration her car on her property was torched.

“She’s not connected to the school but she was on the record for being one who proposed the rally and being one of the organizers,” said White.

RCMP confirmed the fire was suspicious. An investigation is ongoing but there are no suspects, said S.Sgt. Dave Gazley, of the Stony Plain RCMP detachment.

Peacock said there was no way to link the car fire to the school situation.

“It’s becoming an unsafe environment for people,” said White. She added, “I’m starting to lose faith that our council is really going to do anything.”