After months of divisiveness, Lonechild steps down

Guy Lonechild is no longer the Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.

He arrived at a special Legislative Assembly earlier this month optimistic he would keep his job as Chief and ready to speak to Chiefs-in-Assembly and tell them their actions were unfair.

“Justly unfair to not just the organization but to the many First Nations people who believe in this organization, who helped to build the foundation of this organization. And as Treaty people, as the whole province would agree, this is an important organization, and it’s a real disservice to the whole province,” said Lonechild.

Before the day was done, however, Lonechild resigned from his position, taking a severance package rumoured to be substantial.

Lonechild attended the special assembly that was originally planned to hold a non-confidence vote on his leadership. Just days before, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Ron Mills had ruled the meeting invalid, and quashed Lonechild’s suspension as well. However, the chiefs had decided to go ahead with the meeting and the FSIN said it would appeal the court decision.

The assembly followed days, and months, of tension between Lonechild and the FSIN. The question of his leadership has been called into question since February, when it was revealed he had an impaired driving charge and that he’d tried to change the sentencing venue. At that time, many chiefs called for his resignation, and it continued from that winter’s Legislative Assembly into the Spring Assembly held this past July at the Onion Lake Cree Nation.

Lonechild was jubilant when the court ruled in his favour in August. The following day he showed up for work at the FSIN only to be locked out.

Vice-Chief Morley Watson, now Interim Chief, said the action was not intentional and that people were sent home that day so they weren’t confused as to whom to take direction from.

“I don’t know if it’s a coding thing, it’s a scanning thing. We do have the scan entrances. Why his keys didn’t work is beyond me, but...we didn’t have the authority to let people into the office,” said Watson.

Lonechild didn’t buy that argument, saying the locks had never been changed in his dozen years with the federation, but it became a moot point at assembly.
When the meeting began, Lonechild took his place as Chief in the grand entry, following behind the veterans and in front of the rest of the executive. After meeting for less than an hour, he left the meeting, looking troubled and telling media he couldn’t comment.
As the hours went by, it became clear a buyout package was being offered and considered.

The meeting was closed to media and eventually closed to all but chiefs and councillors. When Cowessess band member Wendy Lerat had to leave, she was unimpressed with what she’d witnessed.

She said even if Lonechild left the FSIN, the real issues, which she said are around management and governance, wouldn’t be dealt with.

“The way the system is structured, it makes it very difficult for someone wanting to step into that role and make the changes that are required to be changed. The system does not provide mechanisms to protect officials to be able to do the work they need to do,” said Lerat.
Around six o’clock, everyone emerged, Lonechild following the veterans in the procession. He and Watson then met briefly with the media to confirm what had been speculated.

Watson read a prepared statement, saying a chapter in the FSIN was brought to a “mutual, satisfactory conclusion,” noting Lonechild had decided to resign out of concern for First Nations people.

Lonechild spoke briefly to reporters, taking two questions.

He said he considered the “safety and security” of his family, as well as the well-being of the FSIN.

†“This issue has been a very divisive one in First Nations communities right across the province, and in the best interest of not just the organization but all concerned, all First Nations, we need to work in an united front to fight the real battles that matter, which is the inherent and Treaty Rights of each individual First Nation and its people,” said Lonechild.

“What is, I think, good for the organization is that we no longer continue to fight amongst one another,” he said.

Photo caption: Guy Lonechild (right) at a news conference with Vice Chief Morley Watson announcing Lonechild’s resignation as Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations.