Alexander chief, council under fire

Page 2

A group of Alexander band members are challenging band chief Allen Paul and his council charging the band's last election in 1987 in invalid.

"Not only was the election invalid, but our chief and council are not representing the majority of band members," declared Stanley Arcand at the meeting held on the reserve Oct. 11.

The group gathered a 129-name petition recently which supported a change in the term of office for chief and council from three years to two.

The disgruntled members have been unable to get previous minutes of band meetings but base their challenge on correspondence dated two years ago.

In November 1987, the federal and provincial governments wrote to the Alexander band, stating that the change of electoral system from two years to three years was not approved for the Alexander Band. The band was requested to hold its

elections in accordance with the Indian Act.

The letters further stated that the department recognizes that the band does not have a legitimate council since the expiration of its term of office on Sept. 14, 1987.

But Chief Allan Paul strongly disagrees.

"The election was recognized by Elizabeth Turbayne, Regional Director General of Indian Affairs on Jan 26, 1988 when she replied to a petition asking her to intervene, saying the matter was to be dealt with internally," he said.

But a spokesman from Indian Affairs Regional Director's office confirmed that a ministerial order dated Jan. 26, 1988 repealed the election giving the Alexander band the authority to have an election to be held in accordance with band

regulations.

Leslie Bruno, spokesman for the unsatisfied band members, said he had no previously knowledge of the ministerial order.

But he still disputes the validity of the elections, charging that the elections took place months before the ministerial order.

"The order did not state that the elections were valid, but gave authority to the Alexander band to operate under tribal regulations in holding an election," he said.

"The unsatisfied band members have to find their own means to deal with this issue, as the Indian Affairs department will not intervene because the band is now operating under tribal customary regulations," says Ron Steinhauser, spokesman for

DIND.

Elders George Arcand and Agnes Bruno, both claim that when the elders attend band meetings, they are not given any information and their concerns are never written down or addressed.

"When there's an announcement of a band meeting, the location is changed prior to the meeting, and it is usually held off the reserve making it difficult for many of us to attend," said Elder Bruno.

The validity of the petition signed by 129 band members is still under question by chief and council. They want a voter's list of eligible voters compiled.

The chief is expected to give his report on the validity of the petition on Oct. 20. If 51 per cent of the eligible voters signed the petition, then a general meeting will be called to address the petition, confirmed Paul.

In the event amendments are made, the regulations will not be retroactive said Paul.