Alexander march fizzles; chief questions petition

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Reserve, Alta.

The chief and council from the Alexander reserve are questioning the validity of a petition signed by 129 band members.

The petitioned was delivered by disgruntled band member Leslie Bruno recently favoring a change in the term of the chief and council from three years to two years.

Band members are fed up with the lack of representation of band members shown by the band council, Bruno had stated earlier.

In an attempt to pressure band council members to resign he had threatened to march on the band office Sept. 18, a threat which was not carried out.

Chief and council notified band members by letter that they (band and council) would be pleased to comply with the petition and amend the Alexander tribal government customary election

regulations once validity of the petition was obtained.

However, the letter emphasized that in the event amendments were made, the current term of the chief and council would not be affected.

It also stated that any amendments to the regulations are not retroactive but will be operative in for the election to be held in the fall of 1990.

Band members were encouraged to feel free to withdraw their name from the petition in the event they were led to believe they were signing the petition for another reason, according to Alexander

Chief Allan Paul.

Burno had singed an affidavit stating that the signatures obtained from Sept. 1 to Sept. 8 were obtained voluntarily without any intimidation, or deceit.

Chief Paul questions the affidavit, saying that band members have approached him requesting their names be removed from the petition.

The chief has given his assurance that the matter will be dealt with in an effective manner, and stated his approval that the community was exercising their rights under band custom without the

involvement of Indian Affairs.

Bruno could not be reached for comment.