Amendment may prevent conflict

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There's not a lot the federal government can do about the protest at Sturgeon Lake, where Darlene Desjarlais, a non-status Native from Sakatchewan, was elected

chief. Indeed, department officials in Edmonton described the dispute as an internal matter.

But while it can do little in the way of direct intervention, the department - the politicians it informs, actually - should take steps to amend the Indian Act to prevent conflicts like the one in Sturgeon Lake from arising in the future.

There is nothing in the Indian Act saying chiefs must be members of their bands. Ensuring chiefs are band members through a small amendment to the Indian Act could prevent future conflicts.

Or maybe Parliament could equalize the situation by writing a new law that says MP's don't have to be Canadians.