Buffalo Lake money problems prompt meeting

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Settlement Metis form watchdog committee

A meeting called to discuss the concerns and alleged financial difficulties at the Buffalo Lake (Caslan) Metis Settlement ended with the formation of a new Alberta organization with a mandate to "protect settlement members".

The meeting was called by disgruntled settlement member Joe Blyan who invited the Alberta government, the Federation of Metis Settlements, the Buffalo Lake council and the Metis Association of Alberta to the meeting held Oct. 31. However, only Larry Desmeules, president of the Metis Association of Alberta attended the meeting.

During the discussions Blyan told about 60 assembled settlement members that he had tried to discuss his concerns with the Federation.

"When we go to the Federation we are told to see the council. And they are the ones who are at fault," said Blyan.

Desmeules agreed with Blyan, saying the Federation "was set up under the Metis Association to be a service organization not a provincial political organization. It's losing its purpose."

Both Blyan and Desmeules say they have grave concerns over the proposed Metis Betterment Act which will be introduced into the Alberta legislature in the spring.

Desmeules said the new legislation could have the same impact on the Metis people that Bill C-31 had on Treaty Indian people. Bill C-31 amended the Indian Act and allowed people who had lost Indian status through marriage to regain their rights.

"This (the new act) could break up families. But it will not go ahead unless the MAA agrees to it," said Desmeules.

After some discussion in which members expressed their concerns, a vote was taken to form a new organization to be called Metis Settlement Members Coalition. Blyan was elected as the new leader to represent Caslan and brother Emile from Elizabeth settlement was selected to represent that settlement.

Desmeules supported the new organization and even offered to help fund the next meeting.

"WE will provide a meeting room and I will be prepared, if possible, to get dollars from Rostad (Solicitor General). We may have it in our self-government budget," said Desmeules.

Several members of the settlement then turned the discussion to a recently circulated petition that calls for the removal of the two of the settlement's councillors, including chairman Horace Patenaude.

"We took this to Archie Grover (Deputy Minister, Municipal Affairs) and he said it was enough to remove Patenaude and (Glen) Auger," said Blyan.

Blyan added that the matter had now gone before the solicitor general for consideration. However, both Blyan and council member Felix Desjarlais said they were still concerned over the financial well being of the settlement.

"We want an audit going back five years," said Desjarlais. "If there's wrongdoing we might have to call in the Receiver General," said Blyan. The Receiver General deals with organizations that have gone bankrupt and are no longer financially sound.

However, in a telephone interview, chairman Patenaude says he would be "quite happy" to have an audit but cannot find funding to carry it out.

"Auditors are expensive," he said. "And right now the government is looking for money so we can have an audit."

Patenaude added that he is not afraid of the petition and pointed out that a counter-petition was being circulated to remove Felix Desjarlais from council.

"We had a meeting here and everyone understands the issues," he said. "There is just a handful of people who are upset."

Federation of Metis Settlement, Randy Hardy was unavailable for comment this week. However, Federation official Kevin Stringer said the invitation to attend the meeting had been received but the date had been changed by Blyan and his organization at the last moment.

"We set that day aside and when they cancelled we could not fit in our schedule."

Stringer added that Hardy had been meeting with members of the settlement that he felt it was "not necessary for the Metis Association toconcern itself" in the settlement business."

Municipal Affairs official Rick McDonald says his department is aware of the members' complaints and is monitoring the situation.

"We have sent the petition on to the solicitor general's and we informed them of that," he said.

However, he added that an audit to investigate the past five years of the settlement's financial records "might be useful but I don't think they are trying to cover anything up."

The next meeting of the coalition is scheduled to take place in Edmonton Nov. 28.