Distribution withheld

Page 3

Saddle Lake in membership dispute

No royalty cheques will be issued to Saddle Lake band members until Ottawa stops insisting Bill C-31 members are also to be paid says the chief.

During a band meeting on the reserve this week a decision was made to curtail all payments until the issue of band membership is resolved.

According to band lawyer Bob Roddick the band had earlier tried to exclude C-31 members from royalty benefits but was advised that this was illegal.

Royalty cheques range from about $25 to $40 say band officials.

However, the Department of Indian Affairs say they will not object the band's decision not to pay the royalties.

"Our position is that if they are going to make a per capita distribution they have to make it to all members," said Gerry Throndsen, Indian Affair director of lands, revenues and trusts.

Bill C-31 amended the Indian Act in 1985 to allow Indian women who lost status when marrying non-Indian men to regain both status and band membership.

Chief Eugene Steinhauer was unavailable for comment at time of going to press.