Federation prez says 'lack of funding' is real problem

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Hardy calls 'watchdog' group 'healthy,' says complaints are growing pains

Complaints and disagreements on the eight Metis settlements are the natural growing pains of democracy says the president of the Federation of Metis Settlements in reaction to the announcement of a "watchdog" organization formed on the Buffalo Lake settlement recently.

"I have no problem with our members organizing new groups, in fact I think it's healthy," said Hardy, who points out that because of limited resources settlement councils often have to bear the brunt of criticism from their members when programs and services cannot function properly because of lack of funding.

"There is always a problem with housing, and because almost all of us are related in some way or another, people say it is nepotism. But perhaps people should look at the real problem ? lack of funding."

Hardy points tot he fact that housing budgets for the eight settlements have been "cut by 40 per cent" and are left to local discretion. He also points out that the recent problems at the Peavine (Big Prairie settlement) over alleged election discrepancies were the result of poor legislation.

"Everyone (settlements) runs on a traditional base for elections and each settlement varies. There are no hard and fast rules but with the new Metis Settlement Act, we hope to put all that aside," he said.

The new act, which is scheduled to be introduced into the Alberta legislature in the spring will include set rules and regulations that all settlements must follow.

"There will also be an arbitration board made up of members and Elders who would rule on disputes such as elections, memberships and land ownership," he said. "Right now this is all left up to the council and of course people are unhappy. This law (the Metis Betterment Act) is paternalistic and gives the councils no power."

The current legislation, which was formed in 1938, leaves the power of decision to the Alberta government. When council's make a bylaw it must be approved by the minister who can turn down any council decision without giving a reason.

Recently, a meeting was held in the Buffalo Lake (Caslan) settlement and a new organization, Metis Settlement Members Coalition, was formed. Caslan member Hoe Byan was elected as acting president.

In a recent interview Blyan said the federation was "undemocratic" because members do not vote directly for the executive. The federation is made up of council members from each of the eight settlements and selection for executive members is decided among these members.

However, Hardy points out that if the executive were selected by membership at large, one settlement with a large population could dominate the organization.

"Right now each settlement has an equal say, no one dominates and members do have a say when they elect their council members," says Hardy.

"And, a lot would depend on who goes to the general meeting; we would find the executive changes from year to year," he said adding that currently the federation executive are forming legislation that will determine the course of history for Metis people and any disunity could seriously jeopardize these negotiations.

Hardy feels that most of the members' complaints are genuine but says once the new legislation is passed that most of these problems will be resolved.

"I think the new settlement act, which we have worked on and which has input from all settlement members, will improve the lives of the people on the settlement, including my own," he says adding that he still lives on the Kikino settlement.

The new coalition group will be meeting today in Edmonton. Hardy says he will be attending the meeting.