Francis still Heart Lake chief

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Peter Francis, the chief of the Heart Lake Indian Band, is still in office despite recent attempts to have him step down.

An October 25 article in the Edmonton Journal described the previous day's band meeting as "a hair pulling, fist swinging free for all" following the chief's refusal to vacate his position after what had been termed "a six-month probationary period" which the Journal said Francis had failed to pass.

In speaking with Francis, Windspeaker was told that the issue is a "local one" and that he wishes to leave it at that.

The controversy is indeed a local matter in that the reserve operates under band custom, and, therefore, these kinds of issues are internal in nature.

Ken Williams from the Department of Indian Affairs was asked whether the department had been pulled into the picture. "Not that I know of," said Williams. "They're under band custom so we normally don't get involved if we can help it," he remarked.

"As far as I know," said Williams, "they've been working out their own problems."

Last April Francis was installed as chief by acclamation after the former chief, Eugene Monias, had decided to end a longtime career which spanned 22 years as the band's political leader.

The next election nominations for the Heart Lake Band are not scheduled until early in the new year.