Gadwa's claims a 'red herring' -- Kehewin

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Kehewin, Alta.

Kehewin Band Chief Gordon Gadwa's explanation for the revolt on is reserve is being dismissed by a leader of his opposition.

"The real issue is him," said Irvin Kehewin. "And it's not through pettiness or jealousy."

In a recent interview, Gadwa fingered a decision to pay gas royalties to Indians given treaty rights under Bill C-31 as the reason for the rebellion that threw him out of office

more than two weeks ago.

Those payments are to start Jan. 1990 after members pay off bank loans taken out using gas royalties as collateral, according to Gadwa.

A 100-name petition demanding Gadwa's removal was sent to Indian Affairs recently. And six of the eight band council members voted Aug. 17 to oust him and appointed

councillor Gloria Badger acting chief.

The issue of royalties is a red herring, declared Kehewin.

"That is not why we did what we did," he said. "He's just playing games with the media."

"We started our movement last year. It didn't start last night," said Kehewin.

While there's some grumbling about the lowering of royalties from $75 a month to $50 a month, it's not yet been raised as an issue, he said.

"That could be another issue down the road."

"This issue (Gadwa's leadership) started way before that," said Kehewin.

It was prompted by knowledge that Indian Affairs turned down the reserve's bid to have elections run under band custom rather than being governed by the Indian Act, he

said.

It was information Gadwa had, but sat on, he claimed.

If band custom election had been in place, "we'd have never had this problem," he said.

Members were also concerned Gadwa was pursuing n Alternative Funding Arrangement with Indian Affairs, a form of federally-endorsed self-government, he said.

A meeting was to be held Aug. 21 on the reserve between Indian Affairs and the council, said Kehewin.

"We had to do something. We didn't want an agreement signed and brought to the people afterwards."

Kehewin, who served on the band council from 1979-1988, conceded he finished a distant second when he challenged Gadwa for the chief's chair in March 1988.

Glen Badger, Gadwa's half-brother, said only a minority of band members are fighting Gadwa.

"They are protesting for personal reasons. They're hurting a lot of people," he said.

Some members aren't even allowed into the band office.

"It's saddening to see something like that happening," he said.

"He's (Gordon Gadwa) been devoted to the people of Kehewin. He's done a lot for them. He's upgraded the community. A lot of buildings went up in his time. He gave the

reserve support whenever it was needed."

"I think he's been treated totally unfairly," said Badger.

The band meeting is to be held Sept.. 13.

None of the other principal participants could be reached for comment including Gloria Badger and Gadwa.

Gadwa has ruled the reserve for 10 years.