Gang connections alleged against chief

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A former employee who successfully sued the Dakota Tipi First Nation for unjust dismissal testified during the labor arbitration hearing that people employed by Chief Dennis Pashe attempted to intimidate him. The testimony also states that those people had Manitoba Warrior Society tattoos.

Gerald Lomax was suspended from his job as education director for the Dakota Tipi First Nation on Oct. 5, 1999. He testified that he came to believe he was suspended because his uncle Chief Dennis Pashe believed he was writing and circulating letters that were critical of the chief. Lomax also testified that he believed he would be fired when his suspension ended on Oct. 20.

In her summary of testimony in the case, heard in Winnipeg in April, May and June of 2000, adjudicator A.W. Yost wrote that Lomax testified,"that in the summer of 1997 Chief Pashe hired as security officers some persons who carried weapons, had 'MW' tattooed on their hands and wore clothing bearing the logo of a group known as the Manitoba Warriors gang. Mr. Lomax found them intimidating, frustrating and annoying."

Lomax is the son of Marjorie Prince, the chief's sister who has been waging a campaign to force Pashe to call an election. Pashe says he is chief by the consensus and doesn't need an election to know that the majority of the community supports him.

The fight has become bitter with both sides making serious accusations against the other. During the Christmas season, shots were fired on the reserve and violence broke out. Both sides blamed the other.

Pashe strongly denies any gang connection.

"Yeah, right, that's what they're saying. Well, if I'm in the warrior society, why haven't the people I hang around, why haven't they been arrested when they had that big warrior sweep two years ago?" he asked.

The chief suggested it was some members of the other side of the dispute who were associating with Warriors and Hell's Angels. He claims his leadership is being resisted because he is trying to get people in his community off welfare and either into school or into jobs and they resent that.

Yost found that Lomax was wrongfully dismissed and awarded him in excess of $40,000 to cover lost wages, expenses and interest.