Indian band split disturbs chief

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Chief Johnson Sewepagaham of the Little Red River Band in Northern Alberta, is disturbed over an alleged meeting that took place on November 4 at Fox Lake, where a resolution was introduced to divide the Band by allowing the Fox Lake Reserve and its residents to separate and form a new band.

The little Red River Cree Band is comprised of three reserves - Gardner River, John D'Or Prairie and Fox Lake.

What disturbed Sewepagaham the most was the involvement of Chief Walter Twinn of the Sawridge Band, and the involvement of Jerry Throndson, director of lands, revenues and trusts for the Alberta region of the Department of Indian Affairs, together with Catherine Twinn, Chief Twinn's wife who is said to be the solicitor for certain members of the Fox Lake Reserve, and another lawyer whose identity is unknown at

this time.

At the Fox Lake meeting, a resolution to divide the band and in support of this resolution, an alleged petition was produced signed by 450 residents of Fox Lake. According to a press release made available by Sewepagaham at a meeting in Edmonton in November 14, if 450 residents of Fox Lake had signed this petition it would mean more than 100 per cent of the community residents who are of voting age signed the petition.

"We were told that this document for a split was legal, but that it was finalized. The communities of John D'Or, Gardner River and the counter petition group at Fox Lake understood that it was split, so we came to Edmonton to talk with the (DIA) director general, to ask him if this was true.

"We found out through the director general and through legal opinions that in fact, that Band Council Resolution is nul, void. Now we have to go back to the communities and find out what the true feelings of the community are," commented Chief Sewepagaham.

Sewepagaham would like to know just what Chief Walter Twinn's involvement was.

"We are asking the question why another chief from another band is involved with the split of another band. We're looking into it, but Mr. Twinn should be the one to tell you that," said Sewepagaham.

In Edmonton, with four of his councillors and Band Manager Louis Patmore, Sewepagaham stated that they discussed and agreed upon a request being made to Chief Walter Twinn, to come and explain why he was involved in such a controversial issue.

"That request is coming directly and especially from the two reserves of John D'Or Prairie and Gardner River. We want to know what his involvement in the split of the Little Red River is. The request is also coming from the counter group at Fox Lake. I question any chief that comes into a different reserve and starts playing politics in the community," said Sewepagaham.

Asked if he had tried to reach Chief Twinn in regards to his visit on November 4, Sewepagaham's response was, "No, after what he has done to me."

In regards to the Department of Indian Affairs involvement in the whole matter, Sewepagham is very dissatisfied.

"We are very dissatisfied with Indian Affairs involvement in the whole episode of what took place at that meeting. It was obvious to people at that meeting because of the way Native people perceive things, and even though Indian Affairs is claiming they were only there as advisors, that the people thought Indian Affairs condoned the split. Furthermore, I would think it is normal procedure to contact me, as chief, in a situation such as this.

Since Sewepagaham's visit to Edmonton, they have received a letter from the Department of Indian Affairs to the effect that they do not recognize the Fox Lake petition for a split.

When questioned about this perceived involvement by the Department of Indian Affairs, Dennis Wallace, Regional Director General for Indian and Inuit Affairs for the Alberta Region of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, admitted his error in sending a representative of his department to attend the November 4 meeting to discuss division of the Band without giving appropriate otice to Chief Sewepagaham. Wallace has extended an official apology on behalf of the department.

Wallace has indicated to Chief Sewepagaham his willingness to attend a meeting

of the Little Red River Band Council where he will clarify, for everyone's benefit, that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs does not approve of the November 4 Band Council Resolution and views it as ineffective.

The Little Red River Band is composed of approximately 1,800 Cree people who reside in three separate communities. The governing body of the Little Red River Band is composed of one chief, four councillors from John D'Or Prairie, four from Fox Lake and one from Garden River, all elected through a democratic process.

"We will be calling community meetings at all three communities and are request-ing Dennis Wallace to be in attendance at all of the meetings. We want Wallace to make a statement to the communities as to why Indian Affairs was involved," said Sewepagaham.

According to Sewepagaham, and at this time, the effect of the petition has completed demoralized the three communities, especially the Fox Lake community.

"It has completely damaged the reputation of the Little Red River Band because of the way it was done, in regards to business. We have been questioned by businesses as to what is going to happen to the Little Red River Band now.

"There have been threats made to the counter group at Fox Lake, threats that said when this is over that those people would be kicked off the Fox Lake Reserve."

Sewepagaham says that according to their calculations, there are 385 residents at Fox Lake with 66 of them being in the counter group.

Two councillors have since taken their names off the petition because they believe that they were misled.

"We must try and rectify the proposed split. In other words, we have to go back and clean up the mess that someone else started. That's the important thing," said Sewepagaham.

At the time of this writing, Chief Walter Twinn was navailable for comment. A message regarding the Little Red River Band issue was left at the Sawridge Band Administration and for Twinn to contact Windspeaker with no response.

Meetings are being planned for the last week in November by Chief Sewepagaham and his council to try and determine the Little Red River Band's future.