Meechance returns to court in July

Charles Meechance, the former chief of Saskatchewan's Red Pheasant First Nation, made his first appearance in court on June 18, charged with seven counts of attempting to buy votes in an election. The case was adjourned until July to allow Meechance time to hire a lawyer.
Also charged is fellow band member Burt Benson, who faces two counts of attempted vote-buying.
Meechance denied buying votes in an interview after his hearing. He said any number of others could have been charged with a similar offence and that electoral abuse is widespread on his and other reserves around the province.
The charges relate to the April 2005 band election held on the Red Pheasant First Nation located about 50 kilometres south of the Battlefords. Meechance was initially declared the winner but an appeal was launched and the election results nullified by the Department of Indian Affairs.
Chief Sheldon Wuttunee won the subsequent election ordered by the department. In February 2006 he defeated Meechance with 404 votes to 277.