NCC(A) split widens over membership

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A membership issue that held up the third annual Native Council of Canada (Alberta) meeting at the Rafter "6" Ranch in southern Alberta, October 4th, was the subject of a special meeting at the Canadian Native Friendship Centre, November 29. At Rafter 6, there was a resolution to amend the current membership bylaw, which reads that a non-Status Indian who is not an Inuit or Metis as defined by the Constitution Act, 1982, or a Status Indian who has been placed on a general list of Indians under the Indian Act for less than three years. The resolution would have changed that section to read that a non-Status Indian who is Inuit or Metis as defined by the Constitution Act, 1982, or a Status Indian who has been placed on a general list of Indians under the Indian Act, or a Status Indian who is also on a band list because of Bill C-31, and who has resided off reserve for more than three months, be established as members and be represented by the NCC(A).

After giving a 21-day notice of the special meeting at the CNFC, the president of the NCC(A), Doris Ronnenberg, stated that the meeting was held up for approximately one hour in hopes that more voting members of the organization would show. Fifty members attending the meeting.

In order for any special resolution to be passed according to the Alberta Societies Act, and according to the rules and regulations of the NCC(A) 50 per cent of the membership must be in attendance. Out of that number, 75 per cent must vote in favor of passing a special resolution in order to make it legal and, "it is in the Societies Act of Alberta," commented Ronnenberg.

The NCC(A) paid up membership stands at 330, but the estimated overall membership is said to be close to 930 members.

Although some of the members at the meeting were dissatisfied with the way things are being handled at an executive level in regards to membership and the representation of Indian people under different categories - full band membership people, non-Status and general registry Indian people - Ronnenberg says the NCC(A) is still moving ahead.

"There is talk that some of the members will be forming their own group, but we are still working at what we feel is important. We had about 30 creditors down to a dozen. We are organizing fundraising drives to raise money so we can take as many of our people as possible to the First Ministers' Conference next year."

"We are getting our house in order and now there are a lot of positive things happening," stated Ronnenberg.

Ronnenberg further mentioned that she fully supports Native leaders who say there is a need for new lands and resources in Alberta for the Native people that the NCC(A) represents.

"This is the NCC(A) stand," said Ronnenberg.

Asked if another special meeting will be called to vote on the resolutions, Ronnenberg did not comment other than to say that special meetings can be called by two-thirds of the board of directors agreeing on it, or by the president.

The other resolution not dealt with was regarding he the appointment of a constitution and bylaws committee.

The next general assembly for the NCC(A) is scheduled for late 1987.