Poor housing upsets elder

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Angry at not being able to move back to his reserve because his band didn't provide him with the new house promised, Elder George Isadore wants his concerns addressed.

Because of his health, Isadore, 82, had to leave his home on the Driftpile Reserve last June until a new house is built for him.

"I'm tired of the $520 monthly rent. This two bedroom house is not home," said Isadore.

The bleak, 27 year old house is infested with spiders and insects. Daylight could be seen through a seam above the window and around the door.

The unskirted house is situated two feet above ground and the floor is not insulated.

Isadore claims his chief and council didn't act on his request for better housing.

"When the Treaty was first entered into, the position of chief and council was that of role models and they were there on behalf of their people. Today, you can't tell who they (band and council) are working for. To me, it seems that our chief and

counsel are working for themselves," he complains.

"The young people that are shacking up are given a house, yet there are a lot of people that need houses, like the elders, - and we are considered last. I put up the required deposit and now they say I might not get a house, because I'm staying in

High Level."

Isadore was taught respect for elders, and questions the behavior of the "role models" (chief and council).

Isadore, who suffers from arthritis and heart problems, would like to go back to the reserve. But the only thing standing in his way, he says, is lack of new accommodations.

Driftpile Chief Clifford Freeman was not available for comment.

During a telephone interview, the band councillor responsible for housing, Peter Freeman, said the Driftpile administration was behind schedule on building houses because of heavy flooding this year.