Protesters occupy band office

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Sturgeon Lake residents opposing the election of chief Darlene Desjarlais, who

is neither a treaty Indian nor a band member, occupied the band hall demanding her resignation.

Up to 100 people have joined the protest in the community 300 km northwest

of Edmonton, community member Jerry Goodswimmer said in a telephone interview.

"Desjarlais doesn't have status membership anywhere in Canada," Goodswimmer said. "We want one of our members leading our community. It has already eroded the community. There are two sides."

Band offices were closed after the occupation began on the afternoon of July 8, he said. The occupation was still in effect at Windspeaker press deadlines and Desjarlais was saying the office closure would prevent the distribution of welfare cheques.

Desjarlais, a non-status Cree, defeated former chief Ron Sunshine and five other candidates in an April election. She is believed to be the third woman in Alberta to become chief of a band.

Her election caused an immediate controversy in the 900-member band. Shortly after the vote, more than 150 placard-waving protesters marched on the band office demanding her resignation and petitions were circulated in the community.

"Sturgeon Lake people do not need an outside to run their business," one angry community member said at the time.

Goodswimmer called Desjarlais's election a fluke and said she only won her current position because the number of candidates split the vote. He also blamed the band's expulsion from the Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council, the body that distributes federal money to area bands, on Desjarlais's leadership.

Desjarlais is defending her position, saying she won't resign. She said events that have fuelled the demonstration, like a funding cap on student grants, were decisions made by the former council.

"As far as me resigning - no,. I 'm not going to," she said. "I am an Indian. At this point in time I don't have a card to prove I am a status Indian. But I am an Indian nevertheless.

"As far as trying to get anything off the ground here since I've been elected chief - that's only been three months.. I've spent that time trying to defend not only myself but other councillors as well, which has really limited the time we've had to do any other work."

Goodswimmer said band members wrote to Indian Affairs Minister Tom Siddon asking him to remove a section of the Indian Act that allows non-members to run in band elections. He said they have not received a response in the three months since the letter was sent.