Stop spending and show the books, says flood evacuee

A Siksika First Nation man affected by a disastrous flood two-and-a-half years ago says he and other band members will protest until chief and council “open the books” into how money sent to the community for remediation is being spent.

Ben Crow Chief is also demanding that he and other flood evacuees who are still in temporary accommodations get input into where their new permanent homes are being built.

Crow Chief and about 1,000 others were evacuated from their homes when flooding devastated the southern Alberta community in June 2013. He and a number of others began blocking off a construction site where new housing is being built on Nov. 4.

Crow Chief alleges that the 44-house subdivision — a portion of about 170 homes needed for evacuees — is being constructed on a lot where Elders previously told chief and council not to build, despite other options being available.

He said evacuees waiting for homes weren’t consulted or notified that their homes were being built until late October when construction had already began. He said at least one flooded home was also demolished without its former occupant being alerted.

He said he and other band members are concerned that money that was raised after the flood to help evacuees is being wasted.

“[Siksika leadership is] still making decisions. Everybody’s saying ‘stop spending the money’ and they’re still putting up workshops, paying for this, paying for that,” Crow Chief said.

“By the time we move into their houses, our donation money is going to be gone.”

Siksika’s project co-ordinator Reynold Medicine Traveller told CBC News that $702,000 in donation money remains. He said $12,500 was spent on a school project for child evacuees and $25,000 to construct two playgrounds.

Nicole Robertson, a spokesperson for Siksika’s leadership, said in an interview that the protesters are the ones making the band lose money because they are blocking construction crews from doing their work.

She said there was a meeting between evacuees, Alberta government representatives and Siksika’s tribal and financial managers on Nov. 10 “to ensure accountability” and there will be a follow-up in several weeks.

At the meeting, a total of nine evacuees were appointed between the band’s rebuild, donation and housing committees.

“The administration, chief and council, at this time their importance is getting these homes built,” Robertson said.

“I don’t know why [the evacuees] are so upset when a lot of what they’ve asked for is being done … chief and council are doing as much as possible to get this thing sorted out.”

She said Chief Vincent Yellow Old Woman and band councilors aren’t speaking to media directly about the conflict.

“At the end of the day, the chief really feels strongly about bringing the community back to a place of harmony,” she said.

But Crow Chief said that Yellow Old Woman isn’t answering the community’s concerns and has “gone into hiding.”

He said he will continue to blockade with other residents until their demands are met, and they are soon holding their own community-hosted meeting.

“The people are the backbone of Siksika,” Crow Chief said.

“Open up the books and [give us input on] the locations of our homes.”