Plaguing Metis
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HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US! This issue marks 11 years of bringing you the news. Volume 12 No. I March 28 - April 10, 1994 Canada's National Aboriginal News Publication $1.00 plus G S.T. where applicable Financial bungling plaguing Metis By D.B. Smith member organizations such as Windspeaker Staff Writer the Metis Nation of Saskatch- ewan, the Metis Nation of Al- berta and the Manitoba Metis OTTAWA Federation, but were never re- claimed. A recent federal audit of the A Canadian Heritage Metis National Council suggests spokesman gave little detail on that organization is plagued by the department's reaction to the a severe deficit, poor record - audit. Azhar Alikhan said the keeping and rampant financial document was only a draft ver- mismanagement. sion. Justice department officials The draft audit report by of- said the report was a private ficials from the departments of government document and re- Justice and Canadian Heritage, fused to comment. which was leaked to The draf tdocument also sug- Windspeaker earlier this month, gested: suggested large discrepancies in Some disbursements re- the council's spending, includ- corded against the constitutional inga $307,000 deficit in the 1993/ program, up to $244,427, were 94 core budget. also related to activities such as The audit, which was car- the council's core budget and ried out in the last two weeks of the annual meeting in Vancou- February, also outlined expen- ver. ditures by council board mem- More than $340,000 of $3.3 bers which federal officials did million allocated for constitu- not consider legitimate business tional programs in 1993 was expenses. unaccounted for. And the Among those costs were a whereabouts of $131,000 from Terry Lusty $15,000 contract "buyout" of a the council's $2.2 million consti- constitutional consultant, tutional budget for 1992 have $35,000 to cover "personal mis- yet to be confirmed. Cranial competitors cellaneous" costs for seven board A combined surplus of directors and $425 to hire a lim- more than $255,000 was gar- Peter Walsh and Gus Jules, both from the Yukon, go head -to -head in the head pull ousine for the late Metis Nation nered by provincial Metis as- competition at the Arctic Games in Slave Lake, Alta. The games wrapped up under of Alberta president Larry sociations in 1992 and the mon- slushy conditions that fortunately didn't hamper any of the athletic events or festivities.. Desmeules' funeral. ies have not yet been reim- For more games coverage, see Pages R4 & 5. The document suggests bursed. large surpluses were paid out to See Discrepancies, Page 9. To receive Windspeaker in your, Indian Affairs wind -down set for Manitoba mailbox every two weeks, just or money order send your cheque By D.B. Smith self-government exists." in the amount of $28 (G.S.T. Windspeaker Staff Writer The province's 61 bands now cent of fed- "The minister has made clear his deliver about 80 per eral programs, Fontaine said. But OTTAWA government's commitment to get there's a big difference between IUE rid of an archaic institution." managing federal initiatives and ED ERTA Ottawa will begin to wind - Phil Fontaine, Grand taking control over programs and the department of Indian Affairs Chief, Assembly of Manitoba the money that supports them. down starting in Manitoba, fed- Chiefs Such control would eventu- NAN eral Indian Affairs Minister Ron ally lead to making and enforc- Irwin said. ing Native laws, he said. In yet another surprise an- But thedismantlingwill have nouncement about Native self- em Manitoba Native community allow local people to deliver lo- to be carefully monitored, given ADD goverment,theministertold the of Lynn Lake. cal services. the amount of money allocated House of Commons that Ottawa "I have seen the houses," "It's what we call self-gov- to Indian Affairs, Irvin said. The would be taking the advice of Irwin responded. "They are fire- ernment. Let them run their own department's budget for this year CITY Native leaders in Manitoba by traps. I have seen the lack of eco- affairs and the more they run alone was more than $5 billion, letting that province lead in the nomic opportunity. At the same their own affairs, the less bu- including $1 billion in direct dismantling of Indian Affairs. time, I have seen successful busi- reaucrats we need in Ottawa." transfers to the two territorial POSI It is time, Irwin said, to bring nesses, Aboriginal doctors, Abo- Assemblyof Manitoba Chiefs governments. "dignity, self-reliance, self -gov- riginal lawyers, Aboriginal teach- Grand Chief Phi l Fontaine hailed A gradual shutdown would ernmenttoa peoplewhoareheld, ers and great Aboriginal leaders. the announcement as a neces- be essential if Natives and the not necessarily in londage, They are saying one thing to us: sary first step towards imple- provinces are to reach proper $1 l but certainly as supplicants under That we should dismantle the menting self-government. funding agreements, he said. an archaic (Indian) act." Department of Indian Affairs." "This is cause for optimism. Manitoba's minister for $40 for all subscriptions Irwin was addressing the Manitoba would hopefully The minister has made clear his northern and Native affairs, outside Canada concerns of Liberal MP for serve as a model for the rest of government's commitment to get Darren Praznik, said he was con- Churchill Elijah Harper, over the the country, he said. rid of an archaic institution. This cerned the move might leave the L Mar 28/94 death of six children in a house Prime Mini ster Jean Chrétien government's position leaves no province holding the financial fire in the impoverished north- endorsed the plan as a means to doubt that the inherent right of bag. PUBUCATION MAIL REGISTRATION N2177 PAGE 2, MARCH 28 - APRIL 10, 1994, WINDSPEAKER News Roy Fox elected as Blood chief Arts & Entertainment.... 8,11 By D.B. Smith "As acandidate,I havea right to look at the council members are scheduled to re- appear in Windspeaker Staff Writer spoiled ballots," he said. "I don't know if all the court March 29. spoiled ballots are mine, but a lot of people are "All of this will be brought in front of the saying 'there are a lot of spoiled ballots and a lot justice and she'll look at it and say 'Have they BLOOD RESERVE, Alta. of them are yours'." purged themselves of the contempt ?' And if The ballot count, which began when the this isn't settled, I wouldn't want to be in front A former chief of the Blood Band is asking polls closed at 8 p.m. Friday and went well into of her." for an election re -count after a vote held this Saturday afternoon, was done manually, Frank Neither Fox nor chief electoral officer month saw his rival elected chief. said.Unofficial results have Fox the victor with Francis Firstcharger could be reached for com- Drew Hayden Taylor...7 Reports of numerous electoral irregulari- 809 votes and Frank second with 610. ment on the results. ties, including sleeping ballot -counting offi- The vote followed a Feb. 16 order by Court But Frank was surprised at the number of cials and an undisclosed number of spoiled of Queen's Bench Justice Barbara Reed to allow incumbent councillors that made it back in. News...1,2,3,9, R1,2,3,7 ballots, require an examination of the March 18 Fox and council to purge itself of a guilty "That was a shock. But it was very well set vote, Harley Frank said. verdict over contempt charges stemming from up in terms of how they voted and supported Frank, who was forced out of office in an last November's byelection. each other and of course we were against a very Sports R4,5 illegal byelection that newly elected Chief Roy Council attempted to oust Frank after he large family base. The Frank family is just a Fox also won last November, said he heard used band funds to purchase a herd of buffalo drop in the Blood bucket." reports of exhausted ballot counters and sleep - the band government said it never approved. The Fox family is the largest extended fam- ingcount observers during the marathonballot Frank, Fox and the band's 12 councillors ily based on the reserve and it's common prac- A VITAL LINK count March 18. signed an agreement to hold the March 18 tice to vote for family members during band There are also rumors that a large number election. Frank was also to be reimbursed mon- elections, Frank said. Aboriginal radio stations of ballots were spoiled and that Frank's name ies owed to him by council. Many of the b and members missed the key serve as a vital link, unit- was on many of them, he said. Some estimates But Frank said he has yet to see any money issue in the election, he added. have put that number as high as 400. legal He and the other "The issue was change." ing communities and for back pay or costs. keeping Native peoples informed on issues that affect them. They also B.C. bands get say over timber resources help to cultures preserve By D.B. Smith vation of the forests in and around would only advise the government To that effect, the interim and languages, offering Windspeaker Staff Writer the sound, Tla- qui -o -aht Chief on development decisions. agreement established a co- opera- a venue that mainstream Francis Frank said. The council also wanted as- tive forest area which includes part radio never has.