SIDE THIS WEEK Taking a tight turn, Packing his bags a wrangler at the and preparing for Louis Bull rodeo reins Di adventure, Peter Si hard to shave seconds pëa et:'rvd1 Jackson is a lucky off her time. See page exchange student 18. bound for Columbia, Jury 15 98$ ` G Latin America. See .. Page 6. Volume 6 . Restructuring plan fails, Gregg Smith resigns By Lesley Crossingham replace the present board of Windspeaker Correspondent directors in overseeing the direction of the organiza- FORT VERMILION, Alta. tion. The new board would Incumbent president have been selected by Gregg Smith refused to Alberta Indian chiefs and stand for re- election after councillors. the surprise defeat of an Executive titles would extra- special resolution that have changed to grand chief would have seen major and vice -chiefs instead of structural changes in the the current president and Indian Association of vice -president. Alberta. Smith feels the current ONLY WAY TO GO! Speaking on the second system, where major deci- day of the three day assem- sions must be presented bly, Smith announced his before a general assembly Forget cars and walking, when Sousa continued all of Assumption would have had decision not to run saying of members is cumbersome Creek overflowed due to heavy rain during to be evacuated. For more flooding coverage he was "disappointed" with and limits the organiza- the first week of July, you had to swim or take in Assumption, Slave Lake and Driftpile see the defeat of the resolution tion's effectiveness. a boat to get from main Assumption to the pages 12 and 13. and would therefore seek We have been talking the nomination of the about the restructure for II administration area. If the rain would have - Photo by Rocky Woodward Treaty 7 vice -president years," he said. "Some position. Smith was nomi- (members) are just reluc- nated and elected by tant to change." acclamation. Smith and other members In an interview after the of the executive lobbied announcement Smith said members before the vote, he felt the defeated resolu- however, he feels the resolu- Heated debate boils over tion would have better tion was unsuccessful , represented the Indian peo- because of what he calls "a í ple of Alberta. small faction" who deliber- at annual Metis assembly The special resolution ately misrepresented the recording minutes at is proposed that a board of facts. by Keith Matthew . of all cil to handle all of the Watson also said, "If we chiefs and councillors But, Smith says he feels Windspeaker Staff Writer meetings. Once these reso- disputes which arise from don't have any money flow- confident that the new lutions were declared normal business of the ing by July 15 Apeetogosan LAC LA BICHE, Alta. structure would work, invalid, the movers of the MAA. The Elders who sit could be finished." given the chance, and The 60th annual assem- resolutions- -Edson Local on this council will also be Lane then asked chief intends to run the Treaty 7 bly of the Metis Association 44, withdrew the remaining paid $50 a day plus expenses executive officer Jan Willey area with direct and con of Alberta which took place yet to be discussed resolu- when they are doing busi- what the problem with the stant,input from the chiefs. in Lac La Biche from July tions which they had ness for the MAA. corporation was and Willey "That doesn't mean I 6-9 was marred by shouting presented. Bitter controversy over a answered that he was not at would, ignore the members, and heated debate when Thelma Chalifoux made report submitted on Apee- liberty to discuss the prob- but I want to show that this some of the more contro- a motion that a vice - togosan (Metis) Develop- lems and that he would not is a good system, a system versial reports were submit-, president's reports of each ment Inc., by Chairman of get into a situation where he that would work effec- ted for approval by the of the six zones not be pres- the Board Gordon Watson would point fingers at tively," he says. delegates. ented. The motion was and Chief Executive Officer anyone. He then passed the Now Smith says he will passed and carried. Jan Willey erupted after the question on to Watson. A special resolution to be returning to his native Perhaps one of the most report was read concerning When questioned by impeach the board of direc- Peigan reserve and working important resolutions the operations of the Lane on what the problem tors and president was not closely with Chief Peter passed was the motion to corporation. with Apeetogosan is Wat- Yel- accepted by the Special lowhorn and members of form a Council of Elders son answered, "I don't Resolutions Committee Much of the heated dis- the council. which was passed unanim- know what is going on." which was made up of cussion was centred around "My wife and I are hav- ously. The council will be After the questioning Emma McDermott, Ron the questioning of the ing a new house built on the made up of fourteen Elders: period was finished, a Karoles, Stan Plante, San- report by former chairman reserve and it will be good two from each zone with motion from the floor was dra Delorme and Alvina of the board Phil Lane who to go back home," he the addition of two Elders introduced for the firing of Sewell. According to past - was forced to resign from added. appointed by the president Willey was unanimously president of the Edson the board of Apeetogosan Incumbent Treaty 7 vice - of the MAA. passed by all of the dele- Metis Local 44, Dan Martel earlier this year. president, Blood band gates present. tel, the resolution was The member Narcisse Blood did mandate of the Watson, when questi- Willey, when asked what rejected because it was Council is not attend the assembly and of Elders to oned by Lane about what the problems with Apee- "incomplete." establish a Code Ethics was unavailable for com- of the problem with Apeetog- togosan are, replied: "I am for all of the elected ntentat press time. Other special resolutions osan is, said, "At present unable to comment on the members of the MAA. The Association's 45th which dealt with other mat- time the organization is not events happening pursuant However, this is subject to assembly was held July 5 -7 ters were rejected also by in sync with the plan." He to certain conditions in our the approval of the in Fort Vermilion. Next the Special Resolutions MAA added, "We haven't been contract between Apeetog- itself. year's assembly will be held Committee. The resolu- able to communicate with osan and the Department. 1 the first week of June in tions were on legal fees, Another important duty NEDP (Native Economic of Regional and Industrial Hobbema. framework agreement and for this newly formed coun- Development Program) ". Expansion." PAGE 2, July 15, 1988, WINDSPEAKER CLOSE TO HOME , Elder's Council to review case Mother protests Metis leaders for revoking membership Mark McCallum. Windspeaker Biche where she feels she meules explained the finan- Powers and Remuneration. wasn't allowed to speak cial statements were being One of their duties is to because she was not recog- audited and that "the establish a code of ethics of nized as a card carrying members will have an all members elected to member of the Metis opportunity to look at the office of a local, Regional Association of Alberta. financial records during the Council or the Board of the r According to Johnstone's assembly." Association. -FITS RI news release: "On June 10, According to Johnstone, They are also to deter- uRWWkI mine all matters concerning NEVER 1988, 14 members from the she never had a chance to cr q Oti Edson Metis, Local #44 bring it up at the annual the continuation of mem- ''sVT letisASSd hand- delivered a letter to all assembly which took place bership of any member, including the suspension, ''-kE DENY N but two Metis Association from July 6 to 9 and she of Alberta Board Members feels that the way the meet- expulsion or cancellation, at their Board meeting, ing "was run it was a direct and re- instatement thereof. requesting to review the conflict of interest to have a Any of the decisions they financial records of the non -Metis lawyer sitting on reach are final and without MAA. On June 13, 1988, the Resolutions Committee appeal. Larry Desmeules, President and that same lawyer being Clint Buehler, editor of of the MAA presented Larry Desmeule's, to my Native Network News understanding his personal spoke on behalf of the Metis myself and three members Association of Alberta. "I from Local #44 a letter stat- lawyer, who also represents four other Metis corpora- think it is unfortunate she ing that their memberships that either the Metis has chosen to picket the with the MAA had been tions, people are shareholders of, office when she was very Protesting until justice is done: Sharron Johnstone and sons cancelled effective that day. or that they are the support- clearly told that the Elders This letter was presented to ing body for those corpora- Council is the tribunal that them immediately after she should go to have her they had requested to tions. In my mind that is a By Keith Matthew Edson Local #44 is carrying so "until justice is done." direct conflict of interest. membership reviewed. The Windspeaker Staff Writer review the financial records placards in front of the She started her protest in How can anybody be reason that the council was of the MAA." objec- Metis Association of Alberta front of the offices on July tive and fair created was so that those EDMONTON, Alta.