亚洲天堂 Lake Band Chief Albert Gerow said to Lakes District 亚洲天堂 that it was out of frustration that he threw the petition presented to him by 25 band members in the garbage.
As reported in the Lakes District 亚洲天堂 edition of Feb. 16, 2011 a petition signed by 亚洲天堂 Lake Band elders, former Chief Robert Charlie and former Coun. Ryan Tibbetts as well as on reserve band members was presented to Chief Gerow and Coun. Dan George last week. Coun. Wes Sam was not in the band office at the time the petition was presented.
The petition stated that the original members of the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band, who represent the majority of the band members, do not recognize or acknowledge the present chief and council. The group requested that Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) take the necessary steps to reject the Oct. 22, 2010 亚洲天堂 Lake Band elections. "Effective immediately, the current chief and council are relieved of all their duties and responsibilities," the petition stated. Last Monday the protesting group of band members arrived at the band office with the petition stating that they planned to occupy the building in protest until a decision has been made. Chief Gerow said that it was not out of disrespect to anyone that he threw the petition in the garbage. "I apologize for my actions. Yes, I did do that [throw away the petition] and that came out of frustration .... I felt frustrated as this is the only tactic they [protesting group] have been pursuing," he said.
According to Chief Gerow, INAC have now made the determination that Chief Gerow and the current councillors are rightfully in power. "The actions of the group are not supported by INAC and they will receive a letter today confirming this," Chief Gerow said. He went on to say that the petition only referred to on reserve individuals how ever not all on reserve members signed the petition. "There are 80 voters in the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band, without hesitation of a doubt I can say that 50 of them would support the current chief and council," he said.
As for the firing of Hereditary Chief Cecelia Sam from her job at the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band, Chief Gerow said he could not comment as per directions from the band's lawyer. "We have spoken to the lawyer about this and I can't comment other that if she [Sam] says anything that is incorrect, we can then correct that," he added. Chief Gerow said that the bribery allegations made by the group are completely false. The protesting group alleged that when running for the October 2010 election promises were made for band member's votes, which negatively effected the outcome of the election. "Jean Sam, Coun. Wes Sam, Coun. Dan George and myself have all signed affidavits denying the allegations," Gerow said. All four band members were election candidates in October along with past chief, Robert Charlie and past Coun. Ryan Tibbetts. Chief Gerow also responded to the groups allegations that Coun. Wes Sam was working on his personal business venture during 亚洲天堂 Lake Band time.
"Wes is not paid by the band when he is working on his business. It is all above board and well documented. Chief and council are well aware of the fact that he is getting a business going and when he is working on that he is not getting paid for his time by the band. There is absolutely no dishonesty there," Chief Gerow said.
He went on to say that the groups allegations of a conflict of interest with regards to Coun. George working at both Lake Babine Nation and the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band are also unfounded. "This situation is similar to Wes Sam's. Chief and council have complete knowledge of Dan's other job. He works at the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band office doing band work on Thursdays and Fridays, it's all very above board," he added. The protesting group also brought up concerns regarding the closure of the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band's Little Angels Daycare and Chief Gerow confirmed that the daycare was closed temporarily.
"The Little Angels Daycare is $300,000 in arrears," Chief Gerrow said. "The number of children attending the daycare had dropped down to just four from a total of six full time children. We did manage to get one other child to make the numbers to five, but the daycare also had four full time staff so we had to close it temporarily," he said. He went on to say, "We are working on a plan to possibly re-open the daycare in September this year, so hopefully that will happen." Chief and council say they are maintaining the daycare's space as well as the equipment and supplies.
"You have to understand that the daycare was running a huge deficit," Chief Gerow said. They [protesting group] left the office last Monday .... it has just been business as usual since," Gerow said adding, "The current chief and council will continue to serve members to the best of our ability." Ryan Tibbets said to Lakes District 亚洲天堂, "Regardless of what INAC say we are still not recognizing the current chief and council because of the [election] bribery and the disrespectful way that the elders have been treated."
Karl Freeborn, communications officer from INAC said that they are aware of the situation with the 亚洲天堂 Lake Band. "We did receive a petition from the group last week," said Freeborn. Freeborn went on to say that INAC can not take action on a petition. "The October 2010 election has been approved and you can't remove chief and council with a petition," he said.
According to Freeborn the position of chief or a councillor only becomes vacant if someone resigns, dies or commits an offense. "An election appeal has been filed by elders. This was done after the October election, but results from this can take a while," he added. [Under the Indian Act election system, election appeals are received, reviewed and, if necessary, investigated and decided upon by INAC and the Minister of Indian Affairs. If it is determined that there has been a corrupt practice in connection with the election or a violation of any of the other provisions of the Indian Act or the Indian Band Election Regulations, the minister has a duty to report these infractions to the Governor-in-Council. Only the Governor-in- Council has the power to set aside an election.]
