Economic and social issues protested on reserve

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To the west of the Peigan administration building, a sign reads "Grassroots for Accountability." The sign symbolizes an effort by some Peigan members to seek improvements to the state of the band's financial situation.

In a community of about 2,400 members, a few developed a coalition to protest the economic and social conditions on the reserve. At the heart of the matter, say coalition members, are the issues of poor housing, unemployment and poverty. Combined, these factors have created a destructive force that has eliminated the hopes, goals and lives of many band members, maintains the coalition that is directed by Dominic Crowshoe and Edward One Owl.

Crowshoe and One Owl are camped in a tipi outside the administration building. The group they represent defines grassroots as people who are unemployed, homeless, prisoners in jail and the poor.

The two say they won't leave their tipi protest until their concerns are dealt with by the Peigan chief and council. The protesters want an accounting of how the band's finances have been handled over recent years.

"We will not sit back and be part of the problems anymore," Crowhoe said. "We will stand up and make a difference."

One Owl believes the Peigan people should not have to leave their homes and lives to go to school or work.

"Our community leaders should provide these within our community," he insists. He suggests there is potential for earning on reserve, if the council is creative. He said cattle farms, stores and malls should be placed along the highway, and opportunities be given to Native farmers for the band's land rather than have non-Native farmers reap the rewards of the cash crops grown there. He would also liked to see the band's timber stocks used to create jobs.

Band councillor Lionel Crowshoe believes people have to be responsible and accountable for themselves. And while there are many challenges to be faced on reserve, everyone has the same education and economic opportunities.

He said the chief and council of Peigan are working with the communities of Pincher Creek and Fort MacLeod to encourage working relationships and employment opportunities, as well as trying to find opportunities on reserve.

He explained that the only money generated by the band comes from interest from federal transfer payments and an agreement with the province for the weir water structure located at the east end of the reserve which dams the Old Man River and provides water to the southern portion of the province.

Currently the band is in negotiations with the federal and provincial governments for improvements to the weir, which could benefit the band significantly. The government may be under some pressure to agree with the financial demands of the band, because this year's water supply is low and alterations to the river, which currently breaks off into small streams, must be made to flow to supply the maximum water to the south. This cannot be done without band approval.

One possible project to generate revenue is a proposed trade mission to Hong Kong, where merchandise from the area would be imported to the reserve for sale by band members. But it takes money to make money, said Lionel Crowshoe and the trade mission is only a possibility if the band is prepared to pump money into a delegation committee to work with the Chinese.

In regard to the coalition's concerns about financial accountability, he said the chief and council's wages, expenses and travel will be made public in the Peigan Economic Development Newsletter provided quarterly throughout the year. This newsletter will also include council and administration activities.

"Effort is constantly being put forth to meet the needs of the people, as so in the present situation [the tipi protest]." As for co-operation in resolving current concerns, the councillor states the protesters are "coming to the table with an agenda, not with an open mind. To get things accomplished they have to be realistic in thei expectations, but we are trying to work with their concerns."

The protesters say they want an audit to be conducted on the affairs of administration, but Crowshoe said an audit was conducted, with RCMP involvement, in 1997. He said no charges have been laid and an annual audit is done.

Lionel Crowshoe would like to see more co-operation from the membership and trust in the workings of the band's leadership. With more co-operation, more work can be accomplished rather than working against each other, he said.