'Great pain, great joy' in being chief

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HEART LAKE RESERVE - The former chief of this reserve, Eugene Monias has suffered pain and has deep concerns for the well-being of his people.

"I have been chief of Heart Lake Reserve for 22 years. These were 22 long years of great pain and great joy for me, both as chief and as a person. So many things have happened during this time. But what remains is that today we have done things to be thankful for and to be proud of.

"As chief, I have never taken my position lightly nor have I ever used the position for my own pride. The position was a very heavy and tough responsibility, with people looking to you and depending on you. My time was never my own - it was always for my people.

"I can only tell you the position of leadership is not and never will be an easy one. As chief or leader, you must set an example for the people. This position is a thankless job where you often have to stand alone to get things done - to do things that your own people might not like or support, such as financial control and responsibility for band funds.

"I have worked hard over those 22 years, because problems never have easy answers. Being chief has taken a lot out of me, as a person - from my body, my mind and my spirit.

"Being a leader with family has it's problems. It was really tough on my family, but my family never complained. Having a strong, understanding family helped me as your chief. Many times I would have liked to quit and just lead my own life with my family, but they kept me going.

"Believe me, it was hard - so tough I cannot tell what it is like, to work day and night, always having to be there for the band, to be away from your wife and children, to make a decision alone which your people might not like, to try and negotiate with highly educated and skilled government people for anything that might help the band to make life a little more worthwhile and easier.

"Each and every one of the band members always had my first concern. I have shared the joy of birth with band members, and shared the joy when something good happened I have watched their children grow and mature and succeed. For this I am happy. "I have also shared the sorrows, sufferings and pains of band members in losing a loved ones to sickness and death. I have also lost a wife, a mother, a father, and my oldest son, Willie, in the past few years.

"I have always been available when my people needed love, help, jobs, medical attention, money, or just a friend. As chief I have always given my heart, my home, my cares, and my whole attention. During my sorrow and pain of losing my own family whom I loved so much I couldn't bear the pain of loss, I never let my people down. I never forgot my duties and responsibilities as their chief.

"As chief, I was asked to get more and better homes, to get a school for our young people to be close to home, to get power (electricity), waterwells, school bus, water truck, fire truck, to back individuals at a store or get a loan at the banks. Many time they came to me with personal problems. I gave of myself, not looking for payment or thanks, because I loved and cared for all my people.

"Many nights I could not sleep because I would worry about how to get monies and resources to help the people. Many nights I would lie awake, worrying about money for salaries, propane, power, gas and telephones while they were sick.

"I was always tired and discouraged. Being a chief has been a very tiring and lonely, thankless position. But helping the band and the people succeed kept me going.

"A chief should have a heart and love his people. At death he should be there until the end, even if it means putting on overalls and digging the grave. As chief, you are on 24-hour call. In a small community we have to do this. Because one is a chief, doesn't make him a big man.

"Spending the band's money through senseless travelling and carelessness will get no one anywhere. By staying on the reserve, a chief is able to help his peopl better. A chief usually has to put his family aside when working for the band. I had to put my family aside - I don't even know my children's ages, yet I know the ages of all the band members.

"Too many times I heard a chief took money from the the band, from his own people, to satisfy his own greed. I don't like to hear these things. A chief should be responsible, because by law we have to be responsible and accountable for the monies and resources of the band.

"When I needed the band's support to get or do something for the band I often stood alone. When decisions had to be made for the good of the band I got fighting and quitters. When we needed to get the job done so few would help; the rest would stand aside and do nothing.

"It has taken me most of my working life, with long hours and sacrifices to get the things I have today - my home, my equipment, my family and good financial credit. I see myself as an honest, reliable, and a hard working person is priceless.

"In retiring, I am not leaving here. I will remain here, and continue helping my people, but not as a chief. I am going to spend more time with my loving family, that supported me and never complained in having to do minor repairs in the house because I was helping a band member. My wife Rose never complained in my not making it home on time for meals, she never complained in having to stay up all night with a sick child or the extra work load she had with my not being there to help her.

"I owe her my time, and she deserves to have my full attention. My children deserve to get to know their father first hand.

"The life of a chief is not an easy one, but the feeling of peace within your self at having helped your people with their best interests at heart, is indescribable. The respect

I have attained in being chief and leader is very visible in the band members.

"These feelings make is worthwhile, in spite of all the sorrow and hardship, the long lonely hours. I will continue to work with my peple. My door is always open, and there's always a pot of coffee on," he said in closing.

The band members who were approached shared the same feelings as past chief Monias. They acknowledged the fact that Monias not only acted as chief, but as a loved one, a councillor, a friend, and a great supporter of education and children.

The children at school look at Monias as a leader and a friend. The students excitedly spoke of the latest trip that Monias took the students on, to Lac La Biche when he treated them to lunch. There were numerous recollections of trips to parks and picnics the students shared with the past chief.

One band member remembered Eugene Monias putting on his overalls and digging a grave a few hours prior to the funeral because no one dug the grave. Stories, of him bringing food to someone less fortunate, of his getting up in the middle of the night to drive someone to the hospital, or driving to pick up an Elder or take an Elder for medical attention are just a few of the incidents the band members shared.