Long Lake protesters arrested

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Former Long Lake Band councilors claiming election and financial irregularities complained that Chief Gordon Gadwa had hired outside security to prevent resumption of a blockade of band buildings.

Gadwa countered that he was just ensuring the rights of band members to go about their own business.

Fourteen people were arrested on the morning of Jan. 18, for defying a November Court of Queen's Bench injunction ordering the end of the blockade.

The group, describing themselves as members of the Kehewin Circle, had again blockaded band buildings to protest Gadwa's re-election as chief late last year. They were found guilty of civil contempt of court and released a day later after apologizing to the court in Edmonton.

Six former councilors did not take part in the Nov. 1 election. They have claimed that it was not run according to traditional practices and questioned Gadwa's credibility as band leader. Circle leaders have also alleged financial irregularities in Gadwa's business dealings with the band and have questioned Gadwa's treaty status.

In a Jan. 7 statement, Gladwa and the council of the Long Lake Cree Nation state that, following the election, "the Department of Indian Affairs has recognized and is working with the new council to deliver government to the Long Lake Cree Nation."

The statement goes on to explain the election results validity can be questioned by a Council of Elders upon appeal. If the Elders find that an appeal is valid, a decision can be made by the general band membership at a general meeting.

A council of Elders is appointed by the sitting chief and band council, each interested person appointing one Elder. The six circle members had been removed as band councilors when they had missed three consecutive meetings "without reasonable excuse."

"After failing at political and legal channels, the occupiers are now attempting to declare war on the majority of our band, who wish merely to live in peace in our democratic First Nations community," Gadwa said.

He explained the Kehewin Circle members had a clear majority on the band council (six of eight voting members) but began in late summer to hold irregular meetings without the two non-circle members of the chief, calling themselves a "quorum of councilors." They passed a number of resolutions at these meetings, including one removing Chief Gadwa from office.

At a normal band council meeting, Sept. 13, 1994, John Kehewin, one of the six, moved a general band meeting to be held on Oct. 4. At that meeting, attended by some 120 voters, a resolution was unanimously adopted calling an election for the whole council and chief on Nov. 1. On Oct. 26, at a meeting of the "quorum of councilors," a resolution was adopted appointing a Council of Elders, appealing the constitutionality of the upcoming election.

This "purported council," as Gadwa calls it, was peopled with close relatives and friends of the six former band council members. When the election went ahead, Gadwa was re-elected chief.

In November, after the band buildings had been occupied and shut down by circle members, the court of Queen's Bench granted an injunction forcing circle members to leave the band property.