St. Paul marchers protest plan to divert per capita payments

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In protest of recent government action to divert per capita payments of minors, 30 people marched down main street of St. Paul on July 3, to deliver their message to the Indian Affairs district office.

The protest was in response to federal government's unilateral decision, to review the manner in which per capita distributions are made to band members who are 18 years and under.

Per capita payments from the capital accounts of bands are presently given to all members of bands, with parents and guardians collecting for children.

The Indian Affairs department is worried that the federal government could be sued by children when they turn 18 years old and request their full share of per capita payments.

The latest government move would look at placing minor children's accumulated share of per capita payments under the jurisdiction of provincial trust laws.

The protesters, who were mostly from the nearby Saddle Lake and Goodfish Lake reserves, has support of the Indian Association of Alberta (IAA), in rejecting any transfer of federal responsibility over Treaty Indians to the domain of the provincial government.

"Provincial governments do not have any jurisdiction over Indians in this province, particularly when it comes to our resources, our land and all other issues that are related to our rights as Indian people," said Gregg Smith, president of the Indian Association of Alberta.

A recent directive sent in June by Bruce Rawson, deputy minister of Indian Affairs, to the Alberta regional office stated that the department would discontinue making per capita payments to minors.

This was followed by a second letter to band councils, by Dennis Wallace, Regional Director-General, that the old policy would continue until a review of the matter is completed at the end of July.

"That decision would not seem so harsh or be challenged, if it had been a federally imposed type of trust responsibility (rather than) having it shoved onto provincial trust laws," said Mike Steinhauer, one of the Saddle Lake speakers at the protest assembly.

Jim Ruller, district manager of the St. Paul Indian Affairs office replied to the protester's statements in front of the government offices.

The federal Auditor General had reviewed the established regulations under a policy that has given from 250 dollars per month to 3,000 dollars maximum a year to minor members of bands, according to Ruller.

The Auditor General wants the regulations reviewed, "and could be sued by some of the youngsters when they become of age," reported Ruller.

In the absence of federal trust regulations, the Auditor General has referred the matter to the provincial laws of trust, as guideline, not that the government would in fact transfer any of the funds of minors over to the provincial trustee, explained Ruller.

"It would continue to be the responsibility of the department," said Ruller.

Ruller concluded that he would forward the protester's concerns to his superiors.

"I will tell them, you are concerned you have been supporting the children, using the resources to the best of your ability and that you would like to have the resources for their maintenance," concluded Ruller.