Women's group national prez to be replaced

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President of the Alberta Native Women's Association Donna Weaselchild, who was removed as the national president of the Native Women's Association of Canada last year, will be replaced during a special assembly next month.

The special meeting will be held in Ottawa March 18 to 22. Weaselchild was removed after she failed to gain support of the Alberta delegation shortly after her election.

Weaselchild, a Blackfoot band member, was elected national president in June last year. She was elected president of the Alberta association in June, 1986.

In an interview Feb. 3, association official Linda Jordan said vice-president Jean Gleason had acted as temporary president. However, the association has decided not to wait until the following financial year before electing a president.

"We are now negotiating with the government over Bill C-31 (which amended the Indian Act in 1983) so we need all the strength we can get."

The first duty of the new president will be to address the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on Bill C-31. This meeting is set for Feb. 23 one day after the election.

The exact location of the assembly will be decided within the next few days.