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Top News - July - 2004
Published July 5, 2004
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MNS funding pulled over election irregularities
FSIN finds fault with justice reform report
Accomplishments recognized at annual awardsThis is only a partial listing of the stories featured in the July 2004 issue of Saskatchewan Sage. If you are not receiving your own copy of Sage, then you have missed out on a lot.
MNS funding pulled over election irregularities
Cheryl Petten, Sage Writer, Saskatoon
The Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MNS) election held May 26 has turned into a roller coaster ride for apparent president-elect Dwayne Roth and the other candidates, but after an unbelievable number of twists and turns, it appears the ride may soon be over.
Unofficial results from the election showed that Robert Doucette, manager of the Métis Employment & Training Institute (METSI) of Saskatoon, had won the election, a result borne out after the official count on June 3 when Doucette was declared president.
That decision, however, was overturned that evening, when it was discovered that ballots in one ballot box from North Battleford hadn't been included in the official count, and Roth, a lawyer from Saskatoon, was named president. Beauval businessman Alex Maurice was also running for the position.
The office of Aboriginal Affairs minister Maynard Sonntag has been inundated with calls from Métis people since the election, making allegations that there were numerous problems with the way the election was run. As a result, Sonntag has decided to withhold provincial funding to the MNS.
The minister sent a letter to Roth on June 17 indicating the province would be withholding $410,000 in funding until he was satisfied that the election results represent the democratic will of Métis people. A further $285,000 in federal funding is also at risk, the federal government's commitment under a tripartite agreement between the federal government, the province and the Métis Nation -Saskatchewan.
While funding for MNS activities is being withheld, none of the program dollars provided by the province will be withheld, Sonntag said. That means the Gabriel Dumont Institute, the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan and other programs run by the MNS won't be affected by the minister's decision.
This isn't the first time an MNS election has been surrounded in controversy, Sonntag said.
"There has been in Saskatchewan ongoing controversy over the elections and the issues of transparency and whether or not the results, in the past even, have accurately reflected the democratic will of Métis people."
Sonntag's office has heard allegations that some voters were turned away and not allowed to vote, while others weren't given access to polls until near the end of the day.
"I can't even remember all the allegations, but it goes on and on," Sonntag said. "Dead people having voted, the same person having voted eight or 10 times, all of those sorts of things. Now, I mean, I have no way of knowing whether those things are true or not, but that gives you a flavour of what some of the allegations were."
Métis lawyer Marilyn Poitras has done a review of the MNS election process, and both the provincial and federal governments contributed $100,000 toward implementing some of her recommendations. Sonntag said he was disappointed that work wasn't completed in time to make a different in this election.
"But having said that I would be of the view that there is still work ongoing with that money. So I wouldn't describe that money as lost, but at the same time we believed ... that this election should be a much better run election than has happened in the recent past.
"Because I think it's fair to say, based on the number of phone calls that we got, that if anything it probably wasn't as good an election as elections in the past."
Sonntag said that while as minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the final decision as to when to restore funding will fall to him, that decision won't be based on whether he's satisfied concerns surrounding the election have been addressed, but whether the Métis people of Saskatchewan are satisfied.
A meeting between the ministry and MNS representatives was held on June 22, and all parties agreed that ministry officials would work with the Métis chief electoral office and the elections commission to look at concerns that have been raised and come up with solutions that will restore public confidence in the election process.
Efforts to reach MNS chief electoral officer Robert McCauley were unsuccessful-his number had been disconnected and the MNS office said they could provide no new contact information for him. But during an interview conducted in the days following the election, McCauley suggested the reports of problems with the election were being blown out of proportion.
"There was people that said there was problems. There was a few problems, but nothing unusual. People make big issues of virtually nothing, really," he said.
"I know people are saying that things have happened in the past. Well, sure, things happened in the past. But we ran this election as fairly as we can."
FSIN finds fault with justice reform report
Cheryl Petten, Sage Writer, Saskatoon
After two-and-a-half years of work, the Commission on First Nations and Métis Peoples and Justice Reform has released its final report.
The document, entitled Legacy of Hope, was released to the public on June 21, National Aboriginal Day, and contains a large number of recommendations on ways the province's justice system can be improved to better serve First Nations and Métis people. Those recommendations take a holistic approach, looking not only at how the justice system can be improved, but also at ways to keep Aboriginal people from ever coming in contact with the system in the first place.
The recommendations are far reaching, but their overall theme is that efforts to improve the province's justice system must involve a partnership between the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN), the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MNS) and the provincial and federal governments.
The report puts forward recommendations on ways to speed up the process of Aboriginal self-government and the development of plans aimed at improving quality of life for the province's Aboriginal people.
A concerted effort to address the problem of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) among Aboriginal people is also among the recommendations, as is a more proactive approach to crime prevention.
Other recomendations take aim at addressing domestic violence issues, while others are designed to improve the way the justice system deals with people with mental disorders.
The report makes suggestions for ways to address racism within police departments, and calls for the provision of supports to Aborignal people who are taken into custody. It also recommends an independent agency be created to investigate complaints against police officers or organizations.
Other recommendations deal with ways to make courts more accommodating to Aboriginal people and ways to increase the use of ommunity-based sentencing.
The report also looks at ways to help Aboriginal youth realize their potential, including improving funding for post-secondary education and offering education alternatives outside the traditional school setting.
FSIN Vice Chief Lawrence Joseph holds the federation's justice portfolio. He said the report contains some good recommendations, but has some shortcoming as well.
On the plus side, Joseph said efforts to provide more resources for community-based justice initiatives is a good thing, as is the recommendation that research be done into why there is such a high incarceration rate among Saskatchewan's Aboriginal people.
Lawrence Joseph was also encouraged by the recommendations aimed at dealing with the FASD epidemic being experienced by Aboriginal people.
One of the major shortcomings of the report, he said, stemmed from its dealing with First Nations and Métis people as one group.
"There's nothing wrong with the idea of Aboriginal, but because everybody ... all the groups, the Inuit, the Métis and everybody else, has their own structures, their own elected people to be spokespersons for them. Without any criticism to them, or any negative comments to Métis or anybody else ... the report should not have tried to put us in what we call a melting pot to implement and administer justice programming or whatever, related to the whole area of justice reform," Joseph said.
"Mind you, the issues that Métis and Inuit and others have are similar to ours. The issues are not different because they're all Aboriginal in the context of the Constitution. However, we do have different processes that have to be and must be respected because of our distinct realities. And for us it's the treaty reality."
By grouping First Nations and Métis people together, the report fails to acknowledge the distinct status of First Nations people and their constitutional, treaty and inherent rights, Joseph said in a press release issued on June 22. But it was a comment made at a press conference that same day that got Joseph in hot water, when it is reported he said the commission has thrown First Nations people into a melting pit with "the Métis, the Inuit, the coulda beens, the shoulda beens, the wannabes."
FSIN Chief Alphonse Bird was quick to apologize, issuing a statement on June 24 in which he called Joseph's comments "insensitive and unacceptable." Joseph blamed the entire controversy on a reporter who ignored the point of the press conference and wrote a "very, very horrible press article."
But Joseph doesn't want to dwell on the controversy. Instead, he wants to remind people why this commission and this report came into being in the first place-in response to the deaths of two First Nations men, Rodney Naistus and Lawrence Wegner, whose frozen bodies were found on the outskirts of Saskatoon in early 2000, and the case of Darrell Night, who was also dropped off by police outside the city but who survived the experience.
"One can never forget the fact that the families were affected by very, very questionable deaths in Saskatoon. One cannot forget that and try to marginalize this as another study, another report.
They shouldn't do that. Because there was real heartache and pain that facilitated and perpetuated this commission. It was death. There were drop offs. There was Darrell Night. There was chiefs saying enough already, get out there and do something," Joseph said.
Accomplishments recognized at annual awards
Sheri Trapp, Sage Writer, Yorkton
There was certainly a lot to celebrate in Yorkton on June 8 as the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations hosted its annual Saskatchewan First Nations Circle of Honour Awards.
The gala awards ceremonies are held each year in conjunction with the Spring Chiefs Assembly as a way to recognize the achievements and excellence of a number of individuals and groups from across the province. This year's assembly was held in Yorkton from June 8 to 10.
Awards were handed out in a number of categories, including education and training; sports, culture, youth and recreation; health and social development; economic and community development; justice; and Indian government. The Saskatchewan First Nations Women's Council also recognized three women for their leadership roles.
Two of the awards given out in the Indian government category went to Saskatchewan chiefs who have made a measurable difference within their communities. Chief Norman Whitehawk of Cote Saulteux Nation was named this year's Citizen of the Year, while the Lifetime Achievement Award went to Chief Louis Taypotat of Kahkewistahaw First Nation
"I am quite surprised by this all, but it makes me see that all the hard work has paid off," said Taypotat on receiving the honour. "It feels great."
Taypotat is heading into his 28th year in a leadership role and, although he has encountered some trying times, he sees the future as being bright.
"It has been a long hard drive, but you can't look back and just have to look forward," Taypotat said.
One of his hardest fought battles so far was in the area of land claims with the federal government. In the end Taypotat's perseverance paid off as Kahkewistahaw received a settlement of almost $95 million.
"That ended up being the second largest land settlement of all time," said Taypotat. "Again that just shows what hard work and determination can accomplish."
Hard work, patience and determination are all key attributes that the recipient of the Citizen of the Year Award nurtures as well.
"You have to set goals and just go after them. And with this acknowledgement I feel that the hard work has been worthwhile as many of our goals have already been achieved," said Whitehawk.
"There's still lots to do but this shows that there are people out there who care about the efforts that are being made."
As each of the chiefs approached the stage to receive their awards, those in the audience expressed their respect and appreciation by giving them standing ovations.
"I need to thank my people for this because they believed in me and had the patience to wait for our goals to become a reality. It is so important for everyone to work together, and respect one another because we must all live together," said Taypotat.
"Some say I am a role model and that is something I take seriously," he added. "And I think it is very important to teach our young people all of this."
As for Whitehawk, who is in his second term as chief with Cote Saulteux Nation, he may not have quite as much experience behind him as Taypotat, but he does embrace the same passion.
"I have so many plans that I want to still carry out and I believe in being involved hands- on," explained Whitehawk. "With that vision and by working together we will achieve more yet."
Among Whitehawk's accomplishments so far are his involvement in negotiating for the construction of the new Cote Saulteux Health Clinic, which recently opened its doors, as well as the building of the Cote RecPlex.
Although both award recipients felt honoured by the recognition, they remain both humble and realistic, knowing there is still plenty of work they still want to do. Even though the awards are a celebration of their past accomplishments, both Taypotat and Whitehawk prefer to remain focused on leading their people into the future.