Angry settlement members concerned about leaders

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Concern over the new proposed Metis Settlements Act coupled with claims of a lack of democratic procedures, financial mismanagement and poor leadership have forced a number of settlement members to consider an ad hoc committee to deal with these issues.

Approximately 40 disgruntled settlement members from the Buffalo Lake Metis Settlement met at the Friendship Centre in Edmonton Oct. 1 to discuss these and other issues occurring in the settlements.

Led by spokesperson Joe Blyan and councillor Felix Desjarlais of Buffalo Lake, the meeting was organized because settlement members say they feel threatened by the present system in the settlement. "We are not out to get anyone," says Blyan. "What we're doing is something that should have been done years ago."

Desjarlais, who says he is willing to make changes within the settlement, also says he feels threatened and disturbed by the present system. "I've asked the Council to put business aside and look into the deficit we are in," he alleged. "But they didn't listen."

Among the invited guests were Federation of Metis Settlements president, Randy Hardy, Lac La Biche MLA Leo Paquette, who were unable to attend, Larry Desmeules, president of Metis Association of Alberta (MAA) and MAA lawyer, Ron Karoles. Blyan explained the reason why both Desmeules and Karoles were invited was "for assistance and legal advice." He added, "We are trying to be as responsible as possible and hope (our) council will move."

After listening to individual concerns, Desmeules pointed out that "we're (MAA) open for business to sit down with Federation."

Desmeules recognizes there are problems and has been approached by individual settlement members during his travels throughout northern Alberta. "I've received complaints on a keemooch" (sly), says Desmeules, adding that one of the problems is accessibility ? Metis people to get on settlements.

Although little was accomplished at the meeting, the discerned group decided to hold another meeting scheduled for Oct. 30 at Buffalo Lake Settlement to voice their complaints and concerns to a number of proposed invited guests and representatives from different Native organizations and government departments.

Of particular concern is Resolution 18 of the new Metis Settlement Act, which will be introduced during the Alberta Legislature's spring session. Several members indicated they don't understand the resolution. Blyan stressed that the group is not disputing the content of the new Act. "We don't even know what's in it," he says. "One of our complaints is we're finding ourselves not participating in establishing membership."

According to a Federation spokesman, the implementation of Resolution 18 falls into three areas: The Metis Settlements Act which will replace the Metis Betterment Act; the title of the land will be transferred from the province to the Settlements and the amendment to the Alberta Act to guarantee land in the Constitution.

The spokesman indicated Federal officials are now touring all Metis settlements in Alberta to discuss the concerns on the implementation of Resolution 18. They are scheduled to address Buffalo Lake Oct. 19.

Blyan indicated he received several calls from concerned members from other settlements, who are having similar problems, prior to the meeting, but due to short notice they were unable to attend. "They suggested we should have another meeting," says Blyan. "We'll be getting back to other communities shortly."