Ex-boxing coach fears for his life

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The recently fired Hobbema boxing coach says he expects to be killed.

"There's a hierarchy here that rules by strong-arm and scare tactics. I honestly expect to be killed," said Jim Stevenson.

Stevenson, who has been picketing daily in front of the Cree tribal administration building against alcohol and drug addiction on the reserve, said he has received threats and warnings to get out of Hobbema, 80 km south of Edmonton. Stevenson said he was forced to send his wife and son into hiding.

"it's a very serious situation. There's dead people out in the bushes nobody knows about," he claimed.

But councilor Cecil Nepoose said Stevenson's allegations are "serious and untrue. I've lived here all my life and I don't know about any dead people in bushes. For a guy who's only been here a while, he sure thinks he knows a lot. He must have a heck of a source."

Nepoose said he's not aware of any threats made to Stevenson. He said he Samson Cree band is "a fair administration that plays by the rules."

Despite an eviction order from the Samson chief and council, Stevenson plans to "stay in Hobbema forever to do God's work. This is the biggest challenge I have ever had."

Stevenson, a non-Native, said he was fired as boxing coach of the Samson Cree Nation Boxing Club because he asked for an inquiry into drugs and violence among members of the boxing club.

"I wanted to know where the funds for the club were going. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were pumped into a program that reproduced nothing but a negative role model. The former boxing coach is in jail for drunk driving." Former boxing coach Danny Stonewalker, Canadian light heavyweight champion, is serving time for impaired driving.

Stan Crane, the band councilor who hired Stevenson, said he was "dismissed from his job for just cause. His dismissal was not in any way related to his stand against drugs."

Crane said that shortly after Stevenson was hired "he did not want to follow any of the rules and regulations of the club." He accused the former coach of failing to use a time clock and making unauthorized purchases.

"He was clearly told when he was hired he would not be given signing authority."

Crane said Stevenson did as he pleased "because he was on an Indian reserve." Crane also claimed Stevenson owes the club $1,255. "We agreed to pay his first month's rent and damage deposit and give him an advance on the condition he repay the amount. But when requests were made to Mr. Stevenson he refused."

Crane said Stevenson had no interest in the reserve's drug problem before he was fired.

"He has only now after his dismissal taken up the cause of drug and alcohol abuse on our reserve. He is using the issue as a smoke screen to confuse the public as to the real reason for his dismissal."

Crane said Stevenson never approached the band with his concerns.

If he has "we would have told him about the many steps we have taken to try and resolve this problem."

Nonetheless, Stevenson has the support of some band members and elders, said the administrator of the Four Nations. Marleen Buffalo said Hobbema's drug and alcohol problem is an "issue that needs some form of leadership. She said the Samson band has "done nothing in terms of programs for drug and alcohol addiction."

Stevenson said people on the reserve are afraid to openly show support for him because they fear losing their jobs. He said he wants changes in Hobbema, a place he describes a "a ghetto with a ghetto mentality." He also want to see the "Council fired because they don't have the education and skills needed to govern. They're just interested in the money."

Nepoose said to describe Hobbema as a ghetto is "ridiculous. There's a lot of positive things happening here. It's a good place to live."

Stevenson also accused the RCMP of inaction. He said the RCMP finds the drug problem "commonplace." He said the RCMP "tolerates the drug pushing because they sell soft drugs. There's no crack in Hobbema."

But RCMP taff Sgt. Al Moffatt srongly disagrees with Stevenson's assessment of the force.

"We're trying our best considering the limited manpower we have. We take every incident seriously."

Moffatt said the drug situation in Hobbema is "no more serious than in other places I've been.

Stevenson said he is dedicated to saving the young people in Hobbema and he is prepared to see the "situation get worse before it gets better."

"I have a message for those dealers: Change your occupation or get out of town because I'm staying."