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Gathering Place First Nations Canadian News ALERT
Cowichan First Nations Protest Band Government
Monday June 10th - at 1:00 PM, At
the
Cowichan Tribes Band Office, Duncan BC Allenby Rd. BackGround: - see http://www.gatheringplacefirstnationscanews.com/ Archives June 03, 2002 coverage, as well
as infomart on "Cowichan Citizen" and www.cowichannewsleader.com for local coverage. Brief History: On June 3rd, about 120 Band members and relations from up and down Vancouver Island gathered at the SuperStore GasBar on the Cowichan Reserve to protest taxes that had been levied on them and non-natives without their consent on the purchases of alcohol, fuel and tobacco, as of June 1st. These taxes had been proposed in August 2000, by the former Chief and Council. At that time, a community meeting was held, and an unprecedented 500 band members attended and by unanimously supported resolution (proposed by respected Elder Abner Thorne) - it was agreed that no more taxes be imposed on the people, until a proper ballot referendum, that would require 50%+1 support from the membership gave the support for the proposed taxes. The existing taxes on Cigarettes in place for the past 5 years (which was supposed to be a trial measure for 2 years) - was also rolled into the proposition. No referendum was ever held. The community was shocked to find out on June 1st that the taxes were in effect. Most of the community only found out when they were told 2 days before June 1st by shop-owners on the reserve, that the taxes were starting. There was no information sent out to the community to explain what was happening about these taxes or why. 5 Band members at the SuperStore GasBar decided to challenge what they deemed to be an "illegal" tax - by fueling up at the GasStation, and while more than happy to pay for the fuel they were unwilling to pay for the tax that had been levied against our communities express permission. The RCMP were called to the scene, but declined to make any arrest. The RCMP Corp. Roxine Wight who attended told band members that this was an internal matter between the Band, and the Store Owners and the membership, and urged the Community to take their grievances to the Band Office - rather than disrupting the business of the gas-bar owner. Attended by VI-News (TV), CH-News (TV) and Reporters from the Cowichan Valley Citizen and Cowichan Newsleader, and Lisa Cordasco from CBC Radio -the protest sponatenously marched 1/2 a mile away to the Band Office. The Chief And Band Manager refused to deal with the protestors and ran out the back door of the building. The protestors simply sat down and waited and waited for the Chief and Council to hear their concerns. The Chief's brand new truck (paid for with the Khowutzun Development Corporation Budget; KDC being the economic development office of the band) - was still in the Chief's parking space at the Band Office. Band members parked their cars in front of the Chiefs truck, to make sure that the Chief would be aware that he would know that if he wanted to get his Truck(paid for with Band economic development office's money) - first he would have to deal with their concerns. A sign was hung on the car saying "Our Rights are Not for Sale" After 2 hours of waiting in the Band Office, the Chief, Harvey Alphonse and Band Manager Edith Leeming, did decide to meet with the protestors. There were approximatley 20 Elders and 15 other members of the community who informed the Chief that they would not leave the Band Office until the taxes were repealed - until a referendum gave them permission to proceed. Chief Alphonse insisted that the tax could be repealed at any time, while speaking to the Band Members in the Office. Finally - Chief Alphonse agreed to call an Emergency Meeting of Council - for 7:00 that evening. The protestors remained in the Band Office, and were joined by more members of the community. After some discussion amongst themselves and finally stopping to listen to the concerns of the community it was motioned by Councilor Philomena Alphonse, and unanimously approved by rest of Council that the tax would be repealed until a referendum was held. Band members and Council then left the Cowichan Tribes Administration building after promises were made by Chief Harvey and Band Manager that a call would be made to Ottawa, and the tax would be repealed the following day. On Wednesday Evening, the community heard on the radio that despite what had been promised the night before - the tax was not to be repealed. 3 community meetings followed - at the 3 Big Houses on the reserve in Quamichan, ClemClem and Somena. At those community meetings, community members believe they were not being told the truth, by Chief and Council, about the taxes and the reasons for not keeping the promise repeal the tax until a referendum was held. An Ad-Hoc Committee of 25 Band Members met on Friday Night to discuss what was occuring and to plan for a response to the Chief and Council's broken promises. It was decided that another protest would be required and that they organize their own community meetings to offer more information to band members about the tax. The protest is schedualed for June 10th, at 1:00 at the Band Office,and a community meeting will be held in the Somena BigHouse, Cookhouse on the following Wednesday Protest Monday: The Ad-Hoc Comittee has informally chosen the name for the group of "Voices of Our Relatives" (translated to English) - The group has 5 resolutions that they are seeking that the Council agree to - before the protesting will cease. 1. Immediate Repeal of the Taxes on the Reserve until a proper ballot referendum occurs, that requires 50%+1 support of the entire membership - (adult registered voters in our community) (There are over 1300 registered eliglble voters from this community) The proposed "door to door" referendum, proposed by the Band Manager Edith Leeming is simply not acceptable. The protestors want to ensure that the privacy of band members in voting on this resolution be respected. A "door to door" referendum is contrary to Indian Act regulations concerning referendums. http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/I-5/C.R.C.-c.957/133202.html 2. New policy that forbids Chief, Council and Band Administration from threating Band Employees for expressing a dissenting opinion from Chief and Council and Administration. (Two band employees were formally reprimanded on tuesday following the protest. And one employee was docked 1/2hr wages for driving her elder to the Band Office on the day of the protest) --Of Interest to note the KDC Economic Devlopment office held an emergency meeting with Chief and Council on Saturday morning at 7-9 am. Attendance by all staff, while not paid, was mandatory. Staff were then informed that if they wanted to go out, on company time to promote the tax, they would be paid for doing so. 3. For Band Members on Social Assistance, Protestors want a new policy in effect that stops the Band Administration from threating social assistance benefits from members for dissenting from the Opinions of Chief and Council 4. The By-Law that produced this tax, must be produced for the membership as well as the actual agreement that was signed by the Band Council and the Ministry of Finance to put this tax in place. 5. The minutes for the August 2000 meeting of Chief and Council be produced verbatim - and then distributed to the entire membership. This is actually an outstanding resolution from that August 2000 meeting that was requested by Abner Thorne, and unanimously approved by the Membership - and yet, has never occured. (Although minutes of this meeting were never produced - Band Members did video-tape that meeting have a copy which they are willing to let anybody view to prove that the events occured as they are claiming.) The ad-hoc comittee is firm that until the Council agrees to these resolutions, they, and members of the community that support these proposals will not leave the Band Office. Should Council agree to these resolutions, and then break the resolutions - or do not abide by them, they will protest, and occupy the band office, to enforce the resolutions. For More Info on the Actual Agreement between the Band, and the Ministry of Finance contact - Msr. Jean Michell Catta - who was refered to handle this matter from the Minister John Manley's Press office at the Department Finance - - his number is :613-947-7255 Good questions for Mr.Catta - (Band members were shocked at the answers recieved to these questions) 1. Is it not true that after this tax money is collected there is no oversight to these funds - no records are required to be kept, and no accountability to the membership, or non-native tax-payers is required according to the terms of the Agreement between the Band and Chief and Council. 2. Doesn't the Agreement and the Legislation that made this tax possible, specifically state that Band Members must be consulted before the tax is put into effect. Since Cowichan Tribes did not inform the community about the agreement, and therby broke the terms of the agreement, what sort of requirements and oversight does the Ministry seek from Band Governments who do not follow the terms of the agreement? Is this not a concern for the Minister? 3. The Delgamuukwe Decision has had the impact on Indian politics and legal cases, whereby the ruling declared that the Crown, must engage in meaningful consultation with Aboriginals Peoples before taking actions that effect the rights of Aboriginal Peoples. Does the Minsister not consider the impact upon the credibility of the Minister's office, and the Crown's fiduciary Obligation - when determinig whether or not "meaningful" consultation has in fact taken place. Ultimatley - the protestors seek to ensure that policy be changed at the level of the Ministry - concerning current taxation agreements between Bands and the Department, and future taxation agreements so that Band members do recieve meaningful consultation, and have the means to grant or refuse consent to decisions, agreements that impact their constitutionally protected rights -and those recognized by the Indian Act. More information is available on this matter by contacting Meaghan Walker-Williams Cowichan Tribes First Nation, Somena, Coast Salish Press Liason for the ad-hoc Cmt. 250-746-4500 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thank you for taking the time to read this press release! Ha Ce'p Qua! Gathering Place First Nations ,Canadian News Compiled by Sharon Green **Special Thanks to �Sunhill Production for the photos that were used to make Gathering Place First Nations Canadian News logo We would be more then happy to send it to anyone but Please Respect that this is someone's work and Ask......Contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit and show your support for the Grass Roots Oyate http://members.tripod.com/GrassRootsOyate Clemency for Leonard Peltier. Sign the Petition. http://petitiononline.com/Release/petition.html ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?b1ddNB.b2HgmN Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ |
