And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
Date: Fri, 09 Apr 1999 07:45:17 -0400
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: BC chief - sex assult women and children
Friday, April 09, 1999
B.C. reserve tries to depose
chief, a convicted sex
offender
Suzanne Fournier
The Province
VANCOUVER - Members of a small Fraser Valley native
reserve
are trying to remove their chief, a convicted sex
offender who they
say has carried out a "reign of terror" for decades.
John Laurence Pennier, 61, has three convictions for
sexual assault
of women and children on his reserve over the past 27
years and
faces more sexual assault charges in May.
After emerging from jail on his last sexual assault
conviction in
November, Pennier stepped back in as chief of the
Scowlitz band
on March 17, in an election Indian Affairs has been
asked to
investigate on seven points of alleged irregularity and
fraud.
Band members say Pennier uses his sweeping powers as
chief to
punish those who hold him accountable for sexual abuse
or alleged
fraud, by denying jobs, welfare, houses, or education.
They also
claim Pennier has hired close relatives for band jobs.
In a meeting at the Scowlitz reserve this week, several
men, women,
and elders gathered together to express their
frustration.
"We are all afraid of John Pennier but we feel we have
to speak up
and do something to stop him, for our children's sake,"
said Debra
Jimmie, 37. "We're afraid to leave our children alone
even for 20
minutes until the school bus comes.
"He withholds social assistance cheques of people who
don't
support him; he's cut people off the housing list and
put his close
relatives on instead; and he blocked my education
funds," she
claimed. Ms. Jimmie, who testified against Pennier on
sexual assault
charges in court last June, applied to the Scowlitz
band office for
funding to attend computer school. A copy of the band's
audit,
signed by Ms. Pennier last June 24 shows $229,000
remaining in
the band's education funds. Yet Ms. Jimmie's request
for funds to
continue her education was denied.
Her immediate neighbour, who agreed not to pursue
sexual assault
charges against Pennier, was funded to attend the same
school at
the same time, Ms. Jimmie said.
Some band members claim they received $3,000 for their
vote to
support Pennier, while others say they received cars
registered to
the band, jobs, housing renovations, and new houses.
The band councillors are Pennier's brother Melvin
Pennier-Hall and
Mr. Pennier-Halls' wife, Jennifer. The band manager is
Pennier's
sister Yvonne Pennier-Hall, whom band members have
asked to be
removed for lack of training, rude behaviour, and
favouritism.
Pennier has denied election irregularities and said the
sexual assault
charges are "all made up -- they're just out to get me.
Let them
prove it. All they need is a majority of band members
to get an
investigation of the election."
Asked about his criminal convictions, Pennier said: "I
was a drunk. I
don't know what happened back then."
About charges of nepotism, Pennier replied: "Yes, the band
councillors and employees are all my relatives, but
they're qualified
to do the job. So what?"
"Let Us Consider The Human Brain As
A Very Complex Photographic Plate"
1957 G.H. Estabrooks, Creator
of the Manchurian Candidate
born New Brunswick
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.aches-mc.org
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
