Topic: NEWS

A complaint about the Metis National Council and one of its provincial affiliates has been handed to the Federal Government. However Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt’s office says his department has looked into the complaint and decided no further investigation is required. As reported in First Nations Drum this past July, an audit on the Metis National Council (MNC) and Metis Nation BC (MNBC) completed by Hallux Consulting on behalf of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in 2012 revealed financial mismanagement totalling almost $4 million. The revelations at the very least exposed the perpetrators as being completely negligent and incompetent, but also revealed criminality among the members of both boards. Both of the organizations purport to represent all Metis people in BC and across the country, which is not true.

On June 30th of this year, the BC Metis Federation, which represents almost half of the Metis citizens in BC, was provided information relating to the MNBC compliance audits that reviewed contracts administered by MNBC between 2008-2012. The compliance audit findings raised some serious questions about the MNBC’s potential fraud, ineligible payments to MNBC Senators and MNBC staff for advanced travel without any justification or payback, plus other serious allegations. The most significant was the MNBC board taking approximately $880,000 over the audited time period that was deemed ineligible.

The Hallux audit reviewed several of the financial program expenditures of MNBC, including Tripartite Self Government Negotiations, Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreement, Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training, and Adult Learning and Literacy. Monies that were supposed to fund these programs were misappropriated to ineligible payments to the several board members, senators, and staff. These programs are meant to assist Metis people in BC with personal and professional development to better their lives and their communities. MNBC also spent $130,000 to “aggressively” address legal avenues using government resources to file frivolous law suits against concerned members within their own Metis community. Unfortunately, what the audit clearly shows is that a large amount of the funds were used for personal gain by members of MNBC and to pay off debts previously incurred from other financial mismanagement.

Another audit by Hallux on MNC revealed very bad management practices and almost non-existent financial controls. MNC President Clement Chartier used AANDC monies to cover personal and professional expenses, including his legal professional fees. MNC Vice-President David Chartrand employed his wife on a loosely worded contract concluding that her job description was as a liaison between the President and Vice-President for $60,000. Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on books published by board members. There was double-dipping of funds, board members were expensing auto fuel for long distance trips when in fact they flew, and many other instances like these. The auditor has publicly defended her work.

Keith Henry, President of the BC Metis Federation, personally sent the audit findings to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) in July. It took the VPD some time during their investigation to determine if the matter fell under the jurisdiction of its financial crime unit or would be better dealt with by another agency, such as the RCMP or the Abbotsford Police Department, where one of the Metis organizations has its headquarters. The VPD ultimately decided to refer the matter back to AANDC.

Minister Bernard Valcourt and his ministry have decided not to investigate. Officials in the minister’s office have repeatedly said the matters raised in the audits have already been dealt with through the signing in April 2013 of a renewed Metis protocol and a new governance and financial accountability accord. Under the new accord, MNC agreed to post financial information on its website and develop and make public its strategic and annual operational plans. Aboriginal Affairs is supposed to post the MNC’s audited financial statements on its website. So far, neither MNC nor the AANDC have posted any of those documents online. This is the same AANDC that has gone to certain lengths by passing the First Nations Accountability Act, forcing First Nations and Aboriginal organizations to publicly post their financial records online. The controversial bill was passed without any consultations between the government and Aboriginal peoples. The Harper government’s Minister insists this type of accountability is necessary, yet also insists that no investigation is necessary while there are obvious possibilities of crimes committed.

First Nations Drum followed up with BC Metis Federation President Keith Henry. Clearly disappointed in the Federal Government’s inaction on the case, he said that he felt that AANDC had given him and his organization the “run-around,” but he hopes that this government will recognize his organization and the other Metis Federations across Canada as a credible alternative to MNC and its provincial affiliates. “What is clear is that accountability seems to be lost on our Metis people across this country. Governments stand by acting like victims when in fact these policies only support gross financial mismanagement, and it is our people lose out in the end,” said Henry.

First Nations leaders joined federal and provincial government officials and fire services representatives at the University of The Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, BC on October 3rd with plans for a one-of-a-kind safety blitz aimed at reducing fire fatalities on reserves. The campaign kicked off as Fire Prevention Week took place across Turtle Island with a unique series of educational materials that have been created utilizing traditional imagery and storytelling. Pamphlets and posters are being distributed to all First Nations in BC forming the basis of grass roots education focusing on the importance of working smoke alarms. Recent studies show that the fire death rates on reserves is far greater than the rest of the Canadian population.

The faces leading this fire safety campaign are the Honourable Steven and Dr. Gwen Point. Since 2005, Dr. Point has been an Assistant Professor in Social Work and Human Services at the University of the Fraser Valley. Prior to joining UFV, she was the Education Manager for the Sto:lo Nation. Steven Point is a Provincial Court judge and a former Lieutenant Governor of BC. He served as Chief of the Skowkale First Nation from 1975 to 1999, also serving as Tribal Chair for the Sto:lo Nation from 1994 to 1999. “Statistics tell us that we must continue to explore new ways to engage First Nations people in the responsibilities required to keep their families safe. My wife Gwen and I are happy to support this campaign with our efforts and our faces in the hope we can help make a difference,” said Steven Point.

First Nations Emergency Services Society of British Columbia plans to evolve the campaign into a travelling Safety Fair that would see Aboriginal youths and leaders trained to take the fire safety messages and practices onto reserves in BC and further across Canada. The campaign is fully supported by the Aboriginal Firefighters Association of Canada, which promotes public and private partnerships such as these. Initial campaign materials featured a white-tail doe sensing fire danger and protecting her fawn, a photo of Dr. Gwen Point overseeing her husband Steven installing a working smoke alarm in their Chilliwack, BC home, and an art piece by His Honour promoting working smoke alarms called “The Raven’s Alarm.”

Surrey BC Fire Chief and past president of the Fire Chiefs Association of British Columbia Len Garis has been a driving force of the working smoke alarm movement in BC. “We know that fatalities are the consequence of people in any community not following the most rudimentary of fire safety practices,” said Chief Garis. “In fact, in more than three quarters of fire death investigations, smoke alarms were either found not to be present or not working. Simply, home owners must keep smoke alarms properly powered, never take them down if there is a false alarm from cooking, and replace them every ten years.”

Kidde Canada, a smoke alarm leader, also announced a combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm donation valued at $100,000. More than 2,000 alarms featuring today’s latest sensing technology along with 10-year batteries that never need to be changed for the life of the alarm are being donated for installation in First Nations Communities.
First Nations’ Emergency Services Society of British Columbia (FNESS) assists First Nations in developing and sustaining safer and healthier populations. Edwin Mountain, President of FNESS and Volunteer Fire Chief of Xaxli’p First Nation said, “In our past experience working directly on reserves to help address safety issues, we have seen positive change when we combine education materials that reflect traditional Aboriginal teaching methods with discussions right at the community level. We can’t understate our support for the planned Youth Engagement aspects of this campaign.”

The Salvation Army is committed to helping First Nations people and all victims of abuse in their healing journey and has partnered with The Rising Above Organization to host their National Healing Conference in Prince Rupert, BC June 4-7 to help in this endeavor. Many companies, organizations, and churches have supported this conference through donations and volunteers to help those who have suffered from abuse obtain healing, wholeness, and freedom.

The Rising Above Organization was created as a result of repeatedly hearing people’s stories of abuse and recognizing the deep negative impact abuse has had on their lives, communities, and culture. A group of First Nations leaders were convinced they had to do something. Remaining silent was no longer an option. As First Nations people they felt the need rise up and take responsibility to help their own people. In 1992 they organized a conference to talk candidly about sexual abuse and restore hope to those who had been abused. The name “Rising Above” refers to the belief that with God’s help their people could rise above the hurt and pain caused by abuse and experience life, identity, and purpose as their Creator intended.

On June 4-7, 2014, the 21st Annual National Rising Above Conference will be held at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre in Prince Rupert, BC. The main sessions will address the impact and recovery of sexual abuse and the residential school experience. Other prevalent issues such as suicide, self-esteem, and grief will be discussed in workshops. First Nations speakers will share their personal stories of abuse and healing. Sharing circles and individual professional counseling will give attendees an opportunity to share personal stories. Music throughout the conference is provided by The Rising Above band, featuring First Nations singer Howard Jolly.

Fresh IE (Rob Wilson) will open the conference with a performance, and he will be facilitating youth workshops and activities throughout the 4 days. Fresh IE is an award-winning Christian recording artist from Winnipeg Manitoba. He is the first Canadian Christian Rapper to be nominated for a Grammy. In Winnipeg, he runs a mentorship program for Youth called EDIFY (Education Development, Inspiration for Youth). He has toured throughout BC North and is committed to helping youth implement change and positive lifestyles through his ministry of music and educational/motivational sessions.

What makes Rising Above unique and effective is that it deals with underlying root issues that cause pain and dysfunction. Through stories of people who have risen above and through teaching and counseling by trained professionals from a biblical perspective, people connect with their pain at the level of the heart. This is where true and lasting healing begins. Following each conference, Rising Above provides programs to continue helping atendees along their healing journey and equip them with skills to help others.

Since 1992, people across the country have been given the resources to rise above the pain of their past and move forward in their healing journey through new life and hope in Jesus. “This conference opened my eyes, opened my memories, gave me hope,” said one attendee. Another stated, “They’re our people reaching our people… that’s what makes it so effective: to see our own people presenting on issues of sexual abuse and their personal experience to relate to it. You know it’s not just something that’s head knowledge; it’s a heart knowledge; it’s personal stories that open up our eyes and say ‘Hey, if they can get that far in life then what’s stopping me from getting there?”

When one individual is empowered to “rise above,” future generations in that person’s family and community are also helped. For more information: visit [www.risingabove.ca], email [registration@risingabove.ca], or call (1-888-777-1380) or The Prince Rupert Salvation Army (778-884-4858 or 250-624-6180 ext 23).