Former Chief Hopes Dispute Is Settled Out Of Court

Former Chief Hopes Dispute Is Settled Out Of Court

Wednesday, July 08, 2009 at 15:25

 

 

The legal counsel representing a former chief of the Peepeekisis First Nation is explaining why his client is challenging the band’s council of elders, and why the dispute may end up in Federal Court.

 

Beverly Bellegarde was removed as chief by the council last March.

 

She claims they did not have the authority to remove her.

 

Jeffery Rath is Bellegarde’s lawyer and he says the band’s code doesn’t say how much authority is given to the council.

 

Rath says there is no definition of how many people are on the council of elders, who makes up the council of elders, amd when is it appropriate for the council of elders to intervene.

 

He maintains that at present, “anyone who is unhappy can run around and grab a bunch of people who identify themselves as elders and say ‘Okay, you’re now the council of elders. Let’s remove the council and chief from office’.”

 

The Peepeekisis Treaty Enforcement Group says Bellegarde’s application to federal court is inviting the Crown to define who an elder is.

 

They say it could undermine First Nations governance and sovereignty.

 

Rath hopes the situation will resolve itself before it goes to a Federal Court hearing.

 

Bellegarde served as chief of Peepeekisis for two years, prior to her dismissal by the council of elders.

 

The Federal Court hearing is set for later this summer.