Troubled PBCN Councillor Pushes For Reinstatement

Troubled PBCN Councillor Pushes For Reinstatement

Friday, August 08, 2008 at 15:12

A suspended band councillor with the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation doesn’t feel he’s getting a fair shake.

Thomas Sewap was charged with assaulting a fellow band councillor back in February — and was subsequently put on a paid leave by the band’s chief and council and a council of elders.

It’s the third time in his years as a band councillor that he’s been charged with assault. The other two instances resulted in convictions.

But Sewap is upset that he can’t help the band members he was elected to represent — and claims many of them still don’t know he has been suspended.

He also says he’s innocent until proven guilty — and doesn’t feel the band has the right to keep him on suspension indefinitely.

Sewap says because the band operates under a band custom election act, instead of the Indian Act, he can’t take his case to Indian Affairs.

Peter Ballantyne Chief Darrell McCallum has been unavailable for comment.