Band Members Propose Third Party Management
Thursday, January 22, 2004 at 15:23
There’s optimism today that Black Lake band members may have finally put a bitter election dispute behind them.
The dispute divided the community in recent weeks, and prompted a number of community meetings this week.
Now, it appears community members have given Indian Affairs permission to temporarily put the band under third party management until the band holds an election to determine once and for all who will be chief and council of the First Nation.
The band has had two groups of people claiming to be Black Lake’s chief and council, and the rest of the community has apparently had enough.
Band member Ted Robillard says the community at large decided it was high time to get this dispute settled, and says there appears to be a great sense of relief in Black Lake.
Robillard says the band’s election act is being revised by community members in order to remove loopholes that added to the confusion of this recent crisis.
Robillard also says the new election will be overseen by an independent returning officer from outside the community.