We have another Council in for Mount Currie, which will bring it through the 2010 Olympics.
We have new members and I congratulate them. I encourage the ones who did not make it to run again next time and keep up the good work.
There are concerns still high due to the fact that some old council members are still in.
Elders have very poor care, have been without heat and light — an elder asked for earth from the excavation done for the new store here and was told he had to buy it.
The health centre has gone into a deep hole, reportedly about $300,000. Members of our own nation are fired; 15 nation members under this administration in about two years.
White people still hold the highest positions, putting us back to the era when Indian Agents ran the community.
Our own nation children and women struggle while a fully white person runs our governance portfolio and heads the membership code.
In a multi-cultural society, the above two points might not matter. In Lil’wat it does. We are constantly required to prove our blood connection and our attachment to the land, so blood is important.
Cultural interpretations are made to satisfy tourism rather than be authentic.
Council portfolio reporting is poorly done or never done.
Council hides behind in-camera and executive council sessions, thereby hiding public information from its citizens.
Rumours say the Council wants to sell our recently regained land.
(And these are but a few.)
There was a time in my memory that there was leadership in Council. Now there is only politics, political favours, coercion and job threats to maintain the status quo. Factions are encouraged. In spite of all the talk of holistic health (and) teaching of the four directions, many people are left standing and disregarded at such events as this. We are reduced from an egalitarian society to one of in-fighting and disrespect. The legacy of residential school thrives here through lateral violence. The one emotion shown freely is anger.
The Chief now refers to this as “my council.” This is a Council of all the people, whether or not they voted for you. Good governance is one that administers for the greater good. Accountability must be for all in public office; disclosure must be brought forward from all Council members.
In my opinion the members of the old Chief and Council do not represent good government; their actions in the past are sorely lacking in showing this where it counts and that is to its people.
I hope and pray that the new Council members will make the changes that they say they want for and with the people.
Maureen Andy
Mount Currie