Another acrimonious council meeting ended with a surprise as Six Nations councillors potentially voted themselves out of office. After often rancourous debate and split decisions on controversial topics, many of the 12 councillors agreed that the publicly divided council should cut its losses and look into calling an early election. "What have we done?" asked Chief Coun. David General. "We couldnt even complete our vision plan and I dont want to inflict another 14 months of this on the community." A vote to have electoral officer Bob Johnson make a presentation to the council on how an early election could be arranged was passed, but only by a 7-5 vote. "From Day 1 weve been a split council and the community is sick of it," said Coun. George Montour. "Were not a healthy council," said Coun. Melba Thomas. "Weve had swear words around this council and some who wanted to bop Dave General in the head so I recommend professional help." "We dont need professional help," countered Coun. Levi White. "We need an election." "This council is not doing anything," agreed a regular attendee from the gallery. "You should call a new election because this council is just fighting all the time. You hear it on the street, in the coffee shops, in the grocery store. Im so sick of it. Get the heck out and well get a new council." The current band council was sworn into office in December 2004. The decision came after a antagonistic debate about the chiefs political adviser, Darrell Doxtdator. A motion was put forward during an in camera session last week that the band should stop paying Doxtdators salary and travel expenses, but General refused to accept the motion, preferring to air the issue in an open session. stopped paying advisor Coun. Helen Miller, who was accused of trying to undermine General and his office, insisted that if the chief wanted a political adviser, the band shouldnt have to fund him. General and others retorted that Miller constantly breaks the confidentiality oath she signed. Many councillors said they were offended when the chiefs adviser swore during an August meeting, but others said they understood he was commenting on something former Ontario premier Mike Harris reportedly said about natives. Miller said she felt so threatened by Doxtdator that she went to a womens shelter and talked to counsellors there who told her, she said, that Doxtdator and the chief have anger management problems. Doxtdator, a lawyer, was also accused of wearing shorts to work, even though he had been asked to dress more professionally. "Darrells abusive behaviour, his temper tantrums, profanity and refusal to follow the dress code are grounds for dismissal," Miller said. Some councillors said they had no problems with Doxtdator, while others felt Millers motions were another attempt to undermine General. Some councillors worried that stopping Doxtdators pay would lead to a lawsuit and talked of getting legal advice but, after voting 7-5 to stop funding any travel expenses, the same voters went on to stop his cheques. "Dont you need a legal opinion?" queried someone in the gallery. "They dont care," responded General, waving at the seven councillors who pushed the motion through. "Were not firing him," insisted Miller. "Give me a break!" said General. Miller then went on say that councillors were having trouble finding out if the chief was following through on motions made in council, writing letters council requested and setting up meetings. She put forward a motion that all correspondence being sent out by the chiefs office should be copied to all the councillors and that his office start providing a monthly motion/resolution status report. "She makes it sound like nothing is reported on and I disagree," said General. But the motion passed, again 7-5.

Six Nations eyes early election; Elected band council says it's too divided to get work done, needs fresh start

Susan Gamble
Brantford Expositor
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Another acrimonious council meeting ended with a surprise as Six Nations councillors potentially voted themselves out of office.

After often rancourous debate and split decisions on controversial topics, many of the 12 councillors agreed that the publicly divided council should cut its losses and look into calling an early election.

"What have we done?" asked Chief Coun. David General. "We couldn't even complete our vision plan and I don't want to inflict another 14 months of this on the community."

A vote to have electoral officer Bob Johnson make a presentation to the council on how an early election could be arranged was passed, but only by a 7-5 vote.

"From Day 1 we've been a split council and the community is sick of it," said Coun. George Montour.

"We're not a healthy council," said Coun. Melba Thomas. "We've had swear words around this council and some who wanted to 'bop Dave General in the head' so I recommend professional help."

"We don't need professional help," countered Coun. Levi White. "We need an election."

"This council is not doing anything," agreed a regular attendee from the gallery.

"You should call a new election because this council is just fighting all the time. You hear it on the street, in the coffee shops, in the grocery store. I'm so sick of it. Get the heck out and we'll get a new council."

The current band council was sworn into office in December 2004.

The decision came after a antagonistic debate about the chief's political adviser, Darrell Doxtdator.

A motion was put forward during an in camera session last week that the band should stop paying Doxtdator's salary and travel expenses, but General refused to accept the motion, preferring to air the issue in an open session.

stopped paying advisor

Coun. Helen Miller, who was accused of trying to undermine General and his office, insisted that if the chief wanted a political adviser, the band shouldn't have to fund him.

General and others retorted that Miller constantly breaks the confidentiality oath she signed.

Many councillors said they were offended when the chief's adviser swore during an August meeting, but others said they understood he was commenting on something former Ontario premier Mike Harris reportedly said about natives.

Miller said she felt so threatened by Doxtdator that she went to a women's shelter and talked to counsellors there who told her, she said, that Doxtdator and the chief have anger management problems.

Doxtdator, a lawyer, was also accused of wearing shorts to work, even though he had been asked to dress more professionally.

"Darrell's abusive behaviour, his temper tantrums, profanity and refusal to follow the dress code are grounds for dismissal," Miller said.

Some councillors said they had no problems with Doxtdator, while others felt Miller's motions were another attempt to undermine General.

Some councillors worried that stopping Doxtdator's pay would lead to a lawsuit and talked of getting legal advice but, after voting 7-5 to stop funding any travel expenses, the same voters went on to stop his cheques.

"Don't you need a legal opinion?" queried someone in the gallery.

"They don't care," responded General, waving at the seven councillors who pushed the motion through.

"We're not firing him," insisted Miller.

"Give me a break!" said General.

Miller then went on say that councillors were having trouble finding out if the chief was following through on motions made in council, writing letters council requested and setting up meetings.

She put forward a motion that all correspondence being sent out by the chief's office should be copied to all the councillors and that his office start providing a monthly motion/resolution status report.

"She makes it sound like nothing is reported on and I disagree," said General.

But the motion passed, again 7-5.