ROBERT MATAS
Globe and Mail Update
The tense meeting took place in the gym on the reserve, with a security person at the door to keep the media outside and beyond hearing distance.
The band leadership had agreed to hold the meeting after an escalating protest demanded to know how millions of dollars in band funds were being spent.
Many band members said in brief interviews before the meeting that they had no idea of the band's assets or its finances.
But not everyone was pleased with how the session was proceeding. “They are talking to us like a bunch of children,” said a woman who stepped out for a smoke while the meeting continued. She did not want her name used.
Evelyn Point left the meeting early. She said the band members were not sharing a complete account of the band's finances with the members.
Officials said some of the money is going to pay debts but they are not saying how the band got in debt or who is responsible for the debts, she said.
Jim Reynolds, the band's lawyer, began the session with a summary of the recent out-of-court settlement of three court cases with. the provincial government that included a payment of $20.3-million, said another band member who walked out of the meeting.
The members were also to hear from the band's realtor, its chief financial officer and a councillor, according to a notice of the meeting distributed to the members.
Band members were to hold their remarks to the end of the meeting.
A group of band members who call themselves the Musqueam Membership Movement occupied the lobby of the band administration building on May 29 in protest over the handling of the $20.3-million payment. The group says the band council should involve the entire membership in discussions and decisions about the distribution of the funds. They also advocated a $1,000 distribution of the funds.
Band councillor
The protest escalated on June 18 after the group was locked out of the building when the protesters stepped outside for a smoke. In response, the protesters padlocked the building, effectively closing down the band government operations.
Following media reports about the real estate holdings and financial assets of the band, the dissident band members circulated a petition demanding a distribution of $5,000 to each person. The band owns a hotel and beer store, three golf courses and rental housing and leases out prime land for single-family residential housing.
The B.C. government paid $20.3-million to the Musqueam in March and April. Earlier this month, the federal government announced a payment of $17-million, no strings attached, in recognition that some activities of the 2010 Olympics would be held on the band's traditional lands. The band also received more than $800,000 from the Canada Line as compensation for the impact of a new rapid transit line on the band's fishing on the
In a three-page letter distributed before the meeting Monday night, the
They raised questions about renovations for housing with mould. They raised questions about why the reserve's safe house for children in need of protection was closed down, why the homecare program was no longer available and why the reserve does not have a drug and alcohol program. They also asked for a list of all band staff and their positions. They questioned now employees are “chosen” and who does the hiring.
In a letter distributed last week, the band councillors urged the protesters to terminate their occupation of the administration building, cease making defamatory statements about the band council and publicly apologize for statements they had made by Wednesday.