Women plan overthrow at Manitoba First Nation

Paul Gackle, Canwest News Service Published: Thursday, July 10, 2008
National Post

ROSEAURIVER, Man. -- A group of women upset by how the predominantly male leaders of the Roseau First Nation managed band funds planned to take over the band office Thursday.

The women of the First Nation vowed to impeach Chief Terry Nelson and his council, claiming they have refused to be accountable to the people of Roseau River.

Last month, the reserve ran out of water because Mr. Nelson refused to pay the water bill, according to the women.

In response to the problem, other male band members approached the women -- who are the final decision-makers in this matriarchal society -- with tobacco, a symbol of spirituality, and asked them to determine the future of the band's leadership.

Linda Roberts, who helped lead the discussion, said 12 Roseau River women will assume the position of interim band leaders until regular elections are held in March.

Letters to Mr. Nelson and his four council members, Gary Roberts, Lawrence Henry, June Larocque and Keith Henry, were sent Wednesday night to inform them of their decision.

"You are further directed to cease and desist any and all actions. . . as chief. . . of the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation," the letter states.

"Your failure to abide by the directives of the traditional systems of the Anishinabe will. . . confirm your complete disrespect and dishonour to the people of the Roseau River First Nation."

The women's decision to impeach the chief is the most recent action in a series of attempts to remove Mr. Nelson and his council from leadership.

Last month, after the reserve went dry when Mr. Nelson refused to pay the band's water bill, Ms. Roberts collected roughly 200 signatures asking the minister of Indian affairs, Chuck Strahl, to remove their leadership.

In June 2007, the band's custom council, an unelected body that gives all of the 21 families on the reserve a representative in band governance, called a byelection that Nelson and his council members lost.

But Mr. Nelson is challenging the authority of the custom council in federal court. The case will be heard in December.

Meanwhile, Ms. Roberts said the women were to physically take over the leadership offices Thursday.

"We're going to lock them out," she said. "They are going to have to leave, we will not be letting these guys in."

The Roseau River women are also sending letters to Ottawa to ask the Canadian government to recognize their decision to impeach Mr. Nelson.

The Winnipeg Free Press