Burns Lake Band (BLB) councillor Ron Charlie, former BLB chief Robert Charlie, and approximately 20 other members of the band gathered at the BLB offices on Feb. 5, 2013, to protest what they see as a lack of transparency in band management and finances.
“A lot of out members are really concerned with their leadership,” counc. Charlie said. “I had a lot of hope when I got on as councillor. Since day one I’ve wanted transparency and community involvement.”
On behalf of signatories to a petition calling for the resignation of Chief Albert Gerow and counc. Dan George, counc. Charlie expressed a lack of good faith in Gerow and George.
Gerow and George were on hand for the protest and silently listened to Charlie deliver his statement.
Charlie believes that Gerow and George have failed to address the needs and concerns of those living on-reserve in Burns Lake, and that band finances require closer scrutiny.
“Therefore,” said Charlie, “We ask for the resignation of Albert Gerow and Dan George from the offices and related band businesses, and also a review by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada into the finances and conduct of the Burns Lake Band.
According to Gerow and George, the BLB is being managed and led in a open and transparent manner. George cited public community meetings which have been held on the third Tuesday of every month since last November.
While Tuesday’s protest forced the cancellation of the February meeting, the previous months’s meeting was cancelled due to a lack of participants.
“In January, nobody showed up,” said Gerow.
Gerow noted that the purpose of the Feb. 5 meeting was to have been to outline the progress that the BLB has made on many economic and social fronts, including a report on a pending feasibility study regarding a BLB initiative to develop a camp trailer manufacturing facility in the Burns Lake area.
Besides monthly community meetings, Gerow said that there are other opportunities for band members to find out what band council and staff are involved in.
“A calendar of staff and council activity is posted in the band office for all to see,” Gerow said.
Gerow denies that there are any financial irregularities with band finances and he points to independent financial audits reviewed by the federal Department of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs which show no anomalies.
The BLB’s funding service officer with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development confirmed that no irregularities exist in the financial or program auditing of the BLB under current council leadership. It was also confirmed that no auditor concerns were noted during Gerow’s first terms as band Chief.
But Charlie said that his concerns extended beyond the band’s financial bookkeeping. He described a deep disconnect between on-reserve members of the BLB and band management.
For Charlie, the availability of meetings in band offices are not enough when band members do not feel comfortable or welcome in those offices.
“I’ve been alienated since I’ve been there [as councillor],” said Charlie.
Charlie said that he wants to move forward in a positive way, but he feels that many band members and band management are at an insurmountable impasse.
