By Spencer Sterritt

Tensions rise at Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation

Nov 25, 2015 | 3:50 PM

Members of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) are calling for the ousting of urban councillor Warren McCallum.

Band member Rene Ballantyne coordinated protestors outside the Administration Building on the Joe Custer Reserve while elders met inside with McCallum.

A petition for his removal has received just over 300 signatures.

Though Ballantyne said he has many issues with McCallum, he was there to protest his inability to produce a criminal background check to the elders.

“He’s denying it. He doesn’t want to show his criminal record to the elders and it says you’re supposed to,” Ballantyne said.

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The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation Election Code of 2014 states that no candidate who has been convicted of a criminal offense within five years is eligible, and therefore they must present a criminal record check within 72 hours of being nominated.

A candidate can fill out a self-declaration form saying they have not been convicted within the last five years, which must be signed by an elder.

McCallum filled his out, according to Ballantyne, but he maintains that McCallum should have been fired on the spot when he couldn’t produce his criminal background check.

The election code continues to say a candidate must still undertake a criminal background check even if they filled out the self-declaration form, but it does not stipulate when it must be submitted to the Head Electoral Officer.

This is not the only grievance Ballantyne and his supporters wanted to raise.

A letter to PBCN Chief Peter Beatty and the council of elders argues that McCallum has not properly informed band members about policies, has ignored their concerns, and does not promote or support urban band members.

The petition also claims McCallum was suspended from office in Feb. 2014 for three weeks, and hasn’t told band members why he was suspended. They believe it should be a matter of public record. 

They asked all spending be suspended until the matter was dealt with, on the basis that they don’t know what the money is being spent on.

To file a complaint against a PBCN councillor, a petition must be signed by 25 per cent of the affected electors. Bella Ratt, who was with Ballantyne, said they received 300 out of 1,000 signatures, and have more than enough to take the matters to the chairperson of the PBCN Council of Elders.

Elder Eli Natewayes marched into the Administration Building during the elder’s meeting, questioning why McCallum hadn’t been removed, and why he was attending an elder’s meeting.

He was told that the elders were dealing with the problem, and would be hosting a public forum Dec. 2 at the Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre.

PBCN Chief Peter Beatty said he could not comment on the matter at this time.

Warren McCallum could not be reached for comment.

–with files from Nigel Maxwell

ssterritt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit