The Fond du Lac band office. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Politics

Fond Du Lac band members questioning election process

Mar 30, 2021 | 5:00 PM

The Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation has a new Chief and council, but there are questions whether Friday’s election was legitimate, and whether another band election may ultimately be getting appealed. Meanwhile, the newly-elected Chief has promised to speak to the concerns.

According to results provided to paNOW, Kevin Mercredi was elected Chief with 162 votes. The band’s last census data indicates the band has a registered membership of 2,164 members – over half are living off reserve.

Ralph Chile and his family live in Edmonton, and was upset they were not offered a mail-in ballot.

“Even electronic voting would have been a hell of a lot easier and it would have reached the majority of the band,” he said.

Friday’s election was originally supposed to happen last November, but was postponed because of the pandemic, and then again in January due to an appeal. One of the concerns being raised by urban members is they were served notice on March 16, that advance polls would be held in Prince Albert in two days. The actual location was not disclosed until the day prior, and when urban members showed up to vote at 9 a.m., they discovered the doors were locked, and the time had been moved to noon.

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“We are basically kept as foreigners off of our own treaty rights, land rights and anything else that goes on up there,” Chile said, adding the younger generation needs to be involved as well.

“The people living up there are so enclosed in amongst themselves, that they don’t see the reality of what’s going on outside the band,” he said.

A photo taken of the polls notice, posted to the FDL community Facebook page on March 16. (File photo/ paNOW Staff)

Deputy Electoral Officer agrees election unfair

Deputy Electoral Officer Jules Lidguerre cited a number of issues with the election process, including poor communication to members, voters lists not being updated, and the removal of at least two appeal board members without proper procedure. Lidguerre also cited concerns with the fact the community’s own advance poll was supposed to be done on March 22, but got delayed by 24 hours.

“So the people that were working in the mine site didn’t have a chance to vote,” he said. “According to the Election Act, once the notice of an election is posted, it has be followed.”

A photo taken of the notice on the FDL band office March 22. (Submitted)

When asked about why mail-in ballots were not used, as was recently done for Muskoday, Lidguerre said he was informed by the band manager there were no funds for that.

“I don’t mind who is the leader, but a general election has to be done right according to the Election Act,” he said.

Reaction from the Elected Chief

Chief Kevin Bruce Mercredi was not available for comment Tuesday, advising paNOW he was dealing with some other important “matters.” He promised to speak to the concerns as soon as he was available to do so.

paNOW made a number of attempts by phone and email to contact Chief Electoral Officer Derek McDonald, but he has so far not responded.

History in the courts

Friday’s election comes one year after a decision out of federal court in Saskatoon, that essentially upheld an order in 2018 for the band to appoint a new appeal board and deal with allegations of corruption in the 2017 election.

Newly elected Chief Kevin Mercredi at that time ran against his cousin Louis Mercredi, but lost by two votes. Kevin Mercredi later disputed the results and alleged conflict of interest and corrupt practices.

Marco Theriault was among the candidates running for Chief in the most recent election, and informed paNOW the appeal process has started.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell