By Bryan Eneas

Montreal Lake Cree Nation working to deal with those not keeping the peace

Jul 7, 2016 | 7:00 PM

Numerous First Nation communities have used banishment against problematic citizens to keep the peace and deter would-be wrong doers.

While Montreal Lake Cree Nation may not take that route this time around, it is an option chief and council may choose to exercise when dealing with a couple of unlawful citizens.

“We’ve got two band council resolutions on file,” Roger Bird, a councillor for Montreal Lake Cree Nation said. “They passed in a chief and council meeting and then through community meetings in the early 90s, and I know they’re still in place.”

Though they cannot be identified, community members have singled out the pair and has let chief and council know that it is time to act. Chief and council will be discussing the relevance of the requests at their next meeting scheduled for tomorrow.

According to Chief Edward Henderson, Montreal Lake Cree Nation will be taking input from several First Nation communities to figure out just what to do. Muskoday First Nation will be one of those communities consulting with Montreal Lake chief and council.

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“Muskoday uses the law of the land, so we are continuing to meet with the council and we hope to someday have a presentation to (our) council about how they go handling bylaw and bylaw enforcement,” Henderson said.

While Montreal Lake Cree Nation’s elders have used banishment in the past, other options are being considered for the individuals in question.

“We’re trying to find a way to help them, there’s issues behind what they’re doing so we’re trying to help them along there. It’s not just about banishment and having nothing to do with them,” Henderson said.

The community will meet with chief and council on July 19 to discuss this band council resolution, and decide where to go from there.

Bryan.Eneas@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @BryanEneas