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EPMS protestors ordered from office
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These East Prairie residents are determined to hold a special general meeting with their council and took over the administration office Aug. 10, but were forced to leave by court order five days later. In front, from left, are Caitlyn Supernault, Payton Supernault, Karen Supernault, Del Patenaude, Adolf Klyne, Joseph Auger, Mary-Rose Auger, Bertha Riviere and Madeline Andrews. In back, from left, are Larry BigCharles, Raymond Patenaude-Supernault, Robin Supernault, Natalie Clouston, Missy Laboucan, Trisha Laboucan and Peter Patenaude.
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Mac Olsen
for South Peace News
Protestors who occupied the administration office and community centre in East Prairie Métis Settlement have been ordered to leave.
Larry BigCharles and other residents continue to oppose their council and administration. They are demanding a special general meeting with council and decided occupying the office was the only way to get their grievances addressed.
“This protest has been going on 24 days and they don’t want to give us any answers,” says BigCharles.
They took over the office Aug. 10 and locked out the staff. However, they received a court order Aug. 15 requiring them to leave the building. New locks were installed on the office doors the same day and the other doors were to have their locks changed later.
The RCMP had a presence at the building much of the time. But there were no incidents of violence or arrests, as the protestors were very peaceful and respectful towards the police, says S/Sgt. Steven Daley.
Richard Hajduk, a lawyer for the council, came to High Prairie Aug. 10 to take affidavits for the Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton. The court granted the order Aug. 14 and a private process server went to East Prairie the next day to hand out copies.
Although the protestors were ordered to leave, they will get their meeting. The Métis Settlements Ombudsman in Edmonton, John F. Brosseau, is supposed to hold a meeting with the two sides, although the date, time and location were not known as the story was going to press.
However, BigCharles is demanding exact wording before the meeting proceeds, as the order only has “general meeting,” which isn’t sufficient for him.
“We’re going to make sure the judge puts the words, ‘special general meeting’ in the order,” says BigCharles.
The protestors were to remain camped on the community centre grounds until it was confirmed.
The two sides were also to be in the Court of Queen’s Bench in Edmonton Aug. 21 to discuss the court order. The protestors had to raise $2,000 for a retainer fee for a lawyer to represent them.
Robert L’Hirondelle, the council chairperson, is disappointed the situation came to this.
“I don’t like it,” says L’Hirondelle, “but they kept upping their demands. We’re hoping the community will not be damaged beyond repair ... and once the meeting is held, the community will come together again, (with) people helping people.”
He hopes the meeting will bring finality to the grievances the protestors have made.
BigCharles and the protestors want the council to resign because they allege nepotism in hiring and question how housing applications are handled, among other things.
Adolph Klyne, an elder, says his housing application has been turned down repeatedly.
“I need a house,” says Klyne. “I’ve asked for a house for 15 years and still haven’t got one.”
Klyne also says he was told he’d have to wait for two years for a house. Then he applied and was told he’d have to wait for four years, although he has appealed his application to a tribunal. He is concerned about others in need of housing.
“A lot of people don’t have houses yet and I don’t think they’ll get anywhere. People can’t go on living like this,” says Klyne.
Bertha Riviere, another elder, is adamant the special general meeting should be held.
“We have broken promises,” says Riviere. “We need a special general meeting to deal with the houses and the budgets for 2007-2009.”
She wants to know where and how the money was spent and who receives housing.
Klyne and Riviere say it’s important for their group to take a stand for change.
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