MNC – Letter writing campaign

There has been much speculation about the “sour grapes action” of the Métis Nation of British Columbia – but maybe we need to look at the letters posted on this site a few days ago and remember where this originated from.

There is a great deal of political rhetoric and smoke n’ mirrors that there needs to be some strainer trying to sift out the meaning of all of this.

The Métis Nation of British Columbia has held the path – they have worked collectively to decide what actions they will take. David and Clem in there letters have tried to indicate that the decisions around MNBC have been independent personal decisions of Bruce Dumont but in truth their Press Release clearly indicated that the decision was that of a meeting where their Board and representative of the Chartered Communities. This is a group of 40 or more people that sit collectively and represent the Métis Nation Governing Assembly (MNGA) of MNBC. Even the Provincial Board consists of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and 7 Regional Directors.

Now the question would be why would they decide that this move was in their best interest? Was it because they needed to create a new battle because Bruce Dumont did not win the leadership race? What is there motive?

Well if you spend some time looking at the previous correspondence coming from the MNBC they have held the course. Question after question and response after response has been about fair, equitable, transparent and accountable governance. Some of the recent letters in response have stirred the pot but they end with the same questions – accountability for the Métis citizens of British Columbia.

The personal attacks are abound in the documents that were sent between these parties and I for one believe that there is enough blame to go around but when it comes right down to it – fair, transparent and accountable governance is important to Métis across the homeland.

We also note that the misrepresentation of facts exists in some of the documents that are being transmitted but we already were aware that some of our leaders have distorted versions of truth that govern them. The more interesting part is that it boils down to money in most instances.

When Clem was directly asked about a law suit where we have clearly seen a ‘Statement of Claim’ and the response document a ‘Statement of Defense’ his response was, “I will address one of the issues in that letter as it relates specifically to my legal action against a number of corporate entities and individuals including yourself. I can state that I am prepared to settle the matters raised in the lawsuit amicably and in the spirit of cooperation that all of us committed ourselves to before the election.” Does that mean he advised the voting delegates at the AGM in Ottawa that he would proceed with a lawsuit and settle in a cooperative manner? The Statement of Claim is at Cybersmoke (http://cybersmokeblog.blogspot.com/2008_03_01_archive.html).

As everyone would be able to tell – I am no lawyer – but how do you sue yourself – especially now that you’re the head of the organization that you sued? Maybe it gives a new meaning to “settle the matters raised in the lawsuit amicably and in the spirit of cooperation”. Makes you think – so I should start an organization named – “Métis Mama Ride Again Inc.” – be the President - then ask for 10 million dollars in contractual agreements with the Federal Government of Canada – then sue the organization, but really only file a statement of claim – then negotiate amicably in the spirit of cooperation – then get $10 million dollars give or take a few pennies for the legal expense. Sounds like quite the deal – just speculating of course…

Now for President David Chartrand – let’s have a closer assessment of his letter – we continue to pretend that the only problem is on account of everyone but ME – cuz he is never to blame for anything. He claims he is a victim of Bruce’s bad politics and he does not know where all the money went – because Bruce was the Interim President. To my knowledge – even when Bruce was the Interim President, legal or illegal, the continuum was that David Chartrand and Dale Leclair, Chief Administrative Officer, were still signing all legal financial documents until Mr. Leclair’s resignation in early December.
Even after that the continuous legal signatory was still David Chartrand.

David even starts his letter by saying, “...apologize to you for assuming that your public assurances made to the MNC National Assembly to support whoever won the MNC Presidency were sincere”. Does that mean if you ask financial questions – you do not support the leader? Why would any leader feel like their leadership is in question if you ask for financial clarity? I believe that asking those financial questions is good governance – responsible leaders. I wonder why David thinks that asking and addressing financial concerns is undermining the MNC operations? The only people in my view that are afraid of financial questions are those that have some reason to fear them. Bruce has been asking these questions since the early fall of 2007 – these are not new questions.

David and Clem filed a a statement of claim and mediation was the result – twice - to have an annual meeting to elect a President – and somehow David misrepresents this to be – “this move was proven in court to be contrary to the By-laws of the MNC and you had no authority to do so.” Someone that knows David’s phone number should call him to explain that he obviously is delusional or someone forgot to release the court decision that indicated he had those questions answered in a court of law. The courts did not ever deal with the issues that he alleges where one side was right and the others were wrong. The court supported the Métis Nation in governing its’ own affairs and facilitated an agreed upon mediation process amongst all the individuals. David also indicated that – “the courts agreed that these individuals were the rightful representatives of the MNA delegation” – No they did not – the five Board of Governors brokered a mediated deal and that was part of the court order.

As for the MNC funding being cut – is it the chicken or the egg? Is it because some of the Board of Governors asked questions or is it because some of the people in control of the money could not answer questions? I suspect the Federal Government is looking for answers to their own questions and the fact that the answers they received were not in compliance with their contractual arrangements – the funding was suspended. Does this mean that one side or the other is bad – not necessarily – it just means the forensic audits will try to attain the answers to the questions so that further determinations can be made. In fact, this week the Minister Chuck Strahl has released some new policies from the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians.
(http://www.ainc-inac.gc.ca/nr/prs/j-a2008/2-3014-eng.asp) The policy is around strengthening Fiscal Management and Accountability. The words like transparent, accountable and responsible will have to become part of our leaders vocabulary and this does not just mean financially – it also means ethically with following through with the measures that they commit to in their agreements. Verbal drivel will not be responses to accounting for what they are suppose to achieve with results. Measures will be based on issues like the number of Métis people that are impacted – how they are impacted and demonstrated measures as to how it changed their lives.

When the question of “Detriment” is used – how subjective is that? The Métis Community Grassroots could make a case that many of our leaders are a detriment to the Métis Nation. In fact there is evidence that historically is available where Métis people in 1885 trial of Louis Riel believed he was detrimental to the cause too.

We have heard that a Board of Governors meeting is being scheduled for the last week of April – let us hope that maybe we can quit pointing fingers and have our leaders work together to find some of the solutions that will have the Métis moving forward with issues not personalities.