Liard First Nation: Federal government tries to spur elections
No sign of election preparations, as chief and council's 3 year term winds down
The federal government is trying to "stress the importance of an election process getting underway" in Yukon's Liard First Nation.
So far, federal officials haven't been able to meet with the Chief Daniel Morris, or what remains of council. At least three members of the First Nation's four-person council have quit during Morris' term.
The remaining leadership's term ends on Dec. 16, but there is no indication that the First Nation is preparing for an election. Leaders have not held required meetings to set up an election committee, or named a returning officer as required by the First Nation's custom election code.
Until that happens, no candidate can register to run, and no work can be done to update the voters' list.
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) spokesperson Kim-Mia Pronovost says the department has been trying to remind chief and council to follow election rules, but so far it's only talked to a representative.
"The Department has been in contact with Liard First Nation Chief and Council, the elected leadership in the community, through a representative, to stress the importance of an election process getting underway as soon as possible," Pronovost wrote to CBC.
The representative is not named in INAC's correspondence, and it does not provide details of why the First Nations leaders cannot be reached directly.
INAC in Yukon declined CBC's requests for interviews, and provided written statements by email, instead.
Chief offers no comment
Only Liard First Nation councillor Roy Dick has not declared to have stepped down, whereas Don Magun, Timothy Stewart and Cindy Porter have all resigned.
Porter, when contacted by CBC for comment on this story, told CBC on Wednesday that she had quit as well.
"I'm not a part of it anymore," she shouted, before hanging up.
Chief Daniel Morris and councillor Roy Dick could not be reached for comment.
Last month, a group of citizens attempted to create their own election committee.
About 80 people invited chief Morris and councillors to a public meeting, which was overseen by Aboriginal governance consultant Neil Sterritt from B.C., who was hired to be a neutral observer.
When chief and council did not attend, the assembled members voted for a six-member election committee to start an election.
INAC says it does not recognize this group as legitimate.
"The Department has met with and heard the concerns of the citizens involved. However, the Department has no role to play in decisions pertaining to the Liard First Nation election because it is governed by the First Nation's custom election code," Pronovost wrote to CBC.
The citizens' electoral group, chaired by Deanna Stewart, has declined comment.
Controversy over finances, lack of audits
Elections aren't the only controversial issue within the Liard First Nation.
The Liard First Nation's last financial report to INAC was for the 2013-2014 year. Auditors from BDO decried a lack of documentation and said they couldn't vouch for the accuracy of numbers.
The First Nation's 2013-2014 report lists more than $800,000 each year for Chief and Council's expenses and more than $2 million yearly in administration costs, to serve a population of just over 1,000 people.
The Liard First Nation has also failed to abide by the federal First Nations' financial Transparency Act by publishing the salaries of Chief and Council.
The First Nation is currently under third-party management after falling into debt. While this status prevents the First Nation from handling federal money delivered through Health Canada or INAC, it does not change its responsibility to hold an election.
The department has not stated what its next action will be if elections do not happen as scheduled.