Three Prince Albert Métis locals have issues with the current regional leadership but the regional body says protocols haven't been followed. (Michael Joel-Hansen/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

Métis Nation Saskatchewan

Letter outlines grievances with regional Métis leadership

Feb 24, 2020 | 5:10 PM

Three Métis locals in Prince Albert say they are being disenfranchised and have concerns about accountability, while representatives with the regional body dispute this.

In a three-page letter addressed to Métis Nation – Saskatchewan (MN-S) president Glen McCallum the presidents of locals seven, 109 and 269 allege they have been excluded from receiving funding and their voices have been marginalized.

“To date our locals haven’t received anything, and it is time if they want to work with us, we should be at the table,” Darlene McKay, president of Métis local seven told paNOW.

A specific area of contention for the three locals is funding for the Urban Programming for Indigenous Peoples Program (UPIP). In the letter the three leaders say they have been excluded from this program. McKay said her local represents over 3,000 people, which makes it all the more crucial for them to have money available.

“We need resources like everybody else and to date they’ve gotten a lot of money and you know we haven’t even got a paper, a pen, a stamp, not a thing from MN-S, we run our local on our own dime,” she said.

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McKay added her organization filled out the necessary paperwork and went through the proper channels in order to get approved. In the letter all three presidents also express concern about financial transparency and how certain money has been spent.

McKay said her local has yearly meetings as is required. Sheila Andrews, president of Métis Local 109 said her local is also doing what they’re supposed to on this front.

“We all just had meetings and if we need elections, we’ve done elections,” she said.

The local presidents – including Pat Bellaisle of Local 269- said they want to return to the regional table and for the MN-S constitution to be followed.

Regional organization responds to complaints

Meanwhile, Sherry McLennan, regional director for Western Region Two, which includes P.A., said the local organizations have not been treated unfairly.

“These people have not been disenfranchised, not at all, they just need to follow proper protocol to get them to the table,” she said.

McLennan explained the three locals did not place public advertisements for annual general meetings at the proper times. She said they also did not invite the regional director to their meetings, nor have they provided all the proper documentation. This includes minutes and membership lists.

McLennan said the presidents of the three locals are not recognized by the region as they have not gone through the proper election processes.

“These people have just not been able to come to the table because they don’t want to follow the rules,” she said.

The director said they want to see accountability and transparency from the locals. She added the regional office’s financials are open for members to see.

Jeff Johnette, who is president of Métis Local 113, and speaks on behalf of the region board said the provincial organization is guided by a constitution and locals are expected to follow certain rules. He said the three P.A. groups have not met certain requirements.

“At this point we are not allowing them to be part of the group,” he said.

Johnette said the locals have been sent an official letter telling them what they need to do to re-join.

In regards to the UPIP program, Johnette said the regional board sat down and divided up the money. He said when this was done, they kept the P.A. locals, the three biggest in the region, in mind.

“We made a motion to set aside a proportionally fair amount to them, its around $80,000 each,” he said.

Johnette added the money for the P.A. locals is currently in a bank account and will be available for them when they meet certain requirements. He said the regional organization cannot spend the money.

In terms of overall financial transparency, Johnette said the regional body has protocols in place and knows where money has been spent.

“We can account for every penny,” he said.

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn