Members of the Stoney Nakoda Nation have been holding public meetings to discuss being one Stoney Nakoda Nation instead of three Nakoda bands. This is an interesting development because in 1973 the Stoney electorate voted in favour of a one-band system.
That vote was held on Dec. 13, 1973, with 51.7 per cent voting in favour of uniting as one band. However, 278 people representing 39 per cent of eligible voters did not vote in that referendum.
The Stoney Nakoda Nation, for those not aware, includes the Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley First Nations. Together, they comprise the Stoney Tribal Council.
The Stoney Tribal Council signed Band Council Resolution No. 236 on Dec. 29, 1973, requesting that the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development “combine the three band membership lists as one band to be called The Stoney Indian Band which is to be represented by one chief and council.”
Based on the referendum results and the resolution of the Stoney Tribal Council, an election was called under a one-band system. On Jan. 30, 1974, the Stoney Indian Band elected Sitting Wind (Frank Kaquitts) as chief along with 12 councillors.
However, that election and referendum was challenged.
That 39 per cent of voters chose not to vote in the referendum became a point of contention. Protestors including councillors argued that:
· Traditionally, two votes (referendums) were required on vital issues.
· 260 people had signed a petition requesting time to better understand proposed changes.
· Advance polls were not made available.
· A majority of Wesley band members were opposed to the one band system, per the referendum.
· Many Wesley members did not vote in the January 30, 1974 election in protest.
On Feb. 26, 1974, nine councillors representing a majority of the Stoney Tribal Council voted to nullify the 1973 referendum and the 1974 election.
Band Council Resolution No. 245 overturned both votes and reinstated the three band system. As part of this resolution, the councillors voted to seek new direction “after the outcome of the next referendum.” However, there was no second referendum as recommended by Indian Affairs – at least not in 1974.
In accepting the reinstatement of the three-band system, Indian Affairs and Stoney Tribal Council seemingly established certain precedents. First was that each band’s electorate must approve referenda. Second was that we should be having two votes on important referendums.
The vote in council on Feb. 26, 1974, also established something else: That councillors have the collective power to outvote chiefs. Now, whether that’s considered traditional is another discussion.
I can see the financial benefit in having one chief and 12 or even six councillors.
Chief and council earned $2.8 million in 2015-2016 in salaries and expenses. In addition, there are more CEOs than there are chiefs. Something’s wrong here.
However, not all are in agreement. There are people who prefer to maintain the three-band system. There are people who wish to be one nation.
It will be an interesting debate in our community.
