Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jan 13/06) - Aboriginal leaders in Fort Simpson are opposed to the village council's decision to hold a liquor plebiscite.

Village council has organized a vote on the community's liquor restrictions that will coincide with the federal election on Jan. 23.

Keyna Norwegian: not happy with village calling for a liquor plebiscite.

"I'm not happy with it at all," said Chief Keyna Norwegian of the Liidlii Kue First Nation.

Norwegian said it is inappropriate for the village council to assume they have the right to call a vote on an issue that affects so many First Nations people. The village should have had the courtesy to come to the band first, said Norwegian.

She is also concerned that the surrounding communities will not have a say, even though a decision to remove the restrictions would affect them.

"Their voices are not going to be heard," said Norwegian.

Even in Fort Simpson, the village's plebiscite will not represent the wishes of First Nations people because few go to village elections, said Norwegian. She admitted that she hasn't voted in elections held by the village in the past.

In June 2003 the Liidlii Kue First Nation members held their own liquor plebiscite. The outcome was close with 50 per cent of votes in favour of removing the restrictions and 49 per cent against. But the next day the band office received a lot of calls from voters who said they read the question wrong and were actually voting to keep the restrictions, she said.

If the village votes to remove the liquor restrictions but the voter turn out is low the band will speak against the decision, said Norwegian.

Marie Lafferty, president of the Fort Simpson Metis Nation, also disagrees with the plebiscite.

Lafferty was a member of the committee that worked towards getting the liquor restriction put in place in the late 1970s. One of the driving reasons was 35 deaths related to alcohol in five years in the area, said Lafferty.

"We'd had enough," she said.

Lafferty would like the restrictions left at their current levels.

"I think where it's at now is good because some people do have a problem with alcohol," she said.

The decision to hold another liquor plebiscite was made so community members can have a say on being rationed, said Mayor Raymond Michaud.

Fort Simpson and Norman Wells are the only two rationed communities in the Northwest Territories, Michaud pointed out.

Michaud argued that rations have been proved ineffective. Educating people to drink responsibly and making drinking a socially unacceptable action like smoking are better answers, he said.

"You're not going to solve the liquor problem by putting a ration on it," he said.

Michaud suggested that band members should be encouraged to vote.

"If her members are so adamant about keeping the rationing system they should go out and vote," said Michaud.

Regardless of the outcome, Michaud is looking for a clear message. If the community votes strongly to keep the restrictions it will become a dead issue, he said.

"That's all I'm asking for, that the population should have a say," said Michaud.