Accusations fly in Fort Liard
RCMP lay charges of arson in days before contentious election; returning officer encourages band members to vote
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Monday, May 15, 2017
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
Acho Dene Koe First Nation members head to the polls May 15 to select a chief and council, capping a contentious election.
Gene Hope, Cathy Kotchea, Frank Kotchea Sr. and Herbie Berreault were running for chief while 16 were running for five council seats.
Among the council candidates was Harry Deneron, who was suspended as chief earlier this year.
More than 500 members were eligible to vote.
In the run up to the vote, Fort Liard RCMP received several complaints, including an apparent arson attempt, threats and a break and enter at a business.
Police have charged a youth with break and enter and arson. The youth cannot be named.
As well, a 19-year-old from Fort Liard was charged with break and enter and arson and an 18-year-old from Fort Liard was charged with arson.
A CBC report quoting candidates linked several of the cases to the election, though RCMP would not confirm a connection.
RCMP civilian spokesperson Marie York-Condon stated "the events were isolated" and investigations are ongoing.
A complaint of uttering threats, she stated, was investigated but no charges were laid.
Three candidates running in the election were been re-instated after initial disqualification.
When the band released an initial list of candidates running for the positions of chief and council, Cathy Kotchea, Steve Kotchea and Peter Bertrand were all disqualified.
There are numerous reasons nominees can be disqualified from running.
Some examples are if they have a recent criminal record or owe money to Acho Dene Koe First Nation.
Heather Coakwell, a returning officer who was brought in by the band for the purposes of helping with the election, previously told News/North the change was made after consultation with the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and federal Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
"We were using guidelines as best we could, but there was conflicting information on different members," she said.
"Now I've dotted all my i's and crossed all my t's here today to make sure everything is right."
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada has a list of eligible voters, which has been posted in Fort Liard, she added.
The election will be held at the band office, with advance polls having been held on May 12.
Shortly after the original candidates list was released, all three who were disqualified wrote separate letters which were posted on bulletin boards in the community declaring their intentions to campaign anyway.
Those letters alleged "dirty politics," personal attacks and bullying had been taking place against the three candidates, and condemned their disqualifications as an attack on their rights.
Their initial disqualification and subsequent reinstatement also kicked up a social media storm on Fort Liard's Facebook page, where band members took to their keyboards to express displeasure or satisfaction with the decisions.
Coakwell also weighed in on that page, encouraging band members to vote in the election and stressing that the community as a whole should look at bringing in a ratified election code.
Coakwell said the band members will make their own choice once election day rolls around.
"I personally believe the members of Acho Dene Koe First Nation will decide what's best for them overall as a community, in the true essence of democracy," she told News/North.
"I believe even though it seems like a process right now, in the end it's a valid process."
- with files from April Hudson
