Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 03/00) - The struggle for leadership continues at the Metis Nation-NWT with the recent attempt to freeze nation assets.

Nation president George Morin said the CIBC branch in Yellowknife refused to cash employee's mid-month paycheques because of actions taken by a disgruntled former member in an attempt to dethrone Morin as Nation president.

Morin said Richard Lafferty -- director of the Mackenzie Metis Nation -- has attacked his staff and has referred the action to legal council. Further, Morin is calling for an early annual general assembly in June, to "settle the matter once and for all."

"In the process of Richard Lafferty trying to overthrow my leadership and come in the back door, he has hurt innocent people and that is inexcusable," Morin said. "He's taken food off the tables of single mothers and people with mortgages and kids to feed.

"For him to do something like this tells me he has no regard for innocent people," he said. "How can he sleep at night? He'll step on them in order to get what he perceives as the ultimate Holy Grail -- he wants the leadership and he'll stop at nothing to get that."

Morin said Lafferty and a few other C-31 status Indians are trying to gain control of the Metis Nation by side-stepping the democratic process.

"I am now requesting that the assembly be called for June," he said. "I'm requesting that any Metis who wish to form an annual general assembly committee, to review and accept constitutional changes and administrative policy changes."

Morin is urging the membership to phone in, fax or write in recommendations to the nation as to changes in a constitution he says is woefully out of date.

"I've inherited an administrative policy and constitutional bylaws that needs major work," he said. "The way it's now set up leads to divisiveness and we can no longer work in that environment."

The president says he cannot call a meeting of the board, when the board's membership is, in itself, in conflict with the constitution.

"On one hand, how can I call a board meeting when I have to adhere to the constitutional bylaws that recognizes that the board itself is in dispute," he said. "Someone has to steer the ship and I'm that captain.

"And as captain, I'm going to ensure that my staff are looked after, that we set a vision for the future."

He says the status Metis can attend meetings, but cannot receive benefits or vote on resolutions, because, ultimately, that will lead to conflict.

"They are more than welcome, because how you practise your culture is not at question," he said. "But to receive benefits under the hospices of Metis, is questionable."

There's going to be conflicts if they are voting members; at the local level, the regional level and the territorial level," Morin assured.

While Morin has approached the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development with the situation his people face, he says he has yet to meet with the minister.

"I'm still waiting for an opportunity to meet with the minister to discuss some of the internal, territorial and national issues," Morin said.

For now, Morin said the gloves are off and everything will be handled through legal council, but hopes it won't take a court case to settle the differences.

"The way I look at it, is, 'Why spend the money in court?'" Morin said. "If we can just come together and make these changes properly and democratically the legal fees aren't necessary.

"I came in here to do a job; to make our organization credible, accountable and transparent," he said. "It's unfortunate that certain individuals don't like change."

It comes down to democracy, Morin says and until a vote is held, nothing will change.

"It's business as usual at the Metis Nation," Morin assured. "At the AGA, I will put my leadership on the floor and Mr. Lafferty can challenge it then and there," he said.

"I know we have more commonalities than differences and I would hope that the Metis people who are now silent out there, will instruct their locals to ensure the proper, democratic principals are upheld."

Richard Lafferty could not be reached for comment at press time and the CIBC refused to comment.