Pubdate: Sat, 07 Jan 2012
Source: Regina Leader-Post (CN SN)
Section: Page A5
Copyright: 2012 The Leader-Post Ltd.
Contact: http://www.leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/letters-to-the-editor.html
Website: http://www.leaderpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/361
Author: Jason Warick, The StarPhoenix

THREE FACE BANISHMENT FROM SASKATCHEWAN'S LARGEST FIRST NATION

Saskatchewan's largest First Nation has been banishing drug dealers 
and others for decades, with three more facing exile next week.

"They were causing a lot of problems in the community," Lac la Ronge 
Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson said Friday.

"It's for the safety of the community."

The issue of banishment made headlines nationally after the council 
of the Samson Cree Nation in Alberta passed a resolution approving 
the practice, but Saskatchewan First Nations including Fishing Lake, 
Cowessess, Mistawasis and others have been doing it for years.

Cook-Searson, who spent eight years as a councillor before being 
elected chief six years ago, said an average of two or three people 
have been banished by Lac la Ronge councils for decades. Sometimes, 
the person is banned from only one of Lac la Ronge's six reserve 
communities. At other times, the individual is banished from them all.

"It's been in place for a long time," she said.

One or more of Lac la Ronge's 10,000 members typically lay a 
complaint with the council or the RCMP. Police handle the most 
serious cases such as homicides or serious assaults. Other instances 
such as chronic mischief, bootlegging or drug dealing can lead to 
banishment, Cook-Searson said. Most people are given warnings before 
it leads to that severe action, she said.

Half of the 12-member council, plus the chief, must vote to approve 
banishment in each case. RCMP serve the subject with the resolution, 
telling the person how much time he or she has to leave or escorting 
the individual off the reserve.

Cook-Searson said the band has a good relationship with the RCMP and 
has worked with police on the issue.

Next week, council will vote on banishing three people, two for 
chronic public drunkenness and accosting people, and another for 
issuing threats.

The banishments do not have to be permanent, she said.

The person can apply to have the resolution reversed if he or she has 
shown remorse and is willing to make amends.

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations vicechief Bobby Cameron 
said the FSIN supports communities that use banishment as one safety tool.

In Cameron's home community, the Witchekan Lake First Nation near 
Spiritwood, other measures have been taken against suspected drug dealers.

"We let them know we were watching them," he said, adding Witchekan 
Lake officials also provided the names to the RCMP. The dealers left 
without formal banishment.

He said most of the more than 70 First Nations in Saskatchewan have a 
strategy that includes prevention, education and other principles of 
restorative justice. Many reserves are patrolled by First Nations 
"peacekeepers," who act as security officers, but also mediate 
conflict and serve other functions.

"Each community will do what they see fit. Some of our communities 
have been hit hard," he said.

Cameron said First Nations and outside agencies such as police, 
educators, social workers and others need to develop more links.

"We have to come to a better working relationship," Cameron said. "It 
is improving, but we have to do more."

He said there will always be problems until the underlying issues 
such as housing and poverty are addressed.

"It takes a whole community to come up with the solutions," Cameron said.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development spokesperson Michelle 
Perron said the department has no record of Saskatchewan First 
Nations passing banishment laws, but First Nations are not required 
to file all such resolutions with the federal government.
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