Sunday, March 19, 2006

C-31s and the MMF election!

Tansi/Good Day Readers:

Very interesting article published on CyberSmokeSignals.com (reproduced below). Couple quick points:

(1) It's common knowledge the accuracy of MMF voters lists have been seriously called into question for a long time. Simply go to the Manitoba Appeals Court file regarding Yvon Dumont's 2004 trial challenging the results of the last Federation election (March 26, 2003). There you will find post mortem reports (as required under the bylaws) authored by former Chief Electoral Officer Alvin Hamilton decrying this very fact

(2) While associated with CSS.com, I wrote to then Indian Affairs And Northern Development Canada Minister Andy Scott asking for the names of all Manitoba C-31s registered with his Department. Essentially he replied, "Sorry that's privileged information you'll have to make application using the federal government's Access To Information Act. And one more thing - Good Luck!" So this initiative was never pursued

(3) There are reportedly something in the order of 270 plus C-31s living in the Duck Bay Federation's polling district. However, this time around it should be different. Sources tell us Yvon Dumont supporters have obtained a membership list from the Pine Creek First Nations (A stone's throw down the road from Duck Bay!) Band Council. It will now be possible to cross-reference them against the voters list

(4) BillyjoDeLaRonde, Richard DeLaRonde's uncle, is the Pine Creek First Nations' Chief. If his nephew does run against David Chartrand, he'll likely split the Duck Bay vote down the middle which can only help candidate Dumont

Here's the CyberSmokeSignals.com article.

Sincerely,
Clare L. Pieuk
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Saturday March 18, 2006

A note about being Indian!

It is important to remember that whether or not you are defined as a "status" or "registered" Indian for the purposes of the Indian Act, if you are of Aboriginal descent and identify as an Indian person you are an Indian under the Constitution Act of 1982 - the basic law that determines what the federal and provincial governments can legally do.

Whatever the Indian Act says now or in the future, if you were born of Indian descent and identify yourself as an Indian, you are an Indian. No federal or provincial law can legitimately deny your identity as an Aboriginal person, whether you are an Indian, Metis or Inuit. Also, take a gander at this site: www.gov.mb.ca/ana/apm2000/1/i.html. Read, research, conclude. My conclusion ... Bill C-31s cannot vote in MMF elections.

Sign Me,
Looking For Answers

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