Elders, programming suffering after Carry the Kettle First Nation's band money frozen
CBC
An internal governance dispute is now impacting people in Carry the Kettle First Nation directly.
A statement published by Chief Scott Eashappie on July 12 said the community, located about 100 kilometres east of Regina, lost control of its trust and source revenue assets from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
"I am aware of the financial constraints and negative impacts these decisions will cause on our band members, both urban and on-reserve," his statement read.
"Chief and Council will continue to advocate for other sources of revenue to help offset some of these annual costs taken on by Carry the Kettle Band on behalf of our members."
The statement said areas like sports and recreation, funeral assistance, elder's utility bills and the 2023 powwow were put on hold or cancelled. Eashappie's statement said areas like health, education and Treaty Land Entitlement would still be funded.
Eashappie said ISC was taking control of the money due to a legal dispute involving two councillors who were previously removed from their positions.
Terinna Bellegarde and Joellen Haywahe were removed from office last year and Carry The Kettle organized a byelection to fill their vacancies.
They challenged their removal through the courts, which in January 2023 ruled that their removal and the planned byelection was to be stayed.
But the band continued ahead with the byelection in February 2023 — effectively replacing Bellegarde and Haywahe on council — and was found to be in contempt of court for doing so.
On Thursday in an emailed statement to CBC News, Indigenous Services Canada confirmed the band's internal governance dispute was impacting its ability to meet the requirements to access its money.
"It is important to note that funding related to the funding agreement between Carry the Kettle First Nation and Indigenous Services Canada has not been halted or reduced," the ISC statement said.
"No programs or services provided by Indigenous Services Canada have been impacted."
In a correspondence between ISC and Carry the Kettle reviewed by CBC News, the department said it was unable to process band council resolutions it received from Carry the Kettle, as those documents included signatures by people who were not duly elected members of council.
Eashappie declined multiple requests for comment about this story.
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