Idle No More organizer Steven Kakinoosit offered a half-hearted apology Monday to the leaders, elders and members of the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation.
"Idle No More-Prince George would like to make a personal apology to the members, elders and spiritual leadership of the Lheidli T'enneh for our failure to properly represent and explain the event and its intent," he said. "We also wish to apologize for not coming to the elders and spiritual leadership first, as has been our policy since day one."
A dispute erupted late last week when Idle No More expressed a desire to set up smokehouses, tents, and other traditional elements of aboriginal life at Fort George Park on Canada Day. The park was once the permanent Lheidli T'enneh townsite before Europeans came to the area.
Band and council disapproved of the Idle No More event.
Kakinoosit reiterated his personal disdain for the band's elected officials.
"We are saddened that the chief and council would make such an uncompromising stance and show an utter disdain towards members of Idle No More and what the members hope to accomplish," Kakinoosit said. "Idle No More-BC takes the position that the traditional leadership within the territories of B.C. are the hereditary chiefs, elders and spiritual leaders. The Indian Act system of government has many, many flaws and allows for nepotism, and that is something we are wholeheartedly opposed to."
Democracy, he said, was a "colonial system imposed on a society that doesn't traditionally function that way. This is causing much dysfunction in our ways and needs to change. The traditional way is based on consensus and agreement."
Idle No More-Prince George stated Monday that the events of July 1 were part of a campaign called Sovereignty Summer: Keeping the Sacred Circle of Life Strong. There would be other events under this banner, he said, including a proposed demonstration at the proposed Site C Dam location, and a youth conference in Prince George.
Band council issues a written statement standing by its decision.
"The Lheidli T'enneh chief and council cannot support the notion of having this protest," said a written statement from chief Dominic Frederick. "Out of respect, please refrain from using our territories (Indian Reserve No. 1) to advance grievances towards British Columbia and Canada.
"Lheidli T'enneh chief and council fully support the freedom and democratic right of any person to protest. That is not in dispute," the statement continued. "Out of respect for the authority of the chief and council of Lheidli T'enneh, please respect our wishes."
Kakinoosit said Idle No More wishes only to meet at Fort George Park within sight of but not in conflict with the Canada Day ceremonies and far from the Lheidli T'enneh burial site that is still maintained there.
He also intends the gathering to convene at noon and march to Connaught Hill where the rest of the Idle No More agenda for the day will be carried out, including establishing a camp. "No one will be turned away from the camp," said Kakinoosit, unless laws are broken or unsafe behaviour takes place.
Kakinoosit said all these changes should ease the minds of the Lheidli T'enneh band council about their peaceful intentions.
