A group of protesters remained camped out in front of the McLeod Lake Indian Band office on Friday and are expected to stay there at least through the weekend.
Blockade leader Justin Chingee said they've let through the band's accountant to issue pay cheques to band employees and they've been providing out-of-pocket cash to members in need.
"We were able to help out a few members there," he said. "They usually get financial support from the band to go get things like hemodialysis in Prince George."
The blockade has been up since last Thursday with a core group of a reported 10 people at odds with the chief and band council over the way business has been conducted.
Blockade members have claimed mismanagement and failing to get members' permission to use a portion of a revenue-sharing agreement with Thompson Creek Metals, which is building the Mount Milligan gold and copper mine, to pay their salaries after a trust fund out of the band's Treaty 8 settlement ran into trouble.
The chief and band council have obtained a court injunction ordering removal of the blockade but RCMP have chosen not to act on it, saying enforcement is not the first or only step in dealing with such disputes. The protest has remained peaceful to date, the RCMP have also noted.
Chief Derek Orr has dismissed the blockade members as a vocal minority and Chingee said Orr so far has refused to talk with them. However, Chingee indicated there is room for negotiation.
"We need to get back closer to what we believe is our traditional system so that everybody's represented and everybody can work together," Chingee said. "Basically, what that would give us is checks and balances, more eyes going over everything before they get signed off."
