The administration offices for the Ts'il Kaz Koh First Nation in Burns Lake are still closed today, as they have been all week.
Chief Albert Gerow said Tuesday night that he had opted to close the offices for the duration of this week and would be in consultation with the opponents about resuming office duties without disruption after the Easter long weekend.
Gerow said he was concerned about personal safety of the staff and elected leaders after a fight broke out on Monday when councillor Dan George arrived to find the protest underway. He and Ryan Tibbetts, the second place finisher in the 2012 election for chief, became physical with one another.
An elder-led group from within the Burns Lake band nailed boards over the door into the Ts'il Kaz Koh offices on Monday, and papered the walls with protest posters. They blockaded the administration offices out of frustration, they said, over a lack of consultation on major business initiatives the band's leaders were pursuing, and in a perceived lack of inclusion of elected councillor Ron Charlie.
It isn't the first time the two sides have been at odds. Police have been called on more than one occassion this year to prevent altercations.
"Since the last election there is a group of about 20 people that are not content with the service councillor Dan George and I are providing and they are making the work we do very difficult," Gerow said. "It is disappointing to see them bent on destroying our chances of success instead of working with us towards success - not only for the band but the whole community. We have been working incredibly hard to help not only our community but the whole community of the Lakes District at large."
Gerow said he and band staff have been a large part of the rebuild initiative for the Babine Forest Products sawmill, which was destroyed by an explosion and fire about 14 months ago. The mill is located on band property, employs many band members and part of the decision to rebuild was based on Ts'il Kaz Koh's ability to provide a future timber supply.
Another positive economic step, said Gerow, is the band's proposal to build a manufacturing facility for mobile buildings - the buildings needed by resource companies for wilderness camps. Mining, forestry and energy exploration companies are facing long wait lists for these portable accommodation structures.
Opponents expressed fear over the $15 million startup cost and protesters were angry Gerow and his supporters would put the band into that kind of debt on a business venture.
"We are approaching the camp manufacturing industry to find joint venture opportunities," said Gerow. "It won't be the band on the hook for that amount. The band would be doing things like providing the real estate and other in-kind contributions as our share of that startup, and other partners would cover the rest of the costs with their contributions."
Gerow and senior Ts'il Kaz Koh administration are also working to rebuild a band-owned motel that deteriorated years ago. The capital cost is prohibitive, but the spinoff benefits would be significant, said Gerow, so talks are underway to establish a contract for housing the construction crew needed soon to build the new Burns Lake & District Hospital, thereby minimizing the price tag for the 40-unit hotel.
The protesters also had a beef with Gerow's apparent approval of the Pacific Trails natural gas pipeline proposed to run from north of Prince George at Summit Lake to Kitimat. Gerow explained that all the band has so far done is host an information night for members at which the proponent company, Apache Canada, made their case. Also, the band has signed on to a 15-band limited partnership agreement for the preliminary stages of the proposal's development, said Gerow, to take advantage of benefits like industrial training for band members to boost employability.
Band members involved in the office blockade believe Gerow might be smoothing the way for Enbridge to build through their traditional territory but the chief denies that allegation.
"Our position with the Enbridge Gateway pipeline is we are not speaking in favour or against it," Gerow said. "We are waiting for the completion of the joint review panel and we will review the evidence and hold discussions with band members about that after that. We have not given Enbridge any indication of support. We are waiting to see the science."
A lot of the anger by the protester contingent centres on their allied councillor Ron Charlie being excluded from information and decision-making power; also from lack of transparency with general membership.
"If he asks, he is given information. As a councillor he has full access. He has full ability to review anything he wants, and with our financial officer Kim Sam available to answer any questions," Gerow said, adding that there are weekly Monday morning meetings to which all are invited to attend. If members cannot attend in person, advocates like councillor Charlie can, but his personal attendance and his participation in most council duties has been lacking, said Gerow.
The protesters are also calling for a full investigation of band finances and electoral proprieties by the federal government's Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
