This story is the third of a five-part interview series where CJDC-TV sat down with former Blueberry River First Nation’s (BRFN) Chief Judy Desjarlais to discuss the challenges faced by the First Nation.
In part three, Desjarlais provides opinion on attempts by some Apsassin elders to remove their elected family councillor Shelley Gauthier.
“From what I see, the elders have spoken they’re unhappy, says former Blueberry River First Nations Chief Judy Desjarlais. “From what I read, they lost confidence in their representative and she’s failed to consult with them on major decisions that were being made.”
As previously reported by CJDC-TV, in November of last year, some Apsassin family elders initiated the process of removing Gauthier as their representative.
They accused her of bylaw violations, lack of accountability, conflict of interest, and failure to perform duties, among other issues, according to documents that accompanied a petition provided by Clarence Apsassin.
“Our councillor Shelly Gauthier did not unite the Apsassin family, it separated us. So, we have off-reserve people and on-reserve people barking at each other when we simply -- her job is to reunite us to try to work together and go forward,” said Apsassin during a impromptu press conference held with local media.
He also made it clear at the time that Gauthier’s removal was in no way tied to the ousting of Desjarlais, whose federal judicial review remains ongoing.
However, the petition, that gathered signatures that represented over half of the electors in the family, according to Apsassin, failed to follow the proper procedure under the band’s 2017 Custom Election Code. It led the Nation to release an official statement calling reports of Gauthier’s removal false.
Desjarlais says that the Custom Code is one of the reasons for the dysfunction between council and the elders, and changes need to be made to help restore balance. Councillor Sherry Dominic agreed in part, telling CJDC that the council is aware that certain sections are in need of an amendment.
On January 9th, discussions took place with a formal petition package delivered to Councillor Linda Chipesia, but whether it meets the threshold is yet to be determined by the council.
According to Desjarlias, it will be heard during a January 27th council meeting ‘pending the result of a third-party legal firm’ handling the process. Council could not confirm a date.
However, there remains the accusations against Gauthier, who defends her record as family councillor.
“The reason why they have stopped supporting me and are asking for my removal is, more than a year ago, not only myself, but three other council members -- we didn’t walk in the same direction, I guess, as former Chief Judy Dejarlias,” said Gauthier.
Gauthier argues that the issues became so contentious at one point that she had to stop holding monthly meetings ‘about’ a year ago for her own safety.
“I was being harassed. I was being bullied verbally -- also through email. So it wasn’t just it wasn’t safe to continue the monthly meetings,” she said.
Despite the noise created around her removal, she says council will continue to move forward, and support for her remains strong among her family grouping as well as within the Nation.
“I actually really encourage other members in my family grouping and the Nation to start speaking out against a lot of this because it really is only Clarence —Judy, a small percentage of them,” said Gauthier.
She remains on the council, taking a clear stance that she’s done nothing wrong, and continues to do her job.
Desjarlais says, that although she does not want to speak for Gauthier, ‘that in a perfect world,’ she should have stepped aside and let the elders sort it out, adding that it would be the honourable thing to do to prevent further turmoil for the First Nation.
Tomorrow, we will look at the Blueberry River Resources and the issues that led to firings and more controversy for the Nation.