Protesters seek longtime chief’s resignation

More than 150 protesters gathered Tuesday outside the offices of the Liard First Nation in Watson Lake calling for the resignation of long-time Chief Liard McMillan.

More than 150 protesters gathered Tuesday outside the offices of the Liard First Nation in Watson Lake calling for the resignation of long-time Chief Liard McMillan.

First Nation members stood outside from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., when the band office closed.

In protest, members had the main administration building locked and chained but later removed them to let in staff to issue social assistance cheques to the clients.

Locks were also put on the executive council office and the learning centre.

“The message was you can no longer ignore Liard First Nation members’ requests and concerns with regards to questions they’ve been asking for a number of years,” spokesperson Vianna Abou told the Star today.

McMillan became chief of the First Nation in 2003 at the age of 26.

He was most recently re-elected in 2010, winning with 172 votes, 54 votes more than his nearest opponent.

Abou said the community is particularly concerned when it comes to the leadership’s transparency regarding the First Nation’s finances.

“What do we own and where do we stand financially?” she asks.

For example, when the Liard First Nation announced it had bought the Belvedere and the Gateway Motor Inn hotels in Watson Lake in 2007, community members were never told how much they were bought for, Abou claims.

Then, when the two hotels were sold in February 2011, again the community was not told how much they were bought for.

“This chief and council is showing non-accountability to the Liard First Nation membership by way of not informing them of their actions or of what’s taken place,” Abou said.

“I mean, it’s not done by way of a general assembly, it’s not done by way of community meetings or any type of update.

“It’s turned out to be at the point where Mr. McMillan seems to address himself as a dictator, and members have had enough.”

The group is calling its own general assembly from July 17 to 20 in Watson Lake.

This will come a month before the general assembly called by the chief and council for Aug. 20 to 24 in Frances Lake.

Abou claims McMillan never consulted with membership before calling the general assembly in Frances Lake.

Having one in Watson Lake would allow for more members — including more elders — to attend, she said.

“The elders that have the right to speak and voice their concerns at these general assemblies, there are a number of them that need to be near the hospital for their own medical reasons,” Abou said.

“It’s not that they can’t speak; they need to be near a medical facility, and he ignores the request of even holding it here.”

Abou said members will continue to protest until they receive McMillan’s resignation.

The July general assembly will be held with or without him, she said.

“The membership does not need the chief to hold a general assembly. The membership does not need the chief to be there if the membership wants to hold its general assembly.”

But Abou said she hopes the chief will attend.

“What I hope comes out of it is that he will acknowledge his resignation that we are looking for due to his non-accountability, non-transparency to members, disrespecting elders and membership,” she said.

McMillan could not be reached for comment before press time this afternoon.