ESGENOOPITITJ, N.B. – The chief and three councillors of a New Brunswick First
Nation band have been sacked by the federal government following a corruption
investigation.
The Department of Aboriginal Affairs removed Chief Wilbur
Dedam and councillors Irene Dedam, Jason Barnaby and Ronald Joseph Somerville
from their duties at Esgenoopetitj First Nation, formerly known as Burnt
Church.
The three councillors also received a two-year ban from
running for office, while Chief Dedam will not be permitted to run for the next
four years.
He had served as the band’s leader for more than 30 years.
Journalist Maureen Googoo broke the story for her Aboriginal
news website, RadioGoogoo.ca.
Googoo reported Wednesday the four officials received
official notice of their termination via registered mail dated September 18.
The investigation followed the May 2011 band election and
accusations several candidates had bought or tampered with votes.
Curtis Bartibogue, who ran for Chief against Wilbur Dedam,
appealed the vote results and filed the complaint about misconduct.
He’s happy to see “justice being done.”
“I am relieved the government is finally doing
something by stopping (corruption) after so many years of people
complaining,” Bartibogue says.
Get breaking National news
Googoo told Global News Thursday this isn’t the first time
there have been allegations of corruption in a band election in Atlantic
Canada, but it is the first time people have come forward and stuck with their
story.
“There were people who actually came forward and said
‘Yes there was somebody who offered me money in exchange for voting for
them.'”
She says it’s also the only instance she has ever seen
anyone admit that on paper.
Two members living off of Esgenoopititj reserve, located
about 215 km northeast of Fredericton, wrote sworn statements Chief Dedam,
Irene Dedam – his wife – and Barnaby paid money for her votes.
A video posted to YouTube September 16, 2010, allegedly
shows the cash changing hands after a an elderly woman fills out a mail-in
ballot and seals it in an envelope.
(Transaction takes place at approx. 8:46. Video contains
language some may find offensive.)
According to Googoo’s article Irene Dedam handed over $260
after the woman signed a voter declaration form.
The hidden-camera video, along with the statements, was a
part of Bartibogue’s appeal application and the basis for the investigation.
Aboriginal Affairs released their findings to the candidates
in March 2011, but it wasn’t until this week that any action was taken.
“In the letter that was sent to Chief Wilbur Dedam that
I was able to obtain,” Googoo explains, “It says they were removed
because of corrupt practices.”
Although the letter doesn’t specify what those actions were,
she says the evidence
“You can put two and two together and decide what the
corrupt practices were,” she says.
The band has yet to decide if there will be a by-election to
replace the Chief and councillors.
Financial comptroller and band spokesperson Alex Dedam said
Thursday the remaining nine councillors will meet and review programs and
services.
A by-election, Dedam says, would cost the Esgenoopetitj
about $15,000.
The next scheduled band election is in May 2012.
The RCMP, meanwhile, is conducting its own investigation.
*With files from Dave Crase and Maureen Googoo
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.