Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) Chief Guy Lonechild has sent a seven-page letter to chiefs and band councillors warning that continued efforts to impeach him will result in a “very serious legal and financial risk for the FSIN.”
In the letter recently obtained by The StarPhoenix, Lonechild also says there has been a “blatant disregard” for his legal rights and the integrity of the FSIN.
“I sincerely hope that I will be able to continue serving for the remainder of my term as your chief,” Lonechild said in the July 21 letter.
“I believe that the FSIN is on the right track and has been advancing the interests of First Nations people.”
The letter comes on the heels of another victory for those seeking to remove Lonechild.
Lonechild’s letter is simply another attempt to “play a political game,” said Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas.
“He’s trying to get people on his side. It’s mainly political posturing.”
Lonechild had questioned the inclusion of the FSIN’s Indian government commission in the impeachment process, as it is partly made up of chiefs opposed to his leadership.
The commission dismissed these assertions and has decided to convene a hearing on the matter Aug. 4 and 5. This could result in the non-confidence vote date being set.
Those seeking Lonechild’s removal — at least 25 band chiefs and councillors passed resolutions calling for a non-confidence vote — feel his recent drunk driving conviction and what they believe are his efforts to conceal it make him unfit to hold the office.
All seven members of the Saskatoon Tribal Council, large First Nations such as Lac La Ronge and Onion Lake, and small ones such as Little Black Bear and Black Lake, are among those pushing for Lonechild’s ouster. Lonechild, however, maintains some strong allies.
Each side blames the other of dragging things out and distracting the FSIN from more meaningful issues.
“We have full confidence in him. He has a lot of work to do, rather than all of this,” said White Bear First Nation Chief Brian Standingready.
In the letter, Lonechild apologizes for his actions around his impaired driving case.
“I ask for your forgiveness and believe that the actions being undertaken are not worth undermining the important work that has been advanced and will continue to be advanced in the remaining months that I have left in my term as chief of the FSIN.”
He then details his accomplishments during the past year and a half, much as he did in a speech to assembled chiefs at the FSIN assembly at the Onion Lake Cree Nation earlier this month. At that assembly, he said in an interview the process has been too hard on him and his family and he will not run for re-election. In last week’s letter, however, he was adamant he be allowed to complete the final 18 months of his three-year term.
He includes excerpts from an opinion from Saskatoon lawyer Donald Worme, who expresses reservations about the process.
In an interview Monday, Lonechild said the letter was necessary to give “context” to the discussion of his leadership.
“I hope it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the changes we’ve made,” he said.
He said his removal, and the rule changes that have been made to accommodate it, will cause the FSIN’s funders and partners to think twice about their relationship. This could have dire consequences for the FSIN and First Nations people across the province, he said.
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