A group of Bearspaw First Nation band members is going to federal court to force an election for band council.
Band member Robert Shotclose said papers were filed in federal court this week asking for a judicial injunction to force a vote.
“They had no right to take away our election and we’re asking a new date be set,” he said.
He also said a third party may be needed to run the election.
Papers were filed on Monday, but he wasn’t certain when the matter would first be heard in court.
Bearspaw First Nation, which includes Eden Valley and Morley, was scheduled to have an election in December. However, band council passed a resolution on Oct. 14 to extend the terms for chief and council from two years to four years. As a result, the next council election won’t be held until December 2012.
Band administrator Norm Brennand said band council was planning to discuss the issue on Tuesday and declined to comment further. Details from the band council meeting were not available before the Western Wheel’s press deadline.
Several band members set up a blockade at the entrance to Eden Valley in November protesting the decision to extend the terms. The blockade was back up again for several days last week.
Three councillors signed the Oct. 14 resolution to extend the terms. They were Trevor Wesley and Patrick Twoyoungmen from Morley and Roderick Lefthand of Eden Valley. Coun. Gordon Wildman from Eden Valley was not in attendance at the meeting and did not sign the resolution. Bearspaw abstained from the vote.
