LAKE HELEN 53A — Further developments have come following the vote that some members of the Red Rock Indian Band cast to oust Chief Marcus Hardy at a general band meeting on Feb. 7.
An emergency band meeting was convened by some members of the Red Rock Indian Band on Feb. 27 to address the validity of the motion to remove Hardy.
Shannon Michelle-Ruth, spokesperson for the group of band members that supported the motion, said what she and her fellow band members are looking for is clarity.
“I called an emergency band meeting so that we, as band members, can get clarification about what was going on, how come those statements were put out – I wasn’t getting any response [from Council],” she said.
Michelle-Ruth added that the emergency meeting provided her and other band members with an opportunity to hear each other out.
“It was a very good, engaging meeting, a lot of open discussion, and we all came together – the majority – and said that, ‘yes, the motion was incorrectly marked as defeated, as per motions that we’ve had in the past,’ she said.
"We had a letter of support drafted up and a number of people signed the letter, which stated that Marcus Hardy was removed at the Feb. 7 general band meeting,” she said.
The Red Rock Band Administration issued a statement on Feb. 29 acknowledging the original meeting where the vote was cast on Feb. 7 and referencing the “Removal from Office” clause in Band Custom – specifically, subsection one wherein “After allegations are registered at a Band Meeting, the accused shall have thirty days (30) to justify his/her action that brought on those allegations after which time the Band members will decide with Council.”
The administration’s statement revealed that the vote to remove Hardy was “due to the misuse of the Red Rock Indian Band credit card, as per the Red Rock Indian Band Chief & Council Corporate Credit Card Policy.”
Hardy issued a statement in response, telling Dougall Media that he intends to defend himself against the accusations levelled at him.
