[IPSM] [Fwd: Press Release!]

Sat Aug 20 08:09:23 PDT 2005

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Press Release!
From:    "Maliseet Nation at Tobique" <admin at newtfn.com>
Date:    Fri, August 19, 2005 9:59 am
To:      wiinimkiikaa at resist.ca
         ipsm at resist.ca
         nsn at tao.ca
         "Simon" <simon at redwiremag.com>
         joanna at redwiremag.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi everyone!
We apologize for not getting news to you much earlier. But we just found
some of your addresses.

I have attached our latest news release and have also pasted it in this
email.

Woliwon/thanks
A Saulis
506-273-6032
www.newtfn.com

Press Release!

Tobique Casino: Private Piggy Bank for a Select Few

Lawyer/Chief Stewart Paul, Councilor Gerald Bear, and Councilor Stone Bear
have filed a statement of claim with the Court of Queen’s Bench alleging
that “11 named individuals and others used threats and intimidation to
take over the casino between June 7 - 20”.  They further allege that funds
were supposedly taken from the casino and misappropriated by the 11
individuals and others.  In addition, the claim states that the funds
supposedly taken from the casino have not been returned and accounted for
by the group identified in the statement.  Finally, the claim alleges that
the individuals caused property damage to the casino’s video lottery
terminals.

A statement of defense addressing the false allegations made by the Chief
and his two council members will be submitted to the court in the very
near future.  While the statement of defense will contain detailed
information, I am compelled to respond to the media reports regarding the
matter.  First, it should be clarified that the “band” as represented by
the Chief and Council has not agreed to take legal action seeking damages
from the 11 individuals and others.   The Chief and his two council
members do not have authority to proceed with the action as defined within
the Indian Act.  The majority for Tobique First Nation government is 7 and
as indicated in the initial application for an injunction against
community members only three members signed affidavits.

The majority of council members opposed the application for an injunction
against concerned community members who supposedly “occupied” the casino
on June 7-20.  Five of the council members signed a written document
supporting our community members who initiated a transfer of ownership of
the casino from the Chief and his two council members to a community-owned
enterprise.  Concerned employees of the casino have provided information
and a review of financial information reveals that the casino was a
private piggy bank for the Chief, few council members and senior managers
of the band administration.  Information reveals that the casino financed
extravagant trips, new homes, automobiles, large payments to non-members,
fines imposed by provincial courts, legal expenses for political
supporters, and extreme home-makeovers” for the highly connected.  Not
surprisingly, this group wants to maintain control of the casino revenues.

It should be emphasized that concerned community members were forced to
take action on June 7th  to protect our community resource (casino
revenues) from continued abuse and questionable expenditure practices. 
They wanted to convey the message that the casino is not owned by a
private club consisting of the Chief, senior management, and his two
council members; it is a community-owned business that is supposed to
benefit all community members.  Furthermore, they were concerned that the
casino managers refuse to be financially accountable; they were concerned
that managers favor some community members over others; they were
concerned that managers refuse to distribute a share of net profits to
community members; and they were concerned about the misappropriation of
approximately 45 million generated by the casino in the past three years.

The Chief and managers of the casino have not produced a single audit of
casino revenues and expenditures in the past three years.  Prior to the
June 7th action taken by concerned members, we had no idea of the amount
of revenues generated by the casino and how these revenues were expended. 
We now know that in the past three years the casino has generated gross
revenues of 15 million per year for a grand total of 45 million.  We are
also able to confirm at this time that casino revenues have been subject
to abuse and the casino undoubtedly serves as a personal piggy bank for a
select few.

It is also suggested in media reports that only 11 “dissidents” are
unhappy with the lack of financial accountability regarding casino
revenues.  In fact, the majority of community members fully support any
action that will eventually lead to a detailed financial accountability of
casino revenues.  During the period June 7- 20, a great deal of community
members visited the casino and expressed their support to the new
management committed to community ownership of the casino.  Among the
supporters were our Elders of the community who encouraged all concerned
members to continue their quest for accountability, fairness, and equal
distribution of net profits to all members.  In essence, the total number
of “dissidents” actually represented a majority of community members.

This is the second “occupation” of the casino in the past two years, and
you can view some of this long history at our website at www.newtfn.com . 
Single parent mothers were also forced to take similar action before
Easter of 2004 because managers of the casino refused to help the parents
at that time. The single parent mothers agreed to leave the casino only
after the Chief instructed the managers to distribute small amounts of
funds to the “occupiers”.  Accountability was also an issue with the
single mother parents but the Chief, Director of Operations and Band
Manager simply ignored the concerns of the group and continued their
questionable spending habits following the first “occupation”.

The demands of the majority have been and continue to be as follows:

·        A restructuring of the casino to reflect true community-ownership
rather than ownership by a private club

·        Forensic audit of revenues and expenditures for the past years
followed by annual audits and shareholders meetings (each community member
should be a shareholder of the casino)

·        Percentage of profits set aside for emergencies, youth, Elders,
achievement awards, etc.

·        Equal distribution of net profits to all community members on an
annual basis

I fully support the demands of the majority as outlined above and I will
continue to support those who take action against an unfair system that
refuses to be accountable to the people of Tobique First Nation.  As
member of the council, it is my responsibility to protect the interests of
all community members and to provide a voice for those who have been
abused by the system.

Councilor David Perley (Office - 506-273-5659,  Home – 506-273-4277)

-- 
the INDIGENOUS PEOPLES SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT is a Montreal based collective
whose primary goal is to ally ourselves with indigenous peoples in the
active fight for mutual self-determination and decolonization

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