Local845

The unvalidated letter from “mark nystrom” regarding the Special Meeting of the Local on Feb 19, 2008 has been posted, without a reply from our Local President and Board.  To address this publicity, I have posted the letter and reply here.  I also replied by email, and posted the following letter on a few of the blogsites.  Bev

The letter that claims to be from Mr. Nystrom has never been sent to this Métis Local and no signed copy of the letter has ever existed to our knowledge. Mr. Joe Chodzicki, of Region 3, who was the topic of one of the resolutions at our meeting - has sent this email about but to date Mr. Mark Nystrom has never raised any of these issues in our community. For all we know - this letter may be a creation of Mr. Chodzicki in response to the community meeting. We have asked Mr. Chodzicki to forward the original letter to us so that we could respond but to date no letter has been received.

I have replied to the email, in an effort to present what actually took
place in Rocky Mountain House on Feb 21st.  I distributed my response by email. Our community is very concerned at the false allegations and disrespect that is being shown to our elder who has been recognized in the Province of Alberta as a Métis Matriarch. We feel that it is necessary to respond to the lack of cultural protocol and individual attacks against our Métis community members in the name of Métis politics.

I had not posted this particular document on our Local website because, I, as author of the website have maintained an informational site. The unvalidated letter has now been posted on Nova and I feel we must send our reply to this so called letter, that has been little more then Mr. Chodzicki’s gossip.

Read the background document and gain an understanding of the events leading up to the Meeting at Local 845. I have posted all of the information, notice, agenda, bylaws applicable to the special meeting, with regard to Trevor
Gladue, and Joe Chodzicki, and the minutes of the special meeting on the Local 845 website under a tab on the right hand side entitled, Special meeting.

As a participant, and observer personally present during the Region 3
process of meetings to deal with Mr Chodzicki’s behavior since the highly contested signing of the MNC- Metco, (Region 1) Health agreement, and also an observer of the Provincial Council meeting in January, (yes there has been a Provincial Council meeting), and an alternate present at both the fall, and Feb MNC meetings in Ottawa,  I have exercised my right as a Member of Metis Nation, to hold a meeting, and send a message with regard to the behavior of both of the Elected Region 3 Vice President and Trevor Gladue
the Provincial Vice President.

The problems include the letter in which the Vice President, Joe Chodzicki, who expressed his “personal” opinion of President Audrey Poitras, on Region 3 letterhead, signed as Vice President of Region 3, did so without the knowledge and direction of Regional Council, who in turn represent the Locals, and the people of Region 3.  President of Region 3 distributed a Public apology to the Members of Region 3 as requested by her Regional Council.  As an active, informed and honest Local President, participating at our Regional Council level, I, with the support of my Board of Directors, made a decision to hold a Special meeting on Feb 21, 2008.

The motions following at our Regional Level over a 7 month period, confirmed Mr Chodzicki’s right to express his “personal” opinion, but did request that a Public apology to members of Region 3 be distributed.  During that period, Mr Chodzicki’s failed to maintain his Oathof allegiance to the Métis Nation of Alberta.  As well, the performance of his duties as Region 3 Vice President became minimal to say the least, even refusing to sign cheques at the request of Region 3 President.  The whole issue stems back to the Health agreement brokered by Trevor Gladue, behind the back of President Audrey Poitras, and the Provincial Health minister, who is our President of Region 3, Marlene Lanz.

I had much respect for Mr Chodzicki, prior to these behaviors, and until, I was approached withinformation by Mr Chodzicki, while I was still Vice President, and requested to meet behind the back of our Local President, to review the Binder of documents supporting the Metco signing and Health bursary arrangement, I was under the impression that he was a man of integrity.  He, as well as other
Provincial council members were influenced and led by Vice President Gladue in his support of the movement to justify his involvement in the signing which resulted in a fractured and unproductive Provincial Council table.

Meetings were also held in Medicine Hat and Pincher Creek with similar Results.  Mr Gladue continues to present the position that if he had not acted, the whole Health funding agreement would have been in jeopardy which is a false statement.

Minutes of the meeting, applicable bylaws to the Special Meetings  are
available on http://www.local845.ca, as well as the “background document”
provided by me.

The Local meetings had valid reasons for their actions. There is MORE to it than that.  The background document, is just that, a timeline, supporting the RESOLUTIONS for the Meetings held and the motions put forward by the members of our Local. It includes letters, motions, and is supported by observation, morals and ethical standards.

With regard to Trevor:

Much of the Provincial split of dissidents, and non dissidents arises from the negotiation of the Health Agreement between MNC and Metco in the Spring of 2007.  Because the Metis Nation of Alberta administers its Programs independently, not through MNC, and handling its own funding successfully, President Poitras felt in a strong position to advocate for respect for the Nation, with independent bargaining power both Provincially and Federally
and including the Health Agreement.  Provincial Council had voted to negotiate further and that included declining the advance on the funding.

There was confidence that the agreement would be ratified under newly negotiated terms. President Poitras, as one of the 5  Board of Governors which make up Metis National Council, had reason to question the Treasurer at the MNC National Level with regard to handling of Funds.  She was not alone, as reflected in other documents, the BOG for MNC had raised concerns
re Fiduciary responsibility of the MNC and were dealing with those issues Nationally.   It was the secretive negotiation by (to quote a favorite phrase) a SELECT FEW members of the Provincial Council, to pursue signing with the Metis National Council on the Health Agreement which led to the current infighting and political unrest within the MNA.

Vice President of the MNA Trevor Gladue brokered the deal, negotiating, without a mandate.THE ACTIONS REMOVED THE METIS NATION OF ALBERTA FROM THE BARGAINING TABLE.
He did not inform President Poitras, the Provincial Health Portfolio Holder, President of Region 3, Marlene Lanz, and other members of Provincial Council until some time later.

I have no doubt that Mr Gladue felt justified in his actions, but the
undermining of our Elected Provincial Council, and the intentions of the MNA continues, with Press releases, originating from his camp, and misinformation distributed through APTN and Metis Matters continues to advance his political agenda.  Leadership, and transparency is what is needed by the Metis Nation of Alberta, not politics, and personal vendettas.