Burns Lake chief Albert Gerow will leave office at the end of the year
Okays Enbridge, Accepts job at TransCanada Pipelines Ltd
by Charlie Smith, The Georgia Straight, Dec 11, 2013
Burns Lake Indian Band chief Albert Gerow has announced his resignation effective Dec 31, 2013.
The Burns Lake District News has reported that the chief of the Burns Lake band, Albert Gerow, has resigned. Gerow, who is in his second term, will leave office on December 31 because he has accepted a job with TransCanada Pipelines Limited.
The company is trying to win approval for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry bitumen from Alberta into the United States.
Gerow, a former RCMP officer, is married to Victoria–Beacon Hill NDP MLA Carole James.
The Straight reported this week that Gerow has supported Enbridge’s application for temporary-use permits to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations.
Gerow’s letter in support of the permits—which are necessary to advance the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline—was sent less than two weeks after the provincial election.
He is also one of three plaintiffs involved in a bitter lawsuit against 13 named and unnamed defendants, including band councillor Ronald Charlie.
Gerow, band councillor Nicholas Daniel George, and former councillor Wesley Sam allege that that the defendants have made numerous defamatory comments about them.
The defendants have denied the allegations, which have not been proven in court.
RCMP responding to occupation of band council office, April 2013.
Earlier this year, Gerow’s critics occupied the Burns Lake band’s office for two weeks.
The Globe and Mail reported at the time that the protest ended after the RCMP warned demonstrators that if they didn’t vacate the premises, they would be charged with assault by trespass.
http://www.straight.com/news/547246/burns-lake-chief-albert-gerow-will-leave-office-end-year
Enbridge pipeline divides First Nations in Burns Lake area
by Carlito Pablo, The Georgia Straight, Dec 11, 2013
The husband of former B.C. NDP leader Carole James endorsed exploration work for the Northern Gateway oil pipeline that her party opposes.
Albert Gerow, chief of the Burns Lake band, supported the application by Enbridge Inc. to undertake drilling and surveys in two areas along the route of the proposed pipeline.
The First Nations leader backed the Calgary company’s request for temporary-use permits in a letter dated May 24, 2013, to the provincial Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations.
“In the letter you stated your support for the exploration permits for the Endako River Crossing and Burns Lake Pump Station areas,” the ministry replied in a letter dated August 14, 2013, from Brian Herbert, senior analyst with First Nations relations.
Gerow didn’t respond to Georgia Straight requests for an interview.
The Enbridge Northern Gateway Project Joint Review Panel will submit its report about the proposed pipeline to the federal government on December 31, 2013. It will also release the document to the public on the same day.
On April 20, 2012, the B.C. NDP wrote the review panel to express the party’s formal opposition to Northern Gateway, a 1,177-kilometre twin pipeline from Alberta to the port of Kitimat in B.C.
No Enbridge, art by Andy Everson, Kwakwaka’wakw.
The party reiterated its disapproval in its May 14, 2013, election platform, the preparation of which was cochaired by Victoria–Beacon Hill MLA James, Gerow’s part-Métis wife.
“It puts our environment and the economy in Northern B.C. at risk,” the B.C. NDP platform declares. “It’s simply not in B.C.’s interests.”
Ronald Charlie is one of three members of the Burns Lake band council. He claims to have learned about Gerow’s endorsement of exploration work for the Northern Gateway pipeline when the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations gave him a copy of its response to the chief’s letter.
Charlie and other band members have been demanding transparency in decisions made by the council on behalf of the community, including those relating to the proposed Enbridge pipeline.
Gerow and two others have sued Charlie and a number of other band members for defamation.
“We, as a community, want to come to a collective decision when it comes to entering into any agreement,” Charlie told the Straight in a phone interview.
The 27-year-old band councillor also finds it “odd” that Gerow supported work related to the proposed pipeline, given that his wife’s political party is against the project.
“You would think Albert [Gerow] would come out and say the same,” Charlie said.
Former band councillor Ryan Tibbetts is one of those sued by Gerow. According to Tibbetts, at least 90 percent of members living on-reserve reject the pipeline.
“It’s not exactly, or entirely, safe,” Tibbetts told the Straight in a phone interview.
Gerow is also the president and chair of the Burns Lake Native Development Corporation, an entity that represents six First Nations in northern B.C.
At least two of these groups—the Wet’suwet’en and Lake Babine nations—are opposed to the Enbridge pipeline, which is proposed to transport 525,000 barrels of oil per day across many Native territories.
“It will be less than 200 feet from my house,” Lake Babine chief Wilf Adam told the Straight in a phone interview.
When asked how relations among Native groups in the Burns Lake area will be affected if one or some agree with the pipeline proposal, Adam responded: “Whatever they do within their nation, it’s up to them.”
Richard Peters is the chief of the Cheslatta Carrier Nation, a member of the Gerow-led Burns Lake Native Development Corporation.
According to Peters, his community will remain neutral regarding the project until the Joint Review Panel releases its report.
“After that decision is handed down, then we’ll make our commitment,” Peters told the Straight in a phone interview.
In June 2012, Enbridge announced that almost 60 percent of aboriginal groups along the path of the pipeline had agreed to become part owners of the pipeline.
Enbridge didn’t provide a spokesperson for an interview with the Straight. It offered a prepared statement indicating that Northern Gateway has signed “equity participation agreements with 26 First Nations and Metis communities” in B.C. and Alberta.
A community and land-use report prepared by a consortium of consultants for the Burns Lake band also notes that the band council entered into an agreement with Enbridge for exploratory work.
Prepared in May this year and updated in November, the report states that although band members participated in a survey about whether or not they support the project, the poll results have not been released.
“Some Band members also believe Enbridge has proposed other partnerships including developing temporary housing for pipeline workers,” the document also states. “The Enbridge proposals have been controversial because of potential environmental impacts and the fact that other local First Nations have opposed this project.”
Responding to an inquiry by the Straight about the application by Enbridge for exploration permits that was supported by Gerow, the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations noted that a permit has been issued for the Burns Lake pumping-station area. The other, for the Endako River crossing, is still being processed.
Background articles:
Burns Lake chief, councillor asked to resign
CBC News, Feb 07, 2013
Some members of the Burns Lake Indian Band are demanding their chief and a councillor resign, over concerns relating to natural resource development projects.
Chief Albert Gerow and Coun. Dan George have been asked to step down by Coun. Ron Charlie and some members of the on-reserve community.
“A lot of the members are afraid of what Albert and Dan are agreeing to behind closed doors and without any consultation with on-reserve members,” Charlie said.
Critics say Gerow hasn’t consulted with people living on reserve about potential natural resource development projects, particularly involving oil and gas.
Charlie has also asked the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to conduct a forensic audit of the band’s finances.
But Gerow says he’s been more than transparent.
“We’ve gone to the extent of having a dinner meeting where consultants came up from Vancouver and made presentation to the band members, all the economic activities that we’re pursuing,” he said.
“And so anyone who doesn’t know what’s happening in the Burns Lake Band, it’s only because they’re choosing not to know.”
Gerow says he will continue to serve as chief and reach out to those living on reserve.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/burns-lake-chief-councillor-asked-to-resign-1.1403900
Occupation of Burns Lake band’s office ends
JULES KNOX, The Globe and Mail, Apr. 08 2013
The around-the-clock occupation of the Burns Lake Indian Band’s office that started on March 25 has ended peacefully.
Protesters had been occupying the building – an old high school – for the last two weeks because some residents were concerned about how the current council leadership was spending money.
There was a lack of transparency within the council, said Ryan Tibbetts, a former councillor who was part of the protest.
Although the building is supposed to be a community centre, some people didn’t feel comfortable there, he said. “But since the occupation, we’ve had lots of band members in there, and we were able to use the gym,” he said.
“It was a community place again.”
However, Councillor Dan George said Mr. Tibbetts was pursuing his own political agenda as a former councillor.
“Everything he’s protesting is exactly what he didn’t do for the band in the whole 20 years he was here,” he said.
Mr. George also said the RCMP had previously been called only when band members were unruly, and that the people who were complaining about a lack of community participation don’t attend the monthly council meetings.
On Sunday morning, the RCMP served protesters a notice that said if they didn’t leave the office immediately, they would be charged with assault by trespass.
According to Mr. Tibbetts, about 50 RCMP officers surrounded the building as seven protesters, including three children, were led out by police.
RCMP spokeswoman Constable Lesley Smith said that because of concerns more protesters might show up, police had ensured there were enough officers on hand, although she wouldn’t confirm the exact number.
“We were prepared for the large number of protesters that were possibly attending, should they become violent,” Constable Smith said.
She said the RCMP had been working with protesters throughout the week to achieve a peaceful resolution.
“But the group refused to move, so we took the next step,” she said.
Although no charges were laid on Sunday, the Burns Lake RCMP continue to investigate an incident that occurred on March 25 when Mr. George was allegedly assaulted by Mr. Tibbetts.
Community members are requesting Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada conduct a third-party financial review and audit of the Burns Lake Band office.
The office has been turned back over to the Burns Lake Band’s council, but it will have a security company for the next month, Mr. George said.
Posted on December 11, 2013, in Indian Act Indians, Oil & Gas and tagged Albert Gerow, Burns Lake Indian Band, Enbridge, Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, indian act band councils, Northern Gateway, oil and gas pipelines+Indigenous resistance, TransCanada, TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
Warrior Publications 
Sure wait till your wife gets reelected. She should be booted out of her Seat and an immediate By-election held for the vacant seat. Actions like this are one of the big problems Aboriginal people have, namely the Crooked Indian Stereotype. All Enbridge BOUGHT was one Crooked Indian. He illustrated this by his timing and his CLEAR CONFLICT OF INTEREST in this situation.
He surr showednhis FN that he can be bought. He reminds me of Senator (sic) Patrick Brazzeau!
Fontaine..now this INAC councilor….typical of industry to use sellouts to undermine inherent rights
As an off residencial indian of the Burns Lake band how will this effect me?