MNA members hold protest outside of regional office

The streets were alive with the sound of protest in Lac La Biche yesterday, as about two-dozen members of the Métis Nation of Alberta were outside the MNA Region 1 office calling for the resignation of Region 1 president Diane Scoville.

Protesters said they were upset that Scoville hasn’ t been present at the Region 1 office since about mid-March, and showed their displeasure with a demonstration outside the building on 102 Ave.

There are also questions surrounding how the region’ s finances are being handled, dating from a March 14 annual general meeting in Lac La Biche where financial statements, the 2013 AGM minutes, and the president’ s report were all rejected by MNA members.

Scoville has not attended the office since Region 1 Vice President Dan Cardinal returned to work after three restraining orders against him were overturned in a St. Paul courtroom last month. Cardinal said the restraining orders were placed on him after staff at the office accused him of abuse.

“The staff that I worked with here were making allegations that I was abusive,” he said. “Those restraining orders were overturned and dismissed.”

Scoville confirmed that the orders were overturned, but said she is appealing the decision. She was unable to comment further as the case is currently before the Alberta Human Rights Commission and the Alberta Métis Judiciary Council, but defended her decision to stay out of the office.

“If we can’ t protect ourselves, then who is going to protect us?” she said.

Outside the office, the message from the protesters was clear. Many of them said they felt that they aren’ t being properly represented, and called for more transparency and accountability in the office.

Corey-Ann Pruden, a Kikino resident, was part of the protest. She said Scoville is skirting her responsibilities.

“Why represent people if you’ re not going to stand up for them or speak for them? She’ s supposed to be our voice, she’ s supposed to be our leader, and she’ s not. She’ s hiding, and leaders should not hide. They should be here with their people, taking accountability and standing up for what’ s right,” she said.

Cardinal said he understands why people are upset, and acknowledged that they have a right to protest if they so choose.

“They’ re unhappy that we have a president that isn’ t coming in to the office, and working out of home,” he said. “I think what they would love to have is a resolved issue.”

For her part, Scoville isn’ t backing down. She has no intention to resign, and plans on seeing the legal case currently before the AHRC and AMJC through to the end. She said people are trying to discredit her in any way they can.

“I’ m so tired of petty little people that will do anything to discredit people that are trying to do good for the people,” she said. “You’ re all about protecting your staff, you’ re all about safety, you’ re all about anti-bullying... yet you have people that so want to discredit you so badly that it just makes you sick.”

The POST will continue to follow this story as it develops.