Inside
u Nak’azdli greenhouse P. 12 u Bennett decision P. 3
u Night Market P. 6/7 u 60th anniversary P. 10
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WEDNESDAY, August 28, 2013
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Father charged in son’s death
All Clans Gathering
Mitchell Pearson, selected as the most valuable player for last year’s Stars Midget hockey team, will go to Grand Forks. The Grand Forks Border Bruins has signed some promising prospects to the roster to help work to build the Junior B team up from a few poor years. Pearson managed to rack up 45 goals and 32 assists in 34 games last year with the Stars.
Fort lends a hand
Fort St. James Search and Rescue personnel were helping out near Burns Lake this month. The search for a missing Prince George man, Brett Smith, on Takysie Lake did not result in locating the 36-year-old man, though the boat he was using was found abandoned on the north shore of the lake. Smith is now presumed drowned and the search to locate his body was called off. Search and rescue teams from Burns Lake, Terrace, Houston and Nechako Valley, in addition to some from Fort St. James, were helping with the search. Smith had not been heard from since August 6.
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Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier
Nakazdli hosted the All Clans gathering on August 16, 17 and 18. Beautiful regalia was on display as the clans were drummed into Kwah Hall on August 16 as participants came in. Bands across the region were invited to the event, and there were dance groups from the Lake Babine Nation and Gitsegukla (from near Hazelton). More photos inside and on the Caledonia Courier Facebook page. Ruth Lloyd/Caledonia Courier
Charges of second-degree murder have been laid against a father in the death of his son after a shooting death at Takla Landing August 16. Jacques Seguin, 66 years old, allegedly shot his son, 36-year-old Christopher Seguin, to death during a domestic dispute at the family’s vacation cabin at Takla Landing. RCMP were called to the cabin on the night of the incident. No one else was reported to be at the cabin at the time.
Both men were from Vanderhoof. Jacques Seguin, not previously known to police, appeared in court on August 20 in Prince George and was remanded in custody until another appearance on August 23, as the paper went to press. Jacques Seguin was previously the branch manager of the Integris Credit Union in Vanderhoof, B.C.. The North District Major Crimes, the B.C. Coroner’s Office and the Takla Landing RCMP continue to investigate the incident.
Tl’azt’en’s Chief Pierre resigns Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier
tion negotiations. “Until we know there’s movement, then we’ll go back,” he said. The Chief of Tl’azt’en Ralph Pierre, has resigned, Hallman did, however, say he was glad the chief effective October 31, 2013. and council would remain in place for now in order to The verbal resignation was given as a result of provide continuity in the work which has been going 14 months of deliberation, and Pierre said he finally on and also in terms of the separation negotiations. chose to do as his family wished and resign from his Hallman was meeting with Pierre last week for role of chief for the first nation. further discussions on the matter. Pierre has been asked not to speak on behalf of He said rumours and misinformation on the sepachief and council for the Nation since his resignaration were distracting from the separation process, tion. because people believed the desire to separate was Tl’azt’en administration did not respond to calls only coming from Hallman himself. from The Caledonia Courier. “This is coming from the people,” he said. “People Tl’azt’en Chief Ralph Pierre will be resigning At the Tl’azt’en Annual General Assembly Au- from his position after a difficult term dealing with need to realize that we just want to go back to those gust 13 and 14, a vote took place to remove chief and many challenges for the first nation. original ways.” Hallman referred to a treaty signed by all councillors, but the result was a tie vote, which Caledonia Courier the chiefs of Nak’azdli, Binche and Tachie in 1910 meant the motion was defeated. which he said shows Binche was recognized as an inThis vote, however, was not linked to Pierre’s resignation, which he said was dependent nation even then. solely for personal family reasons. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) said their Pierre’s term would have ended in April 2014, and so it has not yet been role in the separation process is an advisory one. decided whether or not the band will hold a by-election or appoint an elected “The process for Band division can be complex and lengthy depending on incouncillor to act as chief until the spring election. A decision on how they will ternal negotiations requiring the community to reach an agreement-in-principle,” proceed is expected towards the end of September. said Jehan Casey, a communications person for AANDC, in an email last week. Councillor Josh Hallman, an elected Tl’azt’en Band councillor who is also Casey also said Tl’azt’en Nation advised AANDC in May of 2011 they had chair of the Binche separation committee, said he and fellow separation com- begun negotiations to divide the band. mittee member and councillor, Gloria Duncan will both also continue to abstain “Our government is committed to maintaining access to essential programs from council meetings in order to protest the lack of progress on Binche separa- and services to the community throughout this process,” he said.
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