Barrière downAfter over a year of being run by a puppet band council imposed by the federal government, the Barrière Lake Algonquins are finally about to have their council returned to their control. On April 9, Canada will send two facilitators to Barrière Lake to oversee the selection of a new chief. According to Russell Diabo, an advisor with the Assembly of First Nations, the process should be nothing more than a ratification of the band council chosen by the community last summer. The more contentious issues, he says, surround the band's ongoing logging blockade. "The blockade is down now, but only because the companies have stopped trying to move in," Diabo says. "Once the spring thaw is over, they'll probably want to get back in there." The community set up the blockade last fall to enforce the logging agreement held with the federal and provincial governments.
The agreement was due to expire last December, but the band wants it extended. Hector Jerome, a Barrière Lake band member who helped draft the agreement, will be speaking in Montreal Thursday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at Café La Fiesta, 3680 Jeanne-Mance. Info: 398-7432.
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