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Friendship Centre board survives nonconfidence vote

The board of directors of the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre survived a nonconfidence vote Thursday night. A motion to throw out the board fell six votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for it to pass.
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The board of directors of the Sault Ste. Marie Indian Friendship Centre survived a nonconfidence vote Thursday night.

A motion to throw out the board fell six votes short of the two-thirds majority needed for it to pass.

Afterward, some elders expressed concern that directors voted against their own dismissal, providing sufficient votes to tip the balance in their favour. Elders also claimed that some new members were prevented from voting by a membership freeze.

Of seventy-one voting members present, 42 voted to remove the board and 29 opposed the motion. 48 votes were needed for the resolution to pass.

"I hope these people don't take this as a defeat. We need volunteers," said board chairman William Bellerose, pointing out that anyone with unresolved concerns is welcome to attend the annual general meeting on Sept. 26.

Hiring irregularities alleged

The vote came at the end of a gathering that lasted more than 3-1/2 hours, at which directors faced a barrage of questions about their hiring of a non-native executive director and allegations of nepotism and disrespectful treatment of an elder.

Both the Friendship Centre board and the group seeking its removal had lawyers present at last night's meeting.

Robert Paciocco, representing the Friendship Centre, and Susan Hare of Manitoulin Island, representing the other group (both shown in the photo above) conferred a number of times early in the gathering.

More than 30 other people without voting privileges, including Friendship Centre staff and observers, also attended.

Facilitators interrupted

Two individuals were brought in from Sudbury to facilitate the session, but were interrupted by an elder when they demanded the removal of a SooToday representative from the building.

Concern was expressed that the facilitators were not known in this community and they took no further part in the gathering.

William Bellerose took over the chair but soon passed it to another director when the elder-abuse allegation arose.

Bellerose said he was the only director involved in that encounter, and fellow board members should not be blamed for his actions.

Turning to the elder involved, Bellerose said: "If you took that the wrong way, I'm sorry."

"If you're going to hang anyone, hang me," he urged the membership. "The board had nothing to do with it."

Non-native executive director

Asked to explain the recent hiring of non-native executive director Suzanne Farrell, Bellerose described the former Sault Star reporter and editor as "the best person at that time."

Farrell was only given a one-year contract, he said, in the hope that a First Nations candidate will be ready to take over the position.

"I believe in hiring our own," Bellerose told the meeting. "But if one candidate is head and shoulders above the rest...."

As for the complaints of nepotism, directors acknowledged that some of their relatives are employed at the Friendship Centre, but said conflicts-of-interest were always declared at the time and directors did not vote on the hiring of family members.

Background on the dispute

To read previous SooToday coverage of the Friendship Centre dispute, please click on the following links:

Elders vote to dissolve Indian Friendship Centre board Police intervention sought in Friendship Centre dispute Rival boards meet at Friendship Centre, resolve nothing Two Friendship Centre boards plan member meetings Former Sault Star staffer takes over at Friendship Centre

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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