By James Peters

Dissension spills over at Spences Bridge-area First Nations band

Jul 5, 2017 | 11:04 AM

SPENCES BRIDGE, B.C. — A group of dissident band members are into their second day of protesting outside the Cook’s Ferry Indian Band office near Spences Bridge.

About 40 members helped blockade the band office yesterday.

Spokesperson Peter Spence says the group is frustrated with its chief and council on issues surrounding financial accountability.

Spence says Chief David Walkem and his council tend to make spending decisions autocratically.

“There is a lot of intimidation. People are scared to say anything. It’s been like that ever since I was a kid. That’s just the way it’s been my whole life.”

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According to the band’s website, Cook’s Ferry has 347 members, with 85 per cent living off reserve.

Spence says more would live on reserve if the housing situation improved.

“There are a lot of these houses that are over 25 years old. I grew up in them, and they need repairs. Every year, they bring someone in to tell us what’s wrong with them and nothing happens.”

Spence says he has called Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada to request an audit of band finances, but it has gone nowhere.

“They need a signature from chief and council in order to allocate band money for a forensic audit. (The council doesn’t) want to do it. The only reason they don’t want to is there are things that, obviously, they don’t want found.”

Calls to Chief Walkem have yet to be returned.