Stars ‘miraculously align’ for Birch Island chief

To the Expositor:

The issue of the wind farms on the Manitoulin Island is obviously one of great concern to many people—both from this area and beyond—with the main debate being whether one is in support or opposition to the project. But there is a side to this story which is something like a dirty little secret that no one talks about, though it is there in plain view.

The timing of the pompous unveiling of the Mnidoo Mnising Power Corporation and the subsequent partnership agreement with Northland Power just so happened to come at a time when we were heading into our elections for chief and council (on the Whitefish River First Nation). How the stars miraculously aligned and shone down on Shining Turtle in his hour of need was either an intervention of the gods or Hitler himself. Doubtless, it was an engineering feat the Fuehrer would have been proud of, or envied, as the propaganda it afforded was priceless. The only catch to this grand charade was that we had no legal representatives at the time of the signing of the partnership agreement between the two power corporations, and though I alluded to this in a previous letter to The Expositor, the details are that the term of office for our previous chief and council had ended on January 7, 2011, and owing to another botched election—which makes three out of the last five (what’s up with that?)—the delayed election was set for February 12, 2011. So, when the partnership agreement was signed on February 10, 2011, we had a candidate in an upcoming election impersonating a public official.

In short, I do report, this tortoise did tort, right before our eyes, and with peace pipe in hand. Shining Turtle, as a citizen and a candidate in our election, did not have the legal authority to enter into a binding legal contract on behalf of the Whitefish River First Nation and waving a peace pipe or eagle feather lent no support to his cause, neither did the title of ‘Tribal Chair,’ though these obviously fooled a lot of people.

He had engaged the United Chiefs and Councils of Mnidoo Mnising Board of Directors and their executive director in wrongful conduct, as they, under the guidance of their own constitution, are to refrain from any interference with the personal affairs of any member First Nation. To have appointed a candidate in our election to a position on their Board of Directors constitutes a gross interference, especially during a member First Nation’s election period and most especially since their Board of Directors are to be composed of chiefs and councillors of the member First Nations. He also enlisted the aid of our band’s executive director, whose job it was to protect the interests of our First Nation, during the interim of the election period, and not the interests of any particular candidate.

“This is the dark ages of our history because it happened in the dark; the law was willfully blind and justice was asleep.” —Shining Turtle.

In Patrick Corbiere’s recent letter to The Expositor (‘Effective consultation the task of tribal chair,’ February 1, page 5) I also learned that Mr. Paibomsai is president of the Mnidoo Mnising Power Corporation. Evidently, Shining Turtle’s impersonation of a public official did not go unrewarded, his chieftainship notwithstanding. There is a serious conflict between the personal ambitions of said Turtle and the law, as well as between his interests and that of the UCCMM and their membership, having learned that our First Nation was not the only one not consulted and accommodated on this multi-million dollar power deal. Patrick Corbiere also reminded us that effective consultation is an important task of the UCCMM tribal chair; since that ain’t happening, I recommend to the UCCMM and their membership’s citizens that Mr. Paibomsai be asked to step down from that position—a position that, interestingly enough, was once a rotating chair among the member chiefs.

I, myself, rather enjoy the “pristine landscape” of Mnidoo Mnising, when given the opportunity to travel the scenic routes she has to offer. The human fingerprints of industry have their place, however, as does ‘green energy,’ but the greed of personal ambition has added a strange twist to this whole affair and it’s time we cleard the air.

Julian Nowgabow

Whitefish River First Nation