Chief Ed Metatawabin of Fort Albany says Canada practices “institutional racism” when dealing with Native people and things have to change.
The comments came after the band’s bank accounts were frozen for five days by a company which was owed money by the band. The band wasn’t able to do business as a result On April 6, M.J. LaBelle Co. Ltd. enforced a garnishment against the band for outstanding bills that total $60,000. The debt dates to last year, when LaBelle sold equipment to Fort Albany’s leasing company, Neegan O’Chee.
“We were in debit for five days and couln’t order, receive cheques, pay purchase orders or people on welfare, and the band’s employees,” said Chief Metatawabin.
The Chief said there is no argument about the money owned; it’s just there was no money to pay at the moment. But what Chief Metatawabin is angry about is that a company like LaBelle can hold a community “hostage,” whereas in the south such a thing would never happen.
“It’s their system and they control it and know it and use it against First Nations, and we got attacked,” said Chief Metatawabin.
The Chief added that people in Fort Albany were affected who had no knowledge of what was happening with the company. He added that companies like LaBelle shouldn’t be allowed to have the control to shut down a community.
For five days, people in the community weren’t able to cash any cheques because Northern Stores would not accept them and all transactions were terminated.
“Indian Affairs has a say in what we do, and companies and banks are allowed to treat us that way,” said the Chief.
The band hopes to get a loan from Nishnawbe Development Fund to pay the bill, and the Bank of Nova Scotia eventually unfroze the band’s account. Neither LaBelle nor the Bank of Nova Scotia could be reached for comment.
