Now posted on www.CyberSmokeSignals.com!
The story in today’s Winnipeg Free Press (reprinted below) is once again a clear example of a ruthless and blind attempt by CEO, Mr. Chartrand to once again lead his people down a path which has no possible chance of helping Metis people achieve anything good in today’s society.
It is time that non-Metis people stand up and tell this person and his entourage that they are tired of paying for his ego. And you are paying. He is still fighting with expensive lawyers to sue his own people if they dare step out of line. After letting the dust settle on his lawsuit against Terry Belhumeur and Clare Pieuk, he has once again instructed his lawyer to begin again. It has been over a year since any real action in this case. I suppose the heat generated from the public was to0 hot to continue at the time and now he proposes to continue.
Those of you who read this site even though I have not updated it in months could now make it hot for him again. For the good of all Metis and non-Metis taxpayers, it is time to expose the truth about what is transpiring. I have nothing to hide (I never hid the fact that I own cybersmokesignals.com) and revenge by a group for no possible gain will come back to hurt those who seek it. I read that somewhere.
E-mail me to let me know what you think of this whole thing. Maybe it is time to revive cybersmokesignals. That's a shame since peace is a far better tool to achieve success.
Terry
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Ste. Rita Residents Reject Métis Welcoming Sign
Petition Demands New Wording
By David Kuxhaus
Winnipeg Free Press
Monday, July 16, 2007
Page B3
THE majority of people living in St. Rita have given the thumbs down to a controversial sign erected by the Manitoba Métis Federation welcoming visitors to the community. Ninety-six people have signed a petition demanding that the wording of the sign be changed. Failing that, they said it should be removed.
There were 26 signatures in support of the MMF sign.
The sign - which reads Local Metis Government Welcomes You to St. Rita - has emotions running high in this community, about 50 kilometres east of Winnipeg. Earlier this month, the bottom portion of it was torched. Police are investigating the vandalism but have made no arrests.
The councillor for the area said the results of the petition are a clear message to the MMF that something needs to be done.
"The sign received very little support," said Andy Pelletier.
Pelletier said the sign is a problem because it gives the impression the community is governed by the Métis. He said there are concerns that it could discourage potential development. Pelletier said others in the community fear the MMF is gearing up to take over their property as part of a land claim.
Pelletier said the issue has nothing to do with racism, adding that 21 of the 96 people opposed to the sign indicated on the petition that they were Métis. A copy of the petition has been forwarded to the MMF.
David Chartrand, president of the MMF, hasn't seen the petition but said it won't persuade him to take the sign down.
"I don't know what people are afraid of," said Chartrand. The MMF said the sign was put up as a show of Métis pride and to acknowledge the Métis people as a nation.
Chartrand, however, said the MMF would never displace residents in order to settle a land claim.
"There's no way we would ever put someone through what we went through," said Chartrand.
He added that there's no evidence to show that the sign will hurt business or hinder development in St. Rita."
This is all just fear-mongering," said Chartrand. He said the damaged sign, which is located on private property, will be replaced shortly with the wording intact.
The MMF is looking to put up similar signs in a number of communities.
Pelletier said the controversy would go away is the MMF would just get rid of the word government. He noted that when the sign was originally proposed, he was told it would read: St. Rita Métis Local Welcomes you to the Town of St. Rita. Pelletier said that wording would be acceptable to the community.
david.kuxhaus@freepress.mb.ca
posted by Clare L. Pieuk at 11:58 AM
2 Comments:
Just want to correct a comment in this article. There were not 26 signuteres in support. There are still others that want to sign. If we were collecting signuters in support there would have been around 10. It is funny to cause on monday the local here had a special meeting, David was there. He snuck in. Why would'nt he come to a regular town meeting and educate us? Probaly cause he is chicken. Is'nt that what he called us before? He needs to educate his local here on respecting others.
How do we get the taxpayers to pay attention you would think that all the rucis going on in St Rita would open their eyes. This leader is a bully and a expensive on at that. Like the lawsuit againist you what a crock. He thinks he is the only one that can speak everyone else should shut up, nod, and agree. Well the time has come to let all of manitoba know what he is all about, but in the same breath HOW? Do you have any ideas cause I know alot of people who stand behind.
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