APTN National News
The RCMP is trumpeting a major bust of contraband cigarettes in Alberta.
The illegal smokes are valued at millions of dollars and were being stored on an Alberta First Nation.
Questions are now swirling about how and why two band officials brought the cigarettes into the community.
APTN National News reporter Noemi LoPinto has this story.
Sovern governance and self- determination is whats at stake here. They should have told the RCMP and its government cronies to take a hike or risk being shot and get off first nation territory. Action speaks louder than words and kudos for the councillors for having big enough guts to stimilate economic development. Our first nations live 50 years in the past, and still wait for government bribes and hand outs. You have to take the bull by the horns! People wake up its not an illigal product, the government want every dollar it can get, it is greedy, mismanaged and corrupt, and its been like this since they stepped foot in north america.
Sovern governance and self- determination is whats at stake here. They should have told the RCMP and its government cronies to take a hike or risk being shot and get off first nation territory. Action speaks louder than words and kudos for the councillors for having big enough guts to stimilate economic development. Our first nations live 50 years in the past, and still wait for government bribes and hand outs. You have to take the bull by the horns! People wake up its not an illigal product, the government want every dollar it can get, it is greedy, mismanaged and corrupt, and its been like this since they stepped foot in north america.
As always the RCMP are taking the wrong approach to this serious problem. The Montana band, though clearly not as naive as they wish to be perceived, are obviously very small players in this criminal event. If the Government were truly seriously committed to halting criminal tobacco trade they would eradicate all of the illegal factories manufacturing the product and prosecute the people running them to the fullest extent of the law! When you seek to kill a snake you cut off the head, not the tail!
I am from this Nation and fully support Chief Buffalo and Councillor Standingontheroad. There are many of us who support this cause and many other nations and their members behind us. Those people you see are merely spotlight chasers. The truth will prevail, and I am grateful for all support given to my nation in message form, letter form, in any type of form you can muster. This is a cause for all First Nations. Rally Up!!!!
ANYONE speaking to the media, on behalf of their First Nation should be more careful of what they say. Only allowing one skilled media representative to speak on their behalf. Putting on a show in front of the media, chastising these leaders and trying to bully Standing on the Road is sick. This is lateral violence caught on tape!n nIts horrible that Montana suspended the Chief without pay! It should be with pay…innocent until proven guilty right? When RCMP members get in trouble, they are placed on suspension WITH pay. I think Montana members/Councilors jumped the gun, if the councilmen were more versed with the Treaties and such, they would have and should have backed their Chief and Councilor on a Federal Level instead of throwing them to the lions on the Provincial Level! Those speaking to the media from Montana are taking this as an opportunity to advance their political endeavors, by stabbing their leaders in the back. It is not Indian how they are behaving, Montana should not be hanging their dirty laundry and telling the world about internal problems, at least act like they have it together. Its so much to process, but they need to hold back their emotions (and tongues) until they have a better understanding of the situation from all parties involved. nnIt would be great to see other Chief’s, Councilors of First Nations and Aboriginal leaders support this cause, considering the councilors and members from Montana are NOT. It is Montana Band’s RIGHT to trade amongst First Nations on a Federal Level. Montana Band needs to make a big issue out of this if the Provincial Government does not return the tobacco in good faith!nnAll in all, Good Luck Montana Band
…considering the quantity of product and dollar amounts involved i think the fact that no one has been charged speaks volumes about any actual or alleged criminal conduct…the police are not in the habit of just letting people walk for this kind of stuff and if they have not charged anybody, likely NO CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED…i am from this First Nation, Councilor Standing-On-The-Road is my uncle, the irate member is my 1st cousin and the other councilor interviewed i also my uncle…on a personal level i completely support Leonard Standing-On-The-Road, whatever happens…i am not privy to what actually took place but but i do know that if poor judgment or making mistakes were crimes, one of the men featured in the piece would probably get LIFE…lol…more seriously, it’s fascinating what sound bites can do and how a small (3 minute) item like this can completely paint a picture that bears little resemblance to any reality i know and now the personal integrity and reputations of ALL those featured is completely distorted (some might say, reversed)…
…considering the quantity of product and dollar amounts involved i think the fact that no one has been charged speaks volumes about any actual or alleged criminal conduct…the police are not in the habit of just letting people walk for this kind of stuff and if they have not charged anybody, likely NO CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED…i am from this First Nation, Councilor Standing-On-The-Road is my uncle, the irate member is my 1st cousin and the other councilor interviewed i also my uncle…on a personal level i completely support Leonard Standing-On-The-Road, whatever happens…i am not privy to what actually took place but but i do know that if poor judgment or making mistakes were crimes, one of the men featured in the piece would probably get LIFE…lol…more seriously, it’s fascinating what sound bites can do and how a small (3 minute) item like this can completely paint a picture that bears little resemblance to any reality i know and now the personal integrity and reputations of ALL those featured is completely distorted (some might say, reversed)…
That guy is such an idiot to make a scene like that. The problem is too many Natives do that to the educated leaders and show such disrespect. We are fighting the same Rules and regulations that Gov’t imposes On reserves across Canada. Remember The More Poor A Reserve The More Reliable It is on the Gov’t.They just went in and stole from Montana First Nation Or Who ever Their Cigarettes Were. Their Own Band Was Stealing From Themselves It Sounded LIke.How Sad? That Guy Is probably A stoolly For The Gov’t. Anyways, Band Leaders need To be More Educated and aware of business. I still Believe That The Guy There is a Total Moron To make a such a ill – decision to make a national scene about something so closely connected to the rights of Indians on Indian land.
That guy is such an idiot that is asking him to step down. We are fighting against the white people and all their rules and regulations and all they do is make a scene that others can comment and judge the Montana band and its people.