In a resolution dated April 17, the Lhtako Dene Nation formalized what they had pledged in person to Quesnel city council earlier this month. They are henceforth refusing to do business with mayor Ron Paull and they are rescinding his welcome on Lhtako lands.
They are, however, willing to work with city councillors and city staff.
The proclamation read as follows:
WHEREAS:
Mayor Ron Paull of the City of Quesnel has condoned the distribution of the book Grave Error: How the Media Misled Us (and the Truth about Residential Schools), and has attempted to distribute the book to others, and
The book implies, amongst others, that the cultural genocide did NOT happen at residential schools, and
The mayor has not apologized to the Nation for his actions, and
The Nation wishes to continue working with the other Council members of the City and the management team of the City,
The resolution was signed by elected chief Clifford Lebrun all members of council, including Raymond Aldred, Timothy Michell and Wanda-Lee Aldred.
The resolution follows about a month of controversy over first the mayor’s wife and then reports of the mayor himself attempting to distribute a book of curated essays that collectively downplay the atrocities committed by colonial society via the creation and execution of the residential school system.
Quesnel council, including Paull, denounced the book by unanimous vote, as well as unanimously reaffirmed the memorandum of understanding between the Lhtako national government and the Quesnel municipal governmant.
However, it was learned later that, Paull had alleged deeper involvement with the book. This touched off a groundswell of dissension in the Indigenous and mainstream public alike. The calls then came, at a special hearing of council, for Paull to step down. He so far has refused to do so, pledging to learn and act in better ways as a result of this situation.
“First of all we have to take his chair away. Second of all, we have to start rebuilding this relationship,” said Lebrun before the special hearing. “We’re ok - Lhtako, anyway - working with the remainder of the council. But we find it very, very difficult to try and work with the mayor right now.”
The Nazko First Nation, on whose territory much Quesnel regional business is done, also called for Paull to step down and pledged refusal to deal directly with him on any further governance.
Other First Nations in the region are on the record as supporting these measures, in solidarity with Lhtako and Nazko.
The City of Quesnel has been built on the unceded lands of the Lhtako people.