Elders of the Sechelt Indian Band are feeling disrespected and locked out by their own chief and council over a letter they each received this week.
The Band wrote to tell them they would no longer be paying for elders' utilities, minor house repairs or appliances as of Nov. 1, 2008.
The letter is of great concern to elders in the community, as they rely on help from the Band in their senior years.
"I try to help myself as much as possible, but some elders can't," Elder Anne Quinn said.
"I'm sad. I'm very sad, and I have been seething all day over it," Elder Teresa Jeffries said.
The letter, signed by chief and council, said that a year and half of research into the elders' benefits policy by the Band manager and an unnamed consultant resulted in the cut-off.
"I'd like to know who this consultant was. What's the difference between what they paid [the consultant] and us?" Jeffries asked. "We've really lost touch with our chief and council. We don't have communication with them any more because of their self interest."
The policy change that will affect people 60 years of age and older reads: "After many public meetings, the council has decided that continuing the present manner to cover both elders' mortgage and utilities is too expensive and will detrimentally affect our future budgets and future generations. Utilities including hydro, gas and heating oil, minor home repairs and appliances will be discontinued effective Nov. 1, 2008."
While Quinn and Jeffries both said they heard this decision might be coming, Quinn said: "This should be looked into first to see who really qualifies. This affects peoples' parents and grandparents. It was a shock to see it. Everything happened behind closed doors."
Quinn said there should be a woman and an elder on council so their concerns are represented.
"There's not too many men that age but there are a lot of women. They need to be heard," she said. "The Band council has lost communication with the people and we [elders] are trying to do something about it," she said.
Jeffries said one reason this decision feels so disrespectful is because the 65-plus generation in the Band does a lot to teach language, history and culture and helps with land decisions. She said they are paid a little bit for this work but not much. She said the elders do it because they know they are the only ones with the knowledge, and it is important to them to pass it along.
"I don't feel respect. I feel left out in the cold. I feel like I've been kicked," she said. "But we're strong, the elders. We're pretty good fighters and they [council] need to hear from us."
Chief Garry Feschuk, media spokesperson for the Band, is away until after Labour Day and could not return messages.
