For Immediate Release
October 28, 2009

Lax Kw'alaams, BC – The election of John Helin as Chief Councilor for the Law Kw'alaams Band has provided a new brand of more open and consultative leadership for the northern indigenous community. Signaling a democratic shift that is taking place right across Canada, grassroots community members are demanding transparency and accountability from their representatives.

Several changes have taken place in Lax Kw'alaams under Helin's leadership to provide for full accountability. Firstly, councillors with portfolios must prepare reports summarizing important matters of council business. These summaries are now made widely available through a printed media, online, and presented through regular scheduled general meetings. Secondly, conflict of interest guidelines now govern councillors that relate directly to Band business. Thirdly, guidelines have been introduced concerning the conduct and sobriety of Chief and councillors at Council meetings.  Similarly, a code of conduct applies to govern the travel and representation of elected officials when on community business.

It also has been reported that, within the next month, a first-of-its-kind community website will be unveiled. This will provide membership with secure and confidential online access to Band financial statements, council meeting minutes, and the ability to watch Band Council meetings live over the internet. Council meetings will also be moved to a physically larger space so that community members can sit in on Band Council meetings.

In addition, Chief Councilor Helin is a strong advocate of community unity. He commented that "For too long the way forward for some has been to focus on dividing our communities along family and tribal lines. This has not worked in the past and simply wastes critical energy needed to move forward. Now we are in a new era where we are beginning to take economic power and assert our Aboriginal rights. We need to be standing and working together by supporting each other at a strategic time when other First Nations are asserting ownership of our territory and much development is taking place . Political tactics aimed at creating dissension through fear mongering serve no purpose. Leadership is about defining a collective future--creating opportunities and bigger pie for all members to share in."

He also contends that there is a much more important moral issue that needs to be addressed. "At the end of the day we have to be accountable to our ancestors. If our only way forward is to emphasize negativity and put down our own members, we will not be able to show our faces to our ancestors when that day comes. The Tsimshian people thrived for over 10,000 years because we worked together and recognized our collective future was larger than individual ambitions. That larger goal, of course, is to rebuild and strengthen our once-great nation. We need to lift the standard of living for all of our community members by working together to support each other. We need to recognize our community members through employment, education, and by supporting their businesses. Everyone should celebrate and take pride in the individual accomplishments of our members."

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