Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Drunk driving should lead to chief's suspension, incarceration
A few weeks ago, Clearsky went to court for another drunk driving charge, this one stemming from December 2007. It ended up with Clearsky getting a light sentence with no jail time. His lawyer argued successfully that the chief was needed at home on the rez to oversee H1N1 vaccinations.
Wow. What was he going to do exactly that he was needed so badly at home? Hold everyone's hand while they got the shot or chauffeur the ones that didn't have a ride or a vehicle? C'mon now.
I find it hard to believe it was so important that he be there -- and hard to believe the judge accepted it too.
The worst part is this wasn't the first time Clearsky had been convicted of a drunken driving charge. He's been charged three times since 1983, and also has a dangerous weapon conviction.
Murray Clearsky has to own up to his problems.
It's embarrassing -- he's taking advantage of his standing in a community and using it to get out of doing jail time for a serious conviction. That's my opinion, and you are welcome to disagree, but first answer me this.
If Clearsky wasn't a chief do you think he would have done some time in jail for three convictions? No doubt about it.
It's time for us to demand better from our leaders.
It used to be a person did some heroic acts on behalf of the people or gave away their last possessions to help someone else and earned the peoples' respect before they were made chief. Sitting Bull would turn over in his grave if he heard about this one.
There are a lot of good chiefs out there, but when Clearsky does stuff like this he makes us all look bad. And speaking about voting isn't there something in the Indian Act that says a chief or councillor position becomes vacant if they are "unfit to continue because he has committed an offence?"
Maybe Clearsky hasn't lost his job because Wawayseecappo residents aren't aware of that?
Or Waywayseecappo might follow its own election code if a majority of the band members ever decided to go that way. Band codes should include a section that severely deals with council members, especially chiefs, who break the law. And those rules need to be enforced.
Bands like Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation have created their own election code that make a criminal record check part of the nomination process. People with a criminal record can't run for office. If an elected chief or a councillor is convicted of an offence then that person is removed and a by-election is held for that job.
Judging by his track record Clearsky has some serious issues with alcohol abuse and that's what needs some attention. He has said he's attended Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and he should continue with that. You don't just go to a few meetings and declare yourself cured of alcoholism.
It's like we're all enabling him when we let him off on something like this. What Clearsky probably needs is an intervention to get him on the path to sobriety.
Drinking and driving is never acceptable. Too many people have died or killed others by making the same stupid mistake. And it's time for people to expect more from our leadership -- the people of Waywayseecappo deserve way better.
Colleen Simard is the publisher of Urban NDN (www.urbanndn.com)
colleen.simard@gmail.com
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 14, 2009 A19
-
WFP Hockey
Download our new hockey app for the iPhone for Winnipeg Jets updates
-
Editor's Bulletin
Sign up for daily bulletins from editor Margo Goodhand
-
Winnipeg Jets
All things NHL on our Jets landing page
-
Twitter
Follow our reporters and our news feeds on Twitter
-
News Cafe
Check out the menu, read our blog posts or get info on coming events
-
Facebook Fanpage
Follow our Facebook Fanpage for story links, contests and special events
Ads by Google
- Back to Top
- Return to Columnists
Poll
Most Popular
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife was dead
- Juror dismissed in second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- RCMP receptionist told Stobbe wife dead
- Should infants be allowed in the House of Commons?
- No comfort in trade talk: Veteran Thorburn says closely knit club well worth keeping together
- US teen gets life in prison for killing 9-year-old; called the murder "pretty enjoyable"
- Search is on for man seen leaving the scene where two Alberta Mounties were shot
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Three winning tickets sold for Friday's $50 million Lotto Max jackpot
- Woman's car stolen at gunpoint at St. Vital mall, police say
- Eleven people killed after truck hits van in southwestern Ontario
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Stobbe said slaying during shopping trip 'strange': sister-in-law
- Tactical squad storms St. Vital house
- Woman sexually assaulted during noon-hour in Exchange District
- Restaurant Dubrovnik may be closed for good
- Do you smoke marijuana?
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- George Clooney's prank could end Pitt's career
- Piers Morgan blasts 'gruesome' Madonna
- Tina Maze strips down to her sports bra to send out underwear message: 'Not your business'
- Clothing chain pulls Caterpillar boots to protest closure of London, Ont., plant
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Two children, two women die in fire
- Kate Beckinsale's weight fears over Underworld catsuit
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Spain mourns death of Catalan painter, sculptor Antoni Tapies, top contemporary art figure
- Steinbach booms to No. 3 city in province
- Pardon application fee to quadruple later this month despite complaints
- Our 'true champion'
- Juror dismissed in second-degree murder trial of Mark Stobbe
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Original Joe's, Elephant & Castle expanding
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
- Harper driven by libertarian ideology, not reality
- Northern fishing lodge destroyed by fire
- Police target drivers talking on cellphones, texting
- Obama torn by conflicting allies
- 'This is so silly': Mom and Dad tell story of baby Zade, born on side of Highway 59
- Fighting fire with knowledge
- Minor earthquake strikes near Manitoba
- Paddler Starkell was modern-day voyageur
- Tassimo brewers and espresso packages recalled amid rupture, burn concerns
- Driver dead after SUV goes over Disraeli Bridge
- Car's plunge off Disraeli fatal
- Canadian woman 'badly injured' in Mexico, local media report apparent beating
- Winnipeg mother watches as car stolen with child inside
- Swedish bunny's sheep herding skills becomes click-monster on YouTube
- League encourages hazing secrecy
- Cabela's to open massive store just west of IKEA site
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.