Siksika protester vows to appeal injunction, keep teepee blockade in place

A protester who put up a teepee to block flood damage restoration on the Siksika Nation is standing firm that his blockade isn't going anywhere and he will appeal an injunction handed down Friday.

"It is going to stay up," Ben Crow Chief told CBC News Saturday.

Crow Chief, a member of the Siksika Nation which is about 90 kilometres southeast of Calgary, said he's disappointed the judge didn't consider a number of factors when arriving at her decision.

"We are going to appeal the decision because the judge made her decision all based on finance, finance, finance and they never really looked at the issues behind what was going on, why the blockade was up," Crow Chief said.

"There are more issues in play than what they are trying to say in court."

Many homes on the reserve were destroyed or damaged in the 2013 Alberta flood. Many of the evacuees are still displaced today, some in temporary housing.

The government at the time committed to $45 million for rebuilding efforts, which included 44 homes that were destroyed in the Cluny subdivision.

Crow Chief and supporters erected the teepee on Nov. 4, 2015, in part to draw attention to what he calls financial mismanagement at the First Nation and a rebuilding process that didn't sufficiently involve community members.

"To overturn the injunction and what we want is a forensic audit done," Crow Chief said.

"They are saying they have nothing to hide, they have done everything right. Well, I have been asking for this forensic audit, why don't you give it to me?"

Crow Chief was in court facing an injunction earlier this month.

A lawyer for the First Nation said the blockade was causing problems for the rebuilding efforts.

Elements of a community divided

"While hearts might be in the right place, there is significant damage being done," Sean Fairhurst said at the Oct. 7 injunction application hearing.

"Sadly we are here because we find elements of a community divided."

Construction of the Cluny subdivision was about 80 per cent complete when Crow Chief began his protest last year.

Because construction was halted, the First Nation is now exposed to a claim by Whissel Contracting so it is suing Crow Chief for $500,000.

Crow Chief, meanwhile, said this is far from over and he has words of support for members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who are protesting a pipeline route in North Dakota.

"We went through winter and they can make it through winter, so stand strong, be proud and don't back down."

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