The Lower Nicola Indian Band has seen some return to normalcy with the re-instatement of Chief Victor York this week.

York literally returned to the band office Monday, but he says that he never neglected his duties despite his long absence from council meetings, suspension, and impeachment.

“I’ve never left. I was still working on behalf of the band doing a lot of the work related to the companies,” he told the News in an interview Tuesday.

Federal Court Justice Francois Lemieux ordered last Thursday that York and Coun. Harold Joe, who was also impeached last November, should return to their positions until the court reviews whether their removal from office was valid.

The court stayed a byelection to replace York and Joe, scheduled for last Saturday.

York argues that Mary June Coutlee, Stuart Jackson, and Robert Sterling Jr., three of the band councillors that supported his and Joe’s impeachment, were not eligible to vote on council matters since they face an outstanding appeal.

A committee of band elders had originally removed those councillors from office in December 2010 and upheld an appeal that argued they were ineligible to run.
However, Federal Court Justice John O’Keefe ruled that committee was biased and ordered a new appeal review.

The hearing for York’s challenge will most likely take place in mid-May this year. A new committee of band elders to re-examine the appeal against Coutlee, Jackson, and Sterling has yet to be convened.

Until the Federal Court and appeal reviews, York, Joe, Coutlee, Jackson, and three other councillors—Joanne Lafferty, Lucinda Seward, and Molly Toodlican—all elected in the October 2010 band general election, will sit together as Lower Nicola’s chief and council.

“In the meantime, we have to work together for the benefit of the band,” says York.

Band executive director Arnie Narcisse said last Friday that York instructed staff to set up his office at the Lower Nicola administration building and reactivate his email account.

The chief returned to the band office on Monday. He and Joe attended a band general meeting that night and a council meeting the next evening.

According to the band’s February 2012 newsletter, the last time York had attended a band general or council meeting was in February 2011. Joe’s attendance was last recorded at a band meeting in May 2011.

Narcisse says that about 60 people attended Monday’s band general meeting, double that of an average general meeting. The band has about 1,100 members, though many live outside the Nicola Valley.

He says the meeting proceeded in an orderly fashion. 

“Nobody got too upset about Victor’s presence.

“The members have shown their ability to remain calm in the face of a difficult situation. I’ve got to commend the members on their civility.”

York says that for his part, he does not want to argue about what happened in the past.

“The more focus is on where we are going tomorrow.

“I’m very optimistic about where we want to go.”

York says that he believes he can work co-operatively with the rest of council despite unresolved court issues and long-standing tension in the community.

“If we have the membership at large in mind, I think we’ll do just fine.

“This is a wake-up call for us so let’s go ahead and work together. It’s up to us to make it happen.”