Forced eviction leads to Tribunal

Angele Kamalatisit said she hopes to expose the truth about how she was unfairly kicked out of Sandy Lake First Nation during a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal this week.

The tribunal began Tuesday at the Victoria Inn and heard testimony from Kamalatisit about the series of events that led to her receiving an eviction letter from the chief and council of Sandy Lake First Nation in August 2012.

The letter told her that she and her son were not welcome on the reserve, were asked to leave at the their own expense, and told if they returned they would be charged with trespassing.

Kamalatisit, who is from Fort Albany First Nation, had lived in Sandy Lake First Nation for ten years with her common-law partner, band member, Ringo Fiddler, where she worked and volunteered and was part of the community.

Kamalatisit said she believes she and her son were used as “scapegoats” by the leadership to get rid of Fiddler.

“She was targeted because of me,” said Fiddler, who has been vocal in the community about council politics, running for council twice and being told he wasn’t allowed because he was in a common-law relationship.

Kamalatisit said she stayed out of Sandy Lake politics because she knew, as a guest, she didn’t have a vote or a say in how things were done.

During her testimony, Kamalatisit said her son, who had come to live with them in 2011 under court conditions, was experiencing harassment in the community even though he wasn’t causing trouble but working two jobs.

It was after a Facebook thread in 2012 in which Kamalatisit responded to people who were calling her son a troublemaker that she received her eviction letter. It was because she expressed herself, she said, that the council said she had to leave. Prior to that, she said, there had been no talk of her not being allowed to stay in Sandy Lake.

Although Kamalatisit is representing herself at the tribunal, Brian Smith, a lawyer with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, was there to help her through her testimony and make an opening statement.

In his statement, Smith said that the eviction letter was responded to by Fiddler with a letter of his own. Following that, the chief, council and officers with Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service arrived at Fiddler and Kamalatisit’s home to forcibly remove Kamalatisit.

Fiddler did not allow that to happen, but Kamalatisit had to be medically evacuated the next day after what Fiddler called a “home invasion” and a “traumatizing event.”

Lawyers for Sandy Lake First Nation held off making their opening statement on day one of the tribunal, preferring to hear complainant testimony first.

Kamalatisit is requesting financial compensation for pain and suffering. Smith said it is unlikely there will be a decision for months.

The tribunal continues until Friday and is open to the public. Fiddler said he hopes people will come and listen.

“Justice has to be done after this,” he said. “That way nobody will go through that again.”