Chief Wallace Fox of Onion Lake Cree Nation did not appear in person for his first court date.
Fox has been charged with two counts of assault, possession of a weapon, and threatening to damage property, and his first court date was scheduled for Wednesday, December 16 in Onion Lake. The Meridian Booster reports that judge Kim Young spoke via teleconference to Fox’s lawyer’s representative, Praveen Alvis. Young decided to adjourn that matter to January 20, 2016 and knock down the charges from an indictable offence to summary procedure.
Under the Indian Act, conviction on summary procedure charges does not force a band’s chief to resign.
Fox has been asked by Janet Trottier, the band’s Director of Native Justice, to step down because of unethical behaviour, but he has not done so.