Hobbema reserve votes on evicting gang members

The largest native reservein the violence-plagued community of Hobbema, south of Edmonton, may soon begin evicting troublemakers.

The Samson Cree First Nation is holding a referendum on Jan. 4th, asking residents to give the band the authority to banish gang members.

"It is just getting to the point where we need to do something drastic," said band member Theresia Boysis, 65.

"Its for the safety. Our little kids, they want to run around and play too. They can't. Too many of our young people have been murdered, for what reason?"

Boysis keepsan ear on her police scanner and an eye out her front window.

"I will go to bed at 8 p.m. and will be up at midnight just to keep an eye," she said.

"Im scared to sit in my house. You don't know who will kick your door in."

Each night she locks her front door bywedging a long knifebetween it andthe door frame.

Boysis supports the bylaw even though it means her own grandson, who she says runs with the gangs, could be kicked out.

"They aren't banished," she said. "They are evicted until they smarten up and are ready to come home and say, Hi, I changed.

"This is what I want to see...the change in my people."

The proposed bylaw allows the band to evict anyone who "would present a danger to the health or safety of the community."

Under the residency bylaw, any 25 residents can apply to have another resident evicted.

If the person is not a band member, a residency tribunal will make the decision whether or not to evict.

However, if the person is a band member,the chief and council must decide upon eviction, and even then only by a two-thirds majority.

RCMP Sgt. Ralph Cardinal set up a similar bylaw in another Alberta reserve and has been pushing for one in Hobbema since 2009.

He believes the bylaw will pass, but the problem is Samson Cree is the only First Nation of four in the community on board.

That makes enforcement difficult," he said.

"There is nothing that we could do under that bylaw when they go across the road."

It also makes the three nearby bands nervous.

"Already there has been some complaints," said Roy Louis, a community leader.

"What happens if the drug dealers or the gang members are moving into their towns," he said.

"I think the vote is a little premature," said Louis.

Should the bylaw pass, it will need approval from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.