The Anatomy of an Annual General Meeting

Let me describe it, for those who have never had the privellage to attend such an affair.

The Council sits stoic at one end of the Gym behind a long table - And the Membership fans out at the back and on either side of a long lonely stretch of space. 

There's always a supper or meal of some sorts to kick things off, which is a god-send to many of the people in our community who face hunger on a daily basis, and I think that accounts for some of the turn-out at these meetings. I don't joke about the free-food bringing out the membership. On more than one occasion, I've been glad for the extra nourishment offered as a diversion of the often typical fare of Mr.Noodles and Bologne sandwiches (Indian Steak) in our household.

In the last year, the Chief has taken to standing up at the beginning of the meeting to inform all reporters and non-band members to please leave. I suppose at some point, my writing for the Cowichan Citizen will be a cause for speculation as to whether I should be asked to leave. I think it will be fun if they do. Maybe they will require me to sign some sort of non-disclosure form crafted by the non-native lawyer who seems to trail our government officials on every occasion these days. Who knows? In any case - I will probably be able to stick around, if I insist, even though all non-native reporters will be vamoosed. 

Ironic really, when our Native Leaders complain that the Media doesn't tell their side of things, as a regular litany of woe. But when media does attempt to show up to cover our news, they are ushered out the door. Perhaps someday, Chief and Council will figure out the connection here.

After the prayer and a meal - the real show begins. The tightly controlled agenda begins with a presentation - sometimes by Chief, sometimes by a ringer they've brought in to make a speech.

In the middle of that vast stretch of space between the two crowds on either side and the back of hall, stands the lone microphone. I'll tell you - it's a very lonely walk, from the comfort of the crowd, to the middle of the room to pick up that microphone and ask a question. 500 pairs of eyes looking your way, the crowd hushes, with the occasional sound of a young one crying breaking the silence.

After the Agenda is discussed then the floor is open up for questions. After my three years of faithfully attending these meetings - I don't know why they bother with this portion of the meeting. 

The answers we get can be divided up into the following catagories. I don't know why they bother to have live attendance at this point. They could just videotape past answers and get some band office employee to hit the play button on a VCR to accomodate us, for all the information we get. Would be cheaper than forking out honoraria anyways.

In no particular order, here are the stock answers.

1."We (or I) don't know about that. I'll have to look into it, and get back to you." (However, nobody ever says exactly when they will get back to us on that issue, and to my knowledge - this matter of "getting back to you" - doesn't happen very often)

2. "Does anybody on Council want to address this...?" (Followed by a kind of amusing game of 'pass the mic' - which seems to mirror the 'pass the responsibility' attitude which accompanies it)

3. "That issue isn't on the agenda for this meeting. So we'll move on to the next person" (No word is given as to when we will have an AGM to discuss THAT particular issue -When Hell Freezes Over - is a phrase that often comes to mind when I hear this ready-made response)

4. "We're doing our best - can't you see that - You should have patience with us, after all don't you know that we have suffered under hundreds of years of opression, blah de blah de blah).." Note.. this is a very effective dodge. I've seen it used on occasions as divergent as when we can see a copy of the Dog By-Law, to when Lumpy Joe's house is going to get fixed

5. "I hear you - and I feel your pain." This is most often used when a band member obviously is very upset and frustrated with a lack of action on a particular issue. (No word about what is actually going to be done about the matter at hand - and Council Members always seem to be surprised when the repetition of this phrase, from some pop-psychology book, doesn't seem to make a difference to those who keep coming back year after year with the same complaints. )

6. In True Rodney King Spirit the "Why Can't We All Just Get Along?" Response is my personal favorite - as if disagreement is some sort of disease, instead of an opportunity to work together to solve problems

7. Probably the most annoying and most recently evolved response is "The Word Salad" - Long and Important Sounding 50 Cent Words, spoken very quickly, loudly and in a high-pitched fervour - but never broken down for the membership to understand. It reminds me of my old high-school debating days where the rule of thumb was "If you can't convince 'em - confuse em". Many of our people have not been able to get to College or University. These answers, as such are probably the most intimidating. Nobody wants to admit that they don't understand a frigging thing that was said. So let me be the first to inform you... quite often when you think an answer doesn't make sense.. it doesn't.

As the hours drag on, as member after member stands up to voice concerns, ask questions, seek information, it always amazes me to observe some members of council starting to pack up and leave. Sometimes right in the middle of a person's asking a question. I would think the least they could do if they are not going to answer questions is stick it out to the very end of the meeting and do a proper job of at least pretending to care and listen. 

Am I overly cynical? 
Perhaps. 
But I'm starting to understand why lots of people don't bother to attend these functions. 
Out of the 3500 people registered as Cowichan Tribes members, we are lucky if we can see 200 or more people show up most of the time. 

Meaghan Walker.