In a combined effort involving RCMP detachments from across the region, approximately 25 marked and unmarked RCMP vehicles arrived at Burns Lake Band (BLB) offices in Burns Lake on Sunday morning, April 7, 2013.
A perimeter around the office property was established as police kept the offices closed to the public, including BLB councillor, Ron Charlie.
Charlie arrived at 1:20 p.m. and was denied entry to the offices. He was told that RCMP were on site to process a BLB council resolution. Charlie asked why, as a councillor, is wasn’t allowed into the band offices. He was told that police were processing a crime scene.
Further details to follow as they are made available.
UPDATE
The situation at the Burns Lake Band offices were peacefully resolved at approximately 2:30 p.m. as seven Burns Lake Band protesters who were occupying the offices agreed to leave.
According to Cst. Lesley Smith of RCMP North District Media Relations, Burns Lake detachment RCMP had been made aware on March 25, 2013, of protesters occupying the band offices. Until today, it was hoped that the protest, which was disrupting band office business as well as the business of the Carrier Sekani Familiy Services and the Little Angels Daycare, could be resolved without police intervention.
Today, at approximately 11:30 a.m., police accompanied two band council members as they served a letter of notice directing protesters to leave the premises. The protesters left willingly and no arrests were made.
There are three ongoing investigations surrounding the protest. The crime scene referred to in the initial story was in connection to those investigations, and not to an incident today.