CP Photo Millbrook Chief Lawrence Paul, who struggles with alcoholism, says Matthew Coon Come's comments 'cannot be backed up.'

By Steve Proctor / Truro Bureau

Truro - Native leaders across Atlantic Canada are calling for the resignation of the country's most powerful chief after he told reporters earlier this week that alcohol abuse was common among First Nations leaders.

Lawrence Paul, co-chairman of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs, said he was deluged with calls from angry chiefs Wednesday. Most were demanding the resignation of Matthew Coon Come, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.

"His statement was very unfair and cannot be backed up by fact," said Chief Paul, who also serves as chief of the Millbrook reserve near Truro.

"It's tough enough to fight the stereotype of the drunken Indian without our national chief coming out and saying things that aren't true."

Chief Paul said it's been about 15 years since he's seen anything like Chief Coon Come described.

"There was a time in the late '60s to the mid-'70s (when) there was a lot of partying going on. We used to party a lot with Indian Affairs officials, but that was in the past and has been corrected," he said.

He said the chiefs individually decided that they could not make important decisions about treaties and negotiations under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"It's just not tolerated anymore," he said. "People are very professional now, and I'm very proud to say that about my people."

But Chief Paul admits that he has endured a long struggle with alcohol abuse.

"I'm an alcoholic," he said. "I have nothing to be ashamed of. I'm quite proud of what I've been able to accomplish even with this addiction.

"I never said when I became chief that I was going to be Saint Paul. I am who I am, and people here understand that I have an addiction. They never held that against me. They looked at what I did for my band . . . and they must have liked it because they re-elected me nine consecutive times."

In 1995, Chief Paul was sentenced to two months in jail for threatening to do serious harm to his brother-in-law. Conditions of his sentence included a prohibition on using firearms and an order to seek immediate counselling for his drinking problem.

He received a suspended sentence in 1998 and was placed on probation for a year after pleading guilty to assaulting his wife in 1997.

Court heard that Mr. Paul was drunk during the incident but was getting help at a 28-day rehabilitation program in Kentville.

"Problems only arise when he's been drinking," court was told.

He hasn't had a drink of alcohol in almost three years, he said.

"I said to myself that I'm in a position where there are crucial negotiations going on. I can't afford to have any more relapses."

Chief Coon Come spoke about alcohol abuse among native leaders while addressing an aboriginal health conference Tuesday in Ottawa. In his speech he suggested native leaders must clean up their own acts before they can truly help their people.

"Our people smoke too much and drink too much," he told the conference.

Outside the conference, he told The Canadian Press that alcohol abuse among leaders of Canada's 630 First Nations is common.

"Just attend any function, you'll see it. . . . If there's a conference, go and see it. See who's having a dance and who's drinking," he said.

Chief Coon Come was not available for comment on Wednesday, but Jean LaRose, a communications officer in his office, said the chief's comments had been taken out of context.

Mr. LaRose said Chief Coon Come only suggested that native leaders, elected or otherwise, had to become role models by not promoting drinking and smoking.

Chief Lawrence Toney of the Annapolis Valley First Nation said he called Chief Coon Come's office to complain first thing Wednesday morning but was told the chief wasn't in.

"I'm a little bit outraged," he said. "Even if there's an apology from him, I'm not going to accept it. He has to step down."

Chief Toney said he's never seen drunkenness at a conference during his seven years as a chief.

"If people want a nip on their own time, that's their business, but around the conference table, it's just not acceptable," he said.

Chief Paul said the remarks may have been a deliberate swipe at the country's 630 First Nations chiefs because three months ago they blocked a plan calling for the direct election of a national chief by all band members in the country.

"He wanted to be a super-chief with authority that would supersede the reserve chiefs. We nixed that and now he's getting back at us."

Chief Coon Come has never had much support in Atlantic Canada, Chief Paul said.

His recent comments will ensure there is a call for his resignation during the Assembly of First Nations meeting in Halifax in June, he said.

Non-native leaders have also been vilified for making similar statements about drinking problems among aboriginal leaders.

Former Newfoundland premier Brian Tobin was called a racist last June for saying alcoholism among aboriginal leaders is an obstacle to progress.

With Patricia Brooks, staff reporter