Lisa Barrett

Lisa Barrett, communications officer for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, said the department has not met with White lately, but will be attending a meeting set up by the Snuneymuxw band tomorrow (Oct. 29)."We don't know if Mr. White has been invited," she said."That is up to the band."White said he has not been invited to the meeting."The chief and council don't want anything to do with me," he said."They're afraid of me."Barrett said Indian Affairs met with White three months ago regarding the shake mill and were encouraging him to pursue it. "We're definitely in favour of him doing something environmentally friendly and beneficial to him on his property," she said.

Lisa Barrett, communications officer for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, said a proposal for a recycling business was never received from White.

Lisa Barrett, public affairs officer for the B.C. office of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), said the department had discussed the audit with band financial officers and was confident the KIB is solvent.Much of its revenue comes from its own band-generated economy, she noted.

Lisa Barrett, public relations officer for the B.C. branch of the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (INAC), said the office had not been advised of a special audit, which is not unusual.The only audit it requires is at year-end - March 31 for the KIB.INAC may have provided money for some of the areas that experienced cost overruns, Barrett said, but added that most of the department's money is program-specific with the band, which has its own source of money through its industrial park and leasehold arrangements.If the March 31 audit shows anything of concern, Barrett said, a mediation process will be put in place "to find out why and how."