Friday, May 2, 2014 To: Ms. Abby Cameron Editor, The Weekly Press 287 Highway 2 Enfield, N.S.

B2T 1C9 Email: editor@enfieldweeklypress.com

Re: Article, Local fire stations withdraw mutual aid to Indian Brook" Dear Ms. Cameron, I am writing to you in regards to an article that was published in The Weekly Press and posted on the newspapers website on April 23, 2014: http://www.enfieldweeklypress.com/2014/04/23/local-fire-stations-withdraw-mutual-aid-to-indianbrook/ I have serious concerns with this article written by reporter Kyle Mackay. The article only represented one side of the issue and contained several inaccuracies. Paragraph 1: This paragraph is inaccurate because it fails to mention that our band leadership had met with East Hants to discuss the issue of mutual aid. It was agreed that until the Indian Brook Volunteer Fire Department is properly trained, the higher trained department would assume control over the situation. This arrangement would cease once volunteer firefighters skills and training are upgraded. Paragraph 3: While this paragraph is factually correct, it lacks balance and context from the Sipeknekatik Bands perspective. The band at the time was in the midst of an election period for chief and council. Once the letter was brought to my attention, I immediately responded to it. Paragraph 4: The reporter attributed abbreviated statements by myself through the person who was actually quoted, Kim Ramsay. Any quotes attributed to me by a third party are considered hearsay or gossip. It is highly improper for a reporter to quote me in this irresponsible manner. I am sure you would agree this would be considered sloppy and careless reporting.
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Paragraph 7: Ms. Ramsays summary of what was stated at this meeting fails to mention that a solution was reached (as I explained in my response to Paragraph 1). Paragraph 8: The Sipeknekatik Band has asked the Shubenacadie Volunteer Fire Department to provide us with documentation or a detailed explanation as to why they feel unsafe when John Malloy, a volunteer firefighter with the Indian Brook Volunteer Fire Department, is on the scene. To date, we have yet to receive a response from them. We cannot make an independent judgement regarding Mr. Malloys status with our volunteer fire department until the Shubenacadie Fire Department complies with our request. Paragraph 9: Again, there is no mention in this paragraph that a solution was reached as explained in my response to Paragraph 1. Paragraph 12: The Sipeknekatik Band is currently waiting for the Municipality of East Hants to draft and present Chief and Council with a Mutual Aid agreement to sign. To date, we have yet to receive a written agreement from the municipality. Paragraph 14: The Sipeknekatik Band intends to participate in all Fire Chiefs meetings as well as all mutual aid training and meetings. Paragraph 15: Problems with mutual aid qualification specifications have never been officially addressed with our band. Paragraph 16: On a going forward basis, the Sipeknekatik Band has already agreed that having a discussion surrounding compensation should occur at a committee-to-committee level. Paragraph 17: The Sipeknekatik Band would like to stress here that RCMP officers with the Indian Brook Detachment have always responded to situations and emergencies beyond our community borders regardless of jurisdiction. We view this as a public safety issue and have no problems with law enforcement services the band pays for offering assistance to neighbouring communities within the Municipality of East Hants. We want to be good neighbours. The Sipeknekatik Band should always be consulted on all issues that affect us at all times. A great deal of these journalistic inaccuracies and lack of balance and objectivity in this news article could have easily been avoided had Mr. Mackay simply contacted me to arrange for an interview. I am deeply disappointed that your weekly newspaper would show such a lack of journalistic judgement by publishing a news story that was so one-sided, inaccurate and lacked journalistic impartiality. As a part of your own readership, I expect more from this publication.
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I hope that future articles written by Mr. Mackay about the Sipeknekatik Band and Indian Brook First Nation for your publication will be more editorially balanced, correct and fair. Yours in recognition of Aboriginal and Treaty Rights, Nathan Sack Director of Operations Sipeknekatik Band cc: Chief Rufus Copage, chiefcopage@shubenacadieband.ca Joe Sack, joe_sack@hotmail.com Connie Nolan, cnolan@easthants.ca Kyle Mackay, kylemackay@enfieldweeklypress.com