Carolyn Buffalo, former chief of the Montana Cree First Nation in Maskwacis, Alta. will not be returning to court to face tobacco smuggling charges.

The charges under the Tobacco Tax Act faced by Buffalo were stayed last week four years after they were first laid.

Buffalo was charged with possessing and storing contraband cigarettes after the province and the RCMP seized 16 million cigarettes from a Quonset hut on the Montana First Nation in January 2011.

Buffalo’s former lawyer, Julian Falconer, said the case was a waste of taxpayers’ money and damaged relations between the courts and First Nations people.

“It really calls into question the inability of provincial and federal governments to understand that they need to work with their aboriginal partners rather than clubbing them with the justice system,” said Falconer.

“The effort to bring down the arm of the state on First Nations is no better than exemplified than what Ms. Buffalo has been put through for the last four years. It’s unconscionable.”

Late last year, the trial was adjourned after the defence questioned the motivation of a former co-accused who was expected to testify against Buffalo. It was suggested a deal may have been made in return for his testimony.

The charges against Buffalo and former band councillor Leonard Standing-On-The Road were stayed on Jan.28, 2015.

Charges against Robbie Dickson continue.





