This week’s Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations fall legislative assembly got off to a lively start yesterday in Saskatoon.
For much of the day, chiefs passionately discussed the issue of spending by the board of directors at the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority — before voting to uphold the suspension of SIGA board chair Kirk Goodtrack.
Many chiefs say they feel the spending, which topped $900,000 last year, has gotten out of hand — while others want to see chiefs removed from the board altogether.
James Smith Chief Wally Burns sits on the Economic and Community Development Commission which initially made the decision to suspend Goodtrack.
He says he us uncomfortable with the amount of politics that is at play, and has opted to resign.
However, the chief of the Carry the Kettle First Nation, Ivan Thompson, says he believes there was a conflict with Goodtrack’s position that had to be addressed.
Thirty-two chiefs supported the resolution calling for Goodtrack’s termination, while seven abstained.
Meanwhile, the president of SIGA says steps are being taken to reduce board costs.
Zane Hansen says the board is on pace to record a spending level of $535,000, well below last year’s total of just over $900,000.
Hansen also believes board costs are in line with other boards in the private and public sector:
He adds all SIGA profits go back to First Nations communities in the province.
Newly appointed chairman Ed Henderson says he is confident expenses on the board will go down.
Henderson says that the size of the board has increased in recent years, which is one of the reasons why spending went up.
He adds he and other officials plan to talk with the various tribal councils in the coming days to explain a bit more about what is going on.
The chief of the Little Black Bear First Nation says he doesn’t like it when bands fight amongst themselves.
Chief Perry Bellegarde notes the FSIN will soon have to re-negotiate its gaming agreement with the provincial government and it needs to be united when that happens.
Bellegarde says he hopes the government remembers it didn’t put any money into helping set up Indian gaming in the first place.