For the second year in a row, three Saskatchewan First Nations have failed to file their financial statements with the federal government and for the second year in a row they face funding cuts for non-essential services.
The regulations are part of the First Nations Financial Transparency Ac,t which is being fought in the courts and on the campaign trail.
The Ochapawace, Thunderchild and Onion Lake First Nations have not complied. In fact, the Onion Lake Cree Nation has challenged the act in court. A decision on the case – heard in Saskatoon last month – has been reserved.
In its latest move the Onion Lake Cree Nation has filed a racism complaint against the federal government with the United Nations over the transparency act.
There are 70 First Nations in the province: 45 of them have filed, representing about 65 per cent. The other 25 have not. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada is working with most of them and won’t cut off non-essential funding immediately.
The act is also getting some attention on the federal election campaign trail. Both the liberals and the NDP say they will scrap it if they are elected.
The prairie director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Todd MacKay, says that would be a bad move because it would hurt people that need the act the most.
“First Nations people should not have to go humbly ask at their band office, that is completely unacceptable,” he said. “ And especially because for them to stand up to their leadership often puts their job and their home on the line.”
There is quite a range in the numbers from the bands that have submitted their financial statements so far. The lowest-paid chief in the province is Leo Omani of the Wahpeton First Nation with salary and expenses totaling about $21,000 for the last fiscal year, the second lowest is Wood Mountain Chief Travis Ogle who was paid about $33,000 in salary and expenses.
The highest-paid is Chief Norman Whitehawk of the Cote First Nation near Fort Qu’Appelle. His salary and travel bill came in at $194,000. It is actually down about $150,000 from the previous year.
Second-highest is Darcy Bear, chief of the Whitecap Dakota First Nation. His pay and expenses totaled about $159,000.