“Once all is said and done, there’s an awful lot of money, aimed at improving the collective lives of ‘First Nations’ people, that’s being eaten up by high-paid and self-righteous leadership.”

    “Our leadership has no need for huge payouts while their people struggle to get by. And it’s especially angering when they take the money and still talk about honoring our traditions. 

    “So why not open the books on band management? Why not allow Canadians and their own people to see how much they are paid, how much they ring up on expenses, and how the fiscal dollars directed toward the community are divided and spent?”

“Is Ottawa’s promised ‘nation-to-nation’ relationship with ‘indigenous peoples’ mainly about protecting the power of ‘First Nation’ leaders and ignoring the interests of the grassroots?  

“The first sign in that direction occurred in December, when the Trudeau government announced it was taking teeth out of the ‘First Nations’ Financial Transparency Act’, a piece of legislation that provides basic local financial data to ‘First Nation’ Band members. The government lifted sanctions and stopped court actions against ‘First Nations’ communities that weren’t complying with the ‘Transparency Act’. 

“Where this goes is anyone’s guess, but let’s hope the Liberals (and the NDP) do not fall back into their pattern of supporting chiefs against their members.   Continue reading ‘Keep The Accountability’ →