Nakoda Sioux Nations

Canada's First Nations peoples living in various bands' tribal reserves live in misery and poverty despite a vast output of supportive funding by the federal government. All of the tribes insist on their right to live on their reserves rather than to leave places that are geographically remote, where it is difficult to sustain civil infrastructure and where employment is not feasible. And where despair reigns, where native children don't get the education they deserve.

Private ownership of homes on reserves is rare, although that is gradually changing and with it, it is hoped, will come a sense of personal responsibility of upkeep. There are also those reserves that are not typical of most in that their land holdings have been found to have natural resources that can be a source of great wealth to the people on the reserve. Not for them, the poverty that makes life miserable for most aboriginals living on reserves.

The Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley, three Sioux bands living on common land called the Nakoda Sioux Nations reserve are one of those fortunate, wealthy groups. The population of 4,635, bound by treaty into one Stoney nation, has ample services and opportunities given to them thanks to the natural fossil fuel resources that have made them wealthy. So are they well run, does the wealth result in comfort and security?

Each band consists of a third of the entire population. The three chiefs of the individual tribes reflect different priorities and values and ways of doing business. Corruption has been a frequent visitor. Waste, corruption and abuses of power have marred what should be an ideal situation for generations, despite that $100-million is earned on an annual basis. The bands are still beset with the same miseries as their poverty-stricken counterparts elsewhere.

The epidemic of suicides have not bypassed them, most committed by people under 25. Alcohol and drug abuse are endemic, and so is crime. Indian Affairs ranks the three Stoney reserves poorly on their Community Well Being Index. Tribe officials don't always work in the best interests of everyone. 85% of working age tribe members remain unemployed.

Some reserve staff members collect paycheques without bothering to show up to actually do any work. There has been gross malfeasance in the handling of the tribe's heritage fund. The Income Support Program administered by the tribes was found by Indian Affairs "not meeting the terms and conditions of the funding agreement". Despite the reserves' vast wealth many of their members continue to live in poverty.

Intertribal grudges make life a misery. When changes are recommended to be more accountable and responsible the chiefs respond "No. This is our way of life. This is how we govern ourselves. We have our own government system. This is how we've been operating for thousands of years, for the next thousands of years this is how we will operate."

It was 134 years ago when the Nakoda Sioux Nations were bound in an agreement co-signed by the Queen of England. Fifteen tribal administrators from chiefs on down earn salaries of $420,000 combined with travel and additional expenses coming in at an additional $300,000. In comparison, Calgary with a population of over a million, also has 15 people governing it, at lower salaries.

There are those, however, who would like to effect meaningful change: "Culture and tradition doesn't pay the damn bills. It isn't 1800 anymore. We're not hunting beaver pelts. We need to go out and find jobs and work towards retirement, save money just like everybody else."

When money from the reserves' oil resources started coming in in the 1980s, every tribal member over 18 received cheques for $80,000 or $100,000. "We were rich. We were like Paris Hilton. But like Paris Hilton we had the drugs and the problems. To think we're going to generate all this money and we're going to have a well community, we won't, because history has told us we didn't."

The realization has to be made that the culture they are honouring and referencing and allowing to guide them into the future had its day and needs to be put to rest. They've got to update and educate themselves. They have to want to move forward responsibly to themselves, into the future. Respect the past, yes. But just like you can't go home again, you can't continue to linger in the past.

Circumstances and opportunities change, and people have to change with the changing times. Otherwise they stagnate and remain ignorant of what their options are, and time and opportunity pass them by. It takes courage and determination to forge ahead and make a new beginning.

Good luck on that one.