First Nations Diplomacy

Any government department whose mandate it is to administer aboriginal affairs, faces a difficult task. And it is a task of enormous difficulties that has always presented to any appointed minister of Aboriginal Affairs, having to delicately tiptoe among the readily offended sentiments of 560 First Nations bands in Canada, all of whom clamour for increased funding from the federal government, with fewer irritating 'conditions' attached to the disposal of the cash dispersal.

The Government of Canada must have heaved a huge sigh of relief when, earlier in the year it had reached an agreement with the Assembly of First Nations under National Chief Shawn Atleo, to finally put into place conditions to ensure that education for First Nations children would see a huge improvement. The First Nations Education Bill was on the verge of being put into place, and with it an additional $1.9-billion in specific funding, when it was slammed by some First Nations chiefs.

Any initiatives put forward by the government through the Department of Aboriginal Affairs must forever contend with complaints, accusations and attempts at deep-ditching government efforts to improve conditions for reserve populations. Although the agreement to cooperate with the federal government in endorsing the new education act had been agreed to by the AFN executive committee, when rivals of the national chief critiqued it to death, the AFN executive left Mr. Atleo to pick up the pieces.

Shawn Atleo has resigned from his position as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. Atleo made the annoucement at a news conference on May 2, 2014.

First Nations politics are venomous and self-destructive. Chiefs bridle at being told how they should conduct band and reserve affairs, complaining that their heritage and their culture are being insulted. But there has also been another initiative by the federal government, recently enacted, the First Nations Financial Transparency Act under the Department of Aboriginal Affairs & Northern Development, requiring fiduciary reporting on the part of band councils.

So now, for the first time, bands are obligated to report their finances, including annual council salaries. And those reports are fascinating. Indicating that there is little consensus between bands on the value of the work performed by band councils; where some councillors may earn $10,000, even less, and others receive over $100,000; leaving the majority in the $35,000 to $60,000 range, size of community- and council-dependent.

Then there are some high-earners like a councillor of the Snuneymuxwe First Nation in British Columbia who received $315,000, while its chief earned over $100,000. B.C.'s Shackan Indian Band paid its chief $13,000 and its two councillors $9,100 each. But in Alberta two chief/councillors for the Samson Cree Nation received $167,000 and $178,000, and $6,000 in expenses. In Manitoba four members of council were paid $280,000 and $20,000 in expenses; lavish anywhere in the world.

Those, however, were modest in comparison to Chief Ron Giesbrech of the 80-member Kwikwetlem First Nation in British Columbia who earned a tax-free salary of $914,219 and an additional $16,574 in expenses. In his LinkedIn persona the chief lists his interests as "fishing, aboriginal culture, golfing, photography and sitting on the beach." No kidding.

"The First Nations Financial Transparency Act applies the same principles and requirements that already exist for all other elected officials in Canada" noted communications director for Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt. Government expects band councils, said Andrea Richer, to use taxpayer's funding responsibility, to the benefit of all community members. A happy, well-remunerated chief is one who will cheerily commiserate with band members living in poverty.