Indigenous activist demands transparency from Thunderchild First Nation

Harrison Thunderchild speaks with reporters outside the Court of Queen’s Bench after filing his court application. (Tyler Pidlubny/CBC)

‘Truth. That’s all I’m looking for, is truth,’ says activist Harrison Thunderchild

By Joelle Seal, CBC News, Nov 21, 2017

An Indigenous activist has launched a court application demanding transparency from his own First Nation.

Harrison Thunderchild went to Regina’s Court of Queen’s Bench Tuesday demanding that Thunderchild First Nation disclose chief and council compensation, as well as basic financial documents as required by the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.

Inside INAC’s ‘coup d’état’ that decapitated Algonquin leadership system

Algonquins of Barriere Lake hold protest in Ottawa, 2010

By Shiri Pasternak, APTN National News, May 27, 2017

Before the axe dramatically fell on Barriere Lake’s customary government in August 2010, there were many forewarnings that the customary band’s days were numbered.

As early as 1995, during the first leadership crisis with the IBC, the Department of Indian Affairs debated imposing Section 74 of the Indian Act onto the community as an exit strategy to the Trilateral Agreement. In March 2008, an internal report summarizing impact scenarios of Ratt council recognition over the Nottaway council also offered the possibility of not recognizing both councils and instead imposing Section 74 on the community.

Band councillor suspended after drug, weapon charges

Clarence Papequash.

Clarence Papequash, 64, served on the Key First Nation, Sask.

CBC News,  Feb 15, 2017

A councillor on the Key First Nation, Sask., has been suspended after he was charged with 10 drug and weapon-related charges.

RCMP laid the charges after executing a warrant on the First Nation north of Kamsack around 5 a.m. CST Tuesday.

Alexander First Nation band members sue leaders for alleged ‘illegal’ payments

Former Alexander First Nation chief Herbert Arcand, a current councillor and band administrator are being sued by band members for alleged “illegal” financial activities. (Supplied)

Three band members are suing their former chief, a current councillor and an adminstrator

By Andrea Huncar, CBC News, January 13, 2017

Three band members of the Alexander First Nation northwest of Edmonton are suing their former chief, a current councillor and a band employee for alleged conflict of interest and “illegal and improper” financial dealings.

Federal government reinstates funds frozen under First Nations Financial Transparency Act

Liberals to suspend court actions against First Nations that have not complied with act

By Kathleen Harris, CBC News, Dec 18, 2015

The Canadian government is reinstating funds frozen under the controversial First Nations Financial Transparency Act, Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett says.

The government is also halting compliance measures that required bands to post detailed financial information online. 

Lillooet Bridge River Indian band office attacked: 1 dead, 10 injured

Xwisten First Nation band office, where 10 people were injured by an attacker.

Attack sends 10 people to hospital, suspect ‘restrained’ before police arrive

CBC News, Oct 14, 2015

The alleged suspect in an attack on a band office near Lillooet, B.C. is dead following a rampage that injured at least 10 people, RCMP say.

Lillooet RCMP say a man entered the Xwisten (Bridge River Band) office with weapons just before 8:30 a.m. PT. Wednesday and assaulted staff.

The Canadian Press reported that an emergency worker, who didn’t want to be named, said the man apparently attacked one person with a hammer, and when others in the office went to help they were also beaten.

People furious over report of chiefs per diem rate: ‘double dipping has to stop’

by Trina Roache, APTN National News, Jan 27, 2015
People across Nova Scotia are furious after finding out chiefs make hundreds of dollars in per diems for doing as little as sitting on a conference call for the Mi’kmaw Family Services Agency.

“This double dipping has to stop,” said Daniel Toney, a member of Annapolis First Nation in Nova Scotia. Toney was part of a protest there earlier this month.  People are upset over the amount of money his chief, Janette Peterson takes home.

No jail for band executive who stole $725,000 from B.C. First Nation to cover her gambling debts

 By Mark Nielsen, Prince George Citizen, Jan 24, 2015

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — A 51-year-old woman has been ordered by a British Columbia judge to serve a conditional sentence in the community for stealing almost $725,000 in federal government funds to cover gambling debts.

Theresa McCook, a former executive director of the Kwadacha First Nation, had already pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 when she was sentenced in provincial court in Prince George on Thursday.

Aboriginal organizations hit with $60 million worth of cuts, Inuit faced steepest reduction: AFN analysis

by Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, Jan 13, 2015
Aboriginal organizations have faced $60 million worth of cuts from the Harper government over the past three years and Inuit groups were hit the hardest, according to an internal Assembly of First Nations analysis obtained by APTN National News.

The analysis, which is based on federal Aboriginal Affairs department figures as of Jan. 7 of this year, found Inuit organizations faced a cut of 71 per cent between 2012 and 2015.  First Nations organizations absorbed 65.5 per cent worth of cuts over the same time span. Metis organizations saw cuts of 39 per cent, non-status Indian organizations 14 per cent and women’s organizations were hit with a 7 per cent cut, the analysis found.

Government to withhold cash to non-compliant First Nation band in Chilliwack

 

Squiala Chief David Jimmie. Photo: Times/file

by  Paul J. Henderson,  Chilliwack Times, Dec 10, 2014

A local First Nation band won’t face court action for defying new financial disclosure laws, but the federal government will suspend funding for non-essential programs.

The Popkum Indian Band is the only one in the Times readership area that did not file audited financial statements and band council remuneration figures by Nov. 26, as required by the First Nations Financial Transparency Act (FNFTA).

Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development (AANDC) Bernard Valcourt said the act was brought in to apply “the same principles of transparency and accountability to First Nation governments that already exist for other governments in Canada.”