First Nations must deal with leader accountability issue
National Post
Friday, February 23, 2001
Section: Financial Post: Editorial
Byline: Meaghan Walker-Williams
Source: National Post
Open Letter to Chief Matthew Coon Come, national leader of the Assembly of First Nations:
I had the pleasure of meeting you, Mr. Coon Come, some months ago when you came to attend a ceremony on my reserve. You took a few minutes to listen and share and discuss concerns I had about my band's lack of accountability, conflict-of-interest problems and abysmal record for transparency.
I thought you were different from your predecessor. I think, as I read your recent comments in the National Post on accountability, perhaps I was mistaken (Audits, Not Junkets, for Native Reserves, Feb. 10).
You told the Post that you hope the federal government doesn't dictate to bands how to manage their affairs. I agree that, when it comes to issues of our aboriginal rights, the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development has no business telling Indians what and where and how we should hunt, fish, gather, harvest, worship or preserve our culture.
But when it comes to the $6.4-billion a year that we, as First Nations, receive from the Canadian government, above and beyond treaty monies, there should be a standard for how this money is spent, and there should be accountability to those people who paid it out -- namely taxpayers -- and to those for whom the money is intended -- the band members.
There is currently no standard for enforcing funding agreements. There is no mechanism for band members to get accountability from their government officials, aside from elections every two years. Between elections, if you want to know how this money is being spent, all I can say is: good luck.
On our reserve, after being pressured for three years, our chief and council finally conducted a forensic audit of our band's finances. In the wake of this investigation, the band manager of 20 years resigned (or was fired, depending on who you talk to). As community members, we have asked, pleaded, begged for this information to be released. It is our hope that, in finally ending the secrecy, we can ensure that our band's finances will be managed properly, and that nobody can abuse the system again.
We have been denied. To date, our band is more than 600 days in violation of its 1998 Comprehensive Funding Agreement (CFA). This is a contract between DIAND and the band government which dictates the terms of the transfer of funds to our reserve.
The CFA declares that a variety of financial information shall be made available to band members upon request. The first request for this information -- outlined exactly as the CFA itself declared -- was made in May, 1999. We have made six subsequent requests for this information to be released. To no avail. Seven of the eight items we asked to see have been kept secret all this time.
Since you are unhappy with the proposal (of which I am also suspicious) from Bob Nault, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, I would ask you: What should I, as a band member, do? I am not asking this question rhetorically. I am genuinely hoping for some sort of response.
As we begin to approach true self-governance, isn't it in our best interest to have the best kind of governance that we can? Don't you think that, when DIAND finally frees us from the Nanny State, it would be good for our Nations to have governments who will answer the questions of those they represent about something as basic as how our money is being spent?
Whether we like it or not, the gravy train of the Canadian government -- whose solution is to just keep throwing money at us and hope it will all work out -- won't last forever. Canadians are becoming resentful of waste and mismanagement of their hard-earned cash.
Many Canadians are sympathetic. But they are sick of having to dig deep into their pockets to support an evil system that provides no accountability, transparency, disclosure or redress.
And don't you think that, as First Nations members become more educated and empowered, we are not going to be satisfied any longer with tin-pot dictatorial-style band leadership?
This accountability issue cannot be dodged forever. I realize that not all Indian bands are managed like banana republics, but what are we supposed to do about the ones that are? Just shut up and take it, for the good of preserving the image of those that aren't?
The current line from your organization, the Assembly of First Nations, about accountability is a dodge. And, because I met you, looked into your eyes and saw an honest man, I think you know it.
You promised to be in touch with the average band member at the local level when you ran for you current office. What happened to that promise? I'm one of those nobodies -- out here, looking at a frustrating and awful situation.
DIAND won't help, and frankly, after all this time, I don't want its help. It would shove us into third-party management, which would only mean less accountability than ever of our band's funds.
I don't think our concerns about accountability are destructive towards the ultimate goal of achieving self-government. On the contrary, I think that this period is healthy and absolutely required. This is the birthing phase of a new era. As messy, painful and awkward as it may be for some to adjust to being held to account, if we do it right, if we achieve better government for our people, then this is all to the good.
Please, Mr. Coon Come, show the mettle that so impressed the Nation in your fight to preserve your band's territory. You've got jam, I know it. Be the first AFN chief to honestly, openly and reasonably address the issue of accountability instead of shirking from it.
It may not be a popular issue to address, in so far as your support comes from the few chiefs -- not the many Indians -- across Canada. But, in the long term, it's the best thing for all First Nations people to have better government in the ways of our ancestors: with integrity and compassion and honesty.