Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Mar 01/02) - Deh Cho chiefs are trying to establish a salary grid to address disparities in wages they are paid.

Currently, salaries among the 10 Deh Cho chiefs range between $12,000 and $50,000 annually, according to Lloyd Chicot, chief of the Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation in Kakisa.

Chicot said funds may have to be taken from larger communities to subsidize smaller ones as funding from the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is based on the number of band members in the community, among other factors.

Even though Kakisa has fewer than 50 people, Chicot said he does as much work as chiefs with 10 times as many band members.

Small communities don't have organizations designated to deal with education, health, hunters and trappers, contracts, or municipal affairs.

"To me we've got a lot more on our table than bigger communities where they just deal with the band and First Nations issues ... some of them have staff and they can appoint," said Chicot, who has 10 years tenure.

He currently splits his time as chief and a municipal works employee, but could be chief full time if the salary permitted.

"Now with the workload and the (self-government) negotiations, the workload is more, plus the oil and gas development," Chicot said.

Dennis Deneron, chief of the 70-member Sambaa K'e First Nation in Trout Lake, said being chief is several jobs in one, including economic development officer.

"Definitely if you're on everything it's full time," he said.

"For a small community, the way I look at it, it's like seven days a week, 24 hours-a- day."

Deneron said he is satisfied with what his band is paying him right now, but said he would probably feel different if he had a family to support.