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Hoping third time is a charm Lyndsay Herman Northern News Services Published Monday, July 2, 2012
Mantla said people he's spoken to are concerned about the Tlicho government's spending and want more answers regarding the government's finances. The most recent incident of concern, Mantla said, was when the Tlicho government took funds out of the Tlicho land claim reserve fund last December. "They didn't consult with anybody, just the Tlicho government in the regular session. They're the ones who decided to take the money out from the reserve funds. That's the land claims money," he said. It's not supposed to be touched. They did it on their own. They didn't consult Tlicho citizens." Mantla said what most citizens he talks to want to see is better communication on how the government has been spending its money and are unclear on what programs the government is spending its budget on. "Social service, health care, and all the housing, land taxes, (the Tlicho government has) nothing to do with it.," he said. "It's just the territorial government that still controls it and people worry about how they spent the money and where the money goes." Mantla said his earlier petitions addressed similar concerns surrounding difference circumstances and even though they also had hundreds of signatures, he said the government has never complied or appropriately addressed the people's concerns. "In 2008 we did a petition and they never complied with the people's demand to have an audit done on the Tlicho government," said Mantla. "There was over 500 signatures. They never done nothing." The Tlicho Government deferred all calls from News/North to Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus but he was unable to respond to question before press deadline. One Tlicho government member, who asked to remain anonymous, said Mantla has earned the nickname of "Mr. Petition" and said the petition is "not credible or anything." Regardless, Mantla said his current petition has upwards of 300 signatures after only a week and he believes he's generated enough attention to have it tabled at the upcoming Tlicho Annual Gathering in Wekweeti July 10 to 12. "The only way to make them pay attention is at the annual gathering," he said. "That's where the people make the decision, the delegates, not the leaders or chiefs or grand chief, just the delegates. They're there to make a decision and pass motions within the Tlicho government."
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