First Nation meets deadline
Acho Dene Koe initially threatened with loss of non-essential funding for failure to meet federal government's regulations on finances
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, December 4, 2014
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
After initially being included on a list of 50 First Nations governments across the country that didn't meet a financial disclosure deadline, Acho Dene Koe First Nation's audit and the salary of its chief have been posted online.
Chief Harry Deneron made $103,592.10 in wages last year and also claimed $24,031.94 in travel expenses, according to the documents posted by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
Acho Dene Koe First Nation's five councillors were paid between $3,150 and $5,472.
The information was released as a result of the First Nations Financial
Transparency Act.
The federal government passed the legislation last year requiring financial audits, as well as the wages and expenses of chiefs and band councils, to be posted publicly.
A deadline to submit the documents earlier this year was extended until Nov. 27.
First Nations that didn't meet the deadline were included in a list published by the department online, and minister Bernard Valcourt threatened last week to withhold funding for non-essential programs, services and activities for the communities that didn't submit the information.
He said in the statement the aim is to "ensure band revenues are being used for (band member) benefit."
Some chiefs around the country have said they are refusing to submit the information. Valcourt said in a news release that those communities could face legal action forcing the publication of the information.
Acho Dene Koe First Nation was the only NWT band on the list.
Messages left for Deneron of were not returned by press time.
Band manager Kevin Bradshaw refused to discuss why the band was on the list, saying that question would have to be directed to the federal government.
When a comment was sought from Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, an e-mailed statement contained only information from a previously issued press release.
A follow-up e-mail seeking specific information about Acho Dene Koe First Nation was not returned.
Acho Dene Koe First Nation had been removed from the list by Monday afternoon and the website where the information was posted noted the documents were received Nov. 28.
The audit, dated Oct. 24 and conducted by KPMG, shows the First Nation ended the last fiscal year with an accumulated surplus of $9.22 million, down from $10.47 million the year before.
Other Deh Cho region First Nations submitted their financial documents in the weeks and days before the deadline.
Pehdzeh Ki First Nation's documents were received by the federal government the day before the deadline. Chief Tim Lennie made $22,825 over a five-month period, or $54,780 for a full year.
Nahanni Butte Dene Band Chief Michael Matou made $63,965. Its documents were received in early November.
Jean Marie River First Nation's documents were received by the federal government in mid-October and shows chief Stanley Sanguez made $88,463 in wages.
Last year, Liidlii Kue First Nation Chief Minnie Letcher, who died last month, made $82,706. Liidlii Kue's documents were received in October.
Deh Gah Got'ie Dene First Nation Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge was paid $46,639 for nine months in office, which means Bonnetrouge earns $62,185 per year. The band's documents were received by the government in August and September.
The Sambaa K'e Dene Band filed back in August and documents show Chief Dolphus Jumbo made $50,000, the lowest salary in the Deh Cho.
