NWT First Nations comply with act
21 out of 22 governments hit Nov. 27 deadline for First Nations Transparency Act
Randi Beers
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 1, 2014
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
With the exception of Acho Dene Koe in Fort Liard, every First Nation in the territory has complied with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act.
The act, which became law in March 2013, requires all First Nations make their audited consolidated financial statements, as well as their chief and council wages and expenses, publicly available online. First Nation governments across the country had until Nov. 27 to publish their numbers.
Now that the deadline has passed, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt has announced his department will cut funding from First Nations that have not complied. He may also seek a court order for the release of the financial statements not disclosed to the federal government.
In a Nov. 27 news release, Valcourt stated only funding for "non-essential programs, services and activities" is in danger of being withheld.
Deninu K'ue First Nation was one of the last to comply with the act, slipping their finances in the day before deadline. To explain the delay, Chief Louis Balsillie pointed to his auditor.
"We did everything we could do, but there was a delay with the final audit," he said.
Most First Nations are reporting accumulated surpluses, but three are operating in a deficit. Those nations are West Point First Nation in Hay River, Gwichya Gwich'in Band in Tsiigehtchic and Deninu Ku'e First Nation.
There is a large range of chief salaries - Yellowknives Dene First Nation Chief Edward Sangris is the highest paid at $166,000, while Chief Lloyd Chicot of Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation in Kakisa reports no salary.
News/North tried repeatedly to get in touch with to Chicot to clarify his salary, but did not succeed by press time.
In a press release yesterday, Valcourt said he was "pleased to report that 529 of 582 first nations now have their documents published."
The statement went on to say the documents will provide band members with transparent and accountable governance and help make sure band revenues are used to members' benefit.
NWT First Nation finances disclosed to the federal government
Acho Dene Koe First Nation (Fort Liard)
Acho Dene Koe First Nation finances not yet posted
Aklavik
Chief Danny Greenland wages - $83,160
Chief's travel and honoraria - $8,629
Aklavik Band 2014 accumulated surplus - $1,953,010
Behdzi Ahda First Nation (Colville Lake)
Chief Alvin Orlias wages - $47,868
Chief's expenses - $8,655
Behdzi Ahda First Nation accumulated surplus - $8,514,926
Dah Gah Gotie Dene First Nation (Fort Providence)
Chief Joachim Bonnetrouge wages - $46,639
Chief's honoraria and travel - $12,960
Dah Gah Gotie Dene First Nation accumulated surplus - $1,436,689
Deline First Nation
Chief Leonard Kenny wages - $95,337
Chief's honoraria and travel - $1,540
Deline First Nation accumulated surplus - $538
Deninu Ku'e First Nation (Fort Resolution)
Chief Louis Balsillie wages and honoraria - $89,00
Chief Louis Balsillie travel expenses - $3,664
Deninu Ku'e First Nation deficit - $226,961
Fort Good Hope
Chief Wilfred McNeely Jr. wages (for four months as chief) - $13,154
Chief's expenses - $0
Fort Good Hope Community Council accumulated surplus - $353,390
Gwichya Gwich'in Band (Tsiigehtchic)
Chief Phillip Blake wages - $64,000
Chief's expenses - $21,215
Gwichya Gwich'in Band deficit - $4,802
Inuvik Native Band
Chief Herbert Blake wages - $74,420
Chief Herbert Blake expenses - $1,917
Inuvik Native Band accumulated surplus - $6,305
Jean Marie River First Nation
Chief Stanley Sanguez wages - $88,463
Chief's expenses - $8,304
Jean Marie River First Nation accumulated surplus - $3,964,928
K'atlodeeche First Nation (Hay River Reserve)
Chief Roy Fabian wages - $81,300
Chief's expenses - $30,900
K'atlodeeche First Nation accumulated surplus - $8,368,108
Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation (Kakisa)
Chief Lloyd Chicot wages - (no number reported)
Chief's expenses - $13,816
Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation accumulated surplus - $2,263,059
Liidlii Kue First Nation (Fort Simpson)
Chief Minnie Letcher wages - $82,706
Chief's expenses - $900
Liidlii Kue First Nation accumulated surplus - $1,763,519
Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation
Chief Dora Enzoe wages - $87,443
Chief's expenses - $6,324
Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation accumulated surplus - $2,236,612
Nahanni Butte Dene Band
Chief Michael Matou wages - $63,965
Chief's expenses - $570
Nahanni Butte Dene Band accumulated surplus - $4,148,877
Pehdzeh Ki First Nation (Wrigley)
Chief Sharon Pellissey (for 7 months as chief) wages - $23,410
Chief Pellissey's expenses - $658
Chief Tim Lennie (for 5 months as chief) wages - $22,825
Chief Lennie's expenses - $1,177
Pehdzeh Ki First Nation accumulated surplus - $6,895,734
Salt River First Nation (Fort Smith)
Chief Frieda Martselos wages - $81,349
Chief's expenses - $12,591
Salt River First Nation accumulated surplus - $6,162,850
Sambaa K'e Dene Band (Trout Lake)
Chief Dolphus Jumbo wages - $50,000
Chief's expenses - $3,995
Sambaa K'e Dene Band accumulated surplus - $2,300,766
Teetlit Gwich'in Council (Fort McPherson)
Chief William Koe wages - $55,813
Chief's expenses - $3,821
Teetlit Gwich'in Council accumulated surplus - $1,538,307
Tulita Dene Band
Chief Frank Andrew wages - $84,399
Chief's expenses - $2,481
Tulita Dene Band accumulated surplus - $640,909
West Point First Nation (Hay River)
Chief Courtney Cayen wages - $17,250
Chief's expenses - $0
West Point First Nation (no accumulated surplus) deficit - $7,120
Yellowknives Dene First Nation
Chief Edward Sangris wages - $116,000
Chief Sangris' Dene Resources payment - $750
Chief Sangris' IBA payment - $300
Chief Sangris' expenses - $15,101
Chief Ernest Betsina wages (for 9.5 months as chief) - $86,308
Chief Betsina's IBA payment - $300
Chief Betsina's expenses - $6,981
Yellowknives Dene First Nation accumulated surplus - $8,286,335
Source: Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
