Province asks for clarifications from FSIN, SIGA

Drama at the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations hasn’t ended after former Chief Guy Lonechild stepped down.

Lonechild resigned, taking a severance package for himself and his staff, at a Special Assembly on Sept.1 that was set to discuss and possibly vote on his leadership.

Since then, however, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority has moved into the spotlight.

At the FSIN’s fall Legislative Assembly, chiefs voted in favour of removing Kirk Goodtrack as chair of SIGA’s board of directors. That decision followed on the tail of the same decision made at the end of September by the FSIN’s Economic and Community Development Commission. Goodtrack had been removed earlier the year from his position by the SIGA board. However, a Court of Queen’s Bench ruled Goodtrack’s removal invalid and that he be reinstated. The court said the SIGA board did not have the authority to remove Goodtrack, but the ECDC did.

Watson met with reporters to say Goodtrack was removed because of real and perceived conflicts of interest as well as questions about his conduct. However, Watson refused to elaborate on what those questions were. When chiefs raised the same questions at Assembly, no answers were given.

Shoal Lake Chief Marcel Head said the FSIN’s mission of protecting inherent and treaty rights since 1946 should be changed.

“I dare we should change that term. Protecting the interests of Chief’s interests since 1946. That’s what it should say,” said Head.

Watson maintains that Goodtrack was not removed because he was trying to reduce board expenditures, something Goodtrack has been vocal about.

 “Business practices of reducing board costs, they were in place long before Mr. Goodtrack was the board chair,” said Watson. “We’re taking measures that will bring our board costs in line with any other corporation.”

Goodtrack, who had plans to reform the board and reduce expenses, says he won’t push the issue further and won’t pursue legal action.

The turmoil surrounding FSIN and SIGA has drawn sharp criticism from the province. Tom McMillan, minister responsible for SIGA, wrote to FSIN and SIGA saying that the recent developments were causing a “significant loss of confidence” in the board’s ability to manage SIGA’s affairs as well as in the FSIN’s ability to manage its gaming relationship with the province.

McMillan outlined a number of issues he wanted addressed in advance of December, when the Gaming Framework Agreement is renegotiated. He wants to see changes to the increased size and cost of the board, the continued involvement of Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat with SIGA, which McMillan calls “inexplicable and simply unacceptable,” as well as the board taking the “unusual and unlawful” steps to remove Goodtrack the first time it occurred.

McMillan wouldn’t outline what options the province was considering if changes weren’t made.

“I think if you look back in history when there were some serious problems in 2000, some changes happened,” said McMillan. “The board structure was changed at that time. So, I won’t speculate now, but I think if people look at what’s happened in the history, there are tools available.”

McMillan told reporters that he spoke to Watson and was assured he would receive a letter in response, addressing the concerns raised.

The board is made up primarily of chiefs. Board remuneration and travel went up from more than $645,000 in 2010 to over $900,000 in 2011.

Even before this latest incident, the provincial government had concerns, wanting assurances no provincial dollars were being used to pay for Lonechild’s severance package. FSIN assured that wasn’t the case.
The premier told reporters that the province may start to bypass the FSIN and work more directly with tribal councils and individual First Nations.

“What we’ve seen in the last number of months at the FSIN, first with the chief situation and now with SIGA, gives this government pause,” said Premier Brad Wall.

The day after Lonechild resigned, another member of the executive also indicated he wouldn’t serve anymore.
Vice-Chief Lyle Whitefish issued a release saying he would not seek a third time as Fourth Vice-Chief and would instead run for Chief of his home reserve, Big River First Nation. However, Bruce Morin was re-elected.
That left only Watson and Vice-Chief Edward (Dutch) Lerat to handle the FSIN’s business and all of the portfolios until two more Vice-Chiefs were elected at the Fall Assembly.