Saskatchewan First Nations lead in good governance

The Frontier Centre for Public Policy (FCPP), based in Winnipeg, conducted their fourth annual Aboriginal Governance Index (AGI) in three provinces.

Using opinion surveys, 5,000 members from 78 First Nations in Manitoba, Alberta, and Saskatchewan were polled on the quality of governance in their communities. The Ochapowace and Muscowpetung First Nations were almost tied with 77 out of 100 marks, followed in the mid to low 70’s by two Alberta bands, and Saulteaux, Wahpeton Dakota, Little Pine, Yellow Quill, Carry-the-Kettle, and Mosquito, Grizzly Bear’s Head, Lean Man First Nations.

“Of the ten top scoring, eight were from Saskatchewan - we’re very interested in that we want to know what the Saskatchewan First Nations are doing,” said Joseph Quesnel, policy analyst and primary author of the study. He said the survey focused on improving Aboriginal policy by highlighting success and best practices.

“It comes out of a concern about looking at how governance is on First Nations and to measure that - to help provide a convenient benchmark towards accountable governance,” Quesnel added.

The dimensions of good government evaluated in the report are elections, administration, human rights, transparency, and economy.

The opinion surveys were done as randomly as possible with male and female members of the band over the ages of 18 on portable computer netbooks. They examined how fair and impartial leadership votes are carried out, effective business is conducted, regarding basic rights, well-informed citizens, and providing economic development.

Highlights included high confidence in the electoral process (87%) but less faith in transparency. Of those polled, 20% said they “definitely” had access to business plans and financial statements, but 23% said it was “never” available. As well, 69% felt being related to band council members was at least “a small help” in getting a job, while 22% felt it would “guarantee” a job.

Best practices – many already used by leading bands – included encouraging and developing independent media, posting band documents online, holding official meetings on-reserve whenever possible, and separating business from politics. In doing so having businesses and program managers on one hand and elected officials on the other.

“The objective of the AGI is to work together with the citizens of First Nations communities to help build high-performance local governments that deliver accountability, transparency and economic opportunity,” Quesnel said, also noting that the project received extensive cooperation from the leaders of many Aboriginal communities.

“The AGI is about sharing knowledge, celebrating excellence and highlighting best practices to help make this ideal a reality for indigenous Canadians,” he added. The surveys are done on-reserve, often using First Nations researchers who report to research assistant supervisor Barb McLeod, originally from Lac La Ronge First Nation.

“She did the groundwork, especially in Saskatchewan - she hires people, and a lot of First Nations people know the lay of the land and the language - Cree, or Blackfoot - they know the community,” Quesnel said. He added a primary objectives of the AGI is to celebrate examples of good governance and to bring attention to success which can be studied and used by leaders elsewhere.

“In the full report we do list some best practices - obtained within the community. And some of them are advice given by the First Nations on the ground, as to what would be good policy - this project isn’t about highlighting wrongdoing but showcasing good governance, what kind of ideas can be used to move all forward so that all can improve,” he said.

For the survey analysis and the full list of band rankings, the Frontier Centre’s Recognizing Good Governance on Prairie First Nations: The Fourth Annual Aboriginal Governance Index can be downloaded at www.fcpp.org/publication.php/3332