Challenges ahead: IAA must priorize issues to cope with substantial cutbacks by DIA

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The Indian Association of Alberta (IAA) is faced with tough challenges in the face of substantial cutbacks by Indian Affairs.

For the second straight year, the IAA has received funding cuts to its average annual operating budget. Last year the organization had its budget cut by nearly $150,000. This year financial cutbacks have exceeded that figure by more than $50,000.

The IAA had operated on a budget of $950, 750, which is now reduced to $750,000 and core funding received from the federal Secretary of State has been decreased as well.

IAA president Gregg Smith responded initially to the cuts by putting a hiring freeze into effect. Smith said, "No staff will be laid off. We told our 17 member staff that job security is more important and their salary levels will remain the same this year."

The IAA has been working with an outline designed before the budget slash three months ago. Additional funds are needed to make up for the cuts. Treaty 8 vice-president Lawrence Courtorielle says in order to balance the budget the organization may now have to lay off some employees.

Another alternative to combat cuts involves priorizing issues. Courtorielle says monitoring and interpreting new government policies, which may effect treaty rights and control of services, is a major concern. He adds the IAA wants to ensure that Indian fishing, hunting and trapping rights remain intact.

IAA administration executive director Wayne Wells said alternative funding agencies are being looked at, but IAA officials are worried that this might compromise treaty rights.

Smith explains, "In the past, IAA did not want to deal with the province because it may jeopardize treaty rights. But there are services or programs that treaty Indians can take advantage of without hurting their treaty rights."

Smith criticizes Indian Affairs bureaucrats, saying their main goal is to reduce the federal deficit and not carry out the obligations of treaty rights.

Ken Medd, director of the executive secretariat for Indian Affairs, denied that the IAA received a cutback because of the federal government deficit.

"We just have more legitimate need for money than to provide money solely to the IAA. Nobody will get the same level of funding as last year."

He also explained that the money is being distributed among the Alberta Indian bands to explore such issues as band council, roles and function.

Smith counters: "It's a sad situation across Canada because many Indian bands are facing cutbacks in their budgets. For instance, the Enoch Band, west of Edmonton, received only $3 million in Indian Affairs funding compared to an annual budget of $16 million in past years."

In a recent interview, Smith said the IAA's main goal is to protect the treaty rights of the 120,000 treaty Indians in Alberta. But, he said it will be more difficult in the face of cutbacks from Indian Affairs.

Issues which the IAA dealt with in the past year included land claims, child welfare, post-secondary education and helping bands establish membership codes.