DIA official defends downgrading

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LETHBRIDGE - Alberta Indian bands will not be adversely affected by the down-grading of the Department of Indian Affairs district offices as they can always participate in the new Alternative Funding Arrangements, said the deputy minister in an interview April 24.

Department district offices in Lethbridge, Fort Vermilion, St. Paul and Fort McMurray were down-graded to sub-offices last week in a move "towards Indian self-government."

Bruce Rawson says the fact that signing authority will move to either Calgary or Edmonton should not affect band as "there is always the mailing system." Rawson advocates bands sign in to the new alternative funding arrangement which would allow bands to make funding agreements for up to five years.

However, in recent department held meetings, bands have criticized the new system as it makes no provision for training dollars.

In the most recent funding meeting held in Calgary, January 16, officials outlined the new arrangement for Alberta bands and pointed out that training dollars would be made after the policy was implemented.

The main points of the new funding arrangement are:

- Bands will decide on priorities and which projects to fund.

- Management, operations and capital funds will be transferred from DIAND to the band in a lump sum.

- Capital funds can only be used for capital projects. But operation and manage-ment funds can be transferred to capital funds.

- Projects can be financed on a project basis and any surplus funds can be retained.

- Bands can enter into multi-year agreements for up to five years with built-in clauses to meet rising costs, such as inflation.

- Bands can borrow against multi-year funding with commercial banks.