Dollars to be used or abused?

EDITORIAL

Over the years, a number of Alberta's Indian reserves have been able to better

their socio-economic position. For many, that has been the result of incoming revenue generated from oil and gas royalties. When those "have not" communities became "have" communities, their social and economic conditions were dramatically altered.

While the Cree at Fort Chipewyan are not in the same category as those elsewhere in that they will not be receiving regular royalty payments, the Fort Chip Cree are scheduled to receive substantial lump sums of money. Hundreds upon hundreds of dollars are being doled out in lieu of their recent $26.6 million land claim settlement.

The big pay day has been anticipated ever since the December, 1986, announcement regarding the settlement of the outstanding claim. Now, faced with the reality of having large amounts of instant cash, most of the people are in a position that they have not been in before. It is one they are not familiar with. After all, how often does a family of six come to have $16,000 all at once?

Having ready cash in large chunks invites good and evil. Drugs and alcohol are two of the evils which have followed on the trail of instant cash windfalls to Natives. The misuse of these can be catastrophic, even fatal. In some cases, regular monthly royalty payments have been abused by many in favor of drugs and alcohol. Coincident with these evils have been the number of violent deaths. In the case of one reserve, approximately 100 deaths have been attributed to homicide, suicide and traffic fatalities in the last year. Most of these have been traced or blamed on the influx of cash with which booze and drugs have been purchased, ingested and contributed to fatalities. One can only hope

that such will not be the case for the Fort Chip Cree as they receive their long-awaited payments.

Once the designated cash is in the hands of the Cree Band members, where will

it go? If one looks at the examples set by those reserves which came into large sums of money, certain trends become evident. Money was spent both wisely and foolishly as is human nature. Unfortunately, history has a habit of repeating itself inwhich the power of the dollar has proven to be a detriment rather than a blessing. But, people can use the past history of others to their advantage whereby the past mistakes can serve as cautions which should be exercised by the Cree from Fort Chip.

Undoubtedly, many of the Cree will head out of Fort Chip. A few will travel north to Fort Smith but most will likely journey south to Fort McMurray, even Edmonton, to spend their windfall. Places like McMurray have already braced themselves for the onslaught. Businesses and services have stocked up on supplies in anticipation of the increased business from the Cree.

Food, clothing, and household objects will be purchased. Larger investments will also be made of such luxuries as cars, trucks, snowmobiles, televisions and VCRs, stereo and living room or bedroom suites. One must bear in mind that the word has been out for some time. In other words, the speculators will be out in force. They are hungry for those Cree dollars and they know that the people are accustomed to paying above-average prices for goods because of their isolation.

Those who have not had the experience of dealing with the outside world could become easy prey of the speculators and be fleeced of their money. Certainly one should exercise self-control and do some comparative pricing. One should not jump into the fire. Shop around. The money won't run away. What may appear to be a fair price up at Fort Chip is not necessarily a fair price in McMurray where the price tag should be less, and, if in Edmonton, still less.

Intelligent comments have been heard that some people are going to put money away in trust funds for their children's future. Still others are going to stock away a portion in their bank accounts and have it for future use. Wise decisions by wise peole but when all is said and done, how many will really have something to show for the money they receive?