Smith resists 'pressure to spend'

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IAA president wants help from Elders to reduce deficit

In a plea for support and guidance, Indian Association president Gregg Smith has called upon the Elders to help the association overcome its $194,000 deficit.

Saying the methods recently adopted by the association to counteract the deficit were "extreme" Smith said members were continuing to put pressure "on us to keep spending money that isn't there."

In order to recover the deficit the association has laid off staff and cut back programs. However, Smith says these measure are paying off as during the last six months $100,000 has been recovered.

"We hope to have the deficit completely cleared up by the end of the fiscal year (March 1988) or at least our annual assembly at the end of June," he said.

The association received substantial funding cutbacks from the federal government this year which saw their funding cut by $50,000. Last year the association received a $150,000 cutback. The association budget now stands at $750,000 per year in core funding. Earlier this year four employees were laid off from the association's main office in Edmonton.

However, despite the cutbacks and layoffs, Smith says he is still receiving requests from members.

"There are still people in Alberta, our own people, who think the Indian Association of Alberta has a bottomless pit of money," he said.

Despite the cutbacks, Smith stressed that the association is continuing its endeavours in the areas of policing and child welfare.

After the discussion a resolution to continue funding for the Elders was passed. The association was given the directive to secure funding to enable the Elders to "continue their important advisory functions."