First Nation Chief's Salary tops 200,000 (Gwawaenuk First Nation of 39 members), makes more than Christy Clark.

[Dazzle]

Perhaps a person with an Aboriginal background and/or knowledge can provide context to this, but this, to me, is unacceptable, given the disproportionate amount of Aboriginals under the poverty line and/or have access to limited education.

This seems like blatant corruption. They are supposed to be community-based and therefore, should not have a heirarchy of disproportionate pay.

It would be fine if the First Nations people in BC weren't struggling, but they are. I believe that they want their own education system and they want their own police force - both of which are fair points, but how are we to be sure that they can PROPERLY account for their own people? Their community-based system makes it easy for this to be an oligarchy.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/first-nation-chief%E2%80%99s-salary-tops-dollar200000/ar-BBlNzNU?ocid=mailsignoutmd

The Gwawaenuk paid its chief more than $200,000 in the 2014-15 fiscal year, the second exorbitant compensation to be revealed in the past week for a chief of a tiny B.C. First Nation.

A review by The Vancouver Sun of financial disclosures — which must be filed to the federal government by 184 First Nations in B.C. — shows Charlie Williams was the second-highest paid chief in the province. More than 15 other chiefs and councillors had pay in the $100,000-range.

The Gwawaenuk First Nation, which has only 39 members according to the federal government, paid chief Charlie Williams total remuneration of $211,090 in the latest fiscal year, which ended on March 31. Williams had expenses of $1,820.

Williams, reached Sunday, disputed the pay figure, saying he doesn’t make that much money through the band and noting he makes some money in forestry.

He said his pay as chief was only in the $20,000 range, and referred The Sun to the documents on the federal government website, which show his total pay at $211,090.

“I don’t believe I have to explain to you what I do outside my band activities. It’s not all band stuff,” said Williams.

Under the federal law introduced by the Conservative government, First Nations must file audited financial statements and list remuneration for chiefs and councillors.

That remuneration must include any salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, fees, honoraria and dividends and other monetary benefits, other than reimbursement for expenses.

The tiny First Nation has a mail address in Port McNeill on Vancouver Island, but its reserve is on Watson Island off the central mainland coast. There is no road access to the reserve community, where 17 people live, according to the federal government.

The chief was the only paid council member listed in financial disclosure documents.

In the previous fiscal year, Williams made much less, $33,225.

When the Gwawaenuk chief’s tax-free status is factored in for his pay in 2014-15, it makes Williams one of the highest paid politicians in Canada.

It would take more than $300,000 off-reserve to generate after-tax take-home pay of $211,000.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper earns $327,400 plus a $2,000-a-year car allowance. B.C. Premier Christy Clark has a $193,532 annual salary.

The Gwawaenuk had revenues of $1.62 million in the 2014-15 fiscal year from two main sources: timber harvesting revenue ($1.25 million) and the federal government’s aboriginal affairs department ($363,482).

The Gwawaenuk’s biggest expenses included economic development and maintenance ($723,993) and administration ($109,855). In the 2014-15 fiscal year it had an operating surplus of $710,599.

The year before, the Gwawaenuk’s revenues were much less, $246,022, and it ran a deficit of $57,059.

Last week, The Sun revealed that the 90-member Semiahmoo First Nation in Surrey paid salaries to its chief and one of its councillors totalling nearly $460,000 in the 2013-14 fiscal year.

Chief councillor Willard Cook was paid $267,309 in fiscal 2013-14 and councillor Joanne Charles received $187,138. Charles also had expenses of $13,618 and Cook expenses of $420.

Semiahmoo members reacted in shock when they learned of the salaries.

The Sun’s review shows that other chiefs who were top wage earners in British Columbia include Cheslatta Carrier Nation chief Richard Peters, who collected remuneration of $166,169 in 2014-15, a 35 per cent increase from the year before.

The pay included loan advances of $24,650, honoraria of $45,774 and salary and wages of $95,745, according to the financial documents filed with the federal government. Peters also had expenses of $34,527.

The north-central B.C. First Nation, with a population of 332, generated 43 per cent of its $5.1-million revenue from logging and contracting. Another 16 per cent of its income came from the federal government’s aboriginal affairs department.

Also on the list of top wage earners is Osoyoos Indian Band chief Clarence Louie, known as one of B.C.’s most entrepreneurial chiefs. He collected pay of $143,659 in the 2014-15 fiscal year.

The Osoyoos band had revenues of $12.46 million, of which 76 per cent was self-generated through various businesses operations.

ghoekstra@vancouversun.com

Click here to report a typo or visit vancouversun.com/typo.

[thejazz97]

This seems like blatant corruption. They are supposed to be community-based and therefore, should not have a heirarchy of disproportionate pay.

Oh, don't be so stereotypical.

No, this isn't good at all. I think the first nations people everywhere outside of northern Quebec and maybe the territories are struggling. The fact that they get this much... well, that just takes us back to the same conclusion as the megachurch thread, but with a different subject...

[Mr. Ambien]

Oh, don't be so stereotypical.

No, this isn't good at all. I think the first nations people everywhere outside of northern Quebec and maybe the territories are struggling. The fact that they get this much... well, that just takes us back to the same conclusion as the megachurch thread, but with a different subject...

Chief Moneybags just need more of my tax dollars.

[smithers joe]

i'm sure there are corrupt native leaders just as there are corrupt white leader...i don't know the details of any of them...i've never lived on a reserve but my mother did....i have a native friend here in smithers...he claims, there is a lot of cheating going on...with tribe money...but, i don't know....kind of like our own politicians..

[Dazzle]

i'm sure there are corrupt native leaders just as there are corrupt white leader...i don't know the details of any of them...i've never lived on a reserve but my mother did....i have a native friend here in smithers...he claims, there is a lot of cheating going on...with tribe money...but, i don't know....kind of like our own politicians..

You can see the impacts of corruption on a smaller scale than it is on a bigger population. Not justifying corruption at all though. We KNOW Aboriginals are having trouble staying afloat. People like these Chiefs should be hung after trial for FAILING their own people.

[thejazz97]

You can see the impacts of corruption on a smaller scale than it is on a bigger population. Not justifying corruption at all though. We KNOW Aboriginals are having trouble staying afloat. People like these Chiefs should be hung after trial for FAILING their own people.

Chief Moneybags...

[John Tortorella]

Remove reserves. Give everybody who is on reserve a land title. If they sell it then welcome to canada.

Perhaps a person with an Aboriginal background and/or knowledge can provide context to this, but this, to me, is unacceptable, given the disproportionate amount of Aboriginals under the poverty line and/or have access to limited education.

This seems like blatant corruption. They are supposed to be community-based and therefore, should not have a heirarchy of disproportionate pay.

It would be fine if the First Nations people in BC weren't struggling, but they are. I believe that they want their own education system and they want their own police force - both of which are fair points, but how are we to be sure that they can PROPERLY account for their own people? Their community-based system makes it easy for this to be an oligarchy.

http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/first-nation-chief%E2%80%99s-salary-tops-dollar200000/ar-BBlNzNU?ocid=mailsignoutmd

[Grapefruits]

In before someone claims this story is racist.

[YEGCanuck]

How about we have a free vote on who deserves to receive our tax dollars?

[smithers joe]

How about we have a free vote on who deserves to receive our tax dollars?

i vote against all governments...let's keep all our money...i don't feel knowledgeable enough to point fingers at any particular groups...i would have to investigate them all...all political parties...our own included...who knows, maybe abe lincoln wasn't honest either. big money in government....

[BanTSN]

Sub-peanuts on the global corruption scale.

[Mustapha]

It's really simple. The Indian Act needs revision. The problem is that doing so would change the status quo for the band leaders who profit off of the current system. They use FN issues to extract more money for their own agenda, not for actual improvement of First Nations people. This is compounded by the fact that the Government will not audit FN groups for fear of appearing 'racist'.

No politician wants to be the one to enact real reform with respect for First Nations, In today's economy, change will only occur when Canada can no longer afford the financial burden.

In reality, First Nations groups need to be truly integrated into Canadian society, not shelved on reserves. Culture changes over time, and I think that any plan devised to retain a 'cultural status quo' is not realistic. Values change....just look a the difference among Canadians in the last fifty years alone.

Bottom line, Canadians all need to be on equal footing with respect to status. FN groups may have needed assistance to overcome cultural differences in previous generations, but in 2015, they live in houses, watch TV, wear designer clothes and do most of the same activities everyone else does. It's time to be pragmatic about this and stop throwing piles of money simply to continue extending a problem that will not resolve itself.

[Blackberries]

It's really simple. The Indian Act needs revision. The problem is that doing so would change the status quo for the band leaders who profit off of the current system. They use FN issues to extract more money for their own agenda, not for actual improvement of First Nations people. This is compounded by the fact that the Government will not audit FN groups for fear of appearing 'racist'.

No politician wants to be the one to enact real reform with respect for First Nations, In today's economy, change will only occur when Canada can no longer afford the financial burden.

In reality, First Nations groups need to be truly integrated into Canadian society, not shelved on reserves. Culture changes over time, and I think that any plan devised to retain a 'cultural status quo' is not realistic. Values change....just look a the difference among Canadians in the last fifty years alone.

Bottom line, Canadians all need to be on equal footing with respect to status. FN groups may have needed assistance to overcome cultural differences in previous generations, but in 2015, they live in houses, watch TV, wear designer clothes and do most of the same activities everyone else does. It's time to be pragmatic about this and stop throwing piles of money simply to continue extending a problem that will not resolve itself.

As a first nations person.

I say well said!

A fair and pragmatic assessment.

Our kids need to go to school and not think the government will be there to take care of them.

But can you blame them for thinking that..if their parents were messed up due to abuse and neglect and their parents parents...etc.

The cycle will not correct for at least another generation . It's starting to

For every Shawn Atleo we have 50 Tina Fontaines

[JoeyJoeJoeJr. Shabadoo]

In Christy's defense, she makes a lot more money if you include kickbacks.

[Heretic]

In Christy's defense, she makes a lot more money if you include kickbacks.

Not only that, she does very little work for what she gets paid.

[taxi]

It's really simple. The Indian Act needs revision. The problem is that doing so would change the status quo for the band leaders who profit off of the current system. They use FN issues to extract more money for their own agenda, not for actual improvement of First Nations people. This is compounded by the fact that the Government will not audit FN groups for fear of appearing 'racist'.

No politician wants to be the one to enact real reform with respect for First Nations, In today's economy, change will only occur when Canada can no longer afford the financial burden.

In reality, First Nations groups need to be truly integrated into Canadian society, not shelved on reserves. Culture changes over time, and I think that any plan devised to retain a 'cultural status quo' is not realistic. Values change....just look a the difference among Canadians in the last fifty years alone.

Bottom line, Canadians all need to be on equal footing with respect to status. FN groups may have needed assistance to overcome cultural differences in previous generations, but in 2015, they live in houses, watch TV, wear designer clothes and do most of the same activities everyone else does. It's time to be pragmatic about this and stop throwing piles of money simply to continue extending a problem that will not resolve itself.

What you're talking about is cultural genocide.

First nations people need to decide for themselves what they want. Forcing them off reserves or stripping them of their status is not the answer. The problem is the communities have been so shattered by our previous attempts at "integration" that there isn't much left.

[RUPERTKBD]

It's a complicated situation.

The federal government provides funding to the various first nations in Canada. The issue always seems to be, "What happens to the money once it's in the hands of the first nation?"

The majority of the time, the money is used for it's intended purpose. Funding things like education, health care and housing.

Unfortunately, as Joe pointed out, there are bad apples out there who use the money to line their own pockets and the pockets of their supporters. Those supporters are the ones who keep the abusers in power (either as chief, or more commonly, as Band Councillors) and the cycle of abuse is perpetuated.

A friend of mine, who is a member of the Gitxsan First Nation (Hazeltons) is an advocate of returning power to the Hereditary Chiefs (not the same as an elected chief) but that comes with it's own problems.

The real issue is, the Band Councils are more or less happy with the current situation, as is the government. Occasionally we see issues with certain First Nations, but everyone is reluctant to "rock the boat" for fear of being labelled racist, or interfering with self government.

[taxi]

I don't really see how this $200k salary is an extreme example of corruption...this is on par with higher end civil salaries. It's less that what judges make. A band chief is a higher end civil servant. Yes, it's considerably more than many of the people in his band. That problem has more to do with the poverty in his band than his own salary being astronomical.

You can use this ap to see what civil servants make over 200k in BC:

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/public-sector-salaries/advanced.html?appSession=971519389918224&RecordID=&PageID=2&PrevPageID=1&cpipage=11&CPISortType=&CPIorderBy=

The list is long. It includes positions like professors, city managers, various directors of municipal planning boards, ICBC employess, etc...I don't see how the leader of the aboriginal community making a similar salary to his non-aboriginal counterparts is some huge outrage.

[TOMapleLaughs]

Well, at least they're being robbed by their own race now.

Welcome to the club!

[DarthMelvin]

The Gwawaenuk had revenues of $1.62 million in the 2014-15 fiscal year from two main sources: timber harvesting revenue ($1.25 million) and the federal government’s aboriginal affairs department ($363,482).

If this is true then I am sure his salary is not just based on being a chief of a nation.....

Im sure anyone here would want to get paid well for handling a million dollar revenue source.