First Nations chiefs debate how to improve FSIN's financial situation
- Fraser Needham | February 13, 2014
The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations has its back to the wall and is looking for money.
The organization says it was forced to issue layoff notices to most of its staff last month due to severe cuts in funding from the federal government. Delegates at the FSIN winter assembly debated resolutions Wednesday that would see monies taken from the First Nations Gaming Trust and used for the organization's day-to-day operations and some chiefs, such as Muskowekwan First Nation Chief Reg Bellrose, are in support.
"Muskowekwan's position is we want to do whatever we can to keep the doors open, to keep FSIN functioning," he says.
However, not all leaders, such as Saskatoon Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas, are in favour of using monies from the trust to prop up the FSIN.
"The First Nations Trust is one of our few sacred cows and it's also pretty clear that taking money off the top is akin to taxing the poorest of the poor," he says.
The resolutions have still not been put to a vote and delegates will continue to debate them again on Thursday morning.