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Mixed reaction to transparency act By Ryan Jensen
DISC GOLF TOURNEY
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Three northwest B.C. First Nations’ bands are among the few Canadian aboriginal groups who are following new federal transparency rules by posting their financial statements online. The First Nations Financial Transparency Act, which was passed by the federal government last year, requires band councils to make public their audited financial statements for the last year within 120 days of their first quarter. That deadline was midnight Aug. 5. As of Monday’s press deadline, the Moricetown, Gitwangak and Gitsegukla bands had the information posted online. The Hagwilget, Kispiox, Glen Vowell, Gitanyow and Gitanmaax bands did not. As of late last week, about 200 of the 617 First Nations’ bands had complied with the new act. “First Nations, like all Canadians, deserve transparency and accountability from their elected officials,” said Bernard Valcourt,
minister of aboriginal affairs and northern development, in a prepared statement. “This act is one example of how our government is taking action to ensure First Nations have access to information detailing how public funds are spent in their communities.” On the Moricetown Band’s Schedule of Salaries document, the top two earners on council are Chief Barry Nikal and councillor Margaret LaRose. Nikal was paid a base salary of $63,466 and LaRose earned $52,806. After honoraria and travel costs, the amounts increase to $76,797 and $55,636, respectively. A large part of Nikal’s salary was for his work as the manager of Kyahwood Forest Products, he added. His chief’s salary amounts to less than $10,000 annually, he said. Nikal said it was a priority of the band to be upfront about how much the council is paid. “There’s nothing wrong with having to be transparent about your wages,” Nikal said. See FIRST on A3
HANGING AROUND Rosalie Brandsma has had the opportunity to take some amazing pictures this summer of bears hanging around her family’s property on the Telkwa Highroad. “I walk every day, and don’t really feel afraid,” she said. “However, I do have to be very aware of where the mother and cubs are so I don’t get in between them.” Special to The Interior News by Rosalie Brandsma
Tahltan blockade Red Chris By Ryan Jensen Smithers/Interior News
The Klabona Keepers of the Tahltan Nation have set up a blockade of the Red Chris copper/gold mine property in response to the Mount Polley disaster. Red Chris is owned by Imperial Metals, the same company who operates the Mount Polley Mine. Last Monday, a tailings dam failed,
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spilling billions of litres of waste water and silt into creeks, lakes and rivers in the Cariboo region. The Red Chris copper/gold mine is located 80 kilometres south of Dease Lake. The Klabona Keepers began their blockade at 1 p.m. last Friday. Spokesperson Rhoda Quock was not immediately available for comment. Imperial Metals is the sole owner of the Red Chris mine.
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They also have a 50 per cent stake in the Huckleberry Mine. According to their website, the Klabona Keepers is an organization of Tahltan elders and families who live and use traditional lands in the Iskut area. Imperial Metals vice president of corporate development Steve Robertson said he expected the mine to reach the commercial production stage in October or November.