By Lasia Kretzel

FSIN funding search continues after trust and casino funds vetoed

Feb 14, 2014 | 6:19 AM

Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) chiefs are tightening their belts after the group voted down proposals to use casino revenues and trust fund money to offset their funding gap.

At their winter assembly Thursday, Saskatchewan chiefs said they would look internally to cut costs and generate money.

In the face of a near $1.9 million revenue loss, the FSIN already issued layoff notices to its 66 staff.

“Look at all options, internally within FSIN, tribal councils, our institutions and see what new revenues can be generated. That was the direction given so we’re going to leave no stone unturned,” FSIN Chief Perry Bellegarde said.

Bellegarde said the FSIN will stay the course until March, then the chiefs will reconvene March 20 at a special meeting to decide what to do before the end of the month.

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Should leaders fail to find new savings, the FSIN’s commissions and community development projects could be on the chopping block and meetings would be reduced to two legislative assemblies and two executive councils per year.

“If there are no new resources identified, I think the understanding was very clear that our existing structure as an FSIN executive with a chief and four vice chiefs will be changed,” Bellegarde said, adding that could mean fewer vice chiefs on the FSIN council.

Bellegarde said the controversial suggestion to buy provincially owned casinos in Moose Jaw and Regina are still in play and would be a valuable source of income. The FSIN and Saskatchewan Indian Game Authority would own the casinos in their entirety. Premier Brad Wall said he would not continue conversation with FSIN and SIGA if the opposition NDP did not support it.

Provincial NDP leader Cam Broten was criticized by some chiefs for not supporting the sale. Broten said he would not support the deal without public consultation and debate.

Bellegarde said the FSIN will continue to search for its own, non-government sourced, funding and he’s waiting for the day when the group can change their name to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations .

“Our federation has been around for 65 years, it’s still going to be around for another 65 years. The shape and the structure may change. Instead of dissolving I think it’s evolution,” he said.

-With files from News Talk Radio's Francois Biber.

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