Editors note: The story has been changed from its original to clarify information provided to paNOW.
A band councillor at Black Lake First Nation is stepping down over what he calls corruption issues on the reserve.
Alphonse Disain Jr. said he is frustrated by the lack of communication over the community's troubled finances.
“We did just talk with one of our consultants and we asked him, ‘where did this money go?’ He told us ‘we don't know, there are no records anywhere,’” said Disain.
The current chief was unavailable for comment because he was escorting youth in the community on a culture exchange trip to Arizona.
Each year the band receives hundreds of thousands of dollars from the federal government to assist with the operations of the reserve.
“I wanna know where the heck that money is going, not from this leadership but from the past leadership,” he said.
Former Chief Donald Sayazie said the bands' debt has risen to $6-million because of a number of big projects over the past 10 years, including a new band hall, a new band store, and a hockey arena.
The costs of the band store and the band hall were alone nearly $3.5 million.
“It's like when you buy a house or a new car. You know that you are going to go into debt but these things will make your life better,” said Sayazie.
He said that the band also faces other costs that are not paid for by the department of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, such as the cost to pay for a funeral.
“One year we paid out over $300,000 dollars for funerals,” he said.
A spokesperson for Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development said they are working with the band on debt repayment, also known as a recovery plan.
The Black Lake First Nation has a number of other big projects on the go that will help it get back on positive footing. There is an agreement with Pronto Airways, as well as a proposal for a $300 million hydro project.
nmaxwell@panow.com
On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell
