Question & Answers to Rama Open Council Meeting Held Oct. 25, 2010 at 7pm

(Continued)

Shawna's comment (continued)  Delegate more to the community.
Dawn's comment:  Let managers do their jobs.
Q.  Shawna:  One Councillor did not attend the education meeting.  Where did you go after the election?  George, back me up, we had a conversation (about this) prior to the election.
A.  George:  Along with growth comes all these issues we have.  Even knowing I got a severance pay, they still voted me in.  We are the people who can take this community into the future.  Grids -- services to members.  Enhanced $ for education.  Maybe the future will bring us ... not when you or I want it.  When committee decides what C&C get (paid).  Chief doesn't live here..  Don't like that kind of talk.  Somebody doesn't live here... Bill C31, inacted.. status of people.  This table has to build a strong community.  Move forward.  Gossip.  Our own worst enemy.  The Justice St. Clair... the people have elected our own people.  Let them lead.  Get involved.  It is a good thing you are all here.
Comment:  Shawna.  We are getting involved.
Q.  Raven:  At school, I'm learning about our people in ancient times.  The Community spoke first, they told Chief and Council how things are to be done.  Education is a low end.  I spend $50 each semester.  Up the ante a little.  Hard on kids with families on welfare.
A.  George.  Community committees advise C&C.  40 years ago, Mark and I left to go to school outside Rama.  We were the first ones to go.  It is not where we wanted it to be.  It takes a long time.  (8:05pm)  People helped each other more.  Then I think this Council has done a good job in the past.  We should shrink down numbers of employees... but we have staff...
A.  Chief.  Just to add to Raven's question.  We are in the 21st Century.  Back then it worked...  It can't work now because... our people elect us based on our campaigns.
Comment.  Anna:  There are many days I have to turn off our heart.  I had to take a woman's money (at the casino).  I wish we never voted for the casino.
A.  Daniel Shilling (Dan):  We have engaged a consultant, Debbie McGregor, to look at education  We had to have a cap because some people used education as a living.  We haven't received the results we hoped and we need to deal with that.
Q:  Nancy Bishop (Nancy):  We have resources... but not utilizing.. computers at library but they are not open in the evenings.  4:30pm closed.  Little areas at the MASK could be used for people to do their homework.
Comment:  Anna:  If I was in position of C&C, I'd donate to education fund.  I wouldn't think twice and not going out to buy a new car right away either.
Q.  Dawn Ireland-Noganosh (Dawn):  Education policy so far.  I applied for a FNTI (First Nations Technical Institute) program... I was told it was probably the last time I'd get funding because of the # of times I accessed funds.  But the programs I used it for is no where near the dollar amount for a regular university program.  Why do we need a non-native consultant to tell us how to run our own education?
A.  Dan:  How do you know she's non-native?
Q.  Dawn:  You can focus on that, but the bigger picture remains.
A.  Dan....
Q.  Dawn:  Did you review the education policy with the education manager?
A.  Dan.  She was consulted.  ....  for year and 1/2.
A.  Ronald Douglas (Ron):  No policy is perfect.  Whether its a housing policy ...  Chi miigwetch policy.  You said something and I agree that we need to do a better job of stating what we do and justify out salaries.  Hardest part of job -- to get people working together.
Comment:  Shawn:  It starts with a handful ... you support us and we can support you.
Comment:  Beverly Wallace-Holota (Bev):  First thing...
A.  Byron Stiles (Byron):  I work hard here... I've never been asked to justify my salary.
Comment:  Nancy:  We're not saying you don't work hard.
Comment:  Shawn:  That's not our fault.  We need to meet more.  Give us more of an opportunity to have a say.  The ball is in your court.
A.  Gina Genno (Gina):  I thought that was a busy job (her former job as Recreation Manager).  We still have to learn.  No matter how many are here around the table.  We all still have to learn about everything.  It was probably me, who was not at the education meeting.  I had a lot of things to do and I recently had a death in my family.  Yes, we make good money...  I'm a workaholic... I love Rama and the people here.
A.  Chief.  Going back to Raven's point, we could establish a youth council.  They can meet with C&C.
A.  Raven:  Why not just make it a youth council?  If they are making recommendations.
A.  Chief:  It doesn't matter what we say, we do it wrong. 
A.  George...
Q.  Raven:  Well, are you actually going to listen to them?
A.  George & Gina:  Absolutely.
A.  Raven:  At my school, we got to put our input into it (student council).  It was not for us, but for the younger kids (at school in Orillia).
A.  Chief:  Every aspect. trust, police board, trying to stream line.. for 15 years... no change...
Q.  Arnold Snache (Arnold):  Chief salaries being disclosed.
Q.  Shawna:  Where are we at with developing our own constitution?
A.  George:  Constitution.  Could have created councils.   We are fighting with other First Nations.  It didn't go further.  Still court cases.  Are we going to rejoin the First Nations?  The union?  Developing laws and the system.  Its coming but we went off track. 
Q.  Arnold:  How long can this reserve sustain the high cost to run this reserve?  Dan.  Wish Rick was here.  $27 million a year in salaries and a $35 million a year income.
A.  Dan:  Didn't factor in the agreement new figures will be released at the next finance meeting.
A.  Chief:  We are going to be fine.  Yes, we are going to be landlords.  Sure, we make big salaries.  We need to continue to diversify.  We are interested in a furniture company.  We have secured the jobs of our members.  It was a huge blow to lose $18 million in escrow of Casino Rama revenues.  They argued over our 134th and they want to take that away.
Q.  Arnold:  We alienated them all.  When you are fighting over money... You are not good friends.
Q.  Anna:  That was when Lorraine was in place with Bob Rae to secure (casino revenue agreement).
A.  Chief:  I think she did a good job.  Unfortunately, it was not secured.
Q.  Anna:  We should have challenged it.
A.  Chief:  We are going to have the...
A.  Chief to Shawn's question regarding constitution development.  We are going to have lot of committee meetings.  Land code, Williams Treaty, meeting are going to be ongoing.
Q.  Jennifer Jewell (Jennifer):  Chief, there is a rumour going around that you make more than the National Chief.  Is that true?  and if so, do you do more work that the National Chief?
A.  Chief:  I don't even know how much he makes.
A.  Chief.  Hope to get land claim resolved.  Involved in OTC (Ogemawahj Tribal Council).  The development of First Nation treaty curriculum.
A.  Brenda Ingersoll (Brenda).  to Shawna:  C&C have priorities for the year on a list.  This year, we have discussions regarding constitution.  This year, we put that topic right on there instead of on the fly. 
Comment:  Shawna:  Good.
A.  Brenda:  Tracey (Snache) didn't feel she had input (in Education policy).  Miscommunication.  Margaret Froh met with C&C 3 or 4 times and argued points for benefits for future of the kids.  We needed to get them done.  She (Tracey) was consulted with earlier through Margaret and Margaret brought Tracey's input to C&C table.  The old way was not efficient (going through policy line by line with the manager). 
Q.  Dawn:  Just to comment on George's opinion.  There was a discussion to step up living expenses of students.  The workload alone  -- Education dept. can't get a part-time job.  Tracey says she is waiting for C&C to decide.  Great idea.  You also mentioned laborers making $18 per hour.  Where is the incentive for young people to go to school? 
A.  George:  Years ago, $ needed to raise a family.  Start upgrading, adult education.  May be ways of doing it.  Dr. McGregor to look at education system.  It was looked at by OTC four years ago.  This is more independent.
Q.  Sara Cunningham (Sara):  One million $ budget.  All of education.  One staff member to deal with one program.  to be really effective, a lot of our students don't really know the options.  an advisor, guidance counsellor, we need more people involved.  how much it will cost them for their education?
A.  Dan:  Reason why we moved education over here is to build a stronger relationship.
A.  Brenda:  We talk about this more than you think.  We always weigh how much it takes to feed families.  It was part of my platform to take a 25% pay cut...part of a larger plan.  There was a trust that isn't there.  It was based in INAC.  Sad to see lack of trust with C&C and community.  If we can repair that, we could do a lot.  We have taken a cut... as for the actual dollar amount, that is to be disclosed at the next finance meeting.  When you have senior management making a lot more than C&C, someone said C&C don't deserve as much as the Police Chief, Fire Chief.  When I was a kid, we never spoke to C&C in a disrespectful way. 
(to be continued)