Sharon Henry offers Rama employees BUY OUTS!! WTF?

At the MASK gym, a meeting was called on the Territory of the Chippewas of Rama. for Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 10am at the MASK gym in Rama.  It was a cold, dull, gloomy day which seemed to fit the mood of the people.

Community members thought they were commemorating George Washington's Birthday which is Feb. 22nd.  However, a deadening silence came over the entire room as the Chief informed all band employees that she was having contractions, no, the world's economy is contracting.  She proceeded by stating that as she has become leaner, so should Rama.  The following will be effective April 1st:

1. no more cost of living
2. vacation time is capped at 12% (6 weeks max. vacation)
3. sick time calculated at a rate of 1.9% down from 5% (5 days down from the 13)

In a poor attempt to lead by example, Chief and Council have taken a 10% pay cut, and less travel allowance, no dollar amounts were given.  Sorry, no where near enough. 

Suggestions for ways to save money in each Department will be accepted at a suggestion box at the band office and other locations.  It is a little too late for Chief and Council to ask for suggestions on how to save their asses now. 

And then came the punch line, an offer of 3 weeks for every year of service for any voluntary resignations.  Applications are due March 4th and decisions will be made by March 22nd. 

If members had any questions, they were to go upstairs for one on one discussions with members of Chief and Council about the voluntary resignation packages.

Reasons why this is happening, we lost the 35% case, more members are coming due to the McGyver case, and the global economy.  At least we can sleep, after receiving the Chiefs assurance that we are isolated and protected from the harsh outside world.

New Series on APTN hits close to home

"Leadership is about submission to duty~not elevation to power"

Special Chiefs Assembly Resolution #50/2010 - First Nation Governments Demonstrating Accountability

SPECIAL CHIEFS ASSEMBLY
DECEMBER 14, 15 & 16, 2010, Gatineau, QC                             Resolution no. 50/2010

Title:              First Nation Governments Demonstrating Accountability
Subject:         Accountability
Moved by:    Grand Chief Doug Kelly, Proxy, Soowahlie First Nation, British  Columbia
Seconded by: Chief Paul Eshkakogan, Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation, Ontario
Decision:        Carried by Consensus

WHEREAS:

1. Misperceptions and inaccurate information regarding the accountability of First Nations governments continue to be perpetrated among policy makers, in Parliament and the Senate, and through the media.
2. The Auditor General has noted on numerous occasions that First Nations government reporting greatly exceeds that of comparable institutions.
3. First Nations provide a minimum of 168 different financial reports to the four major funding departments (INAC, Health Canada, HRSDC and CMHC), INAC alone receives over 60,000 reports from First Nations annually.
4. Many First Nations have adopted clear professional standards, including ISO certification.
5. The level of disclosure of First Nation governments often is greater than that of other elected representatives, particularly Members of Parliament.
6. Bill C-575:  First Nations Fiscal Transparency Act is both unnecessary and heavy handed:

               Unnecessary as First Nations are already required to report on matters covered in the bill  

               through contribution agreements with the federal government;

               Heavy-handed in that enforcement provisions enable costly and unnecessary legal proceedings

               wherein the Minister is authorized to apply to superior court for enforcement which will serve to

               only further exasperate an already adversarial relationship.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Chiefs-in-Assembly:

1. Re-affirm their commitment to maintaining transparent and accountable decision-making structures in their communities.
2. Confirm that their primary reporting and accountability relationship is to their citizens, and that they will design mechanisms to ensure open and informed involvement in community decision-making.
3. Choose to lead by example and demonstrate to other orders of government processes for accountability, including:

                 Providing clear and timely access to audits and public accounts;

                 Itemizing and publicly disclosing salaries, honoraria and expenses associated with the

                 operations of Chief & Council;

                 Ensuring information about community finances and decision-making is easily accessible, and

                 available via the internet where applicable.

     4.  Direct Canada to work with First Nations in the genuine interest of accountability and support joint

          efforts towards the development of specific First Nation governance institutional capacity such as a

          First Nations ombudsperson and/or Auditor-General function as mandated and advanced by the

          Assembly of First Nation and Chiefs-in-Assembly in 2006.

Certified copy of a resolution adopted on the 14th day of December, 2010 in Gatineau, Quebec

SHAWN A-IN-CHUT ATLEO, NATIONAL CHIEF

(see Assembly of First Nations website for more information on Special Chiefs Assembly).