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).