Democracy can only be as good as the openness and transparency displayed by the officials elected to represent the people. Band members can utilize this information to determine if they want to re-elect any incumbent members. Lets put aside the promise to be accountable and transparent but remember that their votes ultimately affect the lives of all band members. Good or Bad!
With this in mind, I decided to conduct a second exercise. I contacted each member of Chief and Council to verify if they will freely disclose their votes or stance on important issues. This is what I found.
Requesting Stance and Voting Information from Chief and Council
From my experience, the voting information of Chief and Council is not openly provided or easily accessible for band members. Earlier this year, reports started to circulate that Chief and Council had voted to not only standardize their salary but to increase it as well. I decided to contact each member of chief and council directly on their stance and thoughts on the proposal to increase their salary. I must admit I assumed that 100% of the members would respond. That assumption was wrong as more than half of the members did not (please see below for full statements received).
The arrogance that Chief Vernon Saddleback depicted was most shocking. As the most powerful politician in Samson Cree Nation, he displayed a level of indifference and distancing from the issue that no reasonable politician would openly demonstrate. His statement should worry band members for the following reasons:
· He believes that Chief and Council makes too much money but will not make the appropriate decisions (that are within his role and responsibilities) to rectify it.
· He refuses to make a specific commitment to the people he says he serves.
· He wants to pass the buck off to the people of Samson and the elders.
No one forced Chief Vernon Saddleback to accept the role and responsibility of leading the Nation. Chief Vernon Saddleback accepted this himself. His statement also highlights his concerning trend of weaponizing the elders. I have no issue with him “accepting the guidance received from our elders”. What worries me is that it appears our Chief has no idea on how to lead nor does he understand the weight of responsibility he has accepted. It appears that all should direct their votes to any person sitting on the elders committee for Chief as, they are fulfilling the Chief’s leadership role, without the pay! Come next election, I plan on doing just that! So, all you Elders Committee' members, let me know if you intend on running next election.
On a happier note, I was pleased to see that Holly Johnson, Marvin Yellowbird, and Shay Yellowbird provided their stance. Marvin Yellowbird took it one step further by openly disclosing how he voted and his rationale. So far, these three demonstrate the transparency and accountability they ran on and this should be top of mind come next election. I find this silver lining providing me a bit of hope for the future. It is still discouraging to see that the rest of council chose not to respond. Their non-response may be summed up with Holly Johnson’s observation of the “greed and corruption” she sees.
Stay tuned for Part 3 – The Trend of Inconsistent Messaging
Disclaimer: all opinions and views expressed are my own.
“I am reaching out for official statements on your position in regards to the recent presentation on the executive committee findings. Also, if you would be willing to promise not to charge any expenses (i.e. travel, cell phone, and per diems) back on the band with the change in the proposed remuneration (salary)?”
This is the statements I received:
· Vernon Saddleback
“First, thank you for the opportunity to provide a response. I agree wholeheartedly that Nation members need to educate themselves on the notion of council pay standardization. Opinions from council will differ based on our lived experiences. For myself, I was in council and chair of finance when Canada passed the transparency act. Council chose the date for the presentation at the HBMC and on the said date I was the only council member who showed up. I got hammered by the people about how much Chief and Council was making. I did my best to answer questions and concerns but Nation members were understandably upset. After 2 hours two elders stood up and told the people to settle down. They said this man (me) showed up by himself and he had enough. Bless those elders souls. But I got the message. Council make too much money and it is an opinion I have always shared with all those members in the HBMC that day. Today I support looking at addressing council pay. It is long overdue. But I also support the people of Samson Cree Nation having a say on this matter. As council we are elected by the people for the people. I have told council who created the PowerPoint presentation you saw not to get married to the numbers. They also shouldn’t be married to the model. There are different healthier ways to address council remuneration. But we need to support our elders tasked with the job at looking at council pay with good technical support staff to ensure they create a fair, independent and transparent model of council remuneration for the people to vote on. So let’s talk about it. I am hoping council will stand back and listen to the people on this matter. There are some matters that require council to use their ears instead of their mouths to see the wisdom of our elders. Ekosi pitama...Hope this helps Caysha. It’s only my opinion.”
“I know you want to corner me for a commitment, but I do not know what the elders and the people of samson will do. I committed to accepting what the people of samson cree nation wants me to receive.”
· Holly Johnson
“What I will state is that with the proposed remuneration I have taken a position to stay at the current rate. I believe that I can continue to serve the Nation; and the best interest of the Nation. As an elected leader my intention of running is not about the power, authority, greed and corruption; I am concerned of our nehiyowin, nehiyow pimatisowin ekwa pikiskwewin; the perpetuity of the existence of our People; I truly have a concern for those not born yet (the future).
As a former council labeled as “a million dollar councillor”; that was unfair… I worked hard …. Not realizing that this is what was going to be a focal point…. However, I had to ask myself as to why I was targeted … as other members of council have been elected for extended number of years…. I then realized that this act was lateral violence at its finest; and surely an act of power, authority and corruption. Nonetheless, I pray for those individuals; and I pray that Natural Law is not hard on them.
The presentation looks great; however, there are external entities that pay per diems of $1,500; and retainers of $30,000 (Chief); and $8,000 (Council); so the parity being presented becomes distorted again. Also, something to consider; is that over 50% of our revenue for annual operations goes to payroll. What is Samson Cree Nation’s Priorities? This is where status quo has to go an systems have to change to address the main priorities.
Your questions; If I would be willing to promise not to charge any expenses back on the band with the change in the proposed remuneration? I have already made a commitment that I will not change my salary; I will remain at $70.000; and $14,400 for cell and mileage.”
· Marvin Yellowbird
“I voted against the motion (March 1st, 2021) because it was unjustified and very insensitive considering we are in the height of a pandemic at the moment. I personally felt the safety and the mental health of our youth and nation members should have been the number one priority. I still maintain the same position today! The proposed salary increment (180,000 Chief & 150,000 Council) doesn't make sense in my opinion. The proposed presentation blindsided myself as there was no clear rationale and basically a standardized salary increment of 114%. My vote was defeated in that motion on March 1st, 2021. However I did raise the issue at last weeks Special Council (April 14th, 2021) meeting with a financial impact that I created and presented. It clearly identified how this expense would take away from programs and services period! I still stand by my decision to vote against the original motion on this basis.”
· Shay Yellowbird
“Although I can't answer for this decision and motion since it was made March 1 (day before my judicial review). I can certainly understand and appreciate the anger expressed by the nation and people. Because I wasn't in office yet I did review the minutes and was very concerned with the outcome myself. Quite simply we are in a pandemic and with no programs & services this decision was both insensitive and unacceptable.”
· Mario Swampy
Declined to make a statement as they felt “it was premature”.
· No response was received from Kurt Buffalo, Elesha Buffalo, Frank Buffalo, Laurie Buffalo, Shannon Buffalo, Louise Omeasoo and Katherine Swampy.