Salaries for first nation leaders

[Bobby B.]

Heard this on the news this morning and thought it was a helluva way to start my day. Are they leading by example?

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=CalgaryHome

Bobby B.

[kenh]

This same story was on a talk show on a Saskatoon radio station yesterday and i was supprised at the lack of interest people had in it.

[elkhunter11]

It's not all that surprising.Drive around a reserve and see how long it takes you to find the band chiefs house,it doesn't take long.Some band members are struggling to put food on the table,while the chief has a nice house,nice vehicles,and plenty of toys.

[walking buffalo]

I was talking about this topic last week with a friend who is running for a Band Council position. My friend is concerned about the waste and unaccounted Band funds. These salaries are incredible, to a point of being disgusting.

Elders without homes, single mothers who can't afford to feed their kids. At election time, some candidates pass $50 and say "Vote for Me."

At the same time, no different than in Municipal, Provincial or Frederal Politics. .....

I'd say more, but I'm still eating my Cookie.....

[Jimboy]

Nation leaders have lined their pockets with millions of dollars from land settlements and cash settlements over the years.
The people live in shacks and fight to buy food while the leaders live like kings and build casinos to fatten their empire.
Time to shut down the Govt native grants.

[redranger15]

Might as well get Stanley ready because that's how this one will end.

[drake]

I think it is hilarious that these leaders want a pension!!.......shouldnt they be paying taxes then?

[FishingMOM]

The chiefs are no different than over paid hockey players, football, baseball, Enmax ceo. The problem is that we lack the necessary checks and balances to handle these situations.

There are too many out there that feel they deserve more than their share of the pie.

[walking buffalo]

They are just learning and living the White Man's way.

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

They are just learning and living the White Man's way.

Nope, they are just being natives who have historically done the cruelist of things since day one to their own kind. Native to native slavery, murder, rape and pillage, extortion, torture, etc. The politically correct history books and teachings of today ignore it and try to paint a picture that the indian world before whiteman was nothing but sunshine lollypops and rainbows everywhere. Indians killed each other long before whiteman and are killing each other still. Natives are no more civilized than whitemen.

[New Hunter Okotoks]

I think that people get upset over the salaries because the chiefs are the ones in the media showing off the poverty stricken reserves that they are running.The chiefs are the ones pointing to the run down housing,the poverty,etc. The chiefs do not show their homes EVER to the media.The chief is the guy living in the huge luxury home with the Cadilac Escalade with blinged out wheels,$80,000 pickup truck,several nice cars,snow machines,ski boat,seadoo's etc. Yet,he is also the guy talking about his people suffering and that SOMEBODY has to do something about it. He's the guy that is supposed to do something about it.

[DarkAisling]

Originally Posted by New Hunter Okotoks

The chief is the guy living in the huge luxury home with the Cadilac Escalade with blinged out wheels,$80,000 pickup truck,several nice cars,snow machines,ski boat,seadoo's etc. Yet,he is also the guy talking about his people suffering and that SOMEBODY has to do something about it. He's the guy that is supposed to do something about it.

Back home these chiefs were few and far between . . . but there was one. He even had his socks and underwear drycleaned! I know, as I worked at the drycleaners and had to tag all of his clothes. My sister's best friend, and her children, lived on the same reserve in a leaky and moldy house.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Bushrat

Nope, they are just being natives who have historically done the cruelist of things since day one to their own kind. Native to native slavery, murder, rape and pillage, extortion, torture, etc. The politically correct history books and teachings of today ignore it and try to paint a picture that the indian world before whiteman was nothing but sunshine lollypops and rainbows everywhere. Indians killed each other long before whiteman and are killing each other still. Natives are no more civilized than whitemen.

I agree with you completely. We are all human. Domination, greed, and selfishness is a part of human nature, every where in the world, throughout history.

My comment just points out that this abuse is occuring within a system made by "white" men.

[Albertadiver]

I was at the Longview Bar waiting for a friend a few weeks ago when the local band members had set up a roadblock in protest of the Chief having his term extended another few years.

These ladies were pretty fired up about unnacounted fees etc. I was just trying to stay out of it, but I was on my own, and they ended up wanting to sit at my table so I just sort of listened.

I'd be frustrated too if what they said was correct, but there's always two sides to the story.

[209x50]

I had no idea there were so many indian politicians and I guess that means bands as well. What a bloody corrupt shame.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Albertadiver

I was at the Longview Bar waiting for a friend a few weeks ago when the local band members had set up a roadblock in protest of the Chief having his term extended another few years.

These ladies were pretty fired up about unnacounted fees etc. I was just trying to stay out of it, but I was on my own, and they ended up wanting to sit at my table so I just sort of listened.

I'd be frustrated too if what they said was correct, but there's always two sides to the story.

I'll guess that these ladies were from the Eden Valley Reserve. I feel for them, Eden Valley has become a hell on earth.

[Albertadiver]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

I'll guess that these ladies were from the Eden Valley Reserve. I feel for them, Eden Valley has become a hell on earth.

Yup.

[New Hunter Okotoks]

In Okotoks out Local Newspaper ( The Western Wheel) always has stories about the gang violence,homes being burned,stabbings etc.Remeber,this is EVERY WEEK that a new story is in there. And then I read that the guy running the show was Re-elected. I have no idea how this could have happened. There cannot be that many people living there but the crime numbers are off the chart. To live there must be like living in a different part of the world............which is a damn shame.

[ishootbambi]

Originally Posted by FishingMOM

The chiefs are no different than over paid hockey players, football, baseball, Enmax ceo. The problem is that we lack the necessary checks and balances to handle these situations.

There are too many out there that feel they deserve more than their share of the pie.

how do you figure athletes are overpaid?

[FOTW]

Originally Posted by FishingMOM

The chiefs are no different than over paid hockey players, football, baseball, Enmax ceo. The problem is that we lack the necessary checks and balances to handle these situations.

.

Actually they are different. Hockey, Baseball and Football players people are not starving and living in poverty, They are also paid through sales and revenue generated by the team. No one that works for Enmax is going hungry or living in squalor either, Yet people living in the Chiefs reservation seem to be going hungry and living in squalor. So yes, There is quite a big difference between the two.

[FishBrain]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

I'd say more, but I'm still eating my Cookie.....

BAHAHAHAHAH, sorry man, thats funny!

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

My comment just points out that this abuse is occuring within a system made by "white" men.

As if it wouldn't occur within a system made by natives....

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by ishootbambi

how do you figure athletes are overpaid?

By the amount of large and excessive numbers before the decimel point on their paychecks


Ooops, just spit out some of my cookie hate it when parts of a good cookie gets wasted

[berjerkin]

there's our tax dollars hard at work.

if we could vote for where our tax money went, do you think ANYBODY would give money to the natives?

[alacringa]

Originally Posted by FishingMOM

The chiefs are no different than over paid hockey players, football, baseball, Enmax ceo. The problem is that we lack the necessary checks and balances to handle these situations.

There are too many out there that feel they deserve more than their share of the pie.

Oh, but they are. At least in theory, an athlete can make no more than a population is willing to pay, to see him play. I agree that athletes' salaries are obscene, but they are being paid voluntarily by fans and sponsors. The salaries of native leaders are probably coming out of MY tax dollars, which really burns my waffles.

[mudbug]

Originally Posted by alacringa

Oh, but they are. At least in theory, an athlete can make no more than a population is willing to pay, to see him play. I agree that athletes' salaries are obscene, but they are being paid voluntarily by fans and sponsors. The salaries of native leaders are probably coming out of MY tax dollars, which really burns my waffles.

If a new rink is built in Edmonton by tax dollars from most people who don't support pro hockey then how is it different? Tax dollars go everywhere

[alacringa]

Originally Posted by mudbug

If a new rink is built in Edmonton by tax dollars from most people who don't support pro hockey then how is it different? Tax dollars go everywhere

Hence the "in theory" part of my reply...stadiums should be paid for with the revenues earned from people who attend events in them, or they should not be built...tax dollars should go towards things that benefit most or all of the population (roads, education, and health care come to mind). Stadiums only benefit those who visit them for events; ; native leaders only benefit themselves...these sorts of things shouldn't be funded with tax dollars.

[eastcoast]

really it's just an exaggeration of our own system,women and children live in shelters this very moment with little personal belonging and barely acceptable food living in fear,and guys like peter pocklington is under house arrest in a multi million dollar house in the us?what has he done or she done to deserve where they are?

[FOTW]

Originally Posted by mudbug

If a new rink is built in Edmonton by tax dollars from most people who don't support pro hockey then how is it different? Tax dollars go everywhere

The hockey arena will generate revenue for the city, It doesn't just take the money and leave. Sports players don't get paid through the Taxpayer the Indian chief does.

[eastcoast]

Originally Posted by FOTW

The hockey arena will generate revenue for the city, It doesn't just take the money and leave. Sports players don't get paid through the Taxpayer the Indian chief does.

not to take the thread off in a spin but since you mentioned the arena I have a little rant to do here,why should I john q public tax payer subsidize darrel katz a billionare build an arena?why doesn't katz build it himself?if I want to build a new house in the city I will go see if the city hall will subsidize me