Letter: Few tips offered for better governance

Dear Editor:
Being a past Band councillor and board/committee member for my First Nation, I have come to the realization that it does not matter how many bylaws, policies, rules and procedures a First Nation has, it does not mean a darn thing if they are not followed.
I was first elected to my council in 1992 and from then I have spent a lot of my time caring about my First Nations members.

Here are some of the problems that I have seen with our system of government on the rez:

1. There is no proper on-boarding (orientation) for newly elected band councillors. For two years I had no idea how to properly read an audit. There was simply no training offered to us. A band council should have a yearly training budget. Pride gets in the way. I was simply too scared to ask ‘how do we read a budget?’ I thought that this would make me look bad to the older councillors.

2. The separation of governance and management. Band council should not be involved in the day to day operations of the First Nation. That is what your band manager is for. If your band manager keeps bringing these problems to a council meeting, get rid of him/her. This person is afraid to make decisions, but not afraid to take the paycheque that should be going to someone who is competent in doing the job. I have seen this in the past; a band manager that only creates problems.

3. Trim the fat. Get rid of unnecessary staff and staff who are a waste of skin. The First Nation will never move forward with staff like this. Also,  keeping non-productive staff around causes a morale problem, which left unchecked, can infect other staff like a disease.

4. No chiefs or band councillors on interviewing boards or committees. If I have to explain this one to you, then you must live in a dictatorship.

5. Do what you say you’re going to do. Don’t tell the membership that you’re going to do something, then do nothing. Band council always says,” when we call band meetings, no one shows.’ You want to know why? Because either the people are ignored or they don’t have things fully explained properly. Many of our band members don’t understand the lingo that lawyers or consultants use. After the presentations, the meeting should break up into a workshop type of environment so each band member has a chance to ask questions one on one. Many of our people are too shy to get up to a mike and ask questions in an open forum. A workshop type meeting would create a more comfortable atmosphere.

6. Say, ‘The youth are our future’ all year, not just three months before an election.

7. Stick to your First Nations capitol plan. When extra money becomes available, put it towards your capitol plan. Don’t use it as part of your getting re-elected campaign. Using band funds to create a favorable environment for elected officials is both financially stupid and unwise.

Example number one: creating a bunch of 1970s-style make-work projects before an election. Sure this might get you re-elected, but you have ignored your capitol plan and you have acted irresponsibly with your First Nations funds.

8. This next one will draw some flak but here it goes. Long-term chiefs and councillors, step aside and let in new blood. The excuse,” I got nominated, so I have to run” is sad at best. We have so many new people who should be able to serve on council but they never get a chance. Maybe putting a time limit in your First Nations constitution might be the answer. Limiting band councillors and chiefs to three terms would be beneficial. Let’s face it, some people have large families and this usually gets them elected. New ideas are how we evolve. Old ideas and ways are counter-productive in a fast-paced society like what we live in today.

These are a few ideas that I have and I hope that I have not offended anyone out there.

My last idea would be to have a youth position on all boards and committees with full voting rights. This would help to create tomorrow’s leaders. Job shadowing would also be a great idea. We have to change our way of doing things or we will always be stuck in the old ways of doing things. Are we always going to be dependent on the feds for cash? Partnerships and empowerment are the way to go. The youth are our future. Say it, believe it and prove it!

Miigwetch
Gerald C. George
Kettle & Stoney Point First Nation