IAA and government to negotiate Access to Information Act

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CALGARY - Negotiations are underway between the federal government and the Indian Association of Alberta (IAA) to amend the Access to Information Act, thereby preventing any media probes into band financial records. In an interview after speaking to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce last week, IAA present Gregg Smith told reporters that the association is unhappy with the Access to Information Act and the way the media has been covering issues on the reserves.

The Calgary Herald recently obtained financial records from 10 Alberta bands through the Access to Information Act which compels the government to hand over public information. However, the Herald has been unable to publish any information due to an appeal by the 10 bands to the federal government.

"We're dissatisfied as an organization and the bands are dissatisfied (with the Access to Information Act). The government has a trust responsibility to the bands and we want it upheld," said Smith.

Smith blasted the media over recent reports about financial difficulties on some Alberta reserves saying the media makes the whole situation "look so horrible.

"With regard to band finances being published in the media, it's not in the general public's interest," he said. "We must first develop Indian governments and this is not helping."

Smith said his comments also applied to the Native media, adding that the Native press is often forced to compete with daily newspapers and therefore uses the same tactics to gain information.

"The Native press was set up by the government as economic enterprises and it becomes more and more apparent that if it is to continue economically it must try to compete with daily newspapers because the federal government if steadily downsizing the funding."

Smith confirmed his earlier comments to Windspeaker, published last month, that the chiefs and councillors are the primary protector of their band members interest and added he rejected the media's role as watchdog.

"I don't go into a Native community and start discussing their financial situation with them or talk about their problems concerning their chiefs and councils, because it's none of my business," he said. "And (negative newspaper reports), that's not helping things ... even if it's true."

Smith pointed out that it is up to the band chief and council to put in place forms of accountability and systems for informing band members. He also advocated bands pull away from the Indian Act and go under band custom.

"Band custom gives them a lot of power and allows them to do anything," he added.