Indian Association fighting funding cut

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An established Indian advocacy group thinks Ottawa should have consulted with provincial Natives before it yanked $180,000 in annual grants from their membership and reinvested in the Chief's organizations this spring.

Mel Buffalo, President of the Indian Association of Alberta, is alarmed with the sudden financial crisis it's touched off at the 60-year-old non-profit group as he tries to find out what's happened "behind the scenes".

"If that's the case that's fine but I think they should have heard from our people first."

Despite unpaid bills totaling $53,000, he's optimistic his lobby group will muddle through financially in the short run.

"We operated up to the 70s without government funding for 30 or 40 years. We could seek money from private sources and maybe the First Nations themselves, or we might be going international as well," said Buffalo.

The group is pushing for a general assembly of the 63,000 Treaty 5, 7 and 8 Indians belonging to IAA in order to get their views on either fundraising or closing the office.

He doubts Alberta chiefs canvassed the thousands of voters they serve before accepting the added grant monies at the expense of the IAA.

The Alberta regional office of Indian Affairs confirmed the money would be transferred to the elected leadership on reserves.

"Given the fiscal realities we had to decide what to do with our limited resources," said communications spokesperson Amy Santoro.

The money is being reallocated between four groups: First Nations Resource Council, Grand Council Treaty 8, Confederacy Treaty 6 and Treaty 7 Tribal Council.

According to Buffalo those groups approached Ottawa for added funding and agreed to the reallocation even though it could mean closing IAA.

He charges Ottawa with "using our people against each other."

Santoro acknowledges the regional office didn't seek any formal approval from the Chiefs to withdraw annual funding to the association.

The IAA is circulating a petition of support and has protested the cut all the way to the prime minister's office.

It feels the move is an attempt to muzzle their collective Indian voice.

The association agrees with First Nations providing services themselves, states a letter to Prime Minister Chretien, but it adds that "It is crucial a central networking and advocacy office be maintained by a voice that has history and credibility."

Meanwhile the group has moved its office and staff from Edmonton to the Samson reserve in Hobbema.

Callers can reach the group at an interim Edmonton number: (403) 452-6651 or fax to 477-1699.