The recent flap over Dutch Lerat, allegedly Saskatchewan's most avid user of debit and credit cards, has again raised questions about the accountability of agencies that are supposed to be handling public money in the best interests of Native citizens. More than that, it has underlined the fact that the challenge to provincial authority by groups like FSIN is not in the best interests of anyone.

When it was revealed publicly that Mr. Lerat, CEO and Chairman of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Association, was supplementing his $150,000 salary by withdrawing $360,000 in cash for "expenses" on his SIGA credit and debit cards, the first reaction of SIGA board members was not to fire Lerat and fix the problem, but protect Lerat by giving him a $100,000 raise to help him pay back the lost money.

The province stepped up to the plate and did the right thing (now there's something you won't hear the CTF say everyday!). They demanded Lerat's resignation, and revoked his gaming license. But SIGA board member Perry Bellegarde, Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations, refused, and said the province had no authority. Much to the discredit of SIGA's board, they did not do the right thing until the government threatened to shut down the casinos.

The FSIN is also fighting provincial authority over the First Nations Fund. The Fund is a Crown agency that spends the money earned by SIGA, and other gambling revenue, on projects to help Native communities. For years the provincial auditor has been trying to do an audit. The trustees of the First Nations Fund refuse to allow this, and the provincial government has failed to force the issue.

In May, the trustees finally agreed to release their own private audit. But this will only show the balance sheet, whereas a provincial audit would investigate exactly where and how money was spent. A few months ago Mr. Bellegarde announced an advertising campaign to educate people about the First Nations Fund. But an ad is no substitute for an independent operational audit when it comes to establishing accountability and restoring credibility.

All the people of this province should be concerned about the increasing frequency by which the "First Politicians" are challenging the authority of our government to govern, and refusing to be accountable to anyone (including their own band members) for their operations. They say the province's labour laws don't apply to Indian run casinos, they say the provincial government doesn't have the authority to charge the PST on Natives off-reserve, they say the province can't audit its own Crown agencies, etc.

But if the Saskatchewan government, democratically elected by all citizens, including Indians, is unacceptable to Indian leaders, what is their alternative If their self-government operated anything like the SIGA board has recently, it would be less of a democracy and more of a kleptocracy. Native people have reason to be concerned.

When leaders refuse to operate on democratic principles of accountability, including transparency, openness, and disclosure, the people are badly served. The SIGA fiasco has badly damaged the credibility of the FSIN leadership. A good step to rebuilding credibility would be to accept accountability and open the First Nations Fund to the provincial auditor. Failing that, the provincial government must take the bull by the horns and order an audit. It is their duty as the ultimate stewards of public money.