I’ve heard a lot of surprising stories from people on aboriginal reserves over the years; most include things like corruption, threats for speaking out and voter fraud to name a few.

But here’s a new one – a white, hereditary chief.

Yes, you read that right. John Thunder is a Caucasian “hereditary” chief of the Buffalo Point First Nation (Manitoba.) At least that’s his version of how he became chief - you can read it by clicking here.

However, one band member that I spoke with, Toni Lightning, has disagreed with that version of events and suggested John’s parents were Caucasian, but his mom later married James Irvin Thunder, a Status Indian (federal government legal definition.)

She also noted that the current Chief’s father, and every chief before him, was actually elected. Thus, she disagrees with the claim the community has had hereditary chiefs for decades.

In fact, band members are staging a sit-in right now at the band office to try and get the chief out of there – go figure, they too like the idea of being able to elect their politicians!

In either case, this situation has some other interesting elements. Consider this letter I just emailed off to John Thunder:

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Dear John Thunder,

I am writing to you today regarding the 2011 Consolidated Financial Statements of the Buffalo Point Development Corporation.

As you are aware, page 14 notes the development corporation paid $900,000 for cottages from a “director of the Corporation and his spouse.”

According to statements filed with the Province of Manitoba’s Companies Office, the only two directors of the Buffalo Point Development Corporation are yourself and James Irvin Thunder; who I’m told is your father.

I’m also told that Buffalo Point Development Corporation is owned by the Buffalo Point First Nation.

Therefore, could you please explain how you or your father could have decided to purchase cottages, on behalf of the band’s corporation, from you or your father?

Does that not represent a conflict of interest? What are the band’s rules regarding conflict of interest situations?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Colin Craig,
Prairie Director – Canadian Taxpayers Federation

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Click here - to see the 2011 Annual Return of Information
Click here - to see the relevant pages from the 2011 Buffalo Point Development Corp. Financial Statements

NOTE: See this blog post for a follow-up - http://www.taxpayer.com/blog/fed--the-chief-responds