BC ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS

Suite 507 100 Park Royal

West Vancouver, BC V7T 1A2
Telephone: 604-922-7733
Facsimile: 604-922-7433
E-mail: reception@bcafn.ca
Website: www.bcafn.ca

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson stands in solidarity with Onion

Lake and Sawridge First Nation in their Federal Court challenge
against the First Nations Financial Transparency Act
(Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver, BC August 19th, 2015) Today, BC Regional Chief Shane
Gottfriedson stood in unity with Onion Lake and Sawridge First Nation in their Federal Court
challenge against the constitutionality of the First Nations Financial Transparency Act. The Act
which took effect last year requires First Nations from across Canada to file and make publicly
available audited financial reports which includes remuneration and expenses for Chiefs and
Councils.
In 2014, in opposition to the unconstitutional imposition of the Act, Onion Lake, Ochapowace,
Thunderchild, Sawridge and Athabasca Chipewyan Nations filed litigation against the federal
government. In response, the federal government began its own action. On August 19 and 20 th,
the First Nations are seeking an injunction to ensure their litigation against the Act moves
forward.
This Act is completely misguided and was imposed on First Nations without our consent and
without a full and meaningful consultation process. The Crown has a constitutional and legal
obligation to fully consult and seek First Nations consent on any decision or action that may
potentially impact our recognized and affirmed Aboriginal Title, Rights and Treaty Rights,
stated BC Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson. We have informed the government on a number
of occasions of the flawed nature of the Act including the troubling requirement for public
online posting of financial statements of First Nations leadership. This fundamentally reflects a
relationship and an approach that suggests Canada knows best with respect to our own
governance and accountability measures to our citizens.
First Nations are not opposed to open, accountable and transparent governance and seek to
have this type of information available to our First Nation citizens, however having this
information available to the public at large is highly disturbing. The availability of this
information has allowed, particularly in British Columbia, media outlets and the general public

to make prejudiced and uninformed opinions about the compensation made available to First
Nation leaders. The information available belies the very complicated intersection of economic
development and other income provided to leaders whom often hold other positions within the
First Nation administration and economic entities. The action taken by Onion Lake,
Ochapowace, Thunderchild, Sawridge and Athabasca Chipewyan Nations is significant and BC
First Nations will continue to support their challenge against the Act and the Federal
government. concluded Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson.

For further information contact:

Regional Chief Shane Gottfriedson
BC Assembly of First Nations
250-852-1143