Posted by [EMAIL PROTECTED] :
Date: Thu, 25 Nov 1999 09:31:02 -0500
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Lynne Moss-Sharman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: health program consultants investigated
Thursday, November 25, 1999
RCMP probes Indian band's use of funds
Improper spending of federal money alleged in complaints
Stewart Bell
National Post
The RCMP is investigating allegations of "improper use of public funds" by
the Siksika Nation, a small Indian band near Calgary that receives more
than $27-million a year from the federal government.
Police confirmed yesterday that they have hired a forensic auditor to
examine the band's finances. The probe follows complaints by band members
about a tribal health program and payments it made to consulting firms. The
allegations concern a band-run program called Siksika Health Services.
"The investigation is still ongoing," said Corporal Ray Arcand, head of
aboriginal policing services at
the RCMP's "K" Division in Alberta. "I think it's been ongoing for the last
three to four months." Internal documents leaked to the National Post by
band members upset about spending by their
tribal leadership show a sizable chunk of the money ended up in the hands
of two small Calgary consulting firms.
Although it's not clear why police felt the complaints were worthy of
investigation, band members have raised questions about the use of the
consultants, alleging there has been no tangible improvement in health
conditions among the 3,100 Siksika band members who live on 71,000 hectares
of reserve land, 80 kilometres east of Calgary.
The band declined to comment.
Rick Running Rabbit, a tribal administrator, acknowledged "there is an
investigation" but added, "we've been advised not to make any comment." He
said the investigation was limited to the health program. Under the federal
government's self-government policy, which aims to give natives "autonomy
and control" over health services on reserves, the Medical Services Branch
of Health Canada gives the Siksika band about $2-million a year to run its
own community health program. But a leaked internal audit, conducted by the
accounting firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers, found that the single largest
expenditure after salaries was consulting fees. The money spent on
consultants last year was about four times the next-largest expenditure --
"conferences and travel," which accounted
for $123,000. Leaked invoices show that a one-woman consulting firm called
Dineh Deh was paid more than $400,000 in one seven-month period in 1997.
The firm was regularly paid up to $50,000 for
"services rendered," which included writing reports and proposals for more
government funding. For example, the firm was paid $30,000 last September
to prepare a proposal to be submitted to the Medical Services Branch for a
diabetes program on the reserve. The firm also received $50,000 in July,
1998, to prepare a presentation, about a proposed Siksika health centre, to
the federal Treasury Board.
The same firm was paid $20,000 to give advice about a band nutrition
program, $15,000 to research a "meals on wheels" program, $20,000 to
research "prescription drug abuse by Siksika members," $20,000 to research
teen pregnancies, $30,000 to research mental health and $50,000 for
"community health planning." "It was over several years, it wasn't a short
time, and it was excellent work," said Diane
Dodginghorse, who owns the consulting firm but now spends her time running
a native craft store on the Tsuu T'ina reserve.
She said she had been interviewed by police but dismissed the investigation
as the result of a complaint from a band member with a personal grudge
against the chief. She said it was also an
attempt to sway upcoming tribal elections. "It's just political," said
Mrs. Dodginghorse, who added she has six years of experience working in
health care with the Treaty 7 Tribal Council. "They've been on it for
months and months and haven't come up with anything."
Some of the payments were approved by Darlene Yellow Old Woman, the chief.
She declined to comment and said the rest of the band council would also
not be speaking. Other invoices were signed by a man whose own consulting
firm was being paid by the band.
Payments to his firm totalled almost $160,000 in less than a year,
including $22,350 for "improving communication -- couples therapy," and
$53,000 for a "counsellors' training program, how to do
cognitive therapy." The firm also received $15,000 in February, 1998, and
another payment for the same amount in March "for consultation as mental
health director for the month." Health Canada said it was contacted about
the allegations about six months ago and was cooperating with the police
investigation. Margot Geduld, a media relations officer in Ottawa, said the
federal government will continue to fund the program during the
investigation. According to the internal audit, the Siksika Health Services
program had a $2-million budget in 1999, down from $2.4-million the
previous year. Almost a million of that was spent on wages, but the next
largest expenditure was consulting firms, which were paid close to $500,000
this year and $650,000 in 1998.
"Let Us Consider The Human Brain As
A Very Complex Photographic Plate"
1957 G.H. Estabrooks
www.angelfire.com/mn/mcap/bc.html
FOR K A R E N #01182
who died fighting 4/23/99
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.aches-mc.org
807-622-5407
For people like me, violence is the minotaur; we spend our lives
wandering its maze, looking for the exit. (Richard Rhodes)
Never befriend the oppressed
unless you are prepared to
take on the oppressor.
(Author unknown)
