Members representing Chiniki, Goodstoney and Bearspaw First Nations are suing the Stoney Nakoda Nation to release financial reports mandated by federal law.
Muriel Labelle, Kenny Hunter and Wanda Rider are seeking a court order that would require Stoney Nakoda Nations to release all missing financial disclosure documents under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act (FNFTA), between 2018 and 2022, including the salaries and expenses of chiefs and council.
They also want an independent financial auditor to prepare a report on the Nation’s finances over that time.
But the trio of band members claim there is community concern in the absence of transparency since the latest available reports.
Among those concerns, they claim that Stoney Tribal Council (STC), which is responsible for administering various programs and services for Stoney Nakoda band members, including social services education, health and economic development, and which manages an annual share of the Nation’s Heritage Trust Fund (HTF), has withdrawn tens of millions of dollars from the HTF without consultation and approval from community members of the three bands.
The trust fund was established in the 1990s between the Stoney Nakoda Nation and the federal government to invest surplus oil and gas royalties for the benefit of all Nation members.
As such, the litigants believe the community at large should know exactly how much is withdrawn, where funds are invested, and further, have a voice in determining how said funds are used.
The last time the Nation published financial documents required by the FNFTA was five years ago, according to federal government records.
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