REGINA, SK: First Nations activist Charmaine Stick is disappointed by the Onion Lake Cree Nation’s decision to appeal a Court of Queen’s Bench decision ordering the band to publish basic financial documents online.

“This is like a bad joke because the chief and council can’t seriously think they can convince a judge or anyone else that they should be able to spend our community’s money without being open about what they’re spending it on,” said Ms. Stick, a member of the Onion Lake Cree Nation. “Why are they spending thousands of dollars on legal bills to appeal a court decision in favour of transparency? Grassroots people are demanding transparency and we’ll continue the struggle until we all know what’s happening with the money in First Nations communities.”

In 2016, Ms. Stick partnered with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation to launch a joint court application to compel the Onion Lake Cree Nation to comply with The First Nations Financial Transparency Act. The legislation requires First Nations to publish the salaries and expenses paid to chief and council as well as the band’s basic financial statements on the Internet. More than 90 per cent of First Nations have complied with the requirements. Onion Lake Cree Nation has refused to provide the disclosures, but on June 15, 2017, the Court of Queen’s Bench for Saskatchewan ruled that Onion Lake has 30 days to publish the required information online.

Onion Lake Cree Nation is now appealing the decision.

“We were hoping Charmaine would get the answers she deserves from leaders at Onion Lake Cree Nation, but if they’re going to fight transparency by appealing the ruling, we’ll continue to support Charmaine’s courageous stand and we’re confident we’re going to win in the end,” said Todd MacKay, Prairie Director for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “We’ll vigorously defend this decision upon appeal on behalf of Charmaine and grassroots people in First Nations communities across Canada.”