Siksika Nation - Consultation Is Key to Strong Governance

by Tara Lee Wittchen

For Siksika Nation in Alberta, the road to good governance is through community consultation.

The First Nation is applying the advice of the outside auditing firm it contracted to review the community's administrative controls and procedures, and offer suggestions on improving accountability. One of the firm's recommendations was community consultation, explains Jack Royal, executive services branch manager for Siksika Nation. "It's just prudent management," he adds.

In keeping with the consultation principle, monthly general meetings of Chief and Council are open to all, including off-reserve members and non-members. Quarterly community meetings are also public events, and all community members receive Chief and Council meeting minutes by mail every month.

"In the general meetings, they (Chief and Council) usually devote however much time is necessary - usually a day or two - to members, to allow them to voice any concerns they might have," says Royal.

Other accountability initiatives passed by Council include a financial management code. "That regulates all of the controls and procedures with money matters," Royal explains. The code is a public document, available to all members.

Consultation is also central to the community's involvement with the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management. Fourteen First Nations across Canada (Siksika is the only one in Alberta) signed the Agreement in 1996, allowing them to opt out of the land management sections of the Indian Act.

Under the Agreement, the Government of Canada and the 14 First Nations agreed to look at developing their individual land codes and legislation. The codes would be ratified by each First Nation through a referendum, and the government would then pass the supporting federal legislation. The objective is to make it easier for First Nations to use their lands to support community economic development.

As Royal points out, accountability is strengthened by the Framework Agreement process. Each First Nation develops its land code through a consultation process with its members. This consultation would involve "things like how Siksika members see the management of their lands," he clarifies. The community, adds Royal, also gives advice on how Chief and Council, senior managers, administration staff, Nation members, and non-members who are using land, should be accountable.

"It's all community-driven because it's all through consultation," Royal emphasizes. "The community provides input and feedback. Once we come up with a document and it's formalized, then we bring it back to the community to ratify it by way of referendum."

The First Nations Land Management Act that results from this process will promote community self-management, and at the same time offer potential economic benefits. Other initiatives, like the First Nation's joint venture training program with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, are also enhancing economic development and employment opportunities in Siksika.

"Obviously we'd like to see it a lot quicker," says Royal of the community's expanding skills capacity, "but it's moving and that's the main thing."

For more information, telephone Siksika Nation at (403) 734-5100.

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