Re: Takla Lake First Nation financial reporting.
I am writing to you on behalf of Takla Lake First Nation to comment on the article in the Citizen dated January 9th title "First Nation submits financial statements".
Your article contains a number of misconceptions. Firstly, Takla was not withholding our financial statements and we did not submit them in response to threats from the federal government to hold back our funding. We work hard to keep our budgets and audits up to date but were not able to report on time because our financial comptroller went on leave and we had major power outages at Takla which also shut down our internet and communications.
Our main office is in Takla. I don't think people realize that the government often does not maintain our road and we can't get in and out of our community, even in emergency situations. We also don't have power except through a generator, nor internet access except through a satellite dish, also powered by our generator. Despite the fact that the provincial government sucks more timber, minerals, taxes and royalties out of our territory, than almost any other territory in the province, and that many of our people were flooded out to create the Williston Lake reservoir, we don't have basic hydro and other services that most other British Coiumbians take for granted.
Our council is a working council. In addition to all our duties as elected chief and council, we also work as managers and supervisors. It would be similar if the Mayor of Prince George were also the city manager or the school superintendent. We are all working at multiple jobs to support our First Nation because we can't afford to hire managers and supervisors.
So, before anyone comments on our salaries or our compliance with make-work projects from the federal government, I hope they come and visit our community and learn a little bit about our nation.
Anita Williams,
Takla Lake First Nations Chief
