Squamish band members call for audit's release

Members of North Vancouver's Squamish Nation are demanding more information after the band leadership recently revealed two of its elected representatives are being asked for comment and one is no longer working for the band following completion of an independent financial audit.

The investigation, started earlier this summer, was conducted by a third party into payments of "emergency funds" made by the Squamish Nation's department of communications and band member services.

A report summarizing what the investigation found has been provided to both the band's executive operating officer and the Squamish nation's chiefs and council.

What was found in the investigation hasn't been made public yet.

"We've been asking what it's about and we haven't received any answers," said band member Joann Nahanee, who added she's been calling for more in-depth auditing of band finances for many years. "We are very much interested in what's happening to our money..." In a notice to band members, chiefs and council confirmed last week that Krisandra Jacobs, who worked as the head of the department under review for many years, "is no longer an employee of the Squamish Nation."

Nahanee said she is very concerned and would like to see the report for herself. So far, band members haven't even been told who did the investigation, she said.

On Tuesday, Nahanee and four other band members went to the Squamish Nation's administration office to demand that the audit be released.

But the band administration has said a summary of the report will only be provided after Jacobs and band manager Glen Newman have a chance, as elected officials, to comment on the report.

Since receiving the report, the band leadership has met and invited that comment by Oct. 18.

Both Jacobs and Newman continue to hold their elected positions with the Squamish Nation.

"We want procedures and policies in place," said Nahanee. "How can we have good government if we don't have a way of dealing with it?" Nahanee said the secrecy around the audit is a continuation of what she described as a longstanding practice of making it difficult for ordinary members to seek financial accountability.

Nahanee said that's especially concerning in light of recent budget cuts by the band, which resulted in a number of layoffs.

According to information posted on the band's website, the Squamish Nation has had to cut its budget by $4 million - including $1 million in payroll cuts - to balance spending with falling revenues that resulted from the global economic downturn.

According to financial statements posted online in accordance with the federal government's First Nations Financial Transparency Act, the Squamish Nation has an annual budget of about $56 million to provide a wide range of services for its approximately 4,100 members.

Of that, revenue of about $14 million came from the federal government last year. The largest revenue stream - more than $20 million last year - came from leases. About $10 million comes from "land and resources accommodation" while about $4.5 million comes from taxation.

The online financial statements also list the salaries of the band's chief and councillors, which collectively came to more than $1 million last year. Of those elected officials,

Krisandra Jacobs earned almost $100,000 for her elected role, including her role as co-chair of the council, plus her work as a department head for the band. Band manager Glen Newman earned about $73,000 for his elected role.

No one from the Squamish Nation's administration or elected council responded to requests for interviews. Jacobs also did not respond to a request for comment.