Welcome to Wahnapitae

The Indian Act provides no direction to First Nations with respect to how their finances are to be managed. But First Nations are responsible and accountable for managing revenues from an increasingly diverse set of sources including First Nation government core programs and services, associated contribution agreements, non-core funded projects and initiatives, First Nation businesses, and from resource development projects occurring within First Nation territories. Many First Nations are now developing their own financial policies and codes.

Since late fall 2010 Stonecircle has been working with Wahnapitae First Nation to develop governance tools aimed at increasing accountability, transparency and communication in relation to financial matters of interest to the First Nation and its membership. Alex Ker, with research assistance from Kory Goulais, worked with a committee of Councilors and staff to develop the Wahnapitae First Nation Financial Accountability and Management Code.

The Wahnapitae Financial Code is intended to provide guidelines and clear rules for Wahnapitae First Nation Council in relation to financial decision making and the management and allocation of First Nation revenues. The Code was presented to the membership at a Community Forum held in late April and is expected to be adopted by Chief and Council in the near future.

Alex attended the Community Forum on Saturday April 30th, unexpectedly manning the WFN Administration Office booth for most of the day. She did, however miss the first hour or two of the event following a wrong turn on the drive into the community. Alex inadvertently wandered off onto a logging road, blissfully unaware of her error (while listening to CBC’s Saturday morning political show “the House”) until she crossed through one too many flooded areas of the road and over one too many single lane, rickety bridges.