PLEASE NOTE: If you hold an Indian Act Status Number that starts in #4620- (10-Digits), you are eligible to sign the petition (includes Goodfish Lake/Whitefish Lake #128 members).  Please spell full name and indicate First Nation in town/city section of petition.

In recent weeks, we have seen a deterioration of onihcikiskwapowin (Saddle Lake Cree Nation) Chief and Council’s ability to work together to practice good governance, accountability and transparency. 

You were elected by the people of onihcikiskwapowin (Saddle Lake Cree Nation) to govern in accordance with our nehiyaw customs, laws and practices. 

What has transpired over the past few weeks calls into question whether some of our leadership are able to practice accountability, transparency and good governance to maintain peace, security and good will within our Nation. 

You were elected to work together and to practice ‘mamawikamatowin’ according to our nehiyaw ways. 

It is sad, distressing and disheartening to observe the in-fighting, gossip and allegations posted in the public sphere (including the world wide web) for the world to see.  It is clear that some of the current leadership are unable to keep our membership informed in a way that practices our nehiyaw laws, values and teachings and therefore, we must take our rightful place to direct you about what needs to get done to ensure our Nation can operate in a way that serves the interests of the people in an open and transparent manner. 

We want to see our Nation grow, prosper and thrive.  We want our children and grandchildren to be proud of who they are and where they come from.  

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - THE PEOPLE ARE TAKING OUR NATION BACK!

It is 2020, it is time to lead ethically, morally, with integrity and to use our nehiyaw Natural Laws as a guide for how you conduct yourselves with your actions.  Let us lead the way our ancestors did and let us lead by example the way the Creator intended.

We, the undersigned, are concerned members of onihcikiskwapowin (Saddle Lake Cree Nation) and urge our leaders (Chief and Council) to act now to:

1. Immediately disclose and release all Minutes, Motions and Band Council Resolutions (BCR’s) related to the Natural Law Energy MOU and associated processes;
2. Immediately disclose and release all Minutes, Motions and BCR’s related to any financial decisions/ sponsorships and operations (expenditures) of band business entities;
3. Disclose and release any future minutes, motions and BCR’s to members as requested.  All decisions should be made transparent and available to membership upon request;
4. Immediately request a forensic audit to be commenced and completed (from 2010-2020) of all monies provided for the benefit of all band members.  This includes and not limited to Indian Trust Monies provided through Indian Act Funding Agreements, Own Source Revenues, grants, donations, band taxation etc.. Results of this audit is to be disclosed to membership at a public meeting that is advertised in advance for people to attend;
5. Commence the development of a Saddle Lake Cree Nation leadership code of ethics and conduct;
6. Commence the development of laws and policies for financial transparency and accountability (including, but not limited to: finance law, finance policies, financial management law, etc).
7. Establish an elders, women and youth council that oversees the conduct of Council, participates in decision making and advises Chief and Council on important matters;
8. Establish a Process to seek input from membership on all important matters that include but are not limited to: finances, band litigation, lands and land use, Treaties and any large business deals with industry (including oil and gas companies) and other areas that arise through consultation with membership.
9. Establish a Process that allows membership to participate in meetings virtually or posts meeting videos, minutes and documents from meetings on the website (membership only access); 

Please feel free to download and print the Petition to be distributed among our Nation members and presented to SLCN Council at: shorturl.at/koHP2

Please see some documents for reference; however, please recognize these documents are not meant to exceed or limit our guiding Indigenous Governance Structures in our teachings and ceremonies like the Sundance, Midewin, and others etc. handed down to us by the kise manito (Creator):

• Saddle Lake Cree Nation Organizational Review 2020 - https://www.scribd.com/book/471326888
• Best Practices in Aboriginal Community Development: A Literature Review and Wise Practice Approach - http://communities4families.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Aboriginal-Community-Development.pdf
• Toolbox For Nation Building - https://sites.google.com/g.harvard.edu/nationbuildingtoolboxes/home
• Transformational Governance: Challenges and Opportunities - http://www.fngovernance.org/publication_docs/ChallengesAndOpportunities.pdf
• Accountability, Legitimacy, and the Foundations of Native Self-Governance - https://hpaied.org/sites/default/files/publications/PRS93-1.pdf
• A Closer Look At Fiduciary Duty (OKTLaw) - https://bit.ly/3laGZZk