FSIN Official Disputes Aboriginal Governance Index

FSIN Official Disputes Aboriginal Governance Index

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 13:50

A First Nations leader in the province says he’s not sure how helpful a recent study into First Nations governance on reserves will be.

FSIN Chief Lawrence Joseph says he has looked at the findings contained in the Aboriginal Governance Index.

The study is authored by a private group in Winnipeg that ranked reserves in the province according to surveys it performed on all but three Saskatchewan First Nations.

However, Joseph says much of the data isn’t helpful, because it doesn’t go into enough detail.

He says he isn’t worried the study will cause divisions between First Nations ranked high in the study and those that ranked low, because chiefs understand how to work together.

Joseph also maintains the study does not take into account that bands weren’t allowed to control their own governance until just recently.