2009-2010 Annual Report ofContents Table Our Mission & Values 1 Message from the Interim Chairperson 2 Board of Trustees 3 Role of the Trust & Trustees 6 First Nations Trust: A Timeline of its Development 8 A Commitment to Community Development 10 North: Map & Population 13 First Nations Determined Use of First Nations Trust Funds 14 Expenditures by Purpose 15 Central: Map & Population 16 First Nations Determined Use of First Nations Trust Funds 17 Expenditures by Purpose 18 South: Map & Population 19 First Nations Determined Use of First Nations Trust Funds 20 Expenditures by Purpose 21 Designated Allocations 22 Financial Statements 24 Our Mission & Values Our Mission FNT will strive to maintain a trusting relationship with First Nations based on integrity, confidentiality and mutual respect in order to assist them in making a positive difference in the lives of First Nations people, their children and their children’s children. Our Values Integrity The First Nations Trust conducts business with uncompromising integrity. Effectiveness The First Nations Trust has an intense focus on understanding and meeting the needs of our beneficiaries. Quality Teamwork We work as a team to fulfill expectations and to protect the interests of our beneficiaries. 1 Message from the Interim Chairperson The Board of Trustees is pleased to present the During the course of the 2009-2010 fiscal year 2 Annual Report covering operations of the First Trustee vacancies were filled. The current Board Nations Trust for the 2009-2010 fiscal year, ending of Trustees consists of Velma Wuttunee, Sheila March 31, 2010. Sutherland, Brenda Stevenson, Druscilla Stanley, The purpose of the First Nations Trust remains “to Everette Bear, Nolan Henderson, and Ray Gamble. effect the distribution of the monies due to First There is currently a full complement of Trustees, Nations from, inter alia, the profits of the Saskatchewan however, three Trustee Positions are due for gaming Authority Casinos and Saskatchewan Gaming re-appointment in the near future. Corporation Casinos.” While the task appears simple Although the 2010-2011 forecasts have resulted enough, Trustees have been challenged with in a reduction in distributions the requirement for complexities in administrative issues as well as diligence and compliance does not diminish. fluctuations in amounts available for distribution Accordingly, Trustees do not forecast any reduction to Beneficiaries. Trustees recognize our fiduciary in the Administration Costs for the Trust. The Trust obligation and every action taken is with an eye to will continue to provide accountability for those the best interests of the Beneficiaries. necessary expenses. The 2003 Trust Indenture outlines the permitted The staff compliment consists of Leila Nashacappo uses of Trust Revenues. This Annual Report includes and Darlene Krabseth, both recent additions to the information about income and distribution of Trust FNT office who handle the administrative duties of funds including financial statements of the Trust, the Trust. FSIN Senator Aubrey Goforth is assigned tables, graphs, and a detail of the distributions made to assist the Trust and provide general advice and to Beneficiaries of the Trust. guidance gleaned from his years of experience. John Trustees recognize the need for continued Hill, LLB. Provides legal advice in matters related to improvement and have initiated measures to Gaming and the Trust. Trustees wish to acknowledge enhance interaction and communication with the the value of the support provided by all of the above FSIN Executive Office and Affiliated Organizations to the Trust and its Beneficiaries. to the fullest extent without compromising Ray Gamble confidentiality. Trust business is conducted on the Interim Chairperson, First Nations Trust Asimakanissekan Askiy Reserve, which is located in close proximity to FSIN Executive Offices and facilitates the necessary communication. 2 Board OFTrustees The requirement that the majority of the Board of Commission. He has been Vice-Chair of the of Trustees reside on-reserve was again met during the the Agricultural Council of Saskatchewan and 2009-2010 fiscal year. This fiscal year came to an end Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of the with a search to fill current vacancies on the Board of Saskatchewan Indian Equity Foundation. Everette is Trustees. The process for appointment to the Board an experienced farmer, small business owner and has of Trustees is in part through recommendations of held school bus contracts for many years. Everette the Executive Council and the Indian Government says he particularly enjoys working in an atmosphere Commission, as well as the Economic Development where the best interests of the people come first. and Community Development Commission and an FNT Committee. The final appointment of the Trustees lies with the FSIN Chiefs-in-Assembly. Ray Gamble served as Interim Chair of the First Nations Trust during 2009-2010. He has served as member of the Board of Trustees since May, 2003 as one of the founding Trustees. Ray holds a CIM Everette Bear has served on the First Nations designation through the Canadian Institute of Trust Board of Trustees since its inception in 2003. He Management and a Certificate in Business came to the FNT with valuable experience in both Administration from the University of Saskatchewan. the public and private sectors. In the past, he served He brings to the Board of Trustees extensive four years as Councillor and six years as Chief of experience in the administration of Federal Muskoday First Nation. Everette has extensive Board Government Programs, the Private Sector, as well and Commission service, having served with The Commercial Banking. Ray is retired and currently Saskatchewan Indian Loan Company (SILCO), resides on Beardy’s and Okemasis Reserve. Saskatchewan Wheat Board, the Agricultural Credit Corporation (ACC), Enterprise Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming 3 Board OFTrustees Cont’d Noland Henderson was appointed to the First Druscilla Stanley worked in the area of Nations Trust, Board of Trustees in 2003. Speaking Finance throughout her career. She held the post of about the Trust, he believes that, “this group of Director of Finance at the Prince Albert Student Trustees and our staff, have come along way in Residence for a number of years. Later she held the establishing confidence in the Trust.” Noland brings position of Band Administrator and then moved a lot of experience to the Trust in a variety of ways. on to become the Manager of her First Nation: The He has served as police officer with the RCMP, Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation. Druscilla made her rise seven years as a school principal in Montreal Lake and through finance related positions while taking sitting on the Sasktel Board of Directors for 6 various courses at the University of Saskatchewan years. Noland served as Commissioner for the as well as workshops on finance related topics. Saskatchewan Police Commission until May 2009 Druscilla completed a number of courses toward the which he ended after two three year terms. His other designation Certificate in Aboriginal Financial achievements include serving three terms as Chief Management. After retiring from financial work, and four as a band councilor for Montreal lake Cree she returned to sewing, designing ribbon shirts and Nation. He is actively involved in other boards and starblankets. Druscilla and her husband are raising committees such as First Vice-Chair of the Board of their grandson. Governors for Northern Teacher Education Program (NORTEP). As a member of the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Noland holds the position of Director for the Lands and Resources program to this date. 4 Brenda Stevenson attained a Master of Sheila Sutherland has been employed in Education (M.Ed.) from Harvard University and two financial management for the past 15 years for Bachelor degrees (Business Administration [B.B.A.] various First Nations in Saskatchewan. Sheila and Arts [B.A.]) as well as a Certificate of Native attended the University of Saskatchewan where American Studies from the University of she graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce and Massachusetts-Amherst. She also has a Diploma in majoring in Accounting. She also completed a Religious Education and a Certificate of Achievement number of courses toward the designation Certificate in accounting. Brenda is a member of the Carry in Aboriginal Financial Management. Sheila joined the Kettle First Nation (CTK) and is presently the First Nations Trust as a trustee in November 2009. Director of Operations at CTK. Brenda has worked She is a member of the Beardy’s and Okemasis for First Nations communities for many years in First Nation. economic development and education. Brenda and her husband drafted the “Teaching Treaties in the Classroom (K-6)” curriculum, a joint project with the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) and the Office of the Treaty Commission, and drafted the “Treaty Essential Learning (TELs)” handbook to be used in all provincial schools. Brenda is currently a member of the Board of Governors of Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) and serves on the Southeast Regional College Board of Governors. Velma Wuttunee has held positions in finance Brenda is the daughter of Bill and Cora Thomson, throughout her career bringing extensive experience S.O.M. of Carry the Kettle First Nation, as well as the to the Trust in financial matters having provided daughter-in-law of FSIN Senator Theresa Stevenson, advice and assistance to First Nations under third O.C, S.O.M. and Robert Stevenson of Cowessess First party management, as well as Tribal Councils. Velma Nation. She currently resides on Cowessess First was asked to accept an appointment to the Board Nation and is married with three children and one of Trustees for the First Nations Trust, when the Trust grandson. Indenture was put in place and is one of the founding Trustees. 5 Role of the Trust & Trustees The Purpose of a trust is that it provides a way A Beneficiary of the Trust is defined in the2003 of having property held for an individual or a group.