Ahtahkakoop administration’s travel plans criticized by councilor, community
Residents and leaders in the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation are unhappy over their chief and council’s decision to hold a costly meeting at a Calgary resort.
They’re arguing the strategic planning meeting could be held at home on their reserve, which could save the community substantial amounts of money and would let all members participate in the process.
“They do all their fiscal planning while they’re there, which is already done. We’re in a five-year plan already,” long-time Ahtahkakoop resident Lenny Sasakamoose told paNOW. “Some of the council who were at those meetings [in 2017] said they only met for six hours.”
Documents acquired by paNOW showed 27 people attended a strategic planning session hosted at the Fantasy Land Hotel in Edmonton Aug. 22, 2017. Different documents showed 11 members of Ahtahkakoop’s chief and council, along with representatives from different band organizations, were invited to attend this year’s meeting in Calgary. This year, Sasakamoose said, the chief and council are attending a meeting at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino from July 10-13 to discuss a 10-year strategic plan for the band.