By paNOW

UPDATE: Salary cuts announced during FSIN special Legislative Assembly

Mar 26, 2014 | 6:57 AM

The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations (FSIN) is hosting a special Legislative Assembly throughout Wednesday in Prince Albert.

The meeting kicked off this morning at Senator Allen Bird Memorial Centre to deal with budget and funding issues in the FSIN.

By the end of the day the FSIN 2014-2015 operational plan was approved with alll resolutions passed.  Some of the items voters have passed include reducing the number of legislative assembly from three to two.

It has also been decided that vice-chiefs making more than $90,000 will take a pay cut to $75,000.

Chief Perry Bellegarde’s office will be allocated $215,000, but will have no executive assistant. All executives will now have to share two executive assistants.

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In addition, $150,000 from Indian Treaty Rights Protection fund will be reallocated to fund FSIN operations.

The FSIN is looking to make up for a near $2 million funding gap, as a result of a federal funding cut.

In his opening address, Chief Perry Bellegarde said the group would work through this, and come back stronger at the end of the day.

Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation chief volunteers pay cut

A new team means more accountability to the people on the Beardy’s and Okemasis First Nation. 

Since taking over as new Chief, Rick Gamble has already started making big changes. 

“Our new team took decisive action yesterday to demonstrate its commitment to accountability in our community,” said Gamble in a news release. “Each councillor reduced their salary from an average $51,436.00 to $44,000.00; while I took a 50% reduction from $96,000.00 to $48,000.00. We will continue to act and demonstrate our commitment to establishing new priorities for our community.”

This announcement came just before the special legislative assembly of the FSIN Wednesday where it was announced chiefs in the federation would all take pay cuts as part of an attempt to make up $2 million in their budget. 

Gamble was elected as the new chief on March 21. 

This is a developing story. Reporter Thia James is at the Assembly and is live tweeting. For the very latest follow her @thiajames.

– with files from Thia James and Nigel Maxwell

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84