Wahta Mohawk activists use online data to weigh band finances – insidebelleville.com
Karihwakeron Tim Thompson, a community activist in Wahta Mohawk Territory, welcomes increased accountability due to First Nations Financial Transparency Act
OTTAWA — One aboriginal community member who would welcome the increased accountability promised by the First Nations Financial Transparency Act says the federal government went about it the wrong way.
Karihwakeron Tim Thompson is a community activist in Wahta Mohawk Territory, near Bala, Ont., and one of a group of people involved in a months-long protest last year that involved blocking access to the band administration office.
His group, Wahta Community Fire, was able to use the numbers posted online under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act to get their first glimpse at the monetary decisions made by the newly elected council, whose first two weeks in office were the last two weeks of the fiscal year reflected in the documents.
Thompson says the numbers showed they gave themselves a raise.
