It was 4 years ago that a member of the Onion Lake Cree Nation began her court battle for financial transparency from her band leaders, and it continues today. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has been helping Charmaine Stick. Prairie Director Todd MacKay says recently, a hearing was held in the Court of Appeal from Stick’s second court case.

Originally, back in 2016, Stick took the Chief and Council to court to force them to release the 2015/16 financial statements. She won the case. It was appealed but the decision remained that the statements needed to be made public, in line with the First Nations Financial Transparency Act. MacKay says she then asked for the 2017/18 statements and was refused again.

Court sided with her and the band leaders were held in contempt of court. They appealed and that’s where it sits now, as both sides await the decision. There is no timeline for when a decision will be announced. McKay adds that we all have the right to see what our governments are doing and Charmaine Stick deserves that right as well.