Six Nations Public library - Digital Archive

"Casino Rama - Six Nations to get $4 million", p. 2

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Six Nations to receive Rama dollars (Continued from from page) into the community beginning next year from Casino Rama. Jamieson said Six Nations Band Council hasn't made any firm decision on how to spend the $4 million. "They've got a lot of ideas, but nothing firm yet," she said. She said if the money flows directly into the Band Council, it will be seen as band revenue. She said there is a concern Indian and Northern Affairs Canada will take the revenue into consideration when allocating program dollars. "One of the things council is considering is establishing a trust fund so it doesn't come in as band revenue." The Ontario Chiefs also agreed to establish a casino board made up of six representatives, including representatives from each of the organizations and the Independent communities and the Chiefs of Ontario would sit as an ex-officio member. Jamieson sad it was "very clear that these people not be political people because of the liability that could be on councils." She said a "couple of people from our community have said they would like to be the representative." The Chiefs of Ontario also agreed to funnel 25 per cent of the $48 million into a "Future Generation Fund." The 25 per cent is being held back awaiting a court ruling on an Ontario Metis claim they are entitled to a percentage of the Casino Rama dollars. The Chiefs of Ontario agreed to split the $48,750,000 in profits from Casino Rama based on a formula that calls for half of the profits, or about $24,375,000 million to be allocated based on population. Another 10 per cent will go to communities considered to be remote. The remaining 40 per cent or about $21,937,500 was be split equally by all 133 First Nations. That means each First Nation will receive about $164,943.60. What it means is larger communities like Six Nations, Akwesasne, Tyendinaga and Wikwemikong is a loss of up to $2,794,939. On a per capita basis communities the size of New Credit will receive more than a community the size of Six Nations. New Credit, a member of the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians with only 16,561 in total, would receive $242.58 per capita compared to Six Nations, who would have received $221.16 per capita or $21.42 less per person or about $428,4000, less under the formula. To counter the loss the chiefs of Ontario agreed to turn over enough interest from the First Nations Fund to offset the loss. Band Council Chief Wellington Staats could not be reached for comments. Band Council met Monday night in a closed political liaison meeting.

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