$6K to $166K: N.W.T. chiefs salaries vary widely
Self-governing Tlicho chiefs remain the highest paid
The N.W.T. chiefs and councillors salaries posted under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act have been modest so far, but they vary widely from community.
There are huge differences in what some chiefs make, even in the same region.
In the Dehcho, Jean Marie River's Stanley Sanguez was paid $88,000 last year, even though he has only 66 people in his community. That makes him the highest paid chief per capita.
In Kakisa, Chief Lloyd Chicot was paid only $6,000, and his band has only 12 fewer people than Jean Marie River.
It's the same in Gwich'in communities.
Tsiigehtchic chief Phillip Blake was paid $64,000 last year.
That's more than the chief of Fort McPherson — William Koe, who earned $58,813 — even though McPherson is almost five times bigger.
Something that complicates comparing chiefs salaries is that in the NWT's three charter communities — Tsiigehtchic, Fort Good Hope and Deline — the chief is automatically appointed mayor. The salaries of chiefs in those communities also includes their pay for serving as mayor.
Deline Chief Leonard Kenny was among the top earners, with $96,500 last year. That is still $20,000 less than what Chief Eddie Sangris of the Yellowknives Dene earned.
Sangris remains one of the highest paid chief with $116,000 last year.
That's still lower than the $130,000 the four Tlicho chiefs were paid, and the $166,000 that went to Tlicho Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus.
The Tlicho remains the only self-governing region in the territory and are not required to post salaries under the Act, but the information is publicly available.
6 First Nations yet to post
Salaries have yet to be posted for six N.W.T. First Nations, including the Lidlii Kue First Nation of Fort Simpson, the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation, and the K'atlodeeche First Nation of Hay River.
That means they could face federal sanctions within a few weeks.
Two weeks ago, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt said the federal government will take action against bands that don't submit financial information.
Valcourt set November 26 as the deadline for submitting financial statements and salary information for chiefs and councillors.
Under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, the federal government can withhold funding to First Nations that don't submit the information.
| N.W.T. Chief | Salary |
|---|---|
| Eddie Erasmus, Tlicho grand chief | $166,000 |
| Johnny Arrowmaker, Wekweeti | $130,000 |
| Clifford Daniels, Behchoko | $130,000 |
| Alfonz Nitsiza, Whati | $130,000 |
| David Wedawin, Gameti | $130,000 |
| Edward Sangris, Yellowknives | $116,000 |
| Leonard Kenny, Deline | $96,5000 |
| Danny Greenland, Aklavik | $85,160 |
| Frank Andrew, Tulita | $84,399 |
| Frieda Martselos, Salt River | $81,349 |
| Phillip Blake, Tsiigehtchic | $64,000 |
| Joachim Bonnetrouge, Deh Gah Got'te | $68,435* |
| William Koe, Fort McPherson | $58,813 |
| Dolphus Jumbo, Sambaa K'e Dene Band | $50,000 |
| Alvin Orlias, Behdzi Ahda First Nation | $47,868 |
| Wilfred McNeely Jr., Fort Good Hope | $39,462** |
| Courtney Cayen, West Point First Nation | $17,250 |
| Lloyd Chicot, Kakisa | $6,000 |
* Joachim Bonnetrouge was paid $48,639 for nine months, plus per diems, equal to about $68,435 per year
**Wilfred McNeely Jr. was paid $13,154 for four months, which equals $39,462 per year