7 N.W.T., 2 Yukon First Nations publish chief, council salaries

So far, seven Northwest Territories and two Yukon First Nations have made public what their chiefs and councillors are paid, under the new First Nations Financial Transparency Act.

The top earner so far is Yellowknives Dene chief (Dettah) Edward Sangris. He was paid a salary of $116,000 in the last fiscal year ending in March 2014. That's about what the average N.W.T. MLA earns, not including expenses and benefits.

Near the bottom of the list is Fort Providence chief Joachim Bonnetrouge, who earned $46,639 during the nine months he was chief that year and another $6,000 in honoraria. If it had been a full year's wages, Bonnetrouge would have made slightly more than the $59,000 water truck drivers can earn in his community.

Bonnetrouge says being chief is not a 9-5 job.

"You don't really belong to yourself anymore, like you were before," he said. "You're working for your community; you're working for your people. You're basically on call 24/7."

The chiefs of Aklavik, Tulita and Salt River all earned between $81,000 and $86,000, not including honoraria and travel expenses, while leaders in tiny Trout Lake and Colville Lake were paid a total of $53,995 and $56,523 respectively. 

Under the First Nations Financial Transparency Act, the 15 N.W.T. First Nations that have not filed their financial statements face the prospect of having federal funding withheld until they do.

Bonnetrouge said his First Nation considered not filing the information, because leaders felt the federal government shouldn't be telling them what to do.

"But then regarding transparency, reporting and being accountable, Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation here in Providence, we really don't have anything to hide, and if you look at our finances you'll find that we have very little money to work with." 

Two of three Yukon First Nations have filed, and Brian Ladue, chief of the Ross River Dena Council, is the biggest earner so far. He earned 96,267.50 in the last fiscal year.

Fifteen First Nations in the Northwest Territories and the Liard First Nation in Yukon have not filed salary information. That could result in their federal funding being withheld.

What they earned in 2013-2014

Yellowknives Dene chief Edward Sangris (Dettah) - $116,000 plus $15,101 in travel expenses

Ross River Dena chief Brian Ladue - $96,267.50 total including honoraria, plus $7,684.57 in travel expenses

Yellowknives Dene chief Ernest Betsina (Ndilo) (9.5 months) - $86,308 plus $6,981 in travel expenses

Tulita chief Frank Andrew - $84,399 plus $2,481 in travel expenses

Salt River chief Frieda Martselos - $81,349 plus $12,591 in travel expenses

Aklavik chief Danny Greenland - $83,160 plus $2,000 honoraria and $6,629 in travel expenses

Trout Lake chief Dolphus Jumbo - $50,000 plus $3,995 in travel expenses

Colville Lake chief Alvin Orlias - $47,868 plus $8,655 in expenses

Fort Providence chief Joachim Bonnetrouge (9 months) - $46,639 plus $6,250 in honoraria and $6,710 in travel expenses

White River chief Charles Eikland Jr. - $45,009 plus $3,960 in travel expenses