$6K to $166K: N.W.T. chiefs salaries vary widely

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, andhis 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 $58,813even 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 servingas mayor.

Deline Chief Leonard Kenny was among the top earners, with $96,500 last year. Thatis 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 theonly 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 toFirst Nations that don't submit the information.

* Joachim Bonnetrougewas paid $48,639 for nine months, plus per diems,equal to about$68,435per year
**Wilfred McNeely Jr. was paid $13,154 for four months, which equals $39,462 per year