gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge

McKay, Heart Lake and the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation also experienced double-digit
gains. On average, the FNDF supplemented non-host First Nations INAC budget by only 2.29%.
First Nations Development Fund Disbursements
First Nations Development Fund project allocations fall into 17 categories. As seen in Table 62,
non-gaming related Debt Retirement (42%) has constituted the largest portion of FNDF project
disbursements since 2006. Almost all of this debt reduction (98.8%) has gone to reduce nongaming
related First Nation debt incurred to build the casinos. Where First Nations have to pay
debt first, that is by the design or choice of the First Nation. The Cold Lake First Nations and the
Stoney Nation used their own money and/or borrowed funds, whereas the other 3 First Nations
had outside investors. The Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation owes $21.4 million as its 40% portion of
the project debt. Including the 2009-2010 disbursement of $4,856,963, the total amount
available to reduce its non-gaming related debt to date amounts to $11,405,194, according to
FNDF guidelines. The Enoch Cree Nation must repay an undisclosed debt to Paragon Gaming,
and has accumulated roughly $114 million toward this end.
Facility Costs at 17% and Housing and Infrastructure Costs at 15% represent the next largest
categories. Facility costs are for repairs or new construction on band owned buildings and
facilities. Housing and infrastructure costs are the costs associated with constructing new band
housing and improving infrastructure such as water sanitation upgrades and road paving.
Combined these complementary categories amounted to $88,676,099, or roughly one-third of
FNDF disbursements since 2006. Infrastructure and housing are priority issues on most First
Nation communities. Earlier it was documented that housing projects was the number one
allocation from charitable gambling proceeds, representing 28% of disbursements since 2006.
Table 62: FNDF Category Allocations (2006 – 2010)
Debt Retirement (non-gaming related)
Percentage Allocated
42%
Facility Costs 17%
Housing and Infrastructure 15%
Administrative Costs 7%
Community Development 4%
Community Safety Programs 3%
Education 4%
Equipment 2%
Cultural Events/Historical
Resources/Religion
2%
Wages, Salaries, Honoraria 2%
Other 95 2%
95 Like Skills Training, Addictions Treatment, Sports, Elders, Emergency Funds, Donations within Alberta, Aid of
Distressed/Children/Youth/Adults in Care
227