gambling in alberta - Research Services - University of Lethbridge

Figure 51: Average Per Community FNDF Disbursements by Treaty, 2006-2010.
$4,000,000
$3,500,000
$3,000,000
$2,500,000
$2,000,000
$1,500,000
$1,000,000
$500,000
$0
2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
Treaty 6
Treaty 7
Treaty 8
Northern First Nations communities experience unique challenges. Treaty 8 contains 9 very
isolated communities (i.e., fly-in, non-paved logging roads, require winter roads). This
invariably increases the local cost of living as all materials have to be either flown or trucked in
over long distances. Community infrastructure often pales in comparison to southern First
Nations. As well, health care expenditures are higher due to the cost of housing health
professionals in these isolated communities, and for traveling to obtain health care in the
south. The diversified nature of the central and southern economies enables smaller First
Nations the opportunity to engage in a wider variety of business opportunities unavailable in
the north.
Although northern living is more expensive, the FNDF is not adjusted to offset community
differences in cost of living and travel, meaning that Treaty 8 populations are getting less value
for their dollar.
In addition to a north-south variance, there is an urban-rural variance. The 2 casinos located
nearby urban centres (River Cree and Tsuu T’ina) are doing quite well compared with the 3
located in rural areas. Of the latter, only the Stoney Casino and Resort has shown increased
FNDF disbursements and charity revenues. Its debt load however is troublesome, restricting the
Stoney Nation from pursuing alternate economic development projects. The Alexis Nakota
Sioux Nation and the Cold Lake First Nations have seen diminishing FNDF returns and charity
revenues, indicating a drop in patronage.
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