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Regulation
Chiefs oust Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority board chair



The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations voted 32-0 to fire Kirk Goodtrack as chair of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority.

Goodtrack has been at the center of controversy. He says he was ousted for seeking to cut spending at SIGA but Native leaders say he has a conflict of interest because he represents Native plaintiffs in litigation against First Nations casinos.

"I anticipated this kind of decision," Goodtrack told reporters, The Saskatoon StarPhoenix reported. "Maybe there will be some good that comes out of this."

Goodtrack won't fight the decision and plans to return to his law practice. But some Native leaders continue to question spending by the SIGA board.

"You just can't bypass the issues we have here. The numbers -- they're right in front of you," said Shoal Lake First Nation Chief Marcel Head, the StarPhoenix reported.

According to documents obtained by the paper, board expenses rose to $900,000 in 2010-2011 fiscal year.

"We condemn the media, but we are getting our information from them," observed Chief Matthew Peigan of the Pasqua First Nation.

Get the Story:
Chiefs fire SIGA chair (The Saskatoon StarPhoenix 10/6)
SIGA Financial Report (Saskatoon Homepage 10/6)
SIGA board expenses up $250K (The Saskatoon StarPhoenix 10/5)
Chiefs grill FSIN over SIGA (CKOM 10/5)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Gaming agency flap shows trouble for First Nations (10/3)
Doug Cuthand: Native leaders turning against one of their own (9/30)
Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority chair suspended again (9/29)
Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority board chair still in limbo (9/16)
Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority chair back on the job (9/15)
Big expenses on Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority board (9/14)
Editorial: Ruling on gaming authority a blow to First Nations (9/13)
Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority told to restore chair (9/12)
First Nations leader disputes removal of gaming authority chair (7/27)
First Nations leaders challenge payments for gaming authority (7/26)