A member of the Kwikwetlem First Nation is suing after learning the band's chief pocketed more than $800,000 in a land deal with the provincial government earlier this year.
The statement of claim by Ron Jackman, which was filed in the Vancouver federal court on Sept. 29, is in response to a $8.2-million agreement by Chief Ron Giesbrecht to extinguish the band's aboriginal claims to 584 acres of Crown land on Coquitlam's Burke Mountain.
As economic development officer, Giesbrecht received a 10% bonus from the deal, translating to an $800,000 cut on top of his chief's salary. In total, Giesbrecht collected $914,219 - plus another $16,574 in expenses - tax free last year, according to federal documents released under the new First Nations Financial Transparency Act.
Jackman contends the 82-member band did not have a say in the mega-land deal, part of which was sold this spring to Wesbild for future development. And Jackman and others are seeking to have the agreement overturned as they were unaware their aboriginal rights were being extinguished on the forested land north of Coast Meridian Road.
Yesterday, lead lawyer Troy Hunter declined to comment to The Tri-City News on the case. As well, email requests to speak with Giesbrecht and Jackman were not returned.
In a written statement in August, Giesbrecht said he would not resign; however, the 10% bonus for the economic development officer position had been terminated as of April 1.
"In my role as chief, I am one of the lowest paid chiefs in the country," Giesbrecht stated of his $4,800-a-year salary. "I was asked to take on the role of economic development officer because I know the importance of these opportunities for our nation.
"I did not expect our nation to be as successful as it was and it means that Kwikwetlem First Nation is in a better position than it has ever been before," he wrote.
The bonus caused a stir with many Kwikwetlem band members, with many publicly calling for Giesbrecht's resignation and a forensic audit.
