A day after he received an annual award for wasting taxpayer money, the chief of a Saskatchewan First Nation is fighting back.
The Canadian Taxpayers Federation gave Standing Buffalo First Nation Chief Roger Redman the national Teddy award Wednesday.
Redman, whose reserve is home to 443 people, took home more after-tax income last year than Stephen Harper, who earned more than $317,000 in 2011, the federation said.
As well, each of Redman's councillors earns more than the premier of Saskatchewan.
With an election looming on the reserve, opposition to Redman’s leadership has been strong.
But in a phone interview with CTV News on Thursday, the embattled chief said the figures that were released by the taxpayers federation are all wrong.
He claims disgruntled band members fabricated the numbers before they were made public, and says he is the victim of a “smear attempt.”
“You have to have factual evidence if you’re going to make accusations,” Redman said.
“There’s some people that have vendettas and they’ll go to great lengths for that.”
Redman said he and his councillors have cut their budget for meetings and travel by 35 per cent. He added that independent financial audits show the band has kept wages and program spending in check.
With files from The Canadian Press
