Several current and former band officials at a Saskatchewan First Nation are facing charges stemming from alleged misspending of reserve money.
RCMP say Poundmaker First Nation Chief Duane Antoine and band Coun. Colin Favel are among nine current and former chiefs, band councillors and other public officials charged with theft, fraud and breach of trust.
The offences are alleged to have occurred between June and July 2003.
The charges come after a seven-year RCMP investigation into alleged misspending of treaty land entitlement funds from the provincial and federal governments.
The funds, which were distributed among 33 Saskatchewan First Nations, were supposed to be used to buy additional reserve land.
There's no word on how much public money is alleged to have been misspent.
Other band officials facing charges include:
• Ted Antoine, 55
• Bryan Tootoosis, 58
• Irene Tootoosis, 67
• Norman Antoine, 61
• Hickson Weenie, 65
• Burton Baptiste, 55
• Victoria McMillan, 66
The nine accused are set to make their first court appearance in Cut Knife on Aug. 16.
The Poundmaker First Nation is located about 190 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.