The Innu band councils of Sheshatshiu and Natuashish are staying away from a youth trust fund and are looking for other ways to secure financing for incomplete infrastructure projects in the communities.
Band Councillor Andrew Penashue spoke on the community radio station this afternoon.
He said the council received negative feedback from the community over the proposal to take money from a trust established for the community’s youth. The fund is set in place so that children receive a set amount of money on their 18th birthday.
Sheshatshiu Chief Sebastien Benuen and Natuashish Chief Simeon Tshakapesh said last week that the money was needed to complete more homes and other infrastructure projects in the communities.
Concerned parent and community member Herman Montague said the announcement was good news. He said he knows each band council has four or five different forms of revenue.
“They are going to have to dig a little harder and sacrifice a few things to figure out this housing crisis,” he said.
Last week, parents in the communities spoke out when it was discovered that the community governments were looking to take a reported $25 million from the trust.
The board of trustees was scheduled to have a vote on the proposal on Friday. The vote was postponed for this week.
The two chiefs could not be reached for comment following the latest announcement.
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