Six Nations have received close to $1.7 million from Ottawa over the past two years to cover the costs of negotiating land claims, according to an audit.
And that has some reserve residents wondering if the money is well spent.
"The community wants details," said community activist Lisa VanEvery, who has been pressing for more information.
She said the main problem is that many Six Nations representatives sitting at the negotiation table have publicly stated they were volunteering their time. New information shows that's no longer the case.
"We were under the impression people were volunteering," agreed Coun. Helen Miller, who sat at the table for almost two years.
"I have no problem with them getting paid -- we all need money -- but don't mislead the community."
In a news release, circulated with the latest audit, Confederacy Chief Allen MacNaughton explained that during the second year of negotiations, the natives agreed to pay those who had been volunteering their time.
"The talks have dragged on for almost three years," MacNaughton said in the release. "Our people have volunteered countless hours toward the success of these talks at the expense of businesses, personal finances and losses."
The audit is of funds directed to the negotiations through Grand River Employment and Training, a corporate arm of the employment and training program in Ohsweken.
The financial document shows that $1,666,224 passed through GREAT from the federal government to cover expenses for the negotiations in 2007 and 2008.
Expenses included $584,723 spent on Douglas Creek lands resolution.
According to a proposed budget released in February, those expenses likely included subleasing the Oneida Park Business building for meetings at a cost of $1,275 a day; catering for meals at $450 a day; two Haudenosaunee negotiators at $500 a day; six Six Nations representatives at $150 a day; and salaries for three technical support researchers, a receptionist and a research coordinator at $197,000.
Previously, the Haudenosaunee Development Institute has said that the Haudenosaunee negotiators have donated their salaries to the HDI, but that practice changed when the talks dragged on and more and more hours were put into them.
According to the audit, nothing was spent on wages or benefits in 2008 and just $7,745 was spent in 2007, but honorariums are lumped under specific categories.
Lawyers received $227,286 last year and $245,198 in 2007.
Consultation fees of $96,018 and $18,000 were paid.
And $77,771 and $78,208 was spent on administration fees.
Expenses for community meetings skyrocketed from $3,200 the first year to $100,988 last year, an amount that needs more explanation, according to VanEvery.
"Spending $101,000 for 'community meetings' is too broad a line item so to satisfy the rumours in the community about what people are getting paid, you need more information."
The confederacy chiefs, clanmothers,
researchers and consultants all were paid for the first time last year.
"It's been misleading," said Miller.
"(Lawyer) Aaron Detlor has been saying that he's been paying for everything out of his own pocket but clearly he's being reimbursed. In council, we saw the general ledger and he was getting paid the most."
Miller said her issues go deeper than just honesty about the payments.
She's looking for an-s wers on how the amounts of the honorariums are decided and who is providing an accounting for the funds.
Miller herself was allowed an honorarium of $150 a day but, like the other elected band councillors, that money went directly into the administration coffers.
"Councillors didn't touch that money. We made that decision because we thought (the Confederacy representatives) weren't taking any money."
Now Miller is glad she hasn't been affected by those funds.
Elvera Garlow, executive director of Grand River Employment and Training, said the audit of negotiation funds is not connected to the HDI except for the fact that many of those at the table -- MacNaughton, Detlor, Hazel Hill and others -- are involved in both.
She noted all the funds have flowed through her organization, except for an administrative fee of 10 per cent -- taken after consulting and legal fees were discounted.
"Expenses have to be signed off," Garlow said, "and we ask questions about them."
For example, she noted that there were far more community meetings held last year than most people realize since they were run at numerous places off the reserve and many of them included facilitator's fees and food for the audience.
"It was all allowed in the budget." MacNaughton noted in his news release that federal negotiators aren't prepared to return to the talks because of Six Nations' rejection of the $26 million offer made for the Welland Canal flooding of native lands.
"We are still waiting for the federal government to return to the table on other matters, including the Plank Road land rights issue, Nathan Gage lands and others.