Millions of dollars in Casino Rama revenue was received by Six Nations last year but the money is typically quickly eaten up by community needs.
Six Nations has spent $30 million in Rama money over the last few years on projects that have ranged from language preservation to playground equipment.
Another $1.8 million has been committed to upcoming projects.
According to an audit released to Six Nations members this week, there was $18.7 million left in the Rama funds account at the fiscal year end in March.
Dubbed the Future Generations Funds, the account was set up in 2002 as a way to distribute Casino Rama profits to First Nations.
That first year, Six Nations got $6.6 million because the fund had been building up while discussions and negotiations took place.
LITIGATION FUND DWINDLING
After that, each native reserve got a monthly cheque of profits.
Despite a rule that money from Casino Rama can only be used for community development, health, education, economic development and cultural projects, $6.6 million was transferred from the fund into a Six Nations Trust Litigation fund by former Chief Coun. Roberta Jamieson's administration.
Each year since, money from the litigation fund has been spent on lawyers, including $694,000 in 2007-08. The fund has now dwindled to about $745,000 and the auditors noted that, at the present level of spending on lawyers to fight land claims against Ontario and Canada, the money will last another year.
The Future Generations Fund got another massive injection of money -- about $15 million -- at the beginning of this year.
"There was a big change this year because in the prior year, funding had stopped," explained auditor Denise Smith of Collins Barrow Chartered Accountants.
This big payment relates to the Mike Harris government, fearing it was going to have to cut in the Metis on the Rama deal, started withholding 20 per cent of the profits from the casino. When the courts finally decided the Metis didn't have a claim on the money, 108 native chiefs challenged the province for the money, settling in January.
PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
The massive fund of $201 million was divided up, with Six Nations' portion amounting to more than $15 million.
Over the years, Rama money has been spent on critical reserve projects and upgrades that have benefited youth and elders.
"We set aside $5 million to deal with landfill problems," said Chief Coun. Bill Montour, "and $3 million for language preservation."
There was also $100,000 for a treaty study to examine 45 treaties for obligations, a library fund, and a $3.2 million commitment to the police commission for a new police station.
"All the schools got upgrades for playground equipment, all the long-houses got some funding and people were sent to the North American (aboriginal) games," said Montour.
"We helped with the radio station. . . and are looking into setting up an MRI clinic on Six Nations."