"SN Band Councillors Question Language Teacher's Salaries"

Two Six Nations band councillors are objecting to the salaries of language instructors funded by band council through the Six Nations Language Commission.

Band Council passed a revised yearly budget of $1.1 million for the commission last week but not without complaints that language instructors are getting paid too much.

Councillors Ross Johnson and Helen Miller said the instructors, teaching only 56 students this year, are getting excessive salaries.

Miller divided the $1.1 million budget by 56 students and came up with a salary of $41,000 per teacher.

"They're paying a teacher $41k to teach five kids. That doesn't sound right. I know we want our people to learn the language but let's be realistic here - $41k to teach five kids? Oh my God, these people are out of control."

Johnson agreed, claiming Six Nations elementary students and teachers don't receive as much money as the language commission.

"I've got concerns the same as Helen does," said Johnson. "That is a lot of money to dish out to 56 students, no matter how hard (the programs are). Students on-reserve for other classes they don't get anywhere near per classroom what this is getting. It should be looked at."

Councillor Melba Thomas defended the commission and the teachers pointing out the difficulty of teaching a traditional language.

"I think we have to realize how difficult it is to teach the language," she said. "It takes more staff and more time. We would probably be speaking the language if we had the time to go into these classes which we don't. It's very time-consuming, so I think we have to give credit where it's due to the teachers. It's a very special language program."

Councillor Carl Hill agreed with Thomas.

"It took the non-natives millions and millions of dollars to take our language away," said Hill. "This is just a drop in the bucket to get some of it back. I look at the big picture. The government destroyed it (the language). We have the opportunity to put a little dollars back into it to bring it back and that's the way I look at it."

The SNLC is teaching six language programs this year at a total budget of $1,106,000.

"Carl is right and hopefully around the table you'll realize how important it is - the language," said Thomas. "It's part of your identity. It's one of the foundations of who we are."

Miller said, "I never said the language wasn't important. It is very important but we're here to look after the community's money. I don't care what anybody says, I think $1,106,000 is a lot of money for 56 students."

The Six Nations Language Commission would not release a copy of the budget to the Turtle Island News.

Despite the verbal objections, Council passed the revised budget without opposition.