Olivia Grandy
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Last Thursday marked a major victory in Indigenous activist Hans McCarthy’s fight to have documents outlining the allocation of his community’s trust fund released, which fell by more than $90 million between 2013 and 2024.
The Federal Court has ordered Indigenous Service Canada to release the documents within 30 days of the decision, which will likely provide answers to where the nearly nine-digit number went missing.
“It’s hard to put into words. I had a hard time sleeping the past couple of days because of how excited we are,” said McCarthy, a proud member of the oil-rich Frog Lake First Nation located about 360 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
According to Frog Lake’s financial statements for 2014 and 2024, the fund, held by Indigenous Service Canada, dropped from more than $102 million in 2013 to less than $9 million in 2024.
With the help of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF), McCarthy filed Freedom of Information requests with Indigenous Service Canada, but they were denied.
Then, McCarthy and the CTF took the matter to court.
“It’s really exciting. It’s really emotional,” he told reporters on Monday outside of Saskatoon’s Court of King’s Bench.
McCarthy said the court’s decision sets a precedent for transparent leadership in First Nation communities across North America.
“A lot of the money is gobbled up on the Chief and council level, and when you get rid of that corruption out there, and you have transparency, it even gives information to band members on who to vote for,” he said.
“(Complete financial transparency) would mean better everything: Better housing. Better education. Better programming.”
Canadian Taxpayers Federation will go through documents with ‘fine-tooth comb’
With more than 50,000 followers on Facebook and 30,000 on TikTok, McCarthy said he made it his mission to advocate for the release of the records after seeing a news story about the trust fund on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network four years ago.
He then attended college for social media marketing and pursued the cause with determination.
“At first, 95 per cent of people did not support me. But, now, 95 per cent of people do support me,” he said about his community’s response to the court decision.
Additionally, McCarthy said he’s received positive support from band members across the continent.
“A lot of people have been getting a hold of me all across North America, so it’s pretty big news in a First Nations country.”
McCarthy also credits his success to his partnership with the CTF), a national not-for-profit citizens’ group that is “dedicated to lower taxes, less waste and accountable government,” according to its website.
Gage Haubrich, CTF’s prairie director, said the next steps will come after going through the records with a “fine-tooth comb.”
“The most important thing here is that we’re getting to set the precedent that people have access to these types of documents,” he said.
“As we do get those documents (and) find out from them what’s actually in there, we’ll have more to say.”
Other recent campaigns by the CTF include pressuring the federal government to phase out equalization payments, defund the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and eliminate the still-standing industrial carbon tax.
McCarthy, who said he’s been going to band council meetings since he was four years old, is focused on the victory for Frog Lake.
When asked what message he would give to those in other First Nations communities who want to speak out about similar issues, he suggested steadfastness.
“Do not give up. Keep going,” he said.
“Do your research and communicate with a lot of people.”
