Canoe Lake first nation – Kehew Construction, Francis Iron

Canoe Lake Cree First Nation (clcfn05@sasktel.net) is a Cree First Nation based in the settlement of Canoe Narrows, Saskatchewan. The Nation is a member of Meadow Lake Tribal Council. Band is headed by Chief Francis Iron with councillors Robert Opikokew, Bernice Iron, Lenny Iron, Lorne Iron, Wilfred Iron, and Walter Coulineur.

Chief Francis Iron
In 2019 Larry Iron filed an affidavit claiming the election was corrupted by vote-buying with money coming from the band. Months later he made a deal and tried to make it all go away. The case collapsed. Neither the RCMP nor the federal government would do anything. In a letter, the RCMP said the “affidavit serves only as an unsubstantiated allegation.”

Elected office on Canoe Lake is very profitable. Chief Francis Iron, first elected in 2014, was paid $221,000 in salary and expenses in 2015/2016 to run a reserve of slightly more than 1,000 people. Councillors were paid as much as $182k that year. The chief said he gave money as acts of charity.

Wilfred Iron, a councillor running for re-election, confirms in his own affidavit there was a dinner and cheques were handed out. He wrote that he paid three band members, who he named, $400 each. Documentation he attached shows the word “donation” beside each payment.

During cross-examination Canoe Lake’s interim manager, Rachel Iron, conceded that the December 2016 payments weren’t entered into the band’s general ledger until February 2017 — after the election appeal had been launched. In a July 2017 letter to the law society about the matter, Larry Iron said he ended the court case because he had reached an agreement with the leadership of the First Nation.

Chief Francis Iron salary was $90,000 with $150,465 in ‘travel’ and $126,605 in ‘other payments’

By 2020 new allegations surfaced. Kehew Construction Ltd. (Nick Matichuk nick@kehew.ca) entered the picture and began financing Chief Francis Iron and councillors. The company bills itself as aboriginal. Large contracts soon flowed to Kehew Construction Ltd., including for the construction on 10 new homes, residential renovations, and renovations to the hockey rink.