Murray Mandryk's commentary in the Feb. 26 issue of the Leader Post entitled "Elders vow to oust high paid chief" deserves some comments. Chief Roger Redman rules over a reserve comprised of 433 persons, yet he is the highest paid politician in Saskatchewan and perhaps all of Canada. This is not an uncommon situation. In Canada many chiefs receive a higher salary than Members of Parliament or premiers of provinces do. My daughter, who has her Masters degree in nursing, worked as a reserve nurse for a short time. She informed us that so very many residents of the reserve live in terrible poverty and there is never enough money to pay for their medical needs. On the reserve there are many who are afflicted with the dreaded disease 'diabetes' - many suffer amputation due to lack of treatment. Many chiefs and council members allot to themselves massive salaries while poor suffer. Something must be done, but who will do it?
George E. Hickie
Waldron, SK
