It saddens us to be weighing in on this subject once again. Another First Nations council is alleged to be misusing funds.

Only last weekend we used this editorial space to discuss First Nations finances.

We noted: "We're reminded that Deloitte found Attawapiskat didn't have proper records for 80% of the financial transactions analyzed. We all deserve better."

We'll forget about all of us deserving better this time around. Let's just focus on the regular folks on the reserves.

Because the allegations revealed this week against the leadership of Big Island First Nation in Saskatchewan are shocking.

A handwritten note was sent to Ottawa claiming that the chief and councillors used social assistance money meant for regular band members for their personal expenses, according to documents obtained by The Canadian Press.

It's claimed they spent it on vehicles, horses and trailers for themselves.

The documents also allege "that band members who are listed as social-assistance recipients never filed an application and never received social-assistance funds."

The government is currently investigating.

All of this is unproven right now. But, if the allegations prove to be true, this is the lowest of the low.

A few illegitimate expense claims is one thing. Spending welfare money meant for other people on personal frills is another.

What do we do?

For starters, if it's proven, those responsible need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Then we need to have a mature conversation about processes on reserve.

In the documents retrieved by the Canadian Press, it's clear the chief wasn't that co-operative in this process. Phone calls weren't returned.

But more importantly, Big Island's elections are "custom." Which means they don't follow any sort of structure as outlined by Elections Canada or any other objective body. They make it up as they go along. No electoral standards opens the door to fraud, cronyism, nepotism, etc.

Some Canadians don't want to speak out against Aboriginal leadership.

But all their silence does is turn a blind eye to the regular folks living on reserves who don't call the shots, don't have the power and have nowhere to turn.

The handwritten letter notes the school is in disrepair and "we have no money for payroll or social assistance."

If true, it's unacceptable.