Chester Cunningham started Native Counselling Services 25 years ago, after mortgaging his house for a $20,000 bank loan to fund the program. After struggling to survive for a number of years, the program currently has a $6-million budget, a staff of 150, and a wide range of services for Natives. When the program began, nearly 60 percent of provincial inmates were Native, but within 5 years of the introduction of Native counseling, that number had fallen to 28 percent. Apparently many Natives were pleading guilty to alcohol-related charges and were going to jail for short periods without getting any help for their problems. Some would be denied bail because they did not know their street address but knew where they lived through local landmarks, and many did not understand their right to counsel. Native Counselling Services still has counselors in adult, youth, and family court, but it also provides services such as family counseling and group homes for young offenders. Although Cunningham has received many accolades for his efforts, some Native political organizations object to the fact that the board is not elected and accountable to Native organizations. Cunningham argues that the organization is accountable to the clients it serves rather than to political organizations.