An internal crisis hits the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) — the voice of Canada’s aboriginal people. The National Chief accused her employees of corruption and in return, the board of directors temporarily removed her from her position.
The growing discontent within the AFN erupted into broad daylight Thursday, when National Chief RoseAnne Archibald publicly accused her employees of corruption.
Four employees would have withdrawn nearly a million dollars in payment after signing a contract, claimed the Cree lady from the Taykwa Tagamou nation, located on the edge of Hudson Bay. “Closed-door deals, large payouts to employees and other documented incidents of corruption have caused us to lose sight of our common purpose,” she charged in an open letter. The duty could not confirm these allegations.
She even goes further in her public statement by alleging that a “toxic” climate has poisoned the organization “for 8 years” and that a vast cleaning is needed.
The next day, Friday, the AFN Executive Council and Board of Directors fought back.
“The National Chief has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into four complaints filed against her,” an AFN statement said.
Regional Chief Paul Prosper, an AFN spokesperson, acknowledged it was a “draconian” measure, but said he “had no choice.”
“The National Chief has committed serious breaches of her obligations to the AFN by publicly attacking, without basis or evidence, the integrity of our organization and our employees, which will only serve to undermine the excellent work we do as we continue to serve our First Nations communities,” he said.
The annual Assembly of Chiefs of the First Nations of Canada is to be held in July. The APN refuses that RoseAnne Archibald participates, while she still wishes to attend.
More details will follow.