VANCOUVER –
Thousands of delegates gathered Tuesday for the annual meeting of the Assembly of First Nations to discuss the pope’s visit, indigenous rights, housing and other priorities, but those issues were overshadowed by allegations of corruption and infighting for leadership from national boss RoseAnne Archibald.
Dressed in indigenous clothing, Archibald entered the Vancouver Assembly of First Nations meeting in front of a group of singing supporters.
Just the day before, Archibald said she had been “erased” from the agenda after the executive committee suspended her on June 17 pending an investigation into four complaints against her by her staff.
Instead, Archibald led the opening ceremonies, welcoming attendees and speaking to delegates.
“I am your representative. I am your servant. I only exist because all of you put me in this position, so an attack on me is an attack on you,” she told more than 2,000 delegates on Tuesday. “It is his authority to determine what happens to the national chief. You elected me, not the regional bosses. You determine what discipline I face.”
Archibald alleges that she was suspended for trying to investigate corruption within the assembly and requested a forensic audit of the organization for the past eight years.
She said it comes after “decades” of calls for reform within the organization.
“When you support me, you will be fighting corruption,” Archibald said.
Before his speech, the Assembly of First Nations executive urged delegates in a statement not to let human resources complaints involving Archibald “overshadow the real and ongoing work that is required on behalf of the people of the First Nations”.
“The committee further calls on the national chief to immediately cease any actions and statements that seriously violate the confidentiality and privacy interests of AFN employees, service providers and others, including general allegations of misconduct,” the statement says.
The executive believes the actions are harmful, illegal and inappropriate, the statement said.
Archibald has said her suspension is a violation of the assembly’s bylaws and a means to intimidate, punish and silence her for her claims about the assembly’s possible misuse of public funds.
“Obviously, I’m asking our friends for an independent audit and investigation into the AFN and I’m asking the bosses and grassroots people to talk to their bosses to ensure there’s a forensic audit and independent investigation into corruption.” and toxicity in AFN,” he said before entering the assembly on Tuesday.
Chief Paul Prosper, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland AFN regional chief, asked the chiefs and their attorneys present to validate the executive’s decision to allow Archibald’s temporary suspension to continue until the investigation is complete.
“There have been calls for a forensic audit and my colleagues are not opposed to a forensic audit. We welcome you if you accept it,” she said.
“No organization is perfect. We all face our own unique challenges and yes, as an organization we can improve that we need to improve.”
Archibald said in his speech that he wants audits in two areas: payments and staff contracts.
“Millions of dollars in personnel payments have been paid out,” he said. “That’s what the forensic audit will show you. You will see how money that is meant for you and your communities has been going into someone else’s pocket.”
Musqueam’s boss, Wayne Sparrow, on whose territory the meeting is taking place, asked in his opening remarks that all attendees be respectful.
“When I came in, I had some of the elders come over. There were some signs that were not appropriate in our territory. No matter what your opinion is, seeing words like that is very hurtful to our elders and our leadership,” he said.
A draft resolution before the assembly calls for Archibald to be removed from office and a new election held because she did not receive the required 60 percent of the votes cast when she was elected last year.
Archibald could be expelled if the motion passes, Prosper said in an interview.
“That’s the great thing about these assemblies. It provides an opportunity for people to come together and discuss these very important issues so that they can be addressed and then we can move on to the more important issues like housing, education, the United Nations Declaration Nations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Those issues are the real issues that matter within our communities,” she said.
Chief Wendy Jocko of the Algonquians of the Pikwakanagan First Nation called on the assembly to immediately end Archibald’s “unwarranted and unlawful suspension.”
“We must respond to this with a full and independent investigation into the AFN secretariat and division chiefs. Someone must be held accountable for the treatment of our duly elected national chief,” he said Tuesday after Archibald’s speech.
The theme of the assembly meeting is “walking the path of healing” and it comes a day after the AFN announced a $20 billion settlement to compensate First Nations children and their families for the damage caused by chronic underfunding for child welfare on reservations.
AFN regional chief Cindy Woodhouse, chief negotiator for the assembly’s child welfare deal, said the leadership issue is not affecting her work.
“First Nations go through turbulent times at times, but I know we’ve been through a lot historically and I think this work is so important that it will continue to move forward.”
With files from Sarah Ritchie.