Thousands of delegates gathered for the annual Assembly of First Nations on Tuesday to talk about the pope’s visit, indigenous rights, housing and other priorities, but those issues have been reignited by allegations of corruption and infighting over the leadership of the National Chief. RoseAnne Archibald. Dressed in native regalia, Archibald entered the Assembly of First Nations gathered in Vancouver before a group of chanting supporters. Just a day earlier, Archibald said she had been “removed” from the agenda after she was suspended by the executive committee on June 17 while an investigation was conducted into four complaints against her by her staff. Instead, Archibald led the opening ceremonies, welcomed attendees and addressed the delegates. “I am your representative. I am your servant. I only exist because you all 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 your power to determine what the national captain will be. You elected me, not the regional captains. You determine what discipline I face.” Archibald claims she was suspended for trying to investigate corruption within the assembly and calling for a forensic audit of the organization over the past eight years. He said it comes after “decades” of calls for reform within the agency. “When you support me, you will fight against corruption,” Archibald said. Ahead of her speech, the Assembly of First Nations executive urged delegates in a statement not to allow human resources complaints involving Archibald to “overshadow the real and ongoing work required on behalf of First Nations people.” “The committee further calls on the national leader to immediately cease any actions and statements that amount to serious violations of the privacy and privacy interests of AFN employees, service providers and others, including the widespread allegation of misconduct,” the committee said. statement. The executive branch believes the actions are harmful, illegal and inappropriate, the statement said. Archibald said her suspension is a violation of the assembly’s constitution and a means of intimidating, punishing and silencing her for her allegations of possible misuse of public funds by the assembly. “Obviously, I am calling on our friends for an audit and an independent investigation into AFN and I am asking the leaders and grassroots people to talk to their leaders to ensure that there is a forensic audit as well as an independent investigation into the corruption and toxicity in AFN “, he said before entering the assembly on Tuesday. Chief Paul Prosper, the Nova Scotia and Newfoundland AFN regional chief, called on the chiefs in attendance and their proxies to ratify 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 it if you welcome it,” he said. “No organization is perfect. We all face our own unique challenges and yes, as an organization we can improve which we need to improve.” Archibald said in her speech that she wants controls in two areas: staff payments and contracts. “Millions of dollars in personnel payments have been paid,” he said. “That’s what the forensic audit will show you. You’ll see how money meant for you and your communities goes into someone else’s pocket.” Musqueam Chief Wayne Sparrow, on whose territory the meeting is being held, asked in his opening remarks that everyone present be respectful. “When I came in, I put some of the elders. There were some signs that were not appropriate in our territory. Whatever your opinion, seeing such words is very hurtful to our elders and to 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 vote when she was elected last year. Archibald could be ousted if the proposal is approved, Prosper said in an interview. “That’s the great thing about these assemblies. It gives people an opportunity to come together and discuss these very important issues so they can be addressed and then we can move on to the more important issues like housing, education, the Declaration of the United Nations on Indigenous Rights. These issues are the real issues that matter to our communities,” he said. Chief Wendy Jocko of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation called on the assembly to immediately end the “unfounded and illegal suspension” of Archibald. “We need to respond to this with a full, independent investigation into the AFN secretariat and department heads. Someone needs to be held to account for the treatment of our duly elected national leader,” he said on Tuesday after Archibald’s speech. The theme of the assembly meeting is “walking the path of healing” and comes a day after the AFN announced a $20 billion settlement to compensate First Nations children and their families for the harm caused by chronic underfunding of child care. welfare in reserves. AFN regional chief Cindy Woodhouse, the chief childcare deal negotiator for the convention, said the leadership issue did not affect her work. “First Nations go through tumultuous times at times, but I know we’ve been through so much historically and I think this work is so important that it will continue to move forward.” With files from Sarah Ritchie.
