First Nations chief sues AFN, national chief over corruption allegations | 24CA News

A northern Ontario First Nations chief has filed a lawsuit claiming $200,000 in damages from the Assembly of First Nations and its National Chief RoseAnne Archibald after she accused him of corruption.

Just days after that assertion of declare was filed within the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) government committee apologized to Chief Wilfred King of Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, a group positioned about 175 kilometres north of Thunder Bay, Ont. that’s also referred to as Gull Bay First Nation.

In a letter despatched on behalf of the AFN government committee, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland Regional Chief Paul Prosper absolved King of any wrongdoing and mentioned the committee will proceed to induce Archibald to apologize personally. 

“The AFN Executive Committee recognizes that the National Chief’s statements may have been intended to cause, and may have in fact caused, injury to your reputation,” Prosper wrote within the Oct. 20 letter obtained by 24CA News.

“I write to advise that the AFN Executive Committee has conducted a review of the National Chief’s statements and media posts and has identified no evidence of any corrupt activities on your part.”

‘I welcome this lawsuit’: Archibald

Archibald’s authorized counsel advised 24CA News the chief committee’s transfer “wasn’t done in the spirit of cooperation.”

“I don’t believe that the national chief was consulted or that this issue was discussed with her advance,” Aaron Detlor mentioned.

“It raises serious issues about how an executive committee that’s supposed to include the national chief … how it continues to go about business in an exclusionary fashion.”

Archibald cited King’s identify and the $22,500 he obtained for an AFN contract awarded beneath her predecessor, former nationwide chief Perry Bellegarde, in a July 1 electronic mail to greater than 40 chiefs entitled “URGENT & CONFIDENTIAL: proof of corruption.”

The electronic mail, which 24CA News additionally obtained, names King together with dozens of different people, regulation companies and firms which obtained AFN contracts between 2020 and 2021.

“I welcome this lawsuit and look forward to a trial with Chief King as I believe that the truth will be revealed,” Archibald mentioned in a media assertion despatched to 24CA News by her workplace.

“Ultimately, the First Nations-in-Assembly (Chiefs) have a right to know who is getting contracts from the AFN and why.” 

Archibald has not filed an announcement of defence and the declare in opposition to her has but to be contested in court docket.

As of Thursday morning, Detlor mentioned, Archibald had not obtained any authorized papers informing her in regards to the lawsuit. 

Detlor mentioned he could not communicate to the case particularly because it’s earlier than the court docket. He mentioned the nationwide chief is attempting to resolve a bigger, systemic situation involving transparency and accountability inside the AFN.

“The details of any contract, if it’s a fair and open process, should be readily available,” Detlor mentioned. 

“Why is the AFN undertaking a contracting process that nobody knows anything about?”

AFN government committee ‘unequivocally apologizes’

Both King and his lawyer declined CBC’s requests for interviews, mentioning that the matter is earlier than the court docket.

In his assertion of declare, King mentioned there was nothing nefarious in regards to the contract and he was by no means made conscious of any issues about impropriety earlier than it expired virtually 4 months later.

“To the best of his knowledge, it was executed transparently and in full compliance with all AFN policies and procedures,” his assertion of declare mentioned.

According to King’s assertion of declare, Bellegarde supplied King the contract after each Bellegarde and Archibald, who was Ontario regional chief on the time, attended the August 2019 grand opening of Gull Bay’s Giizis Energy photo voltaic storage microgrid facility, which makes use of photo voltaic power to offer clear energy to the First Nation.

King claims Bellegarde requested him if he might assist different First Nations develop comparable power tasks.

King’s contract began on Nov. 5, 2020 and ended on March 31, 2021.

Despite the AFN government committee’s apology, King continues to be suing Archibald and the AFN since he argues it’s chargeable for Archibald’s conduct.

King is searching for $150,000 for defamation and lack of popularity and $50,000 for punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages.

In his letter to King, Prosper mentioned the AFN government committee “repeatedly impressed” upon Archibald the necessity to apologize for her feedback and to work with King in getting ready a public assertion to restrict “any potential reputational harm” he could have skilled.

“Unfortunately, to date, the National Chief has failed to respond to the AFN Executive Committee’s requests,” Prosper wrote.

“Therefore, on behalf of the Assembly of First Nations and the AFN Secretariat, the AFN Executive Committee unequivocally apologizes to you and your organization for the statements made by National Chief Archibald.”

Both Archibald and Prosper declined CBC’s requests for interviews.

The AFN Secretariat, which is run individually from the nationwide chief’s workplace, additionally refused to remark.

AFN decision requires modifications to contract guidelines

First Nations chiefs gathering for the AFN’s particular chiefs meeting in Ottawa subsequent week are anticipated to vote on a decision to reform the group’s contracting course of.

The decision, moved by Batchewana First Nation Chief Dean Sayer and Squamish Nation Council Chairperson Khelsilem, would require the AFN to provide an annual evaluation of its procurement actions to make sure they respect the rules of accountability, transparency and equity.

It would direct the AFN to situation and share a quarterly report with the First Nations-in-Assembly – the chiefs who can be attending the assembly in Ottawa subsequent week – of all contracts awarded and anybody requesting a contract.

The AFN government committee handed a movement on Aug. 22 directing {that a} formal letter be drafted and addressed to the nationwide chief instructing her to apologize to the AFN’s unbiased contractors “who are potential claimants in slander and liable claims and formally retract her statements on social media.”

The chiefs agreed on the time that if Archibald didn’t apologize, they might situation an apology themselves on behalf of the AFN in response to potential claims.

On Aug. 16, the AFN despatched a letter notifying its insurer, the Great American Insurance Group, of potential claims in opposition to the group after it obtained 4 letters outlining claims for defamation with the potential of litigation.

So far, King is the one one who has taken authorized motion.

But the AFN additionally obtained letters from three different individuals who had been awarded AFN contracts and had been named in Archibald’s “proof of corruption” checklist.

“Regrettably, it appears that the National Chief’s comments were intended to tarnish the reputations of others who have held leadership positions within the AFN or performed services for the AFN, as well as AFN staff,” Prosper wrote in his letter to King.