(Ottawa) The federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations says that Ottawa’s role is not to interfere in the internal management of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), while a former national chief files a lawsuit against the organization and its authorities.
Gary Anandasangaree said in an interview Thursday that the AFN is a “trusted and valued partner” to the federal government and would not comment on the legal action.
RoseAnne Archibald, who was ousted from her position as head of the AFN last July, is suing the organization and its executive for defamation and breach of contract. She is seeking 5 million in damages.
After her election, Ms. Archibald asked the AFN to hire an accounting firm to review her books.
The lawsuit alleges that the AFN executive – including current national leader Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak – then “embarked on a campaign to sideline and ultimately oust her from position of national head”.
“As a result of this conduct, Ms. Archibald has suffered damages that include defamation, unreimbursed legal fees, lost income, and pain and suffering,” the statement of claim states.
In a statement, the AFN said it would not comment until the matter was resolved in court.
Asked about forensic auditing on Thursday, Minister Anandasangaree said accountability mechanisms were built into funding agreements with the federal government, “and the AFN is no exception.”
But the way the federal government approaches its relationship with the AFN relies on “an element of trust,” he added. “The main conversation is not about responsibility. The main focus is on the relationship, and we are confident that this relationship is strong. »
