Exterior report on ousted AFN chief RoseAnne Archibald discovered harassment, wrongdoing

Article content material

OTTAWA — An investigation into allegations in opposition to former Meeting of First Nations nationwide chief RoseAnne Archibald discovered the ousted chief was responsible of office harassment and created a poisonous work atmosphere.

Article content material

The report by Emond Harnden LLP reviewed 5 complaints in opposition to Archibald and located her behaviour amounted to harassment in multiple occasion.

Article content material

A abstract of the findings obtained by The Canadian Press says Archibald failed to take care of confidentiality and breached AFN coverage, together with by retaliating in opposition to complainants.

The report was delivered in April to the meeting’s authorized counsel.

That triggered a particular meeting final week, the place chiefs voted to take away Archibald as the pinnacle of the AFN. The decision handed with assist from about 70 per cent of those that took half within the digital assembly.

Archibald mentioned in a video posted on-line Monday that she needs to be reinstated, calling her ouster a “violent” assault on “an Indigenous, First Nation lady chief.”

The report says Archibald breached the AFN’s Office Violence, Discrimination, and Harassment Coverage, the Whistleblower Coverage, and the Code of Conduct and Ethics for the AFN Govt Committee.

All 5 of the complainants cited within the report alleged that the nationwide chief engaged in office harassment and created a poisonous or poisoned work atmosphere.

Article content material

Article content material

The report says AFN coverage and the Canadian Labour Code stop the disclosure of particular harassment allegations.

It does, nevertheless, verify that two of the 5 complaints it investigated led to findings that Archibald’s conduct “amounted to harassment.”

And in all 5 circumstances, it mentioned, she dedicated “wrongdoing” as outlined by AFN coverage.

The report says Archibald violated harassment and whistleblower coverage “by making or permitting to be made public statements concerning the complaints and the complainants between Could and August 2022.”

It additionally says she “retaliated and reprised in opposition to the complainants” opposite to AFN coverage by making these public statements, inflicting all 5 of the complainants’ hurt.

“By making statements that query the motives, intentions and integrity of the employees members which have made complaints and by making that suggestion in such a public venue, the Respondent’s conduct quantities to reprisal,” the abstract report says.

“As the pinnacle of the group, we might enterprise that (Archibald) has an added duty to respect and adjust to its insurance policies.”

Article content material

Archibald has constantly denied all of the allegations in opposition to her.

In Monday’s video, she said the “pushback” she’s been receiving is as a result of she’s been combating corruption on the AFN since October 2020.

“I don’t need to be reinstated due to my ego. I need to be reinstated as a result of I’ve a sacred duty that I’ve to satisfy,” Archibald mentioned within the video.

“What the chiefs did on June 28 is … they only went forward and did one of the crucial violent acts in opposition to an Indigenous, First Nation lady chief.”

The report particulars accusations that Archibald failed to take care of and direct employees, handled them poorly and threatened or tried to dissolve, dismantle or disband the employees.

It says one of many complainants instructed investigators Archibald didn’t need to communicate with employees as a result of she didn’t belief anybody and “questioned who could also be attempting to eliminate her in her new function.”

A complainant cited within the report mentioned Archibald needed a gathering known as to debate her plans to “deliver down” the AFN Secretariat, which offers administrative, technical and assist companies to members.

Article content material

And the report additionally cites a complainant who instructed investigators they suffered reputational hurt due to Archibald’s actions and needed to shut down social-media accounts because of loss of life threats.

The investigators have been retained by AFN in June 2022 to evaluate 4 complaints that had been submitted in mid-Could, and the scope of the investigation was expanded on June 21 to incorporate a fifth grievance.

Their report got here after greater than 30 interviews with complainants and witnesses.

In line with the report, investigators contacted Archibald a number of instances to satisfy together with her starting in mid-August 2022 however have been solely in a position to take action in November.

That preliminary assembly was scheduled for five-and-a-half hours and its objective was “to conduct a proper interview,” the report says, however Archibald’s authorized counsel did all of the speaking. It says she finally met with them once more to debate the complaints on Feb. 13.

A duplicate of final week’s decision obtained by The Canadian Press exhibits it was moved and seconded by two girls, Chief Irene Kells of Zhiibaahaasing First Nation in Ontario and Chief Kyra Wilson of Lengthy Plains First Nation in Manitoba.

The decision cited violations of AFN coverage discovered within the report and mentioned the members “have misplaced confidence within the management” of Archibald. It known as for Archibald’s rapid elimination and for an interim chief to be chosen.

The AFN is a nationwide advocacy group that represents greater than 600 First Nations.

This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed July 4, 2023.

Article content material