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Suspension of National Chief Rejected at AFN Assembly

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A vote to suspend Assembly of First Nations National Chief Roseanne Archibald has been rejected by Chiefs at their general assembly in Vancouver.

The emergency resolution was brought forward after the AFN’s Executive Committee, last month, suspended Archibald over complaints.

Archibald told Chiefs the real reason was her failure to authorize a million dollars in staff payouts.

“I refused. I knew it was wrong. Funding that I am entrusted with is meant to help you,” Archibald said before the vote.

Archibald also said her suspension by the Executive Committee, which is made up of regional chiefs, was illegal because it didn’t have the power to do so.

Tk’emlups te Secwepemc Chief Rosanne Casimir had moved the motion at the assembly.

“It’s just about a confidential investigation, and that’s something that we all want. We want that not only at the AFN level but within our own communities. And when we’re looking at policies, it’s about building stronger communities. To me, this is embarrassing,” says Casimir.

Chiefs are still to vote on a non-confidence motion this morning.

They will also consider another that calls for a forensic audit of the organization.

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Status of AFN National Chief Discussed in Vancouver Today

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Indigenous leaders from across the country are in Vancouver this week for the Assembly of First Nations annual general meeting.

The future of National Chief Roseanne Archibald is expected to be a hot topic.

The AFN’s Executive Committee suspended the former Ontario Regional Chief in mid-June following four separate complaints against her.

The Committee planned to block Archibald from attending the general meeting.

Archibald sought a court injunction but an Ontario court failed to intervene.

The Executive Committee has since reversed its decision and is allowing her to address the Chiefs today.

There are three separate resolutions for delegates to consider.

One calls for Archibald to remain suspended pending the outcome of the internal investigations launched.

Another asks the Assembly to remove her from office immediately and hold elections for a new National Chief in six months.

A third comes from supporters of Archibald.

They want all investigations dropped and Archibald reinstated while the Assembly conduct’s an independent third-party forensic audit into the previous eight years of financial activity of the AFN.

Also on the agenda is a resolution that calls on the federal government to support a national inquiry into the Sixties Scoop, the placing of Indigenous children into predominately non-Indigenous foster homes during the 1960s.

Another calls for the lifting of COVID-19 travel requirements.