(Taykwa Tagamou Nation Territory, ON, February 22, 2021) Today, the Chiefs of Ontario (“COO”) Leadership Council met to discuss ongoing matters concerning the Assembly of First Nations (“AFN”). It is clear to me that I continue to be a target of the AFN, resulting from advancing the COO resolution seeking an independent financial review of the AFN.
The hostile environment at the AFN has negatively impacted my ability to feel safe while working on the AFN Executive Committee. I have communicated this concern to the COO Leadership Council and they have agreed to take steps to appoint a proxy in my place, given the recent public attempts to tarnish my reputation.
I will continue to advocate for safe working environments, and I will do my part by participating in a fair and transparent process to address the HR complaints against me. Over my 30-plus-year career, I have achieved many firsts. I was the first woman ever to be elected Ontario Regional Chief and I was the first female chief of Taykwa Tagamou Nation. I have never expected things to be easy, but I do expect fairness. I have found the AFN Executive Committee to be a challenging environment for female leadership in particular and I am not the only person with this type of experience.
To date, the AFN has failed to respond to the Ontario Chief’s legitimate concerns about financial impropriety at the AFN. Instead, what has taken place is an effort to discredit, humiliate, shame, and dehumanize me. I have decided that I will not participate in this attempt to sideline the concerns of the Ontario Chiefs. The concerns raised by COO around the financial irregularities at the AFN are serious and legitimate issues that ought to be addressed in an expeditious and transparent way.
Ninanaskamon!
Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald
