Global Courant 2023-04-29 08:08:22
The Assembly of First Nations’ executive committee passed a resolution Friday to recommend that chiefs-in-assembly remove RoseAnne Archibald as national chief at their next meeting, CBC News has learned.
The resolution mentions a staff investigation into Archibald’s conduct that found she violated the national organization’s policies on harassment and whistleblowing, along with its code of conduct and ethics, according to multiple sources who attended the meeting and shared a copy of the resolution with CBC. News.
CBC has not independently verified the content of the investigation’s reports.
“The AFN Executive Committee is out of line and their motion is completely unnecessary as 75% of the First Nations-in-Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed my leadership and approach to create greater transparency and accountability in the AFN,” Archibald commented. the executive committee’s resolution in a statement from its press secretary, Andrew St. Germain, to CBC News.
“Resolution 3/2022 is very clear that it is the First Nations-in-Assembly who will receive and consider the report, not the AFN Executive Committee, who again overstep their authority. Once the report is shared publicly, everyone will know the truth.”
My statement on the final HR research report: pic.twitter.com/W1kemZO4t9
Her latest statement comes after she released her own interpretation of the probe’s results in an April 21 statement — saying she was “justified.”
Ten regional leaders unanimously passed the resolution on Friday, according to the document. It was moved by New Brunswick AFN Regional Chief Joanna Bernard and seconded by Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare.
Archibald was not at the executive committee meeting where the resolution recommending her expulsion was passed. Sources tell CBC News that there would have been a conflict of interest.
“The executive committee hereby charges the national chief for her wrongdoings,” the resolution says.
5 reports, 1 for each complainant
The outside investigation was launched last spring after four of Archibald’s senior staff filed bullying and harassment complaints against her, followed by a fifth complaint from the then-CEO of the AFN.
Ottawa-based labor attorney Raquel Chisholm was hired by the AFN to oversee the investigation.
According to the resolution, investigators have prepared five reports, one for each complainant.
First Nation leaders voted at last July’s meeting in Vancouver to lift RoseAnne Archibald’s suspension as national head by the Assembly of First Nations’ executive committee. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
The resolution states that the reports should not be made public to meeting leaders due to confidentiality requirements of the AFN’s harassment policy and the Canada Labor Code.
But it also says Chisholm will prepare a summary of the five reports for the meeting’s leaders, including the context of the executive committee’s recommendation.
Chiefs-in-assembly ultimately have the final say on Archibald’s future. Their next meeting is scheduled for July in Halifax.
The executive committee says Chisholm found Archibald harassing two complainants in violation of AFN’s policies on violence, discrimination and harassment, the resolution said.
The resolution also says Archibald violated the confidentiality requirements of the Harassment and Whistleblowing Policy and Code of Conduct and Ethics in all five reports. It says that investigators found that Archibald retaliated against all five people for bringing up their complaints.
The executive committee also said Archibald’s actions have placed the AFN at risk of “substantial liability for constructive and wrongful dismissal damages, (as well as) other statutory and common law damages from its actions.”
History of tension
This is not the first time the executive committee has sought to sanction Archibald over allegations of bullying and harassment by AFN staff.
Last June, regional chiefs suspended Archibald after the first complaints against her were filed.
A few weeks later, in July, First Nations leaders voted against continuation of Archibald’s suspension at the Vancouver assembly.
Archibald, who was chosen as the first female national chief in July 2021, has always maintained that she has not bullied or harassed anyone. She called the investigation a “slander campaign” and an attempt to undermine her leadership when it was announced.
Archibald also expressed concern about the investigation, calling it “confrontational” and “colonial”.
In a memo sent to First Nations leaders earlier this year, she also said she was denied access to what she needs to defend herself.
