HALIFAX — Hundreds of Indigenous leaders are gathering in Halifax for the start of the Assembly of First Nations annual general assembly, where they will hear from their new interim national chief for the first time.
Joanna Bernard, a regional chief from New Brunswick, is to temporarily led the national advocacy organization after the dramatic ouster of national chief RoseAnne Archibald.
Archibald, the first woman elected to lead the assembly in 2021, was voted out during a recent special chiefs assembly held to address the findings of an investigation into five staff members' complaints about her conduct.
The human resources review concluded some of Archibald's behaviour amounted to harassment and also found she breached the organization's policy by retaliating against complainants and failing to maintain confidentiality.
Archibald has alleged she was targeted for fighting corruption and demanding a financial audit.
She told audiences during a recent Facebook Live broadcast in the lead-up to the three-day meeting that she may attend and had been asking chiefs to reinstate her.
In a statement released before Tuesday's meeting got underway, the embattled former chief said she would attend the first day online "and may still travel to Halifax for day two and three."
"Normally the transition of power between national chiefs is a peaceful one," she said in her statement, shared on Twitter.
"However the manner in which Joanna Bernard was appointed by her fellow regional chiefs to the interim position is marred by conflict of interest and a laterally violent political coup against me as the first duly-elected female national chief."
Chiefs are gathering to discuss issues ranging from First Nations policing and self-governance legislation for Métis communities.
The election of a new national chief in December and the appointment of a chief electoral officer are on the agenda, as well as speeches from federal ministers.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2023.
The Canadian Press
