No charges over Caldwell powwow: OPP

Police say they expect CHATHAM no charges to be laid following an investigation into a small southwestern Ontario First Nation’s powwow, which was flagged in an audit demanded by angry band members.

Last summer’s powwow in Leamington by the Caldwell First Nation priced out at just under $600,000, and much of that spending wasn’t backed up, the forensic audit found.

On Tuesday, the OPP in Essex County said they investigated alleged financial crimes within the First Nation. Two separate allegations were reported related to the powwow, which was organized by the band council.

The Leamington OPP major crime unit and the OPP antirackets branch “have concluded their investigations and charges are not anticipated,” the OPP said in a news release.

One Caldwell band member, Theresa Lewis, said she’s shocked no charges have been laid.

The audit raised a concern about 99 $50 bills that were missing from a powwow bank deposit. If that was one of the things the OPP investigated, Lewis said, answers are needed.

“I’m surprised and I’m upset by it,” she said. “Who … did it, unless they found the bank guilty?”

Controversy has swirled around last summer’s powwow, which racked up $576,111 in expenses, including nearly $290,000 in, as the auditors put it, “unsupported” spending.

Of that, nearly $250,000 was for prize money for participants in dance, singing and drumming competitions.

The audit was ordered as outrage erupted among some members of the band about a lack of information about the event, held to celebrate the band’s $105-million federal land claim settlement in 2011.

For years landless, the Leamington-based band is now able to assemble land for a future home.

The fallout over the powwow flared at a weekend band membership meeting to go over the audit findings by London-based Matson Driscoll & Damico Ltd. During the meeting, the band council held a closed session and removed Chief Louise Hillier and Coun. Lonnie Dodge from office.

Hillier and Dodge haven’t been available for comment.

Lewis said she believes Hillier will be held accountable in the band for other details cited in the audit.

The actions of the two ousted council members in relation to a $190,000 untendered contract awarded to Hillier’s son David Hillier, owner of Moccasin Media, to video the two-day powwow and tell the Caldwell story, raised concerns with the auditors.

They recommended a legal opinion be sought about a potential conflict of interest for Hillier, who obtained a $60,000 bank draft for a portion of the payment for Moccasin Media without approval from another councillor.

Auditors also recommended a legal opinion be sought whether Dodge, who signed the contract with Moccasin on behalf of the Caldwell First Nation, breached his fiduciary duty by acting outside the conventions of council.

Allen Deleary, the Caldwell band’s operations director, said a general election will be called in 90 days to fill the two now-vacant positions on the band council, with an election likely to be held in January.