Audit of band a ‘witch hunt,’ Spence says
Attawapiskat chief willing to die unless she gets meeting with Harper, Gov. Gen.
OTTAWA — A First Nations leader who has vowed to go without solid food until she meets with the prime minister and governor general in the same room said in a television interview aired Sunday that a scathing audit of her band’s financial records was part of a “witch hunt.”
Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence also said she would not give up her liquid diet despite growing calls for her to do so as she defended criticism of her fast, her demands of the government and her band’s finances.
Spence told CTV’s Question Period she met with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada officials to discuss the results of the audit and find ways to improve what auditors considered abysmal record-keeping on the northern Ontario reserve. The audit found that going back to April 1, 2005, the band council didn’t properly prepare budgets or keep minutes to support band council resolutions. About 80 per cent of the transactions analyzed — many of which took place before Spence became chief in 2010 — didn’t have proper documentation to support spending of about $104 million in funding provided to Attawapiskat during that time.
Spence said she told officials the band would comply with all recommendations in the report, but told officials, “We don’t want you to use this against us. We want to have a better working relationship.”
Spence questioned the findings of the review, saying auditors were in Attawapiskat for 10 days and rejected a request for a larger, forensic audit of the band’s finances.
“There were documents in the warehouse which they didn’t even go and look at,” Spence said.
On her liquid-diet protest, Spence said she was willing to die if Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston didn’t meet with her and other chiefs.
“I go day by day. I’m still waiting for that meeting that needs to take place with the governor general and the prime minister and our leaders. This meeting is required,” Spence said.
Spence said it was a mistake for AFN chiefs to meet with Harper on Jan. 11 because it was considered a “working group” rather than nation-to-nation talks.
Spence said she has lost 30 pounds since she started her liquid diet about 40 days ago, and brushed off anyone doubting the validity of her fast saying: “There’s always criticism.”