By Canadian Press

New National Chief RoseAnne Archibald vows to make AFN more inclusive, transparent

Jul 9, 2021 | 11:23 AM

OTTAWA — Newly elected National Chief RoseAnne Archibald is pledging to hold governments’ feet to the fire and to help make the Assembly of First Nations to be more inclusive and transparent.

Over the next 100 days, Archibald says she wants to focus on key issues such as unmarked burial sites at former residential schools, the national action plan on missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and fighting systemic racism in the health and justice systems.

She also says she will prioritize climate change’s effects on Indigenous communities and will work with governments and regional chiefs on a post-pandemic recovery plan for First Nations. 

Asked about an internal investigation the AFN launched into allegations of harassment against her earlier this year, Archibald said she couldn’t discuss specifics because of confidentiality.

But she did say she was never interviewed as part of that probe and that she believes it was retaliation for having raised concerns about allegations of harassment against women, LGBTQ and two-spirit people at the organization — something she says will not happen under her watch.

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Because of this, Archibald says she supports a whistleblower policy for the AFN and says she plans to address concerns she’s heard about the AFN being “opaque” in financial matters. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2021.

The Canadian Press