Walpole Island First Nation (WIFN) is bringing to light financial discrepancies "accumulated over several years" amid criticisms against the current chief and council.
A letter was posted to the WIFN's Facebook Page on Monday, detailing a recent incident where the governance building was "vandalized with posters" that criticized Chief Daniel Miskokomon and council.
"Chief and council [have] inherited a complex financial situation. The challenges we face today are rooted in past issues, particularly a lack of transparency and accountability in previous financial decisions made by prior chiefs and councils, and programs," read the letter. "It is concerning that three fiscal years of audits are outstanding, putting at risk critical funding that WIFN requires to meet the needs of membership."
As a result, an "exhaustive" five-year financial review will be carried out, examining the audits, budgets, and work plans of 182 departments and programs.
According to the letter, budgets from programs have been requested repeatedly, and a fifth deadline has been set for Wednesday, September 20.
"Budgets must be approved by chief and council, for council oversight, to ensure dollars are spent appropriately," read the letter. "Meeting this deadline is critical, as our funding is in jeopardy because we are three audits behind."
The letter briefly stated that WIFN's financial instability has "adversely affected key community programs" but did not specify how so or to the degree.
Sarnia News Today has reached out to WIFN for comment and has yet to receive a response.
