Listen to this article
Estimated 3 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
The federal government says it will file a statement of claim against the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) to recover more than $12 million in funding it says the First Nation organization owes Indigenous Services Canada (ISC).
The legal threat follows a similar one made by FSIN earlier this week in a public statement disputing ISC’s position that the organization must repay $12,376,807.40 in “ineligible” spending identified during a forensic audit. On Oct. 14, the FSIN said it had “commenced legal action” but did not provide more details.
On Oct. 17, ISC said in a statement to CBC News that “a Statement of Claim will be filed by ISC against the FSIN for repayment” but did not provide more details.
FSIN “has until Nov. 13, 2026, to communicate with ISC for the repayment of the total amount to the Receiver General of Canada,” according to the ISC statement from spokesperson Carolane Gratton.
After ISC conducted a review of the initial forensic audit, it sent FSIN a “recovery letter” on Oct. 14 requesting repayment. FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron responded that day with a statement rejecting the decision and criticized ISC for how it handled the forensic audit.
“Our staff have co-operated, provided the records requested and defended the decisions made through our own governance processes,” Cameron said in the statement.
“We remain confident that when this matter is subjected to a fair and independent review, that all expenditures will be proven eligible and the allegations proven false.”
The forensic audit initially flagged $34 million in questionable, ineligible and unsupported transactions at the FSIN from 2020 to 2024, including transactions related to COVID-19 funding and personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement.
After the audit review, ISC whittled down their initial repayment request to the current $12 million total. The FSIN disagrees with the adjusted figure.
“The parties had substantially narrowed the matters in dispute by June 12, 2026, where ISC representatives confirmed that all PPE purchases, comprising almost $8 million of the $12.376 million, were substantiated as purchased, delivered and removed from the list of ineligible or questionable expenditures,” according to FSIN’s Oct. 14 statement.
“We are surprised that this would be added back on despite the ample evidence provided and the advice of their own ISC staff.”
ISC said in its statement that it will not discuss details of any meetings between government officials and the FSIN.