Indigenous Services Canada is conducting a forensic audit at Poundmaker Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, making it the third such audit into First Nations spending made public in the province since 2024, CBC Indigenous has learned.
The audit will examine spending on federally funded programs over the last seven years, with a focus on social assistance, education and Jordan’s Principle, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
CBC Indigenous is not identifying the source because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly and fear reprisal. The community is on Treaty 6 territory near North Battleford, about 170 kilometres northwest of Saskatoon.
In a statement, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) confirmed the investigation is happening but declined to provide details.
“As part of Indigenous [Services] Canada’s efforts to ensure accountability and transparency in the spending of public funds, the department conducts evaluations, internal audits, financial reviews and forensic audits each year,” wrote spokesperson Pascal Laplante.
“We confirm that we are proceeding with a forensic audit of Poundmaker Cree Nation. To respect privacy, we do not comment on specific forensic audits beyond confirming if one is being undertaken.”
The band’s administration office was closed from Aug. 11 to Aug. 15 due to auditors being in the office, according to a notice posted to the community’s administrative Facebook page.
Over the phone on Monday, Poundmaker Chief Duane Antoine said the nation is not currently in a position to comment.
In March 2024, ISC informed the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN) that Ottawa would conduct a forensic audit of FSIN’s spending over a five-year period dating back to April 2019.
FSIN represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan. Poundmaker cut ties with FSIN in 2022.
This summer, James Smith Cree Nation went public with concerns about FSIN’s handling of federal pandemic relief money.
“Last year, James Smith Cree Nation raised concerns about a $1 million discrepancy in COVID-19 funding that was expected to flow through FSIN,” said local Chief Kirby Constant in a July 14 statement.
That statement followed a June 2025 report in Prince Alberta-based local news outlet paNOW that said the FSIN audit’s initial findings raised questions about $20 million in spending. CBC Indigenous has not independently verified that report.
Then on July 25, Constant announced ISC would be conducting a forensic audit of his community, reviewing spending back to April 2018.
“This forensic audit is a necessary and welcome step. I support it fully and will ensure that everyone tasked with working on your behalf for the nation co-operates fully,” Constant said in a July 25 statement.
Some Poundmaker members have sought answers about their finances for years.
In 2015, a Poundmaker councillor called for a forensic audit after a ballot box was reportedly taken and burned during a byelection of disputed legitimacy.
In 2001, the department then known as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) ordered an audit at Poundmaker but the band office was destroyed by fire the evening before the audit was to begin.
