The law firm representing a Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) deputy grand chief who’s facing an independent investigation says Bobby Narcisse denies all the allegations against him, saying they amount to nothing more than “a political attack.”
Judson Howie LLP, a Fort Frances, Ont.-based law firm, issued a statement on Tuesday, a week after Narcisse confirmed with CBC News that he is the subject of a third-party investigation related to NAN’s code of conduct.
Narcisse is one of three deputy grand chiefs with the political-territorial organization, which represents 49 First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5 in Ontario.
In a letter addressed to NAN’s governance committee on Tuesday, Judson Howie LLP refers to allegations against Narcisse that were made by Chief Jennifer Constant of Mattagami First Nation. The firm says these allegations were addressed to NAN’s governance committee in a letter on April 4.
The specific allegations against Narcisse aren’t immediately known; NAN’s code of conduct is not readily available on its website.
“Our client denies that any of the allegations made against him have any merit or amount to more than a political attack orchestrated to sideline him and silence his sincere concern for the proper, accountable and transparent governance of NAN,” Judson Howie LLP said in the statement Tuesday.
“This complaint appears to be in reprisal for Deputy Grand Chief Narcisse’s expressed concerns that appropriate governance protocols are not being followed and that the NAN executive is taking steps without any mandate from the NAN chiefs (which is normally formalized by resolution of a chiefs’ assembly).”
“Deputy Grand Chief Narcisse has nothing to hide. He intends to fully co-operate with any properly constituted, fair and independent investigation,” the law firm’s statement added.
CBC News reached out to NAN for comment on the investigation as well as the statement issued by Judson Howie LLP, and had not yet received a response by publication time.
In its letter to NAN’s governance committee, Judson Howie LLP said Narcisse “is happy to answer questions or to provide any information about any of the alleged incidents that have been described in the April 4 letter if appropriate and independent oversight is provided in this process.”
“It is our understanding that several of the NAN chiefs have already requested that the results of an appropriate investigation be brought back to a chiefs’ assembly at the earliest opportunity.”
CBC News has also reached out to Constant for clarity about the allegations raised and will update the story with any response.
