OTTAWA — A forensic audit of the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations says more than $34 million of the organization’s spending between April 2019 and March 2024 was “questionable,” unsupported or ineligible.
The forensic audit, conducted by KPMG for the federal government, examined federal funds provided by Indigenous Services to the organization, which represents 74 First Nations in the province.
The audit says that $25 million of the $30 million the organization received for COVID-19-related funding was spend in a way that was “questionable,” and that KPMG couldn’t determine if any of the personal protective equipment purchased with the money was distributed to the communities FSIN represents.
The audit also cited more than $50,000 in “questionable” or “ineligible” travel expenditures, along with another $265,000 in travel spending that KPMG said may have contravened the FSIN’s own travel policies.
KMPG also said there may have been an overpayment among nearly $250,000 in salaries and contracts issued to a former employee.
The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 25, 2025.
Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
