Federal government investigates complaint about misuse of funds intended to support children at Shamattawa
CBC
A federal government investigation is underway into concerns that Jordan's Principle funding meant to help provide services to First Nations children is not being spent properly at a First Nation in Manitoba.
A complaint was filed by a former employee of the Jordan's Principle program at Shamattawa, in northeastern Manitoba.
Janet Pitzel says she resigned from her job as a case manager last November over concerns about how the Jordan's Principle money was being spent at Shamattawa, and over fears that children and families were not getting the services they need.
"I'm upset and I'm angry about it. It shouldn't happen," Pitzel said in an interview with CBC News. "The funds are there."
Her written complaint alleges some Jordan's Principle funds may have been spent for personal use.
"Shamattawa citizens have been … set up for failure due to the misuse of Jordan's Principle federal funds and the wrongful dismissal of employees over safety concerns and questions regarding funding misuse," it says.
Jordan's Principle is a policy to ensure all First Nations children in Canada can access products, services and supports to help with a wide range of health, social and educational needs.
It's named after five-year-old Jordan River Anderson, from Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba, who died in hospital in 2005 while the provincial and federal governments were in a dispute over who would pay for his health care at home for his multiple disabilities.
In the fiscal year ending March 2023, federal spending for individual and group requests under Jordan's Principle was about $945 million across Canada.
Pitzel's complaint says there were gaps in services to Shamattawa people, creating hardship in the community and negative effects on children and families.
"I don't think they're going to be getting the services they should be," Pitzel told CBC.
"Their basic needs aren't being met," she said. "It's sad. It shouldn't happen in this day and age, and there shouldn't be people taking advantage of a program, especially for children."
The federal department that funds Jordan's Principle services confirms it's investigating.
"Indigenous Services Canada is aware of an allegation brought forward regarding the Shamattawa First Nation," said Jennifer Cooper, a spokesperson for Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), in an email to CBC News.
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