(File Photo/meadowlakeNOW Staff)

By meadowlakeNOW Staff

Makwa Money

Makwa Sahgaiehcan working with ISC following financial audit

Apr 24, 2025 | 2:02 PM

A summary of a forensic audit conducted after Indigenous Services Canada received dozens of complaints regarding financial mismanagement by Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation has been released.

Their finding? There was a lack of or insufficient documentation for roughly $520,000 for expenses that might not be eligible under the funding.

The summary, which was released earlier this year, stemmed from allegations that date back to 2019, and the ISC had been given permission through a band council resolution to investigate.

According to the report, accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) conducted the forensic audit for the period of April 2016 to December 2020 and found MSFN received roughly $74 million in ISC funding, along with $311,000 in First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.

In addition to the $520,000, the auditors also found that there was just over $20,000 in expenses that documents were able to substantiate but were not eligible to be claimed. As such, they presented a list of recommendations that include “Formalize band council practices, ensure all contractual agreements are in writing, develop policies and practices for funding.”

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PwC also recommended that the First Nation develop policies for travel, cell phone reimbursement, create a centralized payroll advances system and record keeping policy.

Moving forward, the Saskatchewan Regional Office of the ISC is working with the Nation on the recommendations set out by the auditors and have received the ineligible amount for expenses.

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cjnb-news@pattisonmedia.com