Days after his suspension, Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Derek Fox calls for new election

Just days after he was suspended, Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) Grand Chief Derek Fox is calling for a new election to be held in the next 60 to 90 days for the organization, which represents 49 First Nations across northern Ontario.

In an interview Thursday with CBC News, Fox said he believes there should be a new election for all four members of the NAN executive — which is made up of a grand chief and three deputy grand chiefs who are voted in by all the chiefs every three years. Fox also called the current executive team “unrepairable.”

“It appears that the NAN executive is inoperative [and] dysfunctional,” he said. 

“We have a duty to work together, a duty to advocate and do all those things, and that’s not happening right now … we as a group could not work together as we were elected to do.”

NAN is a political organization that represents First Nations across Treaties 9 and 5.

Fox, as well as Deputy Grand Chiefs Anna Betty Achneepineskum, Bobby Narcisse and Victor Linklater, were elected in August 2021. The next election is not due to take place until summer 2024.

Fox was suspended pending an internal investigation into alleged violations of NAN’s executive council code of conduct, according to a statement issued Monday morning by Achneepineskum and Linklater.

In his interview with CBC News, Fox said he has not been told what part of the code of conduct he allegedly violated.

There was a chiefs’ assembly in January, Fox said, and some allegations came up that were discussed. He would not say what allegations were brought up.

“I stood in front of the chiefs and I told my side, and I was asked to keep working,” he told CBC News.

It is unclear at this time who ordered the suspension. A spokesperson with NAN would not say whether it was directed by the 49 chiefs or if it came from the NAN executive council.

If I’m asked not to run [again] because of all this, I wouldn’t. If they say run, I would. But it’s up to the people, the leadership.- Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Derek Fox

“The chiefs found out about the suspension through the media,” Fox said. He added he’s heard from many leaders and community members across the 49 First Nations that they are “not happy with this development.”

When asked if he would run again for grand chief if a new election was ordered, Fox said he would listen to the leaders and community members across the NAN territory.

“If I’m asked not to run because of all this, I wouldn’t. If they say run, I would. But it’s up to the people, the leadership,” he said.

“I really think that the power of the chiefs needs to be exerted. It’s not about me or the deputies. It’s about the office of the grand chief … work needs to be done right now. It’s about the people and it worries me that the longer this drags out, there’s no leadership.”

If the chiefs believe the same people should return to office, that’s up to them, Fox said.

A spokesperson with NAN would not provide a copy of the executive council code of conduct, or any more details about the alleged violations or who ordered the suspension.

Meanwhile, Fox did not respond to questions from CBC News about what statements were made that he considers to be “possibly defamatory.”

But CBC News did obtain a defamation lawsuit filed in January by Fox against Jeff Copenace, the chief of Ojibways of Onigaming, a First Nation in Treaty 3 that is not one of the NAN member communities.

The lawsuit pertains to a speech made by Copenace in December 2022 during the Assembly of First Nations Special Chief’s Assembly in Ottawa. 

During his speech, Copenace alleged Fox “beat one of our own Treaty #3 women chiefs,” and that two years ago, he saw texts from a 25-year-old women to Fox “begging him to stop harassing her,” according to the lawsuit, which quoted Copenace’s speech.

In the lawsuit, Fox denies the allegations, which were made in front of more than 1,000 delegates and broadcast live by national media, including the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and the Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC).

The allegations “falsely and maliciously slander” Fox, and have and will continue to damage his reputation, according to the lawsuit.

Fox is seeking $200,000 in compensation for damages.

A statement of defence has not yet been filed by Copenace. He told CBC News, “I am unaware of a lawsuit except for what I’ve heard in the media.”