At the outset Chief Ominayak, Council of the Lubicon Lake Nation and directors of Cree Development Corporation of Alberta wish to express our absolute surprise regarding the circumstances of this audit. Cree Development Corp. books and records are, and has always been, available to view by appointment by any Lubicon Lake Nation citizen at the Lubicon Lake Nation Administration Office. Meyers Norris Penny was never contacted or retained by the Government of the Lubicon Lake Nation or by Cree Development Corp. in any manner whatsoever.

We believe these records were intentionally not requested or included to allow for Meyers Norris Penney and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, to suggest that expenses were paid without proper justification. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Cree Development Corporation has a history of over 30 years of serving the Lubicon Lake Nation community with integrity and honesty. In a community plagued with poverty and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Government of Canada, CDC has dramatically improved the lives of Lubicon citizens in a number of areas. A video outlining the operations of Cree Development Corp. can be found at: www.vimeo.com/105536399

In the period in question, from 2006 to 2012, Cree Development Corporation increased the local personal economy of the Lubicon Lake Nation citizens by paying out over 9 million dollars in wages and salaries alone to Lubicon and other surrounding First Nations citizens. These wages dramatically increased the standard of living a community that is below poverty lines according to census results. In 2007 alone, 2 million dollars in local wages were paid which translated to increasing the average income of every man woman and child in the Lubicon Lake Nation by over 35%. Cree Development Corporation used revenues to fund known shortfalls in AAND-C program funding in excess of 1.2 million dollars. Further, revenues were consistently used to support community initiatives, housing repairs, compassionate costs such as medical accommodation and funeral costs. It is important to note that this all occurred without the use of public funds and taxpayer dollars. The goal of the Lubicon Lake Nation and CDC is and has always been to become self-sustaining and free from AAND-C control.

We of the Lubicon Lake Nation are disheartened that the term “audit” is now becoming synonymous with attacks by government and its willing partners against vocal and outspoken First Nations who stand up for their inherent and indigenous rights and sovereignty in what is now Canada. Attacks on the private enterprises employed by First Nations to support those ideals serve only to perpetuate the human rights abuses and cycle of poverty that has been forced by Canada upon the Lubicon Lake Nation and other First Nations across this country.

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For more information contact:

Garrett Tomlinson, EMT

Communications Coordinator

Lubicon Lake Nation

P.O. Box 6731, Stn. Main

Peace River, AB T8S1S3

(780) 618-3794

info@LubiconLakeNation.ca