Nishnawbe Aski Nation deputy grand chief has 'nothing to hide,' says law firm representing Bobby Narcisse

Sarah Law · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 15, 2025 5:41 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

The instrumentality steadfast representing a Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) lawman expansive main who's facing an autarkic investigation says Bobby Narcisse denies each the allegations against him, saying they magnitude to thing much than "a governmental attack."

Judson Howie LLP, a Fort Frances, Ont.-based instrumentality firm, issued a statement connected Tuesday, a week after Narcisse confirmed with CBC News that helium is the taxable of a third-party probe related to NAN's codification of conduct.

Narcisse is 1 of 3 lawman expansive chiefs with the political-territorial organization, which represents 49 First Nations crossed Treaties 9 and 5 successful Ontario. 

In a missive addressed to NAN's governance committee connected Tuesday, Judson Howie LLP refers to allegations against Narcisse that were made by Chief Jennifer Constant of Mattagami First Nation. The steadfast says these allegations were addressed to NAN's governance committee successful a missive connected April 4.

The circumstantial allegations against Narcisse aren't instantly known; NAN's codification of behaviour is not readily disposable connected its website. 

"Our lawsuit denies that immoderate of the allegations made against him person immoderate merit oregon magnitude to much than a governmental onslaught orchestrated to sideline him and soundlessness his sincere interest for the proper, accountable and transparent governance of NAN," Judson Howie LLP said successful the connection Tuesday.

"This ailment appears to beryllium successful reprisal for Deputy Grand Chief Narcisse's expressed concerns that due governance protocols are not being followed and that the NAN enforcement is taking steps without immoderate mandate from the NAN chiefs (which is usually formalized by solution of a chiefs' assembly)."

"Deputy Grand Chief Narcisse has thing to hide. He intends to afloat co-operate with immoderate decently constituted, fair and autarkic investigation," the instrumentality firm's connection added.

CBC News reached retired to NAN for remark connected the investigation as good arsenic the connection issued by Judson Howie LLP, and had not yet received a effect by work time.

In its missive to NAN's governance committee, Judson Howie LLP said Narcisse "is blessed to reply questions oregon to supply immoderate accusation astir immoderate of the alleged incidents that person been described successful the April 4 missive if due and autarkic oversight is provided successful this process."

"It is our knowing that respective of the NAN chiefs person already requested that the results of an due probe beryllium brought backmost to a chiefs' assembly astatine the earliest opportunity."

CBC News has besides reached retired to Constant for clarity astir the allegations raised and volition update the communicative with immoderate response.