We, the band members of Wabauskang First Nation have an inherit right to vote in elections, and we also have an inherit right to a vote of confidence as per the current Wabauskang First Nation Election Code.  

October 14, 2026

PETITIONER:

April Harman (nee Meekis) 
11 Lakeview Drive
Wabauskang First Nation, Ontario, Canada
P0V2K0
807-770-0147

RE: VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE FOR THE CURRENT WABAUSKANG FIRST NATION CHIEF AND COUNCIL

We, the undersigned Wabauskang First Nation band members challenge the current Wabauskang First Nation governance and leadership competence and we the undersigned have lost faith and confidence in our current Chief and Council.

In our anishnabwe culture; we listened to our people for direction, we respected our people, we didn’t fight against our people, we gained knowledge from our people - however; political grudges, animosity, hatred, authority and control clouded this current Chief and Council’s judgements from being united as a strong First Nation. Our First Nation has become divided due to unethical and bias decisions made by our current Chief and Council.

As per the Wabauskang First Nation Election Code adopted and approved December 14, 2020, we have the right to a vote of confidence. Our current Chief and Council have finished their 2nd year. See below terms of the current election code:

Term of office
4. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the term of office of the Chief and Councillors elected
             in accordance with this Code is four years.
     (2) The Chief and Councillors declared elected following the first general election
              held under this Code will remain in office until the second Saturday in June of
              2024.
Vote of confidence
5. (1) A vote of confidence for the Chief and all Councillors may be held on the second anniversary of their assumption of office.
     (2) Any vote of confidence under this section will proceed by way of a vote of the
              electors to be held in the manner prescribed by regulation passed by Council in
              accordance with this Code.
Removal from office
6. The Chief or any Councillor may be removed from office in accordance with the
      Wabauskang Code of Conduct for Chief and Councillors.

CHIEF AND COUNCIL CODE OF CONDUCT:
1. Duty to serve Wabauskang First Nation members on and off reserve as per the code of
    conduct.
2. As per the Wabauskang First Nation website it states “they work to uphold our treaty
     rights and advocate for our people at regional, provincial, and federal levels”.
3. As per the Wabauskang First Nation site; Chief and Council should have “Regular Band
     Meetings”
4. As per the Wabauskang First Nation site; “Regular meetings provide community
     members with a voice in governance. Important topics include policy updates, financial
     planning, and community initiatives.”
5. As per the Wabauskang First Nation Code of Conduct for Chief and Council, Chief and
     Council are to provide a monthly financial report in regards to their wages and
     expenditures.
6. Chief and Council are to treat our band members fairly.

EXAMPLES OF MISCONDUCT BY THE CURRENT WABAUSKANG FIRST NATION
CHIEF AND COUNCIL:

1. Ignoring band members;
     i. Ignoring emails and phone calls
     ii. Muting band members who attend band meetings via zoom
     iii. Ignoring band members requests for the Wabauskang First Nation site
           member login information to view the trust documents, financial
           statements and reports.
2. Lack of financial transparency.
     a. Chief and Council have not provided their monthly financial reports to band
          members via band meetings or email.
3. Hosting band meetings, without feasible notice, during work hours, in the mid week,
     when the MAJORITY OF BAND MEMBERS WORK AND RESIDE OFF RESERVE.
4. Allowing NON band members to attend and speak in band meetings; employee’s, Treaty
     # 3 police, and a chair person.
5. Non compliance of the official Wabauskang First Nation site; regular band meetings are
     non existent – Chief and Council host quarterly updates to band membership via in
     person and zoom at the advice of executive director John Paul George. Previous
     meetings have been updates from MNP, RBC, and the Band Lawyer. These meetings
     have not been chaired by Chief Petiquan nor have these meetings been vocally
     participated by councillors Terri Meekis (Finance Portfolio) or Rhonda Audit (Finance
    Clerk) as per our customary way. This has caused a disconnect between leadership and
    band members. These meetings also have treaty #3 police present should band members
    speak to challenge Chief and Council.
6. Dismantling the former Trust Committee to hand pick a new committee in favour of our
     current Chief and Council without a band member election.
     a. Chief and Council dismantled the former trust committee, which was comprised
          of band members who are exceptionally qualified – lawyer, and MBAs.
     b. Diverting trust monies to the band account.
           i. Housing ran out of money to complete construction of new homes.
               These homes sat unfinished in winter and spring weather climates which
               contributed to more expenses.
          ii. Money from the trust fund was approved by the trust committee –
               Obadiah Burch, Jo-Anne Petiquan – Moore and Joanne Bacon to
               complete the construction of band homes.
7. Years of continued workplace lateral violence against women which resulted in lawyer
     involvement and employees quitting their jobs.
8. Chief and Council chose their own elder committee without a band member election.
      a. Elders expressed their feelings of exclusion and unfair conduct from our Chief
          and Council.
9. Tenancy Agreements being forced on band members.
      a. Unable to obtain house keys unless signing tenancy agreement on band owned
           homes.
      b. Current tenancy agreement states band members must notify “land lord” if they
           are getting married or having more children.
      c. Chief stated “if they don’t sign, we’ll give their home away to someone who
           deserves it more than they do”
      d. Chief and Council have not signed tenancy agreements – Councillor Rhonda
           Audit moved into a new home, and Councillor Terri Meekis had a big renovation
           of her home, neither of them was forced to sign a tenancy agreement.
10. Lack of online social and health engagement sessions and updates for band membership.
       The following are services for both on and off reserve. These portfolios are held by
       Councillor’s Rhonda Audit and Terri Meekis;
       a. Prevention Services
       b. Band Rep Program
       c. Jordan’s Principal
       d. Bill C-92
       e. Health Services
       The last online/in person social engagement session/update was held March 2025, hosted by
       the former Bill C-92 Coordinator (April Harman).
11. This fall, Chief Petiquan denied avid and experienced band member hunters’ access to
       first nation land to hunt moose. Chief Petiquan and his wife hold the key to a gate where
       there is prime hunting on our first nation land. Chief Petiquan took his family, along with
       band members from Grassy First Nation to hunt on this land, which was denied to our
       band members– this resulted in a moose being shot by a NON-BAND MEMBER.
12. Excessive expenditure on lawyer fees, and Executive Director John Paul George’s wage
       and expenses.
       a. August 2026, it has been reported that approximately $100,000 of band funds was
           spent on lawyer fees in regards to a work place lateral violence incident, and
           infrastructure.
       b. It has been reported that approximately $250,000 of band funds was spent on
            wages and expenses for our Executive Director – John Paul George in just one
            year.
13. Unlawful banishment of former Chief/Councillor Douglas Riffel.
        a. Mr. Riffel was banished from Wabauskang First Nation in 2025 due to allegations
            which were not proven to be true by the court of law. Chief and Council made
            this decision without speaking to Mr. Riffel personally to hear his side of the
            story.
        b. Mr. Riffel’s banishment was rescinded June 2026, after the court of law found the
             allegations/charges to be false.
        c. Mr. Riffel is currently being countersued by our Wabauskang First Nation Chief and
            Council.
14. Unlawful banishment of April Harman from the Wabauskang First Nation band office due
        to  an allegation of harassment by Executive John Paul George. Wabauskang First Nation
       Chief and Council did not hear April Harman’s side of the story before making the
       decision to have Treaty #3 Police call and state that she is not allowed in the band office
       or she will be charged with trespassing and harassment.
15. Conflict of interests are as follows:
        a. Councillor Rhonda Audit is the only full-time Wabauskang First Nation financial
             clerk.
             i. No attempts have been made to post this position since she was elected
                 into office. We have many qualified Wabauskang First Nation band
                members who could have filled this position.
       b. Jo-Anne Petiquan – Moore is on both the elder’s council and trust committee. Jo-
           Anne Petiquan – Moore was hand selected by Chief and Council for both of these
           positions and not by customary election.

Chief and Council work FOR THE NATION and are not above the nation. Our
Wabauskang First Nation members deserve transparency, equality and the right to expect
accountability as well as trust and confidence in those who are there to serve our First
Nation.

Wababuskang First Nation Band Members have an inherit right to vote, to be
heard, and to be respected.

By signing this petition, you're supporting our inherit right for a transparent review of our
current Wabauskang First Nation Chief and Council’s governance for a non vote of
confidence.

Miigwetch,

April Harman
Wabauskang First Nation Band Member/Community Member