A former Manitoba grand chief says he can explain most of the allegations against him that he misused thousands of dollars.
A draft copy of a forensic audit of the Southern Chiefs Organization’s books from 2010 to 2014 says $261,587 worth of transactions were inappropriate or questionable.
It found former Chief Murray Clearsky used an unauthorized debit card for purchases and cash withdrawals.
Clearsky says he has receipts to explain the transactions and says he was ousted by the organization before he had the chance to pay the money back. Clearsky says he wasn’t the only one within the Southern Chiefs to use the card and feels he was targeted by people within the organization.
He plans to meet with the auditors to tell his side of the story.
His former chief of staff, Michael Bear, is accused of $10,000 in false travel claims, as well as unapproved travel by both Bear and Clearsky to Minneapolis and Las Vegas.
The audit also found $53,328 of ineligible healing expenditures.
It also concluded the grand chief before Clearsky, Morris Shannacappo, purchased a $25,000 personal vehicle with SCO money.
The report said most of the funds are subject to recovery.
Attempts to reach former grand chief Morris Shannacappo for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.
The federal government says if the full audit finds criminal wrongdoing, the information will be turned over to the police.
