Fort Liard (Nov 26/04) - Acho Dene Koe First Nation's financial records are about to undergo a thorough examination.

Following several break-ins at the band office during which documents were allegedly taken, chief and council have called for a forensic audit that will date back as far as possible. A team of accountants will review all remaining financial records -- now under the guard of the RCMP -- for irregular activity.

A criminal audit by the RCMP may follow if necessary, according to a public announcement distributed by the band. The stolen papers are backed up on computer, Chief Floyd Bertrand said.

"We've been looking at why certain documents were missing and who's been breaking in the band office," he said.

The RCMP have yet to charge anyone in relation to the break and enters at the band office, said Cpl. Shane Christmas. Fort Liard has had five chiefs since the mid-1970s: Floyd Bertrand, Judy Kotchea, Harry Deneron, Steve Kotchea and Frank Kotchea.

Deneron, the longest serving, told the Drum he has nothing to hide.

"At that time we (the Acho Dene Koe First Nation) only got $113,000 a year in core funding. What kind of money are you going to steal?" he asked. "We operated on it, stretching pennies from payday to payday."

As exploration and development took hold and money started accumulating in the 1990s, it was all accounted for, according to Deneron. It wasn't possible for anyone to line their pockets because oil and gas companies refused to provide money up front and required three copies of time sheets or invoices before paying Beaver Enterprises, he contended. He said his biggest question is what has been happening with the band's trust fund that he said he and band council had established.

Bertrand acknowledged that numerous concerns have been raised in the community regarding the band's operations and funding. He stated that the financial matters requiring investigation do not pertain to the existing administration. Nevertheless, current financial records will be included in the audit, he noted.

"A lot of people have been saying on the streets that I stole money from the band and bought myself boats... and councillors are using the money for their own benefit," Bertrand said.

"We said, 'Fine, let's call for an audit and that will prove that we're not doing such things.'"

The audit will not extend to Beaver Enterprises, a band-owned company, he noted.

A public meeting relating to this issue will be held in December or January, according to Bertrand. An accountant who works for the Acho Dene Koe is supposed to be present to answer questions at that time. The chief would not hazard a guess as to how long the audit will take.