The Gwich’in Tribal Council has decided to delay its upcoming annual general assembly originally set for next week. Citing the need for additional time to finalize financial documents, the council announced the postponement in a press release issued on Thursday. The assembly, initially planned to commence next Wednesday in Fort McPherson, will now be rescheduled, with specific dates and instructions for participation to be communicated in the near future.
According to the release, the choice to postpone was made after careful deliberation, considering the significant matters typically addressed during the annual general assembly. Reflecting on previous meetings, the council has encountered financial-related challenges before. During the previous year’s assembly, the council disclosed its decision not to release audited financial statements, a standard practice at such gatherings. Delays in obtaining financial data from the Gwich’in Development Corporation (GDC), a wholly-owned entity of the tribal council, were attributed as the primary reason for this issue, with references made to difficulties with the GDC hindering the completion of the required audited statements.