Kitikmeot Friendship Society wants more information about why it’s being investigated
Lawyer for society says there’s also a financial audit into the organization, but has no specific details
The Kitikmeot Friendship Society in Nunavut says it has only received “ambiguous” details about why the organization is being investigated by police.
The RCMP investigation began on Oct. 28, 2025, at the request of the Nunavut government. Sgt. George Henrie says police are looking into funding provided to the Cambridge Bay-based organization, but declined to comment further with the investigation ongoing.
It's prompted the closure of several of the organization's facilities, including shelters in Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven.
Daniel Lamberto Ambrosini, the lawyer representing the Kitikmeot Friendship Society, says the investigation came as a surprise.
He says he’s received no specifics about what – or who – is being investigated by RCMP. He adds that police have not contacted the Kitikmeot Friendship Society for information.
“My client would also like to know what is occurring with this RCMP investigation. Who has carriage of it? Who has oversight of it? Why has no one reached out to them yet?’” he said, adding that nobody has stepped down at the society as a result of the investigation.
Lamberto Ambrosini says the organization is also the subject of a financial audit but he could not provide details. He says he wants a meeting between the Kitikmeot Friendship Society and the Nunavut government.
Casey Lessard, a spokesperson for Executive & Intergovernmental Affairs at the Nunavut government, says staff gave representatives of the society an in-person briefing a day after the police investigation was launched.
Lamberto Ambrosini would not say what was discussed at that briefing as he doesn’t have enough information about it.
With the launch of the investigation, the Nunavut government’s Family Services and Health departments cancelled all funding agreements with the society which provides community wellness programs. As a result, the organization stopped operating five facilities in the Kitikmeot region.
“The [Government of Nunavut] is working with local partners to ensure communities continue to have access to affected programs and services,” Lessard said in a statement.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
