The Gwich’in Tribal Council has decided to delay its upcoming annual general assembly originally set for next week due to the need for additional time to finalize certain financial documents, as announced in a press release on Thursday. The assembly, planned to commence in Fort McPherson next Wednesday, will be rescheduled, with specific dates and participation instructions to be announced in the near future.
According to the release, the postponement was a carefully considered choice given the significance of the matters discussed during the annual general assembly. This delay echoes past instances of financial-related challenges faced by the council. In the previous year’s meeting, the council had refrained from releasing audited financial statements, a customary practice at such assemblies, citing difficulties in obtaining financial data from the Gwich’in Development Corporation (GDC), a subsidiary of the tribal council. These delays were attributed to issues within the GDC that hindered the completion of its audited statements.