A group of faculty members at the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) say they have lost confidence in the university’s leadership and board of directors.

The group says there has been a troubling exodus of university staff and an absence of good financial stewardship – citing the impact of a deficit they believe is nearing $2 million.

“So, what I’m seeing here is our university spinning in a downward spiral in a really bad way. We are financially unstable,” assistant professor Audrey Dreaver told CTV News.

In a written statement, the faculty group says they have lost confidence in the university’s leadership and board of governors. They feel excluded from conversations about university affairs.

“As someone myself who has stood up and sent letters to the board, I’m marginalized as well now so I know that it’s happening. I’ve watched it and I’ve experienced it,” Dreaver added.

Those behind the statement have not identified themselves for fear of reprisal. It follows the leak of a 2023 Deloitte report commissioned by a previous board that found evidence of budget overages and breach of some university policies.

Allan Adam is a former board vice chair who says the investigation was prompted by a whistleblower.

“Whistleblower laws come into effect that the person doing the whistle blowing had to be protected and that they were not to be fired and we found out not soon after that that person was fired as well,” Adam explained.

The former board chair says he subsequently resigned his board position.

“Now we just have to live with whatever the outcome is going to be and hopefully they make good changes so that the university can be on good standing,” Adam added.

The provincial government says it is following the controversy.

“But our minister of advanced education will be certainly keeping abreast of that particular instance, but I think largely you’re going to find that the funding arrangement is with the federal government,” Premier Scott Moe told reporters.

The university’s current board chair has been contacted for comment about the faculty concerns but has yet to respond.

However, in a previous statement, the board said it has full confidence in the university’s leadership.