The Gwich’in Tribal Council’s latest annual report documents a number of changes to its financial management systems, while a newsletter lists five upcoming governance, financial, and health and safety reviews.
The annual report for 2025-26 states a finance and audit committee began work on March 14, 2026 and gives the Gwich’in Tribal Council board a “dedicated forum for financial oversight.”
An audit by KPMG for the financial year ending March 31, 2025 made recommendations to address gaps in journal entry review, month-end close, bank reconciliations, contribution agreement tracking and legal matter tracking. The GTC said it had accepted and is working to implement all of the audit’s findings.
Audited financial statements for March 31, 2026 are complete, the annual report said, and are ready to be presented to an annual assembly. The GTC has yet to hold its 2026 annual assembly after it was postponed in September because it didn’t reach quorum. A new date has not been announced.
The annual report highlighted a number of changes made to how the GTC manages, tracks and reports on its finances, including switching to a new financial management system.
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Other changes included monthly bank reconciliations, implementing a payment automation tool, building budget templates, and creating a year-end accrual process.
For 2027, the GTC said it will continue to work on financial reporting, contribution agreement records, and training its finance team.
The organization is also launching a “broader corporate structure” review to prepare for “future commercial opportunities.” The GTC board is considering a proposal to create a new business to more easily benefit from the proposed Mackenzie Valley Highway construction and federal defence investments.
Reviews form focus of special assembly
In its fall newsletter, the GTC summarized 18 resolutions passed at a special assembly held in September. Six of the resolutions were related to reviews that have been or should be conducted.
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The first called on the GTC to “formally release the most recent forensic audit report” to its members. What this audit covered and what period was audited were not defined.
The GTC voted to order an independent review of the Gwich’in Development Corporation’s governance and an audit of its financials from 2019-2026. The two reports will be presented at the 2027 annual assembly.
The GTC will also order a “comprehensive forensic audit” of its own finances for the 2019-2026 fiscal years, which will be released to members and made publicly accessible when it is completed.
The tribal council’s Inuvik office will be the subject of its own forensic audit and investigation into governance, financial structures, management and accountability for the specific period of August 9, 2021-March 31, 2025. Recommendations will be presented to the 2026 annual assembly.
The last governance review resolution involved GTC, Gwich’in Settlement Corporation and Gwich’in Development Corporation bylaws, policies and practices. Its findings are to be presented by June 30, 2027.
Finally, the GTC passed a resolution to carry out a workplace review of health and safety policies, practices and reporting systems, with recommendations shared at the 2026 annual assembly or at a special assembly.
