The chief executive officer of the upcoming North American Indigenous Games in Regina has temporarily stepped down, pending the outcome of an independent investigation into allegations of harassment against him.
MBC News has learned the three complainants are women. Two are still employed at NAIG, while the third was a contract worker whose contract has since expired.
The exact nature of the allegations are not being released, but we do know an independent third party from Regina has been called in to investigate.
It will be conducting interviews with the parties, then filing a report with NAIG’s board of directors.
The entire process could take four to six weeks. In the meantime, Glen Pratt will be off the job with pay.
Pratt has not responded to our requests for an interview.
The chair of the NAIG board of directors is FSIN Vice-Chief Dutch Lerat.
It will be the board that decides what course of action to take after reviewing the report.
MBC News has also learned that NAIG staff were informed of the situation on Monday and told it will be business as usual at the Games.
Late today, the NAIG board of directors issued a release confirming that complaints of harassment were filed with the board’s human resources committee early this month:
“The board acknowledges the seriousness of the complaints and wants to assure its partners, funders, stakeholders, staff and the public that the matter is being thoroughly investigated by an independent firm that specializes in human resource related matters. The firm’s report and recommendations will be filed with the NAIG Board of Directors to follow up on any recommendations. Until the investigation is completed and the board has deliberated on the consultants report, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NAIG is on leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.”
This incident comes at a critical time for the Games, which are just five months away.
Organizers are still scrambling for corporate sponsors and hundreds of volunteers to help host the Games.
It is the largest cultural and sporting event for Aboriginal youth in North America.
The Games will be held in Regina, July 20-27 — injecting about $32 million into the local economy.