Use of N.W.T. man's Indigenous name in integrity commissioner complaint an 'invasion'
Avery Zingel | CBC News | Posted: February 6, 2025 9:00 AM | Last Updated: 20 hours ago
Broadcaster surprised to find his name on dismissed complaints against two MLAs
A prominent N.W.T. broadcaster says he was surprised to find his reclaimed Indigenous name attached to three recent complaints against MLAs.
The N.W.T. integrity commissioner dismissed complaints made by Daniel Richards against N.W.T. MLAs Shane Thompson and Caroline Wawzonek. Reports from the integrity commissioner list him both as Daniel Richards and Deneze Nakehk'o, and one notes that Deneze Nakehk'o is "Mr. Richards' Indigenous name, which he prefers."
Dëneze Nakehk'o, well-known in the territory for his work in media and broadcasting, told CBC he is still trying to make sense of it.
"I have no idea why someone would use somebody else's name," Nakehk'o said in an interview.
"It's tied to my identity of who I am … For this to happen, it's puzzling and confusing and, you know, it's like a little invasion," he said.
Nakehk'o said he worries that his name appearing on the documents creates the appearance that he is involved in the complaint.
"In reality, I don't even know who this person is, and I don't even know what their complaints are," he said.
The CBC made multiple attempts to verify Richards' identity. He did not respond to several requests for an interview or to verify when he began allegedly using the name Deneze Nakehk'o.
The complaints
N.W.T. Integrity Commissioner David Phillip Jones decided last year Caroline Wawzonek did not break the code of conduct by making staffing appeals in her role as Minister for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
He also found Nahendeh MLA Shane Thompson did not violate the code of conduct last July when he forwarded Richards' email about heat problems at Aurora College's Fort Smith student residence. The email had multiple individuals copied, and was not marked private or confidential, Jones wrote in his report published Jan. 27.
He also rejected another complaint from Richards against Wawzonek over whether her husband owning shares in Canadian Utilities Ltd. constituted a conflict for the minister regarding the potential acquisition of Naka Power's franchise in Hay River.
Complainants not required to prove identity
The integrity commissioner denied CBC's request for an interview about whether Richards' identity was confirmed.
Complaints can be made by email or orally, but anonymous complaints are not accepted, wrote Jones.
While complainants must provide a name, that name does not need to be verified through a birth certificate, driver's licence or passport.
Complainants cannot use a name for a fraudulent purpose, Jones wrote.
The commissioner can dismiss a complaint if it is frivolous or vexatious.
Integrity commissions exposed to abuse
Dax D'Orazio, a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Guelph's Department of Political Science, says integrity commissioners across Canada serve to keep public officials accountable but need mechanisms to outright dismiss complaints that are frivolous, vexatious or weaponize the system as a personal "cudgel" against politicians.
Codes of conduct can be applied unevenly and be used against "political foes based on whoever the winds are blowing, or it's a way to air grievances [that is] very costly way for taxpayers," he said.
D'Orazio said this case is the first he's heard where the complainant's identity is in question.
"It's seems not legitimate that somebody would be able to make a complaint, either anonymous or not anonymous, where they're masquerading as someone else," D'Orazio said.
Promptly dismissed complaints can cost taxpayers several thousand dollars to review, but larger complaints reach into the tens of thousands, he said.
The N.W.T. government budgets $60,000 for the integrity commission each year. The integrity commissioner is paid an honorarium determined by the Legislative Assembly's Board of Management.
In an email, Legislative Assembly Clerk Glen Rutland wrote that the territory spent $98,000 in 2023-24, $61,000 in 2022-23, $57,000 in 2021-22 and $63,000 in 2020-21 on the integrity commission.
Integrity commissioners across Canada may see legislative changes over time to allow them to "just dismiss initially, obviously frivolous or vexatious complaints" or even implement fines for people who abuse the system, said D'Orazio.
Any fines should be balanced to prevent a chilling effect on potential complainants, he said.
A spokesperson for the Legislative Assembly's public affairs department said the commissioner has an annual contract which acts as a retainer.
Significant complaints requiring an investigation are billed with additional fees at a set rate.
"As it is a contract negotiated rate, we will not disclose the hourly rate, but the actual costs of the contract are publicly reported each year," the spokesperson wrote.
'Grab for attention'
Nakehk'o said the use of his name by another individual is "scary" and questioned what recourse there is when a complainant uses someone else's name as "grab for attention … trying to bring a little more weight to the arguments." Three generations of his family went through residential schools and his family name got changed to Antoine before he reclaimed the name Dëneze Nakehk'o, he said.
The Nakehk'o name comes from Dëneze's great, great grandfather and means "two fires."
Dëneze is a Denesułine name that means "young man or little man," he said.
"Part of the [residential school] process was to try to strip us of our identity and who we are," he said. "It was important for me to take back some of those things that were taken away from us."
Nakehk'o said he is still considering what recourse he has for the use of his name in the three complaints.