Native groups are questioning the hiring of a non-Native as executive director of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The Assembly of First Nations and Union of B.C. Chiefs say Aideen Nabigon is too close to the government. She has worked for Canada on residential schools, land claims and other Native issues.

Nabigon replaces interim executive director Bob Watts, who is Native and was supported by Native groups. He was told he was being let go last month.

"I'm really at a loss to figure out what's going on except it's quite likely they're not honouring the job offer they made me," Watts told CBC News.

Native groups also protesting the hiring of a lawyer for the commission who represented the province of Ontario in a case against several Native protesters who were jailed, fined and held in contempt of court for opposing mining activities on traditional land. The Ontario Court of Appeal threw out the sentences in July.

Get the Story:
Truth commission tied too closely to government: aboriginal groups (CBC 10/8)