A former financial director of a First Nations non-profit is facing allegations in a civil lawsuit that millions of dollars in federal funding were misused, including payments tied to a Jamaican dancehall artist and activity on TikTok.
Court documents filed in Manitoba allege that Melanie Desjarlais, formerly the financial director of the First Nations National Guardians Network (NGN), diverted more than CAD$6 million between August 2025 and March 2026 while she had sole day-to-day control of the organization’s finances.
Investigators, including accounting firm KPMG, reviewed hundreds of pages of records cited in the court filings. The allegations have not been tested in court, and no statement of defence has been filed.
A key element of the claim involves payments allegedly routed through TikTok. According to the documents, nearly $5 million was spent on the platform during the period in question, including the purchase of TikTok coins—digital currency used to send virtual gifts during livestreams that can later be converted into cash-like “diamonds.”
The filings allege those transactions were used as a “vehicle for money laundering,” redirecting funds linked to the network toward a Jamaican dancehall artist. PayPal records cited in the case show more than US$750,000 was sent to Jamaican musician Conrad Williams, known online as “Short Ghad,” who also maintained a TikTok presence.
The documents further state that Desjarlais and Williams may have had a romantic relationship. Some of the transfers included personal messages such as “Happy early birthday!” and “Love you and I’m sorry for everything,” according to the court record.
Williams has not been accused of wrongdoing in the filings, and none of the allegations have been proven in court.
The lawsuit also claims the non-profit’s funds were used for luxury travel and personal expenses, including trips to Jamaica and other discretionary spending. It further alleges that by early 2026, dozens of Indigenous guardian programs were left waiting for funding after payments were halted.
Desjarlais, through her lawyer, has declined to comment on the allegations. The First Nations National Guardians Network has said it is pursuing recovery of funds and cooperating with federal authorities, while the Government of Canada has since moved to take over distribution of the Indigenous Guardians program funding and expand audits following the allegations.
A judge has also approved an injunction freezing Desjarlais’s assets as the civil case continues.
