 Courchene said that the audit was "born in a series of lies" by Indian Affairs officials trying to assert control over the band's finances.In October 2000, the Canadian media reported allegations that centre directors, staff members and their spouses had taken a week-long Caribbean cruise with money from their professional development budget.The federal government donated $7.2 million per year to the centre at the time, and there were concerns that federal funds had been used for the vacation.