Former Millbrook First Nation employee sentenced to federal prison over theft, fraud

The logo of the Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia is shown. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Millbrook First Nation (Mandatory credit)

HALIFAX — A former employee of the Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia has been sentenced to 4 1/2 years in federal prison after admitting to fraud.

Dawn Ellis-Abbott was sentenced in Nova Scotia Supreme Court in Truro on Friday.

Ellis-Abbott admitted to defrauding the First Nation of more than $4 million from 2016 to 2019.

Ellis-Abbott was also ordered to pay that money back to the First Nation over the next 15 years.

In a statement posted to social media, Millbrook First Nation Chief Bob Gloade said that no amount of time served will replace the lost economic opportunities that resulted from the theft.

Gloade said he was disappointed in the length of the sentence, noting that many Millbrook members have felt a lack of trust and accountability from leadership.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 3, 2026.