Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Nov 05/99) - Developments in the management shakeup at the Inuvialuit Communications Society progressed this week when both the former director and former manager said they would be filing claims for wrongful dismissal.

Darlene Cave, the former executive director, said she has engaged lawyer Steven Cooper of Sherwood Park, Alta., to file a wrongful dismissal suit on her behalf. Cave said the society board had terminated her contract, but that Cooper had advised she say nothing further at this time.

Valerie Shingatok-Inglangasuk said she will also be seeking recourse after being fired from her position as finance and office manager on Oct. 19.

"I've been in touch with the Labour Standards Board and will lodge a complaint," she said Monday.

Shingatok-Inglangasuk said she believes her termination stemmed from a special meeting of the board on Friday, Oct. 15, when she was asked her opinion of an ongoing management conflict, primarily between Cave and Debbie Gordon-Ruben, the assistant executive director.

"I sided with the executive director and said she was doing a great job," said Shingatok-Inglangasuk, "and then they turned around and fired me."

Steve Cockney, who took over as interim board president after Frank Hansen resigned, said Tuesday from Tuktoyaktuk that he could only stand by a recent statement that the board is implementing a strategic plan.

"We're still dealing with the situation at hand," he said, "and until we get things straightened out won't be saying too much."

Gordon-Ruben has since been named acting executive director.

Contacted in Hull, Que., spokesman Len Westerberg said the Ministry of Canadian Heritage would not be getting involved. He said that while the ministry is the society's primary funder -- having provided it with $389,705 for the current fiscal year through the Northern Native Access Program -- it doesn't interfere in the internal workings of an organization.

"Our department funds a variety of organizations and there are occasionally internal disputes, but they have their own constitutions and democratic rules," he said. "As long as the organization continues to meet our criteria every year, the funding continues."