Paul Bickford
Northern News Services

Fort Smith (Oct 14/02) - Two men are claiming to be chief of Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith.

After serving just six weeks as chief, Victor Marie was dismissed by the band council on Oct. 9. A non-confidence vote passed 5-0, with one abstention.

Raymond Beaver was named interim chief until a Nov. 27 election for a new one.

However, Marie, who was elected Aug. 30, claims he is the legitimate leader.

"As far as I'm concerned, I'm still the elected chief," he said, stressing he was chosen by the people.

The leadership dispute was triggered by the status of Jeannie Marie Jewell, the interim band manager and the chief's sister.

Beaver noted Marie Jewell -- a former MLA and territorial minister -- had been hired at a meeting with only three councillors present.

At the Oct. 9 meeting, council voted to dismiss Marie Jewell, Beaver said. "The council wasn't satisfied with her performance," he said.

Marie says his sister is honest and open with band members. "I thought she was doing a heck of a good job."

Beaver said council also objected to Marie dismissing another band employee. As a result, it passed a motion that no one could be hired or fired without council approval.

"I guess it all comes down to a problem of being a dictator," Beaver said of Marie's behaviour, which included walking out on the council meeting last week. "The reason council is there is to guide the chief."

For his part, Marie said, as chief, he has a right to dismiss employees. And he said he wonders what he could have done in his brief time as chief to be described as a dictator.

Marie was in Yellowknife Friday to meet officials of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. He said DIAND will look into the issue of who is the legitimate chief.

If DIAND opposes the council's decision, Beaver said, "Then they're giving a free hand to any chief in the NWT to be a dictator."

Marie has also asked the RCMP to investigate the previous council. He said he has concerns that money may have been mismanaged.

Beaver dismissed Marie's request to the police as a political strategy to deflect attention from the current situation.