Fort Providence (Feb 14/03) - Debt-ridden Yamoria Grocery has been shut down for restructuring. Michael Vandell, Deh Gah Got'ie sub-chief, said the band council decided to temporarily close the Dene-owned store in late January.

"We're getting management organized and getting some of the financing and inventory restructured," Vandell said.

"We didn't have a band manager, we didn't have a CEO and we didn't have a Yamoria manager."

Acting manager Wayne Bonnetrouge has been retained part-time and former manager Malcolm Donaldson has returned to assist with the financial overhaul. The other five part-time staff have been laid off.

Genevieve Elleze, a part-time Yamoria cashier for the past year, said she expects to draw employment insurance now. She isn't sure if she will get her job back.

"It's hard to say. They didn't say anything about that," she said. "But if they ask me, yeah I will (return to work)."

When the store reopens, likely in March, according to Vandell, it will serve primarily as a convenience store.

"We're getting out of the grocery business. Three grocery stores is too big for this small community," he said, admitting that it may require fewer staff.

"We'll give them an option if they want to come back," he said of the former employees.

The store's laundry, bakery and meat section will be revived, he said. As well, the gas pumps will continue to operate.

To cover the cost of the reorganizing and to pay the store's bills, the band has dipped into its own economic development funds, Vandell noted. In addition, much of the community has thrown its weight behind the store. About 60 per cent of the outstanding accounts have been paid over the past three weeks, he added.

"People are coming forward and helping out. They don't want to see the store shut down," he said. "We have to reopen."