Yellowknife (Feb 17/03) - The call from band members for a forensic audit of the Dogrib Rae Band's books is growing louder as accusations of mismanagement and corruption continue to fly.

Even though the band had opened its books to the public only a year ago -- following a previous round of corruption charges among band members -- residents are insisting the band undergo an independent audit after alleged correspondences from former band manager Stephen Conway and his lawyer to Rae Chief Eddie Paul Rabesca and council began to circulate through town last month.

Conway is no longer working at the Rae Band office, and could not be reached for comment. His lawyer, Glenn Tait, refused to confirm whether the letters bearing his firm's letterhead were written by him.

The letters allege that, among other things, that contracts and agreements were being signed without the band manager and council's knowledge. They also allege that some councillors were spending money without council approval.

"They seem to have something going on and a lot of people are fed up about it," said John Mantla, a Rae resident and former band councillor.

"There's favouritism, mismanagement of funds ... Those things going on while they are doing self-government (implementation) is not good for the people."

About 300 band members attended a meeting at the Rae hamlet office Jan. 30 to vent their frustration and to demand chief and council conduct an independent audit, and barring that, for the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs to get involved.

There will likely be more of the same at a regular band council meeting scheduled for tonight.

Twyla Todd, manager of funding services for DIAND, said it's a matter for the RCMP.

"I have told them they should go directly to the RCMP because we don't do those kind of audits," said Todd. "That's the procedure because those kind of audits are fraud audits."

At present, RCMP have not commenced with an investigation.

Nonetheless, North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty supports the call for an audit.

"There is a financial audit needed and the band is saying they don't have the money for it, Indian Affairs won't tackle it, RCMP won't do it until they find that there's an audit saying there's something wrong," said Lafferty. "So there's nothing being done right now."

Rabesca did not return phone calls. Sub-chief Johnny Weyallon didn't wish to comment.