Yellowknife (Nov 12/04) - Less than three months after winning the presidency of the North Slave Metis Alliance (NSMA), Sholto Douglas has stepped down.

He tendered his resignation on Nov. 6.

The Fort Smith resident said he found the commute to and from Yellowknife too much of a strain for himself and his family.

"I did that before, but the kids were a lot younger, so they were easier to handle," said Douglas.

"Since I wasn't around a bit it's been a little more difficult for the mother."

Douglas and vice-president Bill Enge were elected in a leadership vote on Aug. 28. In the election, Douglas defeated his brother North Douglas, who won the presidency in 2003.

Enge said he will now assume the presidency for the remainder of the mandate until another vote is held at the NSMA's annual general meeting next fall.

Douglas previously served as vice-president of the NSMA, but was forced out of the position by then-president Clem Paul and the Alliance's board of directors in 1998.

Douglas later filed a lawsuit, claiming his removal was illegal, which is still before the courts.

The NSMA has been dogged by several lawsuits in recent years -- mainly by former executive members -- which Enge said will be his top priority to resolve while acting as president.

"First and foremost is to put an end to the lawsuits that the NSMA has been dealing with over the past few years," said Enge.

"Most important, I suppose, is the one that Sholto and I still have outstanding."

Enge is still awaiting a ruling on a lawsuit he filed against the NSMA. He is seeking damages on behalf of himself and 87 other Alliance members who were stripped of their memberships in 1998.

Territorial Supreme Court Justice Edward MacCallum ruled in their favour last year on the first part of the lawsuit. He agreed the removal of the disenfranchised members was illegal and violated their constitutional rights under the Alliance's mandate.

Enge said the second court action will seek financial compensation for the money he has spent to date on legal fees and restitution for the disenfranchised members who were denied services over the years.

Another lawsuit still facing the NSMA was filed by former president Clem Paul after he was fired by the board of directors in December 2002. He is claiming wrongful dismissal.

The NSMA also has a lawsuit outstanding against the federal and territorial governments and the Dogrib Treaty Council.

Enge said it's important to bring the lawsuits to a quick conclusion, so the NSMA can begin heal itself.

"We're doing our level best to act in the interest of our members in a holistic sense," said Enge.

"I think one of the steps to towards healing and solid support from our members is to put an end to these lawsuits."

Paul and North Douglas could not be reached for comment.