Yellowknife (Dec 10/04) - The president of the North Slave Metis Alliance says the organization will continue to function even though it can no longer legally hold board meetings due to a lack of quorum.

The Alliance's board of directors is down to only three members since both Tanya Lafferty and Hugh McSwain resigned, Nov. 12.

The resignations came only a week after Sholto Douglas stepped down as president.

His job went to vice-president Bill Enge, who, until last year, was involved in a bitter lawsuit to reinstate himself and 87 other members who were disenfranchised from the Alliance in 1998.

Under the Alliance's constitution, there needs to be four members present to reach quorum during board meetings. The board is required to meet at least four times a year.

Enge said he is not worried, however, since the board has already held five meetings since last August's election. He said the last board meeting was held shortly after Douglas resigned, Nov. 5.

"We're continuing with the day-to-day operations," said Enge. "There's some sour grapes because we won the election, but we're going to continue serving our members."

Enge said he doesn't know why Lafferty and McSwain resigned. Both were nominated to serve the interests of Alliance members living in Dogrib communities.

Neither could be reached for comment.

Enge said he expects new members will be appointed shortly. He said he would like to see his predecessor come back to sit on the board as a regular member.

"Sholto can't serve as president any more, but he might be able to continue in a director capacity," said Enge.

He added that despite earlier reports, including from the former president himself, the real reason Douglas resigned was because he was told there was a conflict of interest between his role as president and his job with the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development.

Douglas, however, reiterated that he resigned because he wanted to be closer to his family in Fort Smith.

He said at present it was very unlikely he could be persuaded to come back to the board -- even in a limited role.

"I'm back here in Fort Smith. I've got my job," said Douglas.

"It doesn't seem likely right now."

Douglas said the fair thing to do would be to hold elections in Rae to replace the two vacated board positions.

"Otherwise, Bill will just pick and choose who he wants on the board," said Douglas.

The Alliance's rules state that vacated board positions can be replaced by appointment.

Douglas said if anyone should be appointed, it ought to be his brother, North Douglas -- another former president -- because he came second in the last election.