Snowdrift (Mar 14/05) - There is confusion in Lutsel K'e about how far into the red the band's finances went under Chief Archie Catholique's leadership.

Acting band manager Ray Griffith originally told News/North in the three years Catholique has been chief, the the Lutsel K'e Dene band went from having more than $1 million in the bank to a deficit of $845,000.

Archie Catholique

He later called back to say the deficit number he provided was wrong, and was actually lower because the band had "significant payables, much of it coming from contribution agreements."

When asked what the actual deficit figure really is he said he didn't know.

Griffith said "there was serious mismanagement, obviously."

He said the mismanagement was largely occurred because of turnovers in Catholique's administration.

Griffith said the band went through four band managers and four financial officers last year.

"The issue is very clearly financial accountability," he said.

Griffith said the money was spent on band members.

He pointed to the band's "compassionate budget," which is there to help members who are sick or for funeral expenses.

"That went right out of control," said Griffith.

He said the whole leadership issue has caused a dramatic change in the community in the last few weeks.

Griffith said the membership was previously rather complacent.

"They had the attitude of let the chief and council look after it," said Griffith.

March 24 is the date set aside for an election to replace Catholique as chief.

He still claims to be the legitimate leader of the band, despite his ouster by a Feb. 7 membership vote.

Catholique met the recently-elected band council on March 8, even though he said the council that was ousted with him is legitimate.

"I talked to them about my two-year contract that I have," Catholique said, noting he asked to be paid out. "But it didn't work out."

Catholique said he will now talk to his lawyer about going to court.

"I haven't resigned," he said.

"Legally, I'm still the chief and I'm going to get the court to prove that."

He said no one has presented any facts to justify his dismissal, which he called a coup.

Griffith said following the chief's dismissal, Catholique asked for a position with the band as a treaty entitlement negotiator with a salary of $70,000 a year during the March 8 meeting.

It is currently filled by someone on contract.

"He said if he doesn't get the job, he'll take us to court," Griffith said, noting Catholique also asked for six weeks of severance pay.

Catholique said he is not sure how the idea of the position came up, but he is not interested in it.

On March 9, council met and rejected hiring Catholique for the position, calling it an unreasonable request, although they did approve six weeks' severance pay.

Sobriety rule

The band has also set March 16 for a special assembly to review its election code, in particular a sobriety rule for candidates for chief.

Griffith said the election code states a person must be sober for two years prior to running for chief.

"Some members feel that is too severely restrictive and undemocratic," he said.

The purpose of a change would be to get more candidates running for chief.

The rule caused the first election date on Feb. 24 to be postponed because the community soon realized one candidate met the requirement while another didn't.

Griffith said the community wanted a vote for chief and not an acclamation.

However, he notes the idea of changing the sobriety rule is contentious.

Catholique opposes changing the election code, noting it can only be amended at an annual general assembly.

"Of course, it's a bad idea," he says, noting it would not support the community's alcohol prohibition.