Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services

Wrigley (Jan 27/06) - David Moses has been removed as chief of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation in Wrigley.

At a public membership meeting on Jan. 22, a motion was passed unanimously to dissolve the present leadership and call for a general election on Feb. 2, according to a press release issued by the band.

Leading up to the decision, three council members, Michael Neyelle, Mary Alice Christopher and Alfred Williams, resigned their positions on Jan. 16.

Narcotics charges against Moses were one of the main concerns for the community, said Neyelle.

Moses was arrested on Nov. 4, 2005, and charged with possession of marijuana not exceeding 30 grams. He pleaded not guilty in Justice of the Peace court.

Lack of communication between Moses and the membership was another deciding issue, said Neyelle. He said Moses didn't provide enough information about decisions that were made at a local and regional level.

Neyelle wouldn't comment on his own reasons for resigning as a councillor, but noted that Moses' removal as chief was one of the suggestions he made in his letter of resignation.

"It doesn't really bother me," said Moses when he was contacted to comment about his removal as chief.

"If I don't have 100 per cent of the membership behind me I don't want to be their chief," he said.

Moses said he will not fight this decision. Moses said he had already made plans to resign as chief at a leadership meeting in Trout Lake.

This is not the first time Moses has lost his position as chief. He was removed from the position at a June 22, 2005, meeting. Band members later voted to re-install him at a public meeting on July 7.

Moses said the same approximately 20 people who tried to petition to have him removed as chief in November are behind the motion that dissolved his leadership.

While he will not be running for chief in this election, Moses does not rule out the possibility of running in the future if the membership asks him.

He is considering running as a councillor.

"I don't need to be in leadership. I just want to better the community," he said.