YELLOWKNIFE - The doors which once welcomed Barbara Powless-LaBelle were closed in her face last Thursday. No longer considered a member of Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Powless-Labelle was refused entry to a council meeting.

Barbara Powless-LaBelle is prevented from entering a band council meeting of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation last Thursday by band CEO Jeanne Cadieux. - Christine Grimard/NNSL photo

Jeanne Cadieux, CEO of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, stood in the door, blocking Powless-LaBelle's way, telling her the meeting was for band councillors and band members only, and that she no longer qualified as either.

"You got your publicity shots, now go," said Cadieux to Powless-LaBelle before closing the door.

Cadieux and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation are not commenting on why Powless-LaBelle was dismissed from the band, saying the matter is being dealt with internally.

Powless-LaBelle said she has yet to be given a reason for her dismissal from the band and council in November. She said she believes she was kicked out of the band for asking too many questions on where money from a mine impact benefit agreement was being spent.

Powless-LaBelle said she believes the band has received approximately $14 million since 1999. She is concerned that she hasn't seen that money being put towards community projects. Powless-LaBelle said that she had asked for a forensic audit to track where the money was going, in response to concerns that were raised to her by other band members.

"There's no accountability for it, no detail." said Powless-LaBelle. "We wanted to know where this money would actually go."

She said she believes the band could receive between $30 and $40 million in the next 18 years.

Powless-LaBelle filed a lawsuit in federal court on Dec. 18, seeking assistance from the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

The department has limited jurisdiction on the internal matters of the band and cannot alter the decision to remove her from council, but the First Nation cannot legally have revoked her membership.