Philippe Morin
Northern News Services
Monday, February 5, 2007

FORT GOOD HOPE - It is a sad story which is especially poignant in a dry town.

Chief Ron Pierrot, who spent three and a half years as leader of the K'asho Got'Ine Community Council in Fort Good Hope, resigned last month as a result of what he called alcohol abuse.

Pierrot said there was simply too much grief and loss in the community, and it came to overwhelm his better judgment.

He said he will seek help for his drinking, and lent his support to the community's new chief, Lucy Jackson, who was appointed Jan 22.

"Everybody has faults," Pierrot said.

"Sometimes you make the decision to bury your sorrows with alcohol, and it's not the right decision. I never thought this would happen to me."

The community of Fort Good Hope faced a lot tragedy this year and Pierrot said he faced enormous pressure as Chief.

He recalled having difficulty being in the public eye, while dealing with his own grief.

Pierrot pointed to a boating accident in July which killed three men.

One of the victims his foster child, and Pierrot knew the other two victims.

On Aug. 16, when six people died in a plane crash, Pierrot said he'd been joking with the passengers two days before, and his niece, Judith Pierrot, was among the deceased.

I guess I never really dealt with those issues, and it deteriorated" he said on Feb. 3.

"There is so much loss and grief, and it builds up until you can't function any more."

One hamlet source, who did not wish to be named, said many in the community wish him well.

"He was a really good chief, but in the end it was the grief that got to him," the individual said.