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INUVIK - Members of the Elders Advisory Council in Fort McPherson remain tightlipped over a letter they sent to the Gwich'in Tribal Council Board of Directors last month which questions possible abuse of power within the tribal council leadership.

Several members, including the letter's author, Robert Alexie, said the issue is internal and refused to comment on the letter.

Richard Nerysoo, GTC president, downplayed the concerns in an interview a few weeks after the five-page letter, dated March 3.

He said the document, which takes direct aim at his leadership ability, was not representative of the opinions of most Gwich'in community members. He refused to discuss personnel concerns, arguing it's against government confidentiality rules.

"I try to be within the law, respect the law," he said. "But don't blame someone else if the rules are there and you follow them."

The letter begins by stating that several people from Gwich'in communities to the general public believe the organization is "falling apart."

Citing Section 19 of the GTC bylaws, the elders' advisory council requests the board of directors to investigate three areas of concern: why several senior staff members, including Tom Williams, Tammy Rogers and Greg Cayen, have left since last June when Nerysoo was elected; the GTC Executive's dismissal of Karen Snowshoe last January, who the letter states was a well-respected representative; and whether the executive is misleading land claim participants and the board of directors.

"Under the past president, we were finally seeing our organization grow strong," states the letter. "Now we are worried that the organization is growing weak."

Nerysoo said he has worked painstakingly to be accountable and transparent.

"I've tried to respect what is in the land claim agreement and at the same time get these things working. It respects Treaty 11, the chief's responsibility and the duty of the tribal council to negotiate a self-government agreement based on the land claim agreement."

Although Nerysoo said he signs off on dismissals, he said he has "never asked anyone to leave," and that many of those employees' decisions to move on came before he was elected.

The letter also states he didn't allow Snowshoe to deal with a personal tragedy, an accusation he flatly denies.

"No one is foolish enough not to let people grieve," he said. "That's insanity. How can anyone say those kinds of things?"

He said such concerns should have been voiced in a group meeting.

"If there are issues that are raised, should there not have been even a request for someone attend the meeting to explain these issues?" he said. "That would have been fair."