by Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

LIARD (Jan 16/98) - Acho Dene Koe Chief Harry Deneron has hotly denied suggestions by Fort Liard resident Dave Sawatsky that he and his council have cut residents out of the First Nation's development corporation.

In a column submitted to the Deh Cho Drum, Sawatsky, who is CEO of the local Metis Development Corporation, says that while residents were told that a December meeting was called to remove Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake from the corporation -- a housekeeping item since the two communities now have their own First Nation structures -- corporation shareholders were in fact themselves removed from the corporation.

In their place, Deneron and his council members are now the sole members of the corporation's board.

"For the time being, the council is the board," Deneron said in response. "But in time that will change...The band's membership is over 500 and we are elected on their behalf."

"There's no stink at all."

A copy of the bylaw clearly states that: "the membership of the (Liard Valley Band Development Corporation) corporation shall at all times be limited to those persons who have been elected from time to time as the chief and councillors of the Acho Dene Koe Band Council."

Deneron described the move as a housekeeping item and said that local band members are in fact represented on the new board through their elected representatives.

As for Sawatsky, he says he is standing behind his original view.

"The important thing here is that shareholders at that meeting were mislead," he said Tuesday. "He (Chief Deneron) told everyone that this was just about Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake -- not about the entire membership of the development corporation."