Glen Korstrom
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Apr 23/99) - Several Gwich'in beneficiaries blasted Gwich'in Tribal Council president Richard Nerysoo and vice- presidents Louise Lennie and James Wilson for not attending meetings, listening to concerns or otherwise communicating with them.

"They had one week (notice) to come -- one week to respond and they disrespect us by not even coming here," beneficiary Robert Bourque told the Nihtat Gwich'in Council meeting, April 15.

"I think it's about time we did something."

Beneficiaries at the meeting discussed how to go about removing executive members from office for not doing their job. Others brought up the idea of the NGC separating from the GTC entirely. But band Chief James Firth says he does not think Inuvik Gwich'in need to go that far to be recognized.

"All I'm doing is asking for direction," he says.

"I'm not trying to make anyone look bad."

When asked about not attending meetings with beneficiaries, all Nerysoo would say is that the NGC is playing political games. He said he is pleased with the support beneficiaries in Inuvik have given him in the past.

To indicate just how deep communication problems are, Firth says when he sends a fax to the GTC executive, he saves the fax transmission form in case members claim no fax was received. And his faxes do not get a response, he says.

The GTC executive has not held a meeting with beneficiaries since Dec. 10, a situation Fort McPherson beneficiary Rick Wilson says leaves him "frustrated," according to a letter he wrote to the NGC.

Many beneficiary concerns that passed as resolutions at an assembly in Aklavik last year were rehashed at the April 15 meeting, despite the lack of the GTC executive.

Some NGC members pushed hot buttons, such as how few beneficiaries have been hired to senior positions within Gwich'in organizations.

"Is there anyone being trained?" Bourque asked at the meeting.

"I thought that was the deal. (Non-Gwich'in) would come up and train someone. Has that happened anywhere?"

Firth told the meeting that although there are good people on the Gwich'in Development Corporation board, where Nerysoo acts as interim president, some feel new ideas for jobs and development will not get anywhere because the GTC executive will try to stop it.

"So I can't tell you if we're creating jobs," he told the public NGC meeting.

Other Gwich'in questioned executive salaries of $85,000 (plus benefits) for the GTC president and $75,000 each (plus benefits) for GTC vice-presidents when administrative staff at the band office do not get a full benefits package.