Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

INUVIK (Oct 22/99) - With its executive director and board president having resigned, the Inuvialuit Communications Society in Inuvik is facing a crisis this week.

Details remain sketchy, but board president Frank Hansen confirmed Tuesday that he had tendered his resignation last week.

"I can't provide any comments now," he said, "the board is still meeting and I'm waiting to find out what they've done."

Hansen also confirmed that ICS executive director Darlene Cave had likewise tendered her resignation, but Cave could not be reached for comment.

Hansen said the remaining members of the board, made up of representatives from each of the six Inuvialuit settlement communities, had been meeting in Inuvik and that Steve Cockney from Tuktoyaktuk had been named as interim president or board chairman.

Meanwhile, Dennis Inglangasuk, executive director of Turning Point, said his wife, Valerie Shingtok-Inglangasuk, was also contemplating resigning from ICS, and her position as finance and office manager. He said the crisis stemmed from conflicts among the management over the way the society was being run and reformed.

Inglangasuk said Canadian Heritage in Yellowknife is the society's biggest funder and had sent representatives to Inuvik to meet with the board. But ICS staff reported Tuesday that only board members could comment on the current situation. No other news was forthcoming and a message left for the board was not answered.

The ICS has been heavily involved with the launch and production of the national Aboriginal People's Television Network since last summer.