Mike w. Bryant
Northern News Services

Colville Lake (Sep 24/01) - The tiny community of Colville Lake has been in crisis since Aug. 8 when a band council election swept a new chief into office.

The community of Colville Lake has been at odds over new Chief Dora Duncan ever since elections were held Aug. 8. Some claim she is out of control, while others argue it was time the Kochon family's political dynasty came to a close.

The incumbent chief of 16 years, Richard Kochon lost to an upstart candidate Dora Duncan, and a largely new council was elected.

It was supposed to be a time of renewal and a promise of changes to be made for the future. Instead, the town's political process has stalled under accusations of fraud, arrogance and nepotism.

One side charges that the new chief is power hungry and out of control. The other claims that one family in town has had power for too long, and wishes to undo what has already been legally decided in band elections.

"Everything was going good until she got into office and created complete chaos," says band councillor Alvin Orlias of the embattled new chief.

Duncan became chief of Colville Lake -- population about 100 - by a vote of 35-to-28. The election results were never disputed, only the manner under which she has conducted herself since taking office.

The first sign of trouble came shortly after the newly elected council held their first public meeting Aug. 13. Long-time band manager Joseph Kochon, in an apparent disagreement with Duncan over the band's financial records, abruptly left his office.

Duncan says he resigned, other residents and band councillors claim she forced him out of office.

"She said he resigned, which was not true," says Coun. Sharon Tutcho. "He just took a leave of absence."

Joseph Kochon told News/North he took a 30-day leave of absence and is now back at work.

Duncan says she was immediately alarmed upon entering the band office to begin her official duties as chief. Confidential files and letters were left strewn about the office, and staff were ill-prepared and claiming hours for non-existent work, Duncan says.

She also says staff were not pleased to find themselves working under her. Duncan claims that staff made no bones about who they supported -- Richard and Joseph Kochon.

"I found them to be sitting around the office doing nothing," says Duncan. "I asked (one of the employees) what her job description was and she didn't know."

Another staff member, acting as assistant band manager, told her she was hired to "stand around over the other staff and act like the boss," Duncan says.

Rather than leaving them idle, Duncan says she instructed the two staff members to "clean the band manager's office because it was filthy."

Shortly thereafter, Duncan says, staff began quitting their posts or refusing to show up to work. Despite recent media reports, and among complaints made by residents and some council members, that indicate she terminated staff positions and forced a lockout, she says she never fired anybody.

On Aug. 31, after meeting with councillors Roland Codzi, Jackie Kochon, and Jennifer Duncan, she says it was decided to close down the band office while the community gathered at Horton Lake for their annual caribou hunt. It remained closed for 11 days -- six days after most of the community had returned to town.

"She took all the keys, changed the locks and left town," says Tutcho. "The maintenance man needed to check the furnace."

Orlias adds that during the office closure bills began to pile up and staff were not paid.

Duncan says she left for Fort Good Hope Sept. 9 to keep her daughter and grandson company and to clear her head while recuperating from the flu. Flight cancellations as a result of last week's terrorism attack in the U.S. prevented her from returning until the Sept. 14.

To make matters more contentious, says Tutcho, on Sept. 4, Duncan took current financial records and delivered them to the RCMP in Fort Good Hope, claiming that some financial statements were "not accurate" and "very vague."

The files are now in Yellowknife awaiting a review by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs.

MACA minister Roger Allen, saying he does not want to directly involve himself with Colville Lake's political problems, says the department will review financial records, but nothing will be done until "we reach [a] mediation (with chief and band council)."

In a CBC report on Sept. 19, Premier Stephen Kakfwi said he found a letter he received from Duncan "very negative about the Government of the Northwest Territories," but it was "good to see the council setting out to take some control of the situation."

Despite repeated attempts, Kakfwi could not be reached for comment.

Duncan says a majority of council is attempting to take control of the situation by having her and her daughter, Coun. Jennifer Duncan, removed from chair and council.

Jennifer Duncan is currently attending law school at the University of British Columbia.

"They are doing everything they can to get me to resign," claims Chief Duncan, referring to meetings dating back to Sept. 12, including one last Thursday by councillors and residents to determine a method for her dismissal.

"Council was at first willing to work with her," says Tutcho. "But she's writing letters that we're not aware of, and taking documents to the police that we're not aware of."

"She has to represent the community, but it didn't go that way."

For some residents, they just want the town's political problems resolved.

"Dora's been elected chief," says Bern Will Brown. "The Kochons, who have been running the place, lost and are not taking it very well. I hope things will iron themselves out soon."