Fort Liard (Nov 30/01) - A petition calling for the resignation of Chief Judy Kotchea, sub-chief Jim Duntra and band councillor Philip Betthale is circulating in Fort Liard.

A source in the community, who asked not to be identified, said over 100 people have signed the document. They are allegedly angered by the disparity between the wealthy and the poor in the community.

The highest paid employees of Beaver Enterprises, an oil and gas service sector company, are rewarded with exorbitant salaries, according to the source.

"They're making outrageous amounts of money ... (while) some people are going on social assistance," the source said. "When they issue this to the chief she just doesn't respond.

"Beaver was started off by natives. Natives put the money in there ... and then they only get $17 or $18 (an hour) and they've worked with Beaver for 10 years. That's why they're fighting back."

Kotchea said she's heard about the petition, but she has no intention of resigning. She invited its backers to express any concerns at Thursday's band meeting, or visit her office to discuss things face to face.

Although she is vice-president of the Beaver Enterprises board, Kotchea declined to comment on salaries paid to any employee. However, she said the band-owned company has begun offering benefits, bonuses and life insurance for all Beaver employees within the past year.

The company made that decision to remain competitive in attracting workers, according to Kotchea.

One problem is that some band members demand upper level jobs, Kotchea suggested, but those positions require post-secondary education.

"It's not a company where we can stick just anybody in there to do a job that they're not qualified for," she said, adding that the band encourages members to attain the training and education necessary to fill management positions. In the meantime they must hire other qualified Northerners or southerners, sometimes referred to as "outsiders."

"Discrimination only divides the people. We live in a very small community ... we need to work together," Kotchea said.

Another issue that Kotchea said she encounters is a lack of jobs in and near Fort Liard. Due to the NWT's regulatory regime and, sometimes, weather conditions, some projects do not go ahead as planned. The Acho Dene Koe have forged partnerships with First Nations in Alberta and B.C. to ensure jobs are available, but it's up to band members to pursue those jobs, she noted.

"We can't satisfy everybody," she said.