Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Wrigley (Nov 01/02) - If Pehdzeh Ki band members selected a new chief on Wednesday, legal action is imminent.

"If they do, I'm going to take it to court," former chief Percy Hardisty told the Drum prior to the vote. He added he has an injunction against an election.

"I'm in the right."

Elsie Hardisty, acting chief since Percy Hardisty was deposed in August, resigned on Oct. 17. Elsie Hardisty said she stepped down because "there's no confidence in the councillors."

Council failed to keep its promise to help local businesses and band members seeking student financial assistance, she said.

"Every time they came around to ask for help, (the councillors) turned them down. They went back on their word," Hardisty said.

To replace her, band manager Mike Canadien said, the First Nation would use a traditional selection process rather than an election.

Fifty-one per cent or more of Pehdzeh Ki membership had to be present at Wednesday's meeting to make the choice official.

"Traditionally when they had a leader and the leader was sort of a detriment to the tribe or clan, they got rid of him and replaced (him) with a more competent leader," Canadien said.

He added that he is not worried about repercussions from Percy Hardisty.

"At one point he indicated he wanted mediation ... now he wants to settle this back in court," he said.

"We don't know what he's really doing. He changes his mind, he's not consistent."

If nothing gets done due to a poor turnout at Wednesday's meeting, the band will face inaction without a chief to help make decisions and sign documents, Canadien said.

"If we don't have any leader, it's hard for us to (achieve) any industrial or economic development," he said.

Percy Hardisty said he intends to broach the Wrigley leadership issue while in Fort Providence for the Deh Cho First Nations fall leadership assembly this week.