Fort Simpson (Mar 03/03) - An LKFN membership meeting has been called in the aftermath of Sub-Chief Keyna Norwegian's challenge of Chief Rita Cli's authority at the regional leadership table in Wrigley last month.

After Cli approved a resolution regarding the Interim Resources Development Agreement (IRDA), which included several amendments, Norwegian publicly questioned Cli's judgment.

"Before we went to the meeting, she was instructed not to agree with anything that goes against the LKFN's position ... anything that jeopardizes our authority over our lands," Norwegian explained afterwards.

"If LKFN members are not properly represented, as sub-chief I have the right to say what I want to say. I want the rest of the Deh Cho to know where the LKFN stands. If Rita wasn't prepared to do that, I was."

A meeting of all LKFN band members has been scheduled for March 19.

LKFN council decided to call the membership meeting after convening last Tuesday evening, according to Chief Cli.

The focus of Tuesday's meeting was the dispute between Cli and Norwegian at the DCFN winter leadership assembly in Wrigley last week. The LKFN's role within the DCFN is the primary issue, according to Cli. The LKFN membership meeting on March 19 will allow band members to ask questions and chart a course of action.

"There's some people that are very dissatisfied. They're saying that they don't have to wait for the 19th, they'll call their own meeting," Cli said following Tuesday's special council session.

Prior to last Tuesday's meeting, Norwegian wouldn't comment on whether she thought Cli should resign. She said the issue should be resolved at a band meeting that was to be held the following night.

"I know I've had people come to my defence," Cli said. "I really, really have a concern when I am publicly attacked ... there is a power struggle."

The LKFN drafted its own position paper on economic development last year, but the document states that it will respect "the spirit and intent of the Deh Cho process." So there shouldn't be a problem, Cli suggested.

"Sometimes you have to send the message to industry and to the government that you're together on this fight," she said. "LKFN is part of Deh Cho First Nations ... we never want to jeopardize Deh Cho process."

Cli, who has been LKFN chief since 1997, said she has spent countless hours pouring over background material.

"I know what I'm talking about," she said. "I would never, ever sell my people out."

Asked for comment on the fallout from the incident, Deh Cho Grand Chief Michael Nadli said it's an internal matter for the LKFN to resolve.

Yet he added, "When we come to the table as chiefs of individual communities, we have to put the interests of the greater nation first."