Yellowknife (Oct 31/03) - A senior Indian and Northern Affairs official plead not guilty, Tuesday, in Territorial Court to a charge of wasting meat.

Lorne Tricoteux, assistant regional director of the federal department's Yellowknife office, is one of four men charged under the Territories' Wildlife Act.

Alexander Glowach, an acting manager with Indian Affairs, Eddy Quitte and Leon Rabesca, both of Rae, are not expected to enter pleas until the case returns to court, Nov. 18.

The four men were charged Sept. 3, almost a year after Akaitcho Treaty 8 chiefs found caribou carcasses near Indian Hill Lake.

They were each charged with 16 counts of wasting meat, but those were combined, Tuesday, to a single charge against each involving 16 animals.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of a $1,000 fine and a year in jail.