Snowdrift (Feb 14/05) - Chief Archie Catholique and his council have been ousted by members of the Lutsel K'e Dene Band.

But he refuses to accept the Feb. 7 membership vote which removed him from office.

Chief Archie Catholique, pictured here against the backdrop of Lutsel K'e, has been voted out as leader of the Lutsel K'e Dene Band, although he doesn't believe the membership can remove him.

"I'm still the chief," he says. "I'm not resigning."

Catholique says he may take legal action to challenge his dismissal. He is upset that opponents accused him of not being honest and of mismanaging band funds.

"My credibility is at stake here," he said.

At the Feb. 7 meeting, 67 people voted to oust Catholique and his council, while 23 supported them.

The vote didn't follow the band's custom election code of 2003, Catholique said, noting he could only be removed for drinking, being charged with an indictable offence or a serious violation of the code of conduct.

"There were no grounds to vote me out," he said.

Catholique has been chief for four years and has two more years left in his term.

Along with financial mismanagement, opponents accuse him of conflict of interest, with family and friends working for the band, and lack of communication with membership. But he believes the main issue of dispute is water bills. Some band members have never paid and were facing being possibly cut off. In addition, he says some businesspeople are upset about enterprises planned by the band, such as a hotel and restaurant. Sub-chief Charlie Catholique, who was removed from office along with the rest of council, was returned by the membership as the band's "interim spokesperson."

Elections will be held on Feb. 24 for a new chief and council, he said. Charlie Catholique says band affairs are now being looked after by staff. "The band's OK." The spokesperson declined further comment, noting the band will issue a news release this week. Other members of the ousted council are Irene Fatt, Terry Enzoe, George Marlowe and Steve Nitah.

Bernadette Lockhart, who describes herself as a spokesperson for the membership, is relieved the leadership dispute is over.

"I give credit to the people," she said.

As for Catholique's contention he is still chief, she said: "The way I see it, the vote (the membership) had was strong and they don't want him."

Lockhart says council was also dismissed because people want a start fresh, noting it did not follow members' request to remove Catholique through a non-confidence vote.

The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) is not involved in the power struggle.

"We don't have a role in that process because they're a custom election band, which means they've developed their own process," said George Cleary, DIAND's director of Indian and Inuit affairs in Yellowknife.