Yellowknife (May 02/05) - Fort Good Hope negotiator and former premier Stephen Kakfwi says he is "disgusted" that the Mackenzie Land and Water Board has confirmed Todd Burlingame as its chairman.

Calling Burlingame's appointment "blatantly political," Kakfwi said "we can't be determining our own future if we're always bowing to Ottawa."

The board met privately in Inuvik last Thursday to consider allegations of conflict of interest and apprehension of bias against Burlingame.

A brief statement issued after the meeting said that "upon hearing evidence provided by Burlingame and reviewing the analysis" by the board's lawyer, they concluded that "the chair dealt with the concerns raised."

The statement was signed by Burlingame, Larry Wallace, chair of the Sahtu Land and Water Board, and Willard Hagen, chair of the Gwich'in Land and Water Board.

Burlingame suspended business of the board two weeks ago when members of a water board panel passed a resolution asking him to stand aside until the issues were resolved.

The panel based its resolution on a legal opinion that the board's decision might be subject to a challenge if Burlingame were a salaried employee of the Indian and Northern Affairs Department.

Indian Affairs Minister Andy Scott appointed Burlingame to the top post over the heads of three persons the board recommended for the job.

Kakfwi, who had earlier announced he is seeking to replace Blondin-Andrew as the NWT's member of parliament, lashed out at Premier Joe Handley, saying the appointment could have been cancelled had Handley fought harder to have it rescinded.

"He should've demanded it," he said.

Kakfwi put the blame squarely on Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

"The minister (Scott) said he never met this guy," said Kakfwi.

"Then why would he give him the job, and if he didn't know him then he's a fool. It's obvious Burlingame was on the phone with (Blondin-Andrew)."