Wrigley (Jun 23/06) - Gabe Hardisty and the six-member council of Pehdzeh Ki First Nations stepped down on June 15.

The move was made during a public meeting in which a petition was presented by band members asking that councillors Albert Moses, Darcy Moses and Alfred Williams step down, Sharon Pellissey, acting senior administrative officer, said.

The signed petition stated that the public had lost confidence in the councillors, according to Pellissey.

The petition was started a month ago and during the meeting, the 15 in attendance noted that it should have been dealt with earlier, before more confidence was lost, she said.

After a decision couldn't be reached, a band member suggested the whole council and chief should resign.

Lack of confidence was not the reason behind the petition, Hardisty said, adding the petition was started by three male community members who were disgruntled over the council's decision to stop making advance payments on paycheques.

Many of the 21 people who signed the petition are not even sure why they put their name to it, Hardisty said.

Petitions are a common tactic in the community.

"Every time they don't get their way around here, they push out a petition," he said.

The council has been dealing with the issue of advance payments since February when they were stopped, Hardisty said.

The practice was allowed by the previous leadership, he said.

Hardisty said his council also stopped the practice of people using the band's vehicles for personal use.

This council has been trying to make a difference and insure band money was kept for proper expenses, Hardisty said.

At the public meeting, there were no grounds for the dismissal of the three councillors, he said. After listening to one thing after another, Hardisty said both he and the councillors decided to step down.

"We just said if you guys aren't happy with us we'll go," Hardisty said.

Hardisty is worried the quick turnover in leaders is hampering the community's development. This council was elected on Feb. 2 following removal of former chief David Moses on Jan. 22.

The community is already two years behind everyone else on the issue of land claims, he said.

"We are never going to get anywhere," Hardisty said.

The election process has begun to replace the chief and council.

Elections will be held on July 7. In the interim, six members of the community have been selected to travel to the assembly in Kakisa.

Administration has not been effected by the recent events and it is business as usual at the band office, Pellissey said.