Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Friday, June 8, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Yellowknives Dene Dettah Chief Peter Liske's attempt to extend his term to September was voted down by about 100 band members Wednesday at a special meeting in Ndilo.

"No one was ousted, as some people are saying, we just made some changes (and) a new election date is going to be decided Monday," said Jeanne Cadieux, Yellowknives Dene CEO, who declined any further comment.

Liske was also tight-lipped.

"I'm still the chief and we're setting a date next Monday for our election, that's all I'm going to say," he said.

But according to band councillor Shirley Tsetta, members present Wednesday settled on a June 25th vote and Monday's meeting in Dettah is for council to ratify the decision.

Council and Liske will remain in their roles until a new chief and council are elected.

"All the fuss was that council had made a decision to extend (Liske's) term to September," said Tsetta.

The decision to change the election date was made behind closed doors and prompted a petition that called for the removal of council, Liske and N'dilo chief Fred Sangris.

According to one Yellowknives band member present at Wednesday's meeting, who wished to remain anonymous, Sangris will remain until the end of his mandate in 2009.

Tsetta said she will run again if nominated and due to a November 2006 council decision there will be no councillors elected by acclamation. The current roster of five Dettah and five Ndilo councillors were acclaimed in 2005.

"At the meeting people said they didn't have the choice last time so now they want an election," she said adding that nominations would remain open until there were enough candidates to hold a vote.

Tsetta, who supported the petition but did not sign it, "because I'm on council," said all members and the current council want better communication.

"When they made the decision to change the election, there was no quorum... it's a huge problem when there's no communication," Tsetta said. "All councillors are accountable for decisions made and when these are made that other councillors are not aware this creates conflict."