Mystery surrounds mass resignations
Councillors Kyle Clille, Elsie Hardisty, George Moses quit posts
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Monday, April 11, 2016
PEDZEH KI/WRIGLEY
Three of six councillors at Pehdzeh Ki First Nation have resigned from their positions for undisclosed reasons.
Kyle Clille, Elsie Hardisty and George Moses all resigned in late March, leaving Albert Clille, Maurice Moses and Raymond Pellissey left on council, along with Chief Darcy E. Moses.
Reasons for their resignations were not clear and none of the councillors could be reached for comment.
The band declined a request from News/North for copies of resignation letters.
A confidential source told News/North on March 15 that conflict between the chief and a councillor had escalated into a physical dispute during a recent meeting.
Wrigley senior administrative officer Curtis Groom declined to comment on that information and directed questions to the chief, who could not be reached for comment.
Pehdzeh Ki First Nation announced a public meeting that was supposed to be held April 4 at the community gym. On the agenda for that meeting was the councillors' resignations.
News/North was asked not to be in attendance at that meeting, at the request of the chief.
On April 5, band manager Gaylene Moses said no members attended the meeting, prompting the band to re-schedule it for a later date.
A firm date for the meeting was not available at press time but Gaylene said it would likely take place after the ice crossing closes, since many of the band's members are not currently in the community.
In the meantime, Gaylene said remaining councillors are enough to meet quorum requirements for meetings. Chief and council plan to meet shortly to discuss the possibility of a by-election.
All three councillors who resigned had been elected or re-elected to their posts on Aug. 5, 2015, along with the chief, during the band's most recent election.
