Wrigley votes out chief and council
Pehdzeh Ki votes no confidence in chief and remainder of council
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, May 12, 2016
PEHDZEH KI/WRIGLEY
Members of Pehdzeh Ki First Nation have voted to remove their chief and remaining councillors after a vote of non-confidence during a public meeting held May 7.
According to draft minutes of the meeting obtained by the Deh Cho Drum from a member of the public who did not want to be named, 30 band members attended, including council members and band staff.
Nineteen band members voted in favour of dissolving the present chief and council effective immediately, with one member abstaining and none voting against the motion.
The non-confidence vote comes a little more than one month after three of the band's six councillors resigned from their positions. 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 resignations of the first three were never given to the newspaper.
All councillors and the chief were elected or re-elected to their posts on Aug. 5 during the band's most recent election.
Band members also voted to hold a byelection for the position of chief and six councillors. Nominations for the election are expected to run from May 9 to 13, with election day set for May 18 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
That motion was carried with no abstentions.
According to the minutes, members discussed the roles and responsibilities of community leaders, as well as the need for leaders who can participate, work together and put the future of the land and children at the forefront.
An emergency public meeting was also called for May 10 at 6 p.m. A notice for that meeting asks all members who voted for dissolution of chief and council to attend, as well as movers and seconders of the motions. Details of that meeting were not available at press time.
When contacted for comment, band manager Gaylene Moses declined to answer questions about the public meeting or the vote.
Darcy E. Moses was chief in 2009, when 23 band members voted to remove chief and council as well as the band's senior administrative officer. However, the Department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada continued to recognize the chief and council because Pehdzeh Ki First Nation did not have a ratified code to allow for non-confidence votes.
A representative of the department was unable to say by press time whether the May 7 non-confidence vote is binding.
