Acho Dene Koe eyes early election
Acho Dene Koe First Nation councillors working on election options after suspension of chief Harry Deneron
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, March 23, 2017
ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD
Acho Dene Koe First Nation is considering holding an early election, according to band councillor Sonia Timbre.
On March 9, councillors voted to suspend Harry Deneron as chief after band-owned companies filed a lawsuit against Deneron alleging he had not acted in their best interests.
The sub-chief would normally be appointed as acting chief. However, in an e-mail to the Deh Cho Drum on March 21, Timbre stated that the band's sub-chief position is currently vacant and councillors "are not aware of any (band council resolutions) passed for the sub-chief position."
"The majority of the council along with the support of the community are in favour of an early election," she wrote.
"That is something we are in the process of working on."
Timbre said it is too early to say how the band will be dealing with its land claim negotiations, for which Deneron is a negotiator.
"It is premature to deal with (that) at this point in time. The band council is investigating as we speak," Timbre stated.
Deneron did not comment by press time.
At the beginning of March, Beaver Enterprises and ADK Holdings filed a lawsuit against Deneron in the Supreme Court of the NWT accusing him of breaching his fiduciary duty toward them.
Beaver Enterprises is a band-owned construction company, while ADK Holdings Ltd. is a development corporation whose subsidiaries operate on behalf of Acho Dene Koe First Nation.
None of the allegations contained in the lawsuit have been proven in court, but the band confirmed on March 15 it had lost confidence in Deneron.
At the time, Timbre said councillors felt he was not acting in the best interests of the band.
Elections normally take place every three years for Acho Dene Koe First Nation. The last election was held in August 2014.
