Lawsuit forces Tlicho government to suspend session

A session of the young Tlicho aboriginal government ended soon after it began Tuesday, when its leadership was servedwith notice of a lawsuit, initiated by the chiefs of three of the four Tlicho communities.

Tlicho Grand Chief George Mackenzie responded by adjourning the assembly session, which had just begun, until the government can decide what to do about the lawsuit.

The suit has revived a leadership dispute between Mackenzie and chiefs Charlie Nitsiza of Whati, Leon Lafferty of Behchoko, and Henry Gon of Gameti.

The three chiefs argue that the suspension of the chiefs executive committee in November 2008 was unconstitutional.

The committee, which is the Tlicho government's cabinet, is composed of Mackenzie and the four community chiefs.

Chief Charlie Football of Wekweeti, the fourth Tlicho community, is not involved in the lawsuit.

The same three chiefs who launched the lawsuit also called for Mackenzie to resign in the fall of 2007, claiming that he did not have the leadership skills to run the government.

Members at a special assembly in October 2007 expressed their support for Mackenzie's leadership.

Mackenzie and the four chiefs were elected to office in 2005, shortly after the Tlicho, formerly known as Dogrib, formed their own government.