Tlicho leadership dispute goes to N.W.T. Supreme Court

An ongoing conflict within the Tlicho aboriginal government in the Northwest Territories is being dissected by lawyers Wednesday before the territory's Supreme Court.

The court is hearing a constitutional case brought by three of the Tlicho's four community chiefs, who had stormed out of the Tlicho assembly meeting in Behchoko, N.W.T., last fall when delegates did not support their efforts to oust Grand Chief George Mackenzie.

Mackenzie countered in November by suspending meetings of the Tlicho government's cabinet, the chiefs' executive council, on which the three dissenting chiefs held a majority. The chiefs appealed that decision to the Tlicho assembly and lost.

Then in January, the chiefs Behchoko Chief Leon Lafferty, Chief Charlie Nitsiza of Whati and Henry Gon of Gameti filed a lawsuit calling on the government to reinstate meetings of the chiefs' executive council.

As the court begins hearing the case Wednesday in Behchoko, the chiefs are arguing for the immediate reinstatement of the committee until the lawsuit is resolved.

Tlicho government lawyers are arguing that the Supreme Court does not have the authority to hear the case, as it is Tlicho government business.

The hearing is expected to wrap up Thursday.

The case comes during chief and council elections in each of the four communities, which also includes Wekweeti.