TsiigehtchicSA国际影视传媒檚 Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council say they are sending requests to both the GNWT and the federal government to enter self-government negotiations.

The announcement follows an Oct. 5 GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council (GTC) board of directors meeting which suspended the Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n CouncilSA国际影视传媒檚 (GGCSA国际影视传媒檚) interim President Mavis Clark as a board director. The press release also accuses GTC Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik of SA国际影视传媒渟howing contemptSA国际影视传媒� for denying the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n council a seat at the GTCSA国际影视传媒檚 self-government negotiation table.

Speaking to Inuvik Drum, Clark said the GTC had left the GGC out of self-government negotiations because they submitted feedback to the grand chiefSA国际影视传媒檚 initial proposal for what to put on the table.

SA国际影视传媒淭he grand chief is the negotiator for the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n self-government team, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 the four communities that are negotiating this,SA国际影视传媒� said Clark. SA国际影视传媒淗e sent out a Power Point presentation and said this is what heSA国际影视传媒檚 going to be bringing to the main table, and our negotiator made a little bit of changes and sent it back.

SA国际影视传媒淗e said we shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be making changes to his presentations, that this isnSA国际影视传媒檛 the way it works and that his presentation would stand at the main table. And the next thing weSA国际影视传媒檙e blocked SA国际影视传媒� he sent out invites on who is going to main table session in Edmonton and I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 see our name on the itinerary list for who is supposed to be attending. I phoned and asked what was going on and he said we were blocked from the main table sessions because of our negative attitude.

SA国际影视传媒淛ust recently, we werenSA国际影视传媒檛 invited to the main table sessions in Ottawa. He said until SA国际影视传媒榯hese serious issuesSA国际影视传媒� are dealt with, but to date heSA国际影视传媒檚 never called our office or tried to come into Tsiigehtchic and sit down with us and have a meeting. How are we supposed to deal with these conflict issues if heSA国际影视传媒檚 not willing to sit down and discuss them?SA国际影视传媒�

As Clark has been suspended from the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Board of Directors, the Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council has appointed another council member to represent them at board meetings.

But after first having their feedback rejected and then finding themselves not allowed a seat at the table, Clark said the GGC have decided theySA国际影视传媒檙e better off negotiating on their own.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e elected leaders to stand up for our community,SA国际影视传媒� said Clark. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e a community thatSA国际影视传媒檚 so unique. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 have social services. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 have income support. We donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a nurse. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 lots of SA国际影视传媒榳e donSA国际影视传媒檛 haves.SA国际影视传媒� WeSA国际影视传媒檙e isolated two, sometimes three, four times of the year, even with a ferry running, sometimes the water is high and they canSA国际影视传媒檛 come to our landing.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 lots of unique situations in our small community that they donSA国际影视传媒檛 understand. They donSA国际影视传媒檛 live here, they donSA国际影视传媒檛 know whatSA国际影视传媒檚 going on. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e the ones that know what we need and should be negotiating self-government and sitting at the table for our community SA国际影视传媒� and theySA国际影视传媒檙e not letting us do that.

SA国际影视传媒淚f they donSA国际影视传媒檛 want us at the table, weSA国际影视传媒檒l do it ourselves. How are we being disrespectful by speaking up for our community?SA国际影视传媒�

Tsiigehtchic is a community of close to 175 people.

SA国际影视传媒楾reated as kidsSA国际影视传媒�

Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council executive director Lawrence Norbert said the GTC has been overbearing toward the local government for some time. He noted in his previous role as chief negotiator for the GGC, he went to present to the grade 7, 8 and 9 classes at Chief Paul Niditchie School on how self-government negotiations work and to encourage the students to complete their education.

Following the presentation, the class sent him nine questions to ask the grand chief on their behalf, four which he said he sent to the grand chief for clarification.

SA国际影视传媒淗e did not like the fact I went ahead and did a school presentation without his approval,SA国际影视传媒� said Norbert. SA国际影视传媒淚 was appointed by council to advocate on their behalf and negotiate a self-government agreement, but also part of that is to do community outreach and that includes the school.

SA国际影视传媒淲e were just flabbergasted. We canSA国际影视传媒檛 even make a school presentation. I couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 believe it. It was really disconcerting. We just canSA国际影视传媒檛 ask questions without being treated as kids.SA国际影视传媒�

Norbert said he felt the GTC was mistaking dissent with disloyalty.

He added he specifically expressed his concerns during a GGC meeting in August, where he said, SA国际影视传媒淎s the former GGC negotiator, I am asking who made the decision to prohibit the attendance of the GGC negotiator from the July 2022 main table session in Edmonton? Who made the decision to replace the Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n negotiator with the chief executive office of the GTC, a non-GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n with no constituents to report to? Were the grounds for such a prohibition supported by the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Negotiations Team and/or GTC board? Was written notice provided to the GGC Council and/or negotiator prior to the July session in order to make a response; and what justification SA国际影视传媒� let alone authority SA国际影视传媒� does he have for withholding main table documents for preparation on our part?SA国际影视传媒�

According to GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council Bylaw No. 1, SA国际影视传媒� (a) any director: (i) whose conduct is considered to be detrimental to the interests, reputation, or objects of the tribal council, or is not in good standing, or (ii) misses three (3) consecutive meetings of the board without a valid reason provided to the board, where such meetings are held with notice provided in accordance with this bylaw; may be suspended from the board by an ordinary resolution of the board.SA国际影视传媒�

Clark noted she had missed the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n National Assembly in August due to medical travel, but had not missed any board meetings that she was aware of.

Instead, she said she was being disciplined for speaking out against a bootlegger in town.

SA国际影视传媒淚 posted on my personal Facebook page,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 called a local bootlegger out and he called the GTC and said I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 supposed to be slandering him because I was a board director. So they had a talking to me.

SA国际影视传媒淎ll our social issues are coming from bootleggers. As a leader, I should be able to speak and say SA国际影视传媒楲ook, this has to stopSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� I didnSA国际影视传媒檛 use those words, I said stronger words. But they said I wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 supposed to be doing that on Facebook.SA国际影视传媒�

Gwichya GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council is not the first Designated GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Organization to explore self-government negotiations. The previous Nihtat GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Council administration was also pursuing a similar file that also included a merger with the Inuvik Native Band, but have not continued following a change in leadership.

All four DGOs are currently undergoing a forensic audit, which is expected to be completed later this year.

Inuvik Drum has reached out to the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal Council for comment.