Tu Nedh茅-Wiilideh MLA Steve Norn doubled down Wednesday, refusing calls for him to resign in the midst of a Covid-19 controversy.

He issued a statement from office and called a recent letter by the Chiefs of the Yellownives Dene First Nation that recommended he step down SA国际影视传媒渁n act of betrayal.SA国际影视传媒�

In a a letter from Norn to Chiefs Ernest Betsina (NSA国际影视传媒檇ilo) and Ed Sangris (Dettah) and YKDFN council on May 5, the MLA said that the Dene leaders should have notified him directly of their feelings about his circumstance rather than send their Tuesday letter to Premier Caroline Cochrane, members of her cabinet and regular MLAs.

Cabin Radio first reported the existence of the letter

He told SA国际影视传媒 on Tuesday and Wednesday by phone that he wonSA国际影视传媒檛 be resigning.

Norn said in WednesdaySA国际影视传媒檚 letter that he was not pleased with BetsinaSA国际影视传媒檚 and SangrisSA国际影视传媒� lack of support.

SA国际影视传媒淩equesting my resignation through the premier and not addressing me directly was insulting, degrading and goes against all Dene laws and values,SA国际影视传媒� he wrote, adding that Betsina and Sangris never called him to check on his health or welfare.

SA国际影视传媒淚 consider your comments an act of betrayal, and the politicization of family and my own personal health is unbecoming and uncharacteristic of an Indigenous leader, let alone two leaders.SA国际影视传媒�

BetsinaSA国际影视传媒檚 and SangrisSA国际影视传媒� letter alleged that Norn disregarded SA国际影视传媒淐OVID-19 protocols and rules as established by the Office of the Chief Public Health OfficerSA国际影视传媒� and call the behaviour of the MLA reprehensible.

SA国际影视传媒淲e the Chiefs and our members recommend that you ask for the resignation of this MLA,SA国际影视传媒� they wrote to Cochrane and MLAs.

But NornSA国际影视传媒檚 letter said that the basis of the ChiefsSA国际影视传媒� comments are SA国际影视传媒渂ased on rumour, innuendo, and sensational hack journalismSA国际影视传媒� and possibly political motivations of others.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have delayed commenting publicly on my personal health as I have been waiting on facts to ensure no further misinformation, gossip and hate is spread onto my family and myself,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have no doubt that outside political pressure was applied and you both decided in haste and prematurely without all the pertinent information in front of you.SA国际影视传媒�

Norn goes on in the letter to state that the Government of the Northwest Territories chief public health officer has not linked recent spikes in COVID-19 cases to him or his family adding that SA国际影视传媒渁ll outstanding tests related to the Yellowknife cluster have been negative, thank the Creator for that.SA国际影视传媒�

Yellowknives Dene First Nation CEO Jason Snaggs referred all inquiries to Sangris.

Sangris was reached Wednesday evening but not had a chance to review the letter.