Push to remove Liard First Nation chief grows after meeting for members

Grassroots organizers say they're confident most Liard First Nation members will support ousting its chief.

Following a community meeting Tuesday, calls to push out Chief Stephen Charlie appear to be growing.

Members of First Nation gathered at the town's recreation centre in Watson Lake, Yukon, to vote on a non-confidence motion to remove him. 

The meeting was organized by Dene Ā́ Nezen, a group which formed in October to address concerns around Charlie's leadership. This month, two of the group's organizers were fired for publicly criticizing the First Nation's governance. 

Over 100 members showed up in person and via Zoom to express their concerns on Tuesday. Three out of six councillors were also there, with a fourth expressing support but unable to attend. 

Dene Ā́ Nezen leaders have been collecting signatures from members on a petition to remove Charlie for weeks, and efforts to reach the simple majority needed to oust the chief from office are still underway. 

Organizers Diana Lee Jimmy and Emeral Poppe said they need roughly 527 signatures — 50 per cent plus one, of the voting membership — to remove Charlie. They currently have 170 signatures. Still, they see Tuesday's vote as a victory.

Charlie speaks out

On Tuesday, Charlie addressed the turmoil within the First Nation publicly for the first time in a letter posted to social media. 

"It saddens me to have to write this letter to the membership of Liard First Nation, but I can no longer remain silent as my character, my leadership and even my father are attacked," he wrote. "These individuals are spreading lies that question the motivations behind my leadership."

Charlie also wrote that Tuesday's meeting was not official or sanctioned by the First Nation. 

He said the only "recognized mechanism" to remove a chief is through a petition with over 50 per cent of Liard First Nation (LFN) members' signatures. 

He also accused CBC of airing "harmful falsehoods" in its radio coverage of Dene Ā́ Nezen. Charlie declined a request for an interview. 

"LFN is not under third-party management," Charlie wrote in the letter. 

During the meeting, that issue was raised by an LFN member. Even the First Nation's own officials aren't sure.

Coun. Kyla Magun said that's been the subject of confusion, and cited a general lack of clarity from leadership on financial matters. 

"As far as I'm aware, we are no longer in third-party, but I have not received any confirmation on that in particular, because those are just some things that we have been refused answers to," she said. 

Deputy Chief Harlan Schilling said he asked the federal government over a year ago to clarify whether the First Nation is under third-party management.

Schilling said he was told the federal government had defunded the program that monitors First Nations in third-party management. 

"When I asked, 'So can you tell me, is my Nation in good standing?' As the deputy chief, I was told to go back to the Liard First Nation office and find out," Schilling said to members.

Schilling said Charlie has refused to hold mandated council-of-the-whole meetings — which include four councillors elected in Watson Lake and two in B.C.— for months at a time.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada has not responded to a request for comment.