Tsiigehtchic’s Gwichya Gwich’in Council says it is taking the Gwich’in Tribal Council, its parent, to court over alleged “oppressive, unfair and prejudicial conduct.”
The Gwichya Gwich’in Council or GGC is a “designated Gwich’in organization,” one of four under the umbrella of the Gwich’in Tribal Council.
In a Sunday news release, the GGC alleged the Gwich’in Tribal Council had infringed upon its rights under the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement, Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act and the GTC’s own bylaws.
At last year’s assembly, the GGC’s president was one of two permanently removed following a financial audit.
Abe Wilson of the Teetł’it Gwich’in Council was removed by 20 votes to six, while Mavis Clark of Gwichya Gwich’in Council was removed by 21 votes to six.
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“That’s the difficult thing about accountability. It doesn’t come without any pain,” said Grand Chief Ken Kyikavichik at the time.
The Gwichya Gwich’in Council now claims the Gwich’in Tribal Council “has unlawfully suspended the GGC’s funding.”
“Under the Land Claim Agreement and applicable by-laws, the GTC and the Gwich’in Settlement Corporation must provide core funding to all Designated Gwich’in Organizations. However, since September of 2022, the GTC has suspended all funding to the GGC,” the GGC wrote in its notice.
“There is no provision in the GTC’s or the Settlement Corporation’s by-laws that permits the GTC to currently withhold funding from the GGC. The GGC is now operating at a deficit and may be forced to shut down or suspend its operations until funding is restored. This jeopardizes its members’ rights and harms the Gwichya Gwich’in community.”
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Responding to Gwichya Gwich’in’s allegations, a GTC spokesperson stated by email on Monday: “The matter is being reviewed by our GTC legal counsel and we have no comment at this time.”
An NWT Supreme Court hearing is expected to take place later this year or in early 2025.
The lawsuit is the latest flashpoint between the Gwich’in Tribal Council and one of its constituent organizations.
The GGC has asserted it was “illegally prevented” from participating in the 2023 annual assembly.
Two months later, the GGC alleged someone was “falsely claiming” to be its new executive director and accused the GTC of “reaching far outside its powers and causing confusion and harm” by appointing a representative for Gwichya Gwich’in.
At the time, a spokesperson for the GTC stated the GGC had “misinterpreted the situation.”
In the latest news release, former GGC president Mavis Clark was quoted as saying: “The GTC’s conduct has handcuffed the GGC’s ability to perform its mandate. At a minimum, the GTC should release the GGC’s funding and allow it to be represented during self-governance negotiations.”
This year’s assembly is scheduled to take place at Aklavik’s Moose Kerr School next month.
The Gwich’in grand chief will be elected at that assembly. The two candidates are incumbent Kyikavichik and former MLA for the region Frederick Blake Jr.
Correction: July 16, 2024 – 17:54 MT. This article initially carried an image that inadvertently showed a building that belongs to an organization not involved in the legal action. We’ve since changed the image.
