An NWT Supreme Court justice has ruled a legal dispute between Gwich’in Tribal Council leaders can proceed with a trial.
The Nihtat Gwich’in Council in Inuvik and Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council in Aklavik, along with the organization’s presidents Kelly McLeod and Michael Greenland, are pursuing a legal challenge against Gwich’in Grand Chief Frederick “Sonny” Blake Jr and four other directors of the Gwich’in Tribal Council, or GTC.
McLeod and Greenland allege that since Blake took office, he and the four other board directors – Doris Koe, Diane Koe, Richard Nerysoo and Cindy McDonald – have engaged in oppressive conduct.
In a ruling on Thursday, Justice Annie Piché granted the applicants’ request to have the matter proceed with a trial and allowed them to add further accusations to their claim.
One of the new allegations is that Blake misappropriated GTC funds in a dispute over his election as grand chief.
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The NWT Supreme Court upheld Blake’s election in January 2025, after he had challenged a decision to overturn his election by the tribal council’s board.
Dispute over $377,000
According to Thursday’s decision, Blake paid around $377,000 in legal fees using GTC funds.
The court had awarded Blake approximately $17,000 in legal costs in the dispute, to be paid by the GTC and previous grand chief.
McLeod and Greenland said the $377,000 in expenses was not approved by the GTC board.
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Thursday’s decision states GTC officers can approve up to $50,000 in expenditures and the grand chief can approve expenses up to $1 million – but not for their personal benefit.
Blake argued there is no evidence of fraudulent or high-handed conduct on his part and the issue is, at worst, an administrative error.
He said there is evidence the GTC has previously approved expenses without the proper signatures under its bylaws, pointing to an indemnity clause in those bylaws that allows directors and executives to recoup expenses incurred in discharging their duties.
McLeod and Greenland also take issue with a board meeting held in Edmonton in February 2025, at which the GTC’s then-chief executive officer was fired, among other decisions. They have previously described the meeting as an “improper takeover.”
In an earlier ruling in April 2025, Piché had chastised both sides in a dispute over the meeting, saying actions at the meeting did not demonstrate good governance, while finding there was also evidence the applicants had taken deliberate actions aimed at preventing Blake from taking office.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
A date for a trial has yet to be determined.
