Dispute between Gwich’in councils and grand chief moving to trial

A legal dispute between several Gwich’in councils in the Beaufort Delta and the leaders in the Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) is moving to trial. 

The Nihtat Gwich’in Council in Inuvik, Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council in Aklavik and their respective presidents are taking Gwich’in Tribal Council (GTC) Grand Chief Frederick Blake Jr. and four GTC board members to court over what they’re calling unfair, oppressive behaviour. 

In a ruling Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Annie Piché granted an application from the plaintiffs to move to trial.

The Aklavik and Inuvik councils claim that a meeting in February 2025 was a “hostile takeover” of the GTC. They took issue with several motions passed at the meeting alleging conflict of interest. They said no board members from Inuvik or Aklavik were present at the meeting.

The plaintiffs, including Nihtat Gwich’in Council and Ehdiitat Gwich’in Council presidents Kelly McLeod and Michael Greenland, are also accusing Blake of misappropriating GTC funds. 

The GTC has been mired in a legal back-and-forth over the legitimacy of Blake's election since August 2024. At the time, Blake’s opponent Ken Kyikavichik appealed the results, alleging Blake violated election policies. An elections committee dismissed the complaint, and the N.W.T. Supreme Court upheld Blake’s election. 

CBC News has reached out to Blake and McLeod but has not heard back.

• Gwich'in to redo grand chief election, despite election committee finding no violations

In her ruling, Piché said that she did award Blake legal costs in the dispute over the election but that bill was for about $17,000 split between the GTC, paying 70 per cent, and Kyikavichik paying 30 per cent.

Blake has expensed a cost of approximately $377,000 using GTC funds not approved by the council’s board. 

"The amount of $377,000 far exceeds the amount of the ordered legal costs," Piché wrote.

The plaintiffs say that Blake, along with GTC officers and auditors, was “evasive” when questioned by board members about the payment. 

That evidence has not been tested in court.

Blake argues he’s entitled to a reimbursement of legal fees under the GTC bylaws and that there are previous examples of council leaders using funds for similar purposes. 

He says at most, it’s an administrative error. 

Blake, along with board members Doris Koe, Diane Koe, Richard Nerysoo and Cindy McDonald who are also named in the case, argued that moving to trial would prolong the process. 

Last week, the GTC announced it would be postponing its annual general assembly scheduled to start Wednesday in Fort McPherson. The council said at the time that it needed more time to finalize financial documents.