Salt River band councillors to appeal Martselos ruling

Infighting on the band council at the Salt River First Nation in Fort Smith, N.W.T., continues this week, as councillors who tried to fire Chief Frieda Martselos say they will appeal a Federal Court ruling that quashed their attempt.

Coun. Mike Beaver told CBC News on Wednesday that council will appeal the Jan. 8 ruling by Federal Court Judge Michel Beaudry, which led to Martselos being reinstated as chief the next day.

The decision quashed a May 7, 2007, resolution by Beaver and other councillors to have her removed from office only one week after she was elected.

At the time, they gave 21 reasons why they wanted to fire her, most of which pointed to an "autocratic" governing style. They said during her one week as chief, she refused to consult with council as she fired band officials, terminated contracts and ordered an outside audit of the band's financial records.

Beaudry ruled that while Martselos played a role in escalating the political tensions that led to her dismissal, she did not have a chance to fulfill her mandate as chief properly.

In a news release sent Wednesday, Beaver and the councillors argue Beaudry ignored the band's laws for chief and council.

"We feel that in this ruling the court has imposed its own standard for the conduct of a chief or councillor, a standard lower than Salt River First Nation's own standard as set out in our Customary Election Code," the release read in part.

"The court has failed to recognize the right of aboriginal people to govern themselves."

Martselos will remain as chief during the appeal process, Beaver said.