Dehcho to Hold Special Assembly on Grand Chief Issue

FORT SIMPSON, NT. – December 18 – A Special Assembly of the Dehcho First Nations (DFN) will be held January 29-31, 2008, to discuss and review the question of Grand Chief Herb Norwegian’s leadership.

The Assembly will be held in Fort Simpson. The DFN leadership of chiefs and elders discussed the issue by teleconference call for several hours Monday.

The Special Assembly, made up of some 80 chiefs, elders and delegates from the Dehcho’s 12 communities, will be preceded by a two-day meeting of elders, harvesters and Dehcho youth, also in Fort Simpson, Jan 28 and 29.

The leadership decision was based on a 1994 DFN Assembly resolution which allows a review or recall of the DFN’s grand chief. Norwegian is mid-way through a second three year term.

The conference call participants agreed that no further official statements would be issued from the DFN office or leaders until the Special Assembly.