Chief's bid to restore funding 'ridiculous,' say members of Liard First Nation

A group of LiardFirst Nation members isopposed to arecent court actionlaunched by theirchief and council.

In early April,Chief Daniel Morris filedcourt documentsin Vancouverasking the Federal Courtto restore the First Nation's control of federal funding.

The First Nation,based in Watson Lake, Yukon,has been under third-party management for two years.The condition was imposed after it fell more than $700,000 in debt and failed to abide by the Federal First Nations Transparency Act.

In a written statement,a group calling itselfKaskaConcerned about Land Protection and Good Government says thecourt action should be dropped.

"It's ridiculous for this chief and council to take the band into litigation when so many are homeless and hungry," said memberGeorge Morgan in the statement,"and when Indian andNorthern Affairs Canadahas a paper trail a mile long documenting their good will and due diligence."

"Once again this chief and two councillorshave failedto inform and consult membership before making decisions that have far reaching implications," saidMorgan, who used to serve as executive director of the First Nation, but resigned in 2014.

Two of four sittingcouncillorsfortheLiardFirst Nation also recentlyresigned.

"This sham lawsuit was a big surprise to our community once again," said Rose Ceasar, another Liard First Nation member quoted in the statement.

"Where is the money coming from for their high-priced lawyers in Vancouver when our people are homeless and going to the food bank in record numbers?"

The opposition group cited other problems with the First Nation, includingnot holdingan annual general assembly since before2013, and not replacingtwo missingcouncillors,as required byLiardFirst Nation election law.

Chief Morris maintains there have been public meetings forLiardFirst Nation members.

Members defend third-party manager

The statement defended the work done byGanhada,theAboriginal-owned firm hired by the federal government to administer the First Nation'sfederal fundingand payoff its debt.

"To show their good willGanhadahas goneso far as to payLFN'soutstandingauditor bills in order to help move the auditing process along," readsthestatement.

"Since thenINAChas had an open offer to LFN Council to come to the table butLFN Council has refused."