The Carcross-Tagish First Nation (CTFN) has removed chief Andy Carvill from office.

The move occurred over the weekend, after an investigation found that an allegation of sexual harassment in the workplace made against Carvill are credible.

The First Nation has now called for a byelection to replace him.

A meeting of the general council held Saturday and Sunday saw all six clans agree that he be removed. The main agenda item was the independent investigation report around the matter, said a news release issued this morning.

Members were able to review the report.

“As citizens of the community and as decision makers for CTFN, no one supports such behaviour,” it said.

As CBC North first reported earlier this year, a staff member within the First Nation complained informally to a co-worker about the harassment, saying the chief had made an “inappropriate comment” to the staff member.

The network cited a briefing note (the Star has not seen these documents) that showed the accuser looked to a colleague for advice, but that colleague was “formally reprimanded” for “breach of confidentiality,” along with a third staff member.

At that point, council decided on action based on legal opinion including the First Nation’s personnel policy, case law and Canadian Labour Code – something that cost “several thousand dollars.”

The network added then that the executive council approved discussions around settlement with the accuser up to $15,000, and Carvill had apparently agreed to pay any fees ahead of the late-January meeting.

Carvill, of the Dakl’aweidi Clan, has not responded to requests for comment about the investigation.

As of January, the options on the table for the council (made up of those six clans and 18 members) to consider included the chief’s dismissal and another suggesting he repay the First Nation’s legal fees (while still holding the role).

In late January, the option to remove him “for comments amounting to sexual harassment” did not receive the needed consensus and didn’t pass, but members did move to suspend him until the council reconvened.

That was pending the results of the independent investigation – which, as mentioned above, found that the allegations are credible.

In February, the executive council appointed a deputy chief, Maria Benoit, who brings a decade of experience on council and is from the Deisheetaan Clan.

She is to serve up to a term of four years, as per the constitution of the First Nation – which also states that if a Khà Shâde Héni (chief) is removed, a byelection is to be called.

That was agreed to by members over the weekend, this morning’s release added.

It also noted that the term of the chief would have ended in May 2020, so the new leader will serve until that time (there will be a regular election called then).

“Once we have details for the byelection, we will share those with the community at the earliest opportunity,” the release said, noting that Benoit remains the main spokesperson for the CTFN.

“We ask for full respect for our nation as we address these difficult issues and continue forward on our healing process as a government and community.”

According to the CBC, the documents showed that Carvill admitted to harassment and apologized to the accuser, who accepted it.

Born in Whitehorse, Carvill is of Northern Tutchone, English and Tlingit ancestry.

He has been married for more than three decades and has two daughters.

Carvill was once the grand chief of the Council of Yukon First Nations. He began Carvill Contracting in 2013.