A First Nation chief in the territory has been suspended by the group’s general council, after being accused of sexual harassment in the workplace.

As CBC North reported earlier this month, those allegations stemmed from internal documents that show Chief Andy Carvill of the Carcross-Tagish First Nation (CTFN), admitted to sexual harassment and apologized to the accuser (which was accepted).

As of earlier this month, the options on the table for council were to either dismiss the chief or suggest he repay the First Nation’s legal fees (while still keeping him in the position).

At a meeting of the CFTN held over the weekend, members of the general council were considering removing Khà Shâde Héni “for comments amounting to sexual harassment,” said a release issued late this morning.

This did not receive the needed consensus and it was not passed.

However, on Sunday, the CTFN members of general council moved to suspend Khà Shâde Héni, until the council would reconvene. “The First Nation is reviewing this situation through an independent investigation.”

Carvill is listed as the Khà Shâde Héni (chief) and a member of the Dakl’aweidi Clan on the group’s online phone directory.

Executive council is to be appointing a deputy in the position at the next regular meeting on Feb. 7.

“The sensitive issues around abuse raised by this situation have renewed conversations in the community around healing,” said the release.

The First Nation “is a recognized leader in peacemaking and will continue to work on issues of governance and community programming to ensure a safe environment in which to work and live.”

It adds that the CTFN will not be commenting further until the general council resumes.

According to the internal documents cited by CBC, a staff member within the First Nation made an informal complaint to a co-worker about the harassment, saying the chief made an “inappropriate comment” to the staff member.

A briefing note explained that the accuser looked to a colleague for advice but that colleague was “formally reprimanded” for “breach of confidentiality,” along with a third member of the staff.

At that point, council decided on action based on a legal opinion of the First Nation’s personnel policy, case law and Canadian Labour Code. That legal opinion amounts to “several thousand dollars.”