Members of the Little Salmon-Carmacks First Nation (LSCFN) are demanding that Chief Eddie Skookum step down, but the leader doesn't appear to be heeding their words.

The calls come on the heels of Skookum's guilty plea in an Alaskan court in regards to the severe beating of a 21-year-old Champagne Aishihik First Nation woman in July.

Skookum, 56, was originally charged with felony assault and impaired driving after police were called to attend to a young woman found bloody and beaten in the parking lot of the Captain's Choice Motel in Haines, Alaska. Skookum was found nearby, passed out in his truck.

The felony charges were dropped in exchange for a guilty plea to the lesser charge of reckless endangerment.

The Juneau Superior Court heard last week that the victim of the attack is Skookum's girlfriend.

She asked that the charges be dropped so they can attend counselling together, the state attorney told the court.

LSCFN councillors Joseph O'Brien and Darlene Johnson, the council's chair, both told the Star this morning they want Skookum to give up his position while getting alcohol and domestic violence counselling.

Skookum has not returned calls from the Star since his troubles began, but on Tuesday, told CHON-FM that he would keep his seat.

"He's saying it's just one councillor (calling for his resignation),” O'Brien said of Skookum's response.

"But it's not. You can see yourself; there are others who feel the same way,” he said pointing to Johnson and youth councillor Shari Wrixon who were standing by. All are in Whitehorse attending a national aboriginal self-government conference (see coverage, p. 4).

Calls have also come from the community.

"I can say that there are a number of LSCFN members who feel that Eddie Skookum should step down but are afraid of losing their jobs, of being branded as outcasts within the community, and totally ignored,” First Nation member Hazel Skookum told the Star this week. "Many feel that the decision is made anyway without their input.”

"(Chief Skookum) has a lot of family supporting him,” O'Brien said, "but there are others who don't support him, and they are being intimidated.”

O'Brien said he will continue to call for the chief's resignation despite a phone call O'Brien indicated he received from Skookum attempting to discourage the councillor from speaking his mind.

"I don't have the large family that he has to support me, but I have a lot of people in the community who are very upset by what he did. Violence against women has to stop. We can't let people think it is OK.”

O'Brien said it is possible Skookum's girlfriend was also under pressure to drop the charges from Skookum's supporters.

Skookum has not even made an apology to the woman's family or the Champagne Aishihik First Nation, O'Brien said.

Yesterday, Skookum told CHON-FM he would stay on as chief, but is currently on administrative leave in order to attend court-ordered treatment.

But, O'Brien said, "treatment won't work if it's forced. He should step down and do treatment because he wants to, that's the only way for him to heal.

"... You see the sun shining on that mountain there, but you go to the other side and it's dark.”

"He has said he'll meet with us in October, when he's been to treatment,” Johnson said when asked if she has spoken to the chief.

"That isn't the right way to do things. He should step down until he has done his healing, and let the people decide (at a general assembly).”

O'Brien and Hazel Skookum also say the LSCFN constitution states Skookum must resign.

"Our constitution says that our chief and council need to be sober for two years, and no changes can be made to the constitution without a referendum to all the LSCFN members that receives 75-per-cent yes votes to make the changes. To date, I have seen no such referendum for any changes,” Hazel Skookum said in an e-mail to the Star.

O'Brien said the only way to force Skookum out is by a majority vote from the general council, the youth council and the elder council.