The chief of the Key First Nation has resigned following a guilty plea to a drug trafficking charge.
Band rules gave sixty-one-year-old Clarence Papequash no option other than to step down but he will be eligible to run in future elections.
Papequash’s guilty plea was given in a Regina courtroom Thursday.
His drug trafficking charge includes the sale of a half a morphine tablet to a man working for the RCMP in November 2010.
The investigation was part of a six-month undercover operation that resulted in nearly two-dozen arrests.
Various conversations were recorded on audio.
Key First Nation Director of Operations Sherise Fountain says the band operates under election rules laid out in the Indian Act which state an elected representative must resign if convicted of an indictable offence.
“The chief submits a letter of resignation indicating he resigns as chief at this time and the Key First Nation continues with the quorum of council and that we remain until our election which occurs on Dec. 18 of this year,” she says.
Fountain adds Papequash’s resignation has been submitted and accepted by the band.
However, she says the rules do not prohibit someone from seeking re-election even if they have served jail time for an indictable offense and Papequash could technically run for office again in December.
“There is nothing in the Indian Act that forbids a previously convicted member from seeking re-election of any sort.”
In 2011, Key First Nation Councillor Gerald Papequash was sentenced to 16 months in jail after pleading guilty to a half a dozen drug related charges.
After serving his time, he ran for office again and was re-elected .
He is currently one of five band councilors for the band.
Clarence Papequash will be sentenced on July 4.
Prosecutors are asking for house arrest followed by a curfew and strict probation.
The defense is asking for a suspended sentence.