The former chief of the Buffalo River Dene Nation says it is with a heavy heart he has handed in his resignation.
Lance Byhette says there is so much animosity on the First Nation it was beginning to affect his health.
He says he hopes band members can reconcile their differences and move on.
Troubles began for Byhette in March when he was charged with assault and intoxication for an incident that happened on the reserve.
Last month, a court threw out the assault charge and he was given an absolute discharge on the intoxication charge.
He says it was a difficult decision to resign.
“It is something that I have to manage as best I can, you know my heart was in it for the community but the things that happened throughout the year made it intolerable,” he says.
Byhette says the stress was also having an impact on his family.
He says his first priority is his children.
Byhette says he is currently doing some work for the Whitebear First Nation in southwest Saskatchewan and is in talks for an executive position.
Band elections on the Buffalo River Dene Nation are scheduled for February.