Both sides in the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation dispute will try to resolve their differences out of court.

A group of citizens appealed a decision by a special general assembly to the Yukon Supreme Court which said the First Nation's constitution was not followed when an elder's council decided the chief should stay on.

The decision allowed chief Eddie Skookum to keep his job.

Chief Eddie Skookum was charged with drunk driving and with assault related to an incident in Haines, Alaska. He has remained as chief of the Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation in Yukon ever since. (CBC)

Some community councillors wanted Skookum to resign after being charged in Haines, Alaska, with assaulting his partner. His partner was found bloody and unconscious at a motel. Skookum was also charged with drunk driving.

He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge after his partner refused to testify against him.

Joy O'Brien, a spokesperson for the group, said those that want Skookum removed have agreed to work with those who support his leadership to try and resolve their differences.

“We are somewhat pleased. We don't feel like this is a win-win situation because it took a long time to get this far. We went through a lot of stress and anxiety and having our community divided, and the elders thinking we were going against what they decided on,” said O’Brien.

In November 2010, elders in the community voted 14-9 in favour of letting Skookum keep his job, which he has had since 1996.

O'Brien said an upcoming special general assembly will review the decision which allowed Skookum to keep his job. That assembly is scheduled for Feb. 18th in Carmacks, Yukon.