Chief Eric Morris of the Teslin Tlingit Council was named Thursday as the interim grand chief for the Council of Yukon First Nations.

Roberta Yeomans, executive assistant to the grand chief, confirmed the appointment this morning.

Morris is replacing former grand chief Ed Schultz, who announced yesterday he was resigning to pursue a challenge for the leadership of the territorial Liberal party. (See story, p. 2).

It was not clear this morning who will step in to take over Morris' leadership role in Teslin.

Yeomans said the Yukon chiefs who were attending the council's special general assembly to discuss constitutional reform agreed by consensus Thursday evening with Morris' nomination, which was put forward by Schultz.

Morris had initially nominated Chief Joe Linklater of the Old Crow's Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation but Linklater declined, Yeomans explained.

She said a general election for a new grand chief will be held during the council's annual general assembly, scheduled for June 28-30.

Schultz was elected to his second-consecutive three-year term in 2003, and would have served until the summer of 2006 had he not stepped down.

The position of grand chief carries a requirement that the chief provide 30 days' notice if he or she decides to resign.

Yeomans said the chiefs agreed to waive the 30-day requirement if a replacement could be found sooner.

Morris has been chief of the Teslin Tlingit Council for five years.

He was unavailable for comment this morning.