Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 27/00) - The official beginning of the Western Arctic Liberal campaign went off without a hitch, the party faithful selecting Ethel Blondin-Andrew to run for a fourth consecutive term in office.

Ethel Blondin-Andrew

"I don't think there's any doubt in our minds she's the best candidate for the North and we'll do everything we can to make sure she is elected again," said Bertha Rabesca of Rae, who seconded the nomination of Blondin-Andrew as the Liberal candidate at the Wednesday evening meeting.

Though she did not mention it during her acceptance speech, Blondin-Andrew later told Yellowknifer her bout with breast cancer during the summer is not going to hinder her campaign or her ability to represent the North for another term.

Blondin-Andrew had surgery June 16 and completed her radiation treatments Sept. 28.

"I'm in good health," said the candidate. "In fact, it's kind of interesting how you look after your health if you have kind of a wake-up call like that."

In her speech, Blondin-Andrew took a few shots at the Canadian Alliance's policy on aboriginal people, saying the upstart party wants to turn back the clock on aboriginal land claims and economic development. She also quoted the late Pierre Trudeau.

"I'm unabashed about using Trudeau, because he was a man of vision," said Blondin-Andrew.

A diverse if partisan crowd of approximately 50 people attended the nomination.

Among the politicos in attendance were Senator Nick Sibbeston, Yellowknives Dene chief Richard Edjericon, Salt River First Nation sub-chief Raymond Beaver, North Slave Metis Alliance president Clem Paul, Metis Local 66 president Bill Enge, Yellowknife mayor-elect Gord Van Tighem and Fort Smith Mayor Peter Martselos.

"Fort Smith is behind you 100 per cent -- although we have an NDP (Dennis Bevington) running from Fort Smith," said Martselos, drawing a laugh from the crowd. "We'll just have to work harder."

Deton'Cho Corporation CEO Darrell Beaulieu said Blondin-Andrew has helped bring the Yellowknives Dene to the verge of a new level of economic independence.

"One of the things I see in Ethel are stability and consistency," said Beaulieu. "We've gone this far and now, we as Northerners, have to start reaping what we've sowed over the last 12 years." Van Tighem said his father was a faithful Liberal and the party was the federal option closest to his personal political beliefs.

"I'm sort of a centralist," he said. "I'm a little bit right of centre, but I have Liberal tendencies."