Inuvik (Oct 27/03) - It's election time again for the Inuvialuit Community Corporations of the Mackenzie Delta.

Three chairs from Inuvik, Sachs Harbour and Paulatuk are up for grabs.

So are 18 of the 42 directors positions -- three from each of the six community corporations.

The staggered elections allows for continuity, said Peggy Jay, communications representative for the Inuvialuit Development Corporation.

The directors are voted in by Inuvialuit beneficiaries and represent the interests of their communities.

The chairperson from each corporation also sits on the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation board to oversee the IRC operations.

Every community corporation has its own set of dates.

Nominations open on Oct. 27 and close Nov. 17 for the Inuvik Community Corporation. The election will be on Dec. 1. The tentative dates for the Holman Community Corporation nomination opening is Nov. 4.

The final nominations are due Nov. 24 and the election will be on Dec. 8.

Nominations for the Paulatuk Community Corporation opened Oct. 20 and close Nov. 3.

The election is set for sometime in December.

The Aklavik, Tuktoyaktuk and Sachs Harbour Community Corporations have yet to set their dates. The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation chair position currently held by Nellie Cournoyea is also up for grabs in mid-January.

Cournoyea has been the IRC chair since she was first elected in 1996.

Her two-year term is up in December. The nomination deadlines and election dates for the IRC chair will be set sometime in November, said Jay.