Snowdrift (Feb 2o/06) - Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation will elect a new chief and council on March 1, after a compromise was reached on an election code rule barring drinkers from running for chief.

The election date was set at a joint council/membership meeting on Feb. 16, following weeks of debate over the sobriety clause in the election code.

It had required anyone running for chief to have abstained from alcohol for two years prior to being nominated.

That rule has now been changed.

"Whoever is going to be elected as chief will have to maintain sobriety and a healthy lifestyle for the duration of their tenure," says band manager Edmund Gus.

The community agreed that, if a new chief does not abide by that rule, he or she will be removed from office.

"In the end, everybody agreed," Gus says.

Lutsel K'e is officially a dry community, but opponents of the former sobriety clause argued it prevented some potential leaders from running.

Gus estimates there have been about eight meetings on the election code since the beginning of December.

Gus says other "housekeeping" changes were made to the election code. Additional changes were left to the jurisdiction of the new council once it is elected.

Gus says Lutsel K'e is serious about getting back on track after a year of political uncertainty.

Former chief Archie Catholique and his council were ousted in early 2005 over issues unrelated to the sobriety clause. A new council was elected, while a sub-chief has since served as acting chief.

Catholique challenged his removal in court. In late October, the Federal Court of Canada ruled his dismissal followed the custom of the First Nation.

Gus notes polling stations will be set up in Fort Smith and Yellowknife.

Nominations opened on Feb. 17, but no date has yet been set for when nominations close.