Fort Simpson (Jun 09/06) - Three people have put their names forward to be considered for the position of chief of the Liidlii Kue First Nation in Fort Simpson.

The candidates are the current Chief Keyna Norwegian, Jonas Antoine and Ernest Cazon.

Norwegian said she decided to run for a second term for the sake of continuity.

Norwegian said she's been involved in a lot of important issues over the past three years. She considers one of her strengths to be the relationships she has built with people in various levels of government and in the industries.

"The working relationships I've build over the years are crucial right now," she said.

Important issues in the region are the Dehcho Process, which has started to move forward, and concerns surrounding the proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline, said Norwegian. The band has started to put staff and social programs in place to be ready before the development, she said.

According to Norwegian, employment is the main concern for band members.

"People want jobs," she said.

Norwegian said the pipeline will only offer short-term jobs so she is looking at other alternatives for long term job creation.

If re-elected, Norwegian said she will continue working on the principles of honesty and fairness.

"I'm looking out for the best interest of LKFN as a whole," she said.

For Jonas Antoine, the decision to run stemmed from a number of factors.

In recent years there has been a disconnect between the chief and council and the rest of the membership, said Antoine. The leadership needs to touch base with the people to get direction.

"Since the beginning of my involvement in the band leadership I have been available for the people 24/7 and I will continue to do that," said Antoine.

Over the years, Antoine said he has been sub chief, acting chief, band manager and a member of almost every committee. Antoine said his involvement means he is aware of all the current issues and well versed on the Dehcho Process.

In terms of the larger political picture, a more proactive stance has to be taken, said Antoine.

"We have been sitting back being complacent, thinking things will fall in place," he said.

The First Nation needs to get the best possible deal from industries wanting to use the land, said Antoine.

He said he also worries that not enough thought has been put into the future.

"Our Dene people have to unite and in order to do that you need a good chief and council."

Jobs and the pipeline are the two main concerns of the band members, said Antoine. He said people think they will get a lot of money from the pipeline, but they might not even get jobs.

"We don't need it, but it's going to become a reality so you need the best deal you can," he said.

If elected, Antoine said the first step will be to call a general assembly to remind the people who they are and spiritually reconnect with the land.

"It is everyone's responsibility to be Dene," he said.

Ernest Cazon said he decided to run for council to use his experience in the oil and gas industry for the benefit of the band.

Cazon worked for 8.5 years in Alberta for Shell Canada. Cazon said he is willing to sit and listen to Imperial Oil's proposals about the natural gas pipeline because either way, the government will ensure the pipeline goes forward.

"We need to try to do the best for our future and the young people," said Cazon.

Cazon spent more than 15 years as a sub chief and has been a councillor and an acting chief. The experience has given him a political background, said Cazon.

He said the first step he would take as chief is to hold a membership meeting to get all the people on the same page.

"It has to work from the grassroots up otherwise it won't work at all," he said.

While it's good for the chief to have ideas, the direction needs to be taken from the people, he said.

As chief, Cazon said he would make himself available 24 hours a day and go house to house to talk with members who might not feel comfortable speaking at meetings.

Cazon also said the lack of jobs is the key concern for band members. That is why the door cannot just be shut on development, he said.

Cazon, who has been working for Bruce's Taxi for the past six years, said he would give the position of chief the same drive he puts into everything.

"I'll give it 110 per cent," said Cazon.

Advanced polls will be held on June 8 in the recreation centre from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The election is scheduled for June 15 at the Recreation centre from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.