Tthek'ehdeli/Jean Marie River - Changes to the Jean Marie River First Nation's election code have opened the doors for new candidate options.

Non-resident members of the community can now run for the position of chief, but if elected they must move to Jean Marie River for their term.

Chief Stan Sanguez, left, translates English into Slavey for elder William Sake during the Jean Marie River First Nation's annual general meeting. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The code was also changed to allow non-resident members on the band council, said Tammy Neal, the band's manager. The councillors will not be required to move. Fifty per cent of the six-person council must still be residents.

Under the new election code Gladys Norwegian and Fabien Hardisty were acclaimed to fill the two empty seats on the band council

Norwegian lives in Yellowknife while Hardisty resides in Fort Simpson.

The council will now choose a sub-chief at an upcoming meeting.

The change was made during the band's annual general meeting held Sept. 1-2, which was attended by approximately 18 people.

A further change states that at quorum at future annual general meetings will consist of 15 per cent of the current voting membership, approximately 14 people, said Neal.

For the first time in its history Jean Marie River now has both a formal financial policy and an administrative policy.

"It's a very big accomplishment," said Tammy Neal.

Discussion and feedback was held on both documents that will now be ratified by the band council.

During the discussion a section was added to the financial policy to cover people who attend meetings on behalf of the band. If a representative fails to attend the full meeting their honorarium will be docked. Additionally, they won't be selected to attend another meeting for a six-month period.

"I think more people need to be responsible for these things," said Connie McNab during the talk.

The band had a break-even year in its operating finances.

A total of $5,000 remained in the general operating revenue for the fiscal year ending March 31, said Paul Teoh, the financial auditor.

Work is also being done to separate the operations of the band and its subsidiary companies.

This year only $36,000 was transferred from the band to support the businesses compared to $152,000 in the last fiscal year, Teoh said.

The Jean Marie River First Nation has a total members' equity of $761,000.