KA'A'GEE TU/KAKISA - The Dehcho First Nations have voted to stay with tradition.

During a vote held by secret ballot on June 25, 41 delegates from the Dehcho First Nations (DFN) annual assembly in Kakisa voted against holding a regional election. Only 19 out of 83 possible delegates were in favour of holding that form of election.

Delegates at the Dehcho First Nations annual assembly in Kakisa voted to extend Jerry Antoine's position as interim grand chief for another year. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Not all of the delegates participated in the vote.

The result of the vote means DFN will be continuing with their practice of holding elections at the annual assembly, said Ria Letcher, the executive director for DFN.

The question of how to elect the next grand chief was first raised at DFN's spring leadership meeting in May. A decision was needed because Jerry Antoine's term as interim grand chief was only scheduled to last until the assembly. At the meeting a resolution was passed tasking an election committee with reviewing relevant documents and bringing forward options to the assembly.

On June 24, the committee presented the assembly with two options. The first was maintaining the current practice of holding an election at the assembly where delegates vote on the matter. The second was to hold a regional election in which all members of DFN could participate. The resulting debate occupied most of the day and carried on into Wednesday morning.

One of the key areas of contention between the delegates was whether or not holding a regional election would break with tradition.

Holding a regional election would be going against the Dene way of doing things, said Roy Fabien, a delegate from the Hay River Reserve.

"With this election, are we going to do it the white man's way or the Dene way?" asked Fabien.

The elections should continue to be held at the assemblies, he said.

"Keep the custom. If you have a general election it's going to go bad," Fabien said.

Other delegates used a variety of arguments for why a regional election should be held.

"I believe everyone has a voice and everyone should have a choice of who they want as grand chief," said Chief Keyna Norwegian of Fort Simpson's Liidlii Kue First Nation.

Holding a regional election could interest more youth in the process and the gathering, said Chief Berna Landry of Fort Providence's Deh Gah Got'ie Koe First Nation.

There are only a few youth delegates, which means only a handful of young people vote on the choice of grand chief, she said.

"The regional election is good. I think we need strong unity in our region. Now is a critical time," said Landry.

She added that if a regional election was held and it didn't work DFN could always revert to holding assembly elections.

"Let's try something new," Landry said.

After hours of debate a vote on the matter was called at noon and the results were announced that evening at the talent show.

Despite making a decision to hold assembly elections, DFN won't have a new leader until next year. Earlier on Wednesday delegates passed a resolution to extend Jerry Antoine's position as interim grand chief until the assembly in 2009.

"I accept the challenge to remain as acting grand chief for another year," said Antoine.

While addressing the delegates gathered in the arbour Antoine added conditions to his acceptance of the role.

"I'm willing to take it on but are you willing to work together?" asked Antoine.

If the communities won't work together Antoine said he's not interested in being grand chief.

"It's really important you make a commitment here that you're willing to work together," he said.

Antoine urged the members to get involved with the work and processes that DFN is part of.

"I'd like to see participation by our members at large," he said.

Antoine also told the members to hold firm to their rights and land.

"Don't be afraid. You're the government here," he said.

"This is your territory. Fight for it."

Speaking after the meeting, Antoine said the Dehcho communities need to build a relationship that involves more respect, integrity and honesty.

"What's lacking is proper communication with each other through a more Dene relationship," he said.

People in the Deh Cho have to resist the policy of assimilation that makes them lose their way of life, he said.

"We've come from good people," said Antoine.

"We have to again become good people."

Having dedicated one more year to being grand chief, Antoine said once it's over he'll be moving on to work on his own goals, which include focusing on his family.