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DEH GAH GOT'IE KOE/FORT PROVIDENCE - Communities in the Dehcho made it clear what they wanted during the federal election earlier this month when results showed overwhelming support for the NDP.

Dennis Bevington was elected to a second term in office as the Western Arctic and lone NDP member of Parliament for the North, and it could be said it was on the coattails of the smaller communities, especially in the Dehcho region.

Fort Providence voted three to one in favour of Bevington over runner-up Brendan Bell, the Conservative candidate who was handpicked by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to run in the riding.

Berna Landry, Chief of the Deh Gah Got'ie Koe First Nations in Fort Providence, said more voters went with the NDP because they were more comfortable with Bevington.

"People got to know him and many didn't want to take a chance on someone new," she said.She said it doesn't really matter who the representative is because they still have treaties to deal with, but it is important for First Nations peoples to be comfortable with their representative.

Bevington lost three major centers - Yellowknife, Inuvik and Hay River as well as advanced polling, but because of strong support in the smaller communities Bevington defeated Bell by 523 votes.

Fort Simpson voters cast two ballots for Bevington for every one cast for Bell. In Wrigley, it was a four-to-one difference for Bevington.

Bell did win in the Fort Liard poll by a slim margin of two votes, taking 44 votes over Bevington's' 42. Hamlet mayor Wayne Newbury said he was surprised at how close the vote was between the Conservatives and the NDP.

"People in the community really wanted a chance, I was quite shocked by the outcome," he said.

"It is great to see people coming out and voting in such high numbers in our community. It shows people really want to be heard and have a voice."

Voter turnout was down in the NWT this election with 48.6 per cent of residents casting a ballot..