FORT GOOD HOPE/RADILIH KOE' - Fort Good Hope residents could have a chance to speak out about the community's existing election rules at an upcoming assembly.

The community has been divided about the election act since Chief Arthur Tobac was elected last month by ballot draw following a tie between him and his opponent, Ron Pierrot.

Pierrot has called for changes to the territory's election legislation, saying a chief should not be chosen by luck. Now Pierrot says he's waiting for a community assembly to be called this fall to decide how to push for changes to the rules.

"A lot of the elders feel that things are still up in the air," Pierrot said.

Tobac says it's too late to change the results of the July election, but if Fort Good Hope residents want the elections act to change, they will have to voice their opinions at the assembly. Personally, Tobac said he's not sure if the tiebreaker rules calling for a draw need to be changed because they're in effect in many communities across the territory. For the most part, he said, people have accepted the existing electoral process and are ready to move on.

"It's not really on their radar but for us it's still there. I mean, we can't just ignore something that took place and caused a little bit of uncertainty within the community," Tobac said.

"We're busy moving forward in spite of all the media attention on this issue. In spite of that we're still moving ahead with issues that are facing the community," he added, referring to building highways, preparing for the upcoming Sahtu Secretariat Inc. and Sahtu Dene Council's annual general meeting and training newly elected councillors.

The first meeting of the new chief and council is scheduled for Aug. 31.