Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

HAY RIVER
Chief Roy Fabian has been re-elected chief of K'atlodeeche First Nation (KFN).

Joanne Barnaby, left, and Karen Felker help elder Pat Bugghins cast his vote during K'atlodeeche First Nation elections on July 4. In the background is Joanne Rene, the poll clerk. - Angele Cano/NNSL photo

In July 4 elections, he easily defeated four challengers for leadership of the band on the Hay River Reserve.

Fabian received 107 of the 192 votes cast. Andy Cardinal placed a distant second with 29 votes, Alec Sunrise collected 28 votes, Joe Tambour took 18 and Shirley Lamalice received 10.

An election for a new band council had also been scheduled for July 4, but it was not necessary for anyone to cast a vote.

Four incumbent band councillors – Robert Lamalice, Pat Martel, Peter Sabourin and Raymond Sonfrere – were returned by acclamation.

The number of councillors was decreased for this election from six to four, and Lyle Fabian and Joe Tambour – who had served on the previous council – chose not to run.

The term for the elected officials has also been shortened to two years, instead of the previous three years.

Fabian said he is looking forward to the chance to help the community stabilize and become self sustaining economically so that eventually they can collectively prosper.

“When I took over in 2009, the band was almost bankrupt because of some bad investments,” said Fabian. “Since then, we've cleaned everything up. KFN is back in the black. I want to continue that recovery and give the community a chance to prosper. We want to get out under the dependence of Canada and create our own economic autonomy.”

Fabian, who earlier had served three terms as chief before returning to the leadership in 2009, addressed the issue of transparency in band council dealings, which he said requires the involvement of the entire community.

“The transparency is there, we have band council meetings and everything is available,” he said. “Over the years, our politics have been very unhealthy, and when we were in recovery it was much harder to communicate and this made it difficult for people to participate."

Lamalice said her candidacy for chief was the first time a woman has put her name forward to lead KFN, explaining she chose to run because of encouragement from members of the community.

She is a descendant of John Lamalice, the last heredity chief of KFN.

Although she was not victorious, Lamalice said she will still continue her active participation in the community.

“I'll continue to bring ideas forth to leaders to help meet the needs of the community members,” she said. “We have to hear the people. We can't make decisions for them.”

The official swearing-in of the chief and council will take place on July 13 at 2 p.m. at the Chief Lamalice Complex.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.