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THEBACHA/FORT SMITH
David Poitras can look forward to another two years as leader of Salt River First Nation (SRFN).

When nominations closed on Aug. 22 for September's election at the Fort Smith-based band, Poitras was the only candidate for the position of chief, which he initially won in a byelection in December.

"It seems like it's a vote of confidence and I've been getting many, many calls and people dropping into the office telling me I have been doing a good job, along with the council," he said. "So I feel really good about that."

There will still be an election for council on Sept. 24 with 15 candidates for six positions.

The candidates are Joline Beaver, Connie Marie Benwell, Kendra Bourke, Chantel Bruno, Delores Bruno, George Cumming, Judith Gale, Brad C. Laviolette, Dorothy Laviolette, Olga Mansbridge, Jeannie Marie-Jewell, Vern Rowe, Ronnie Schaefer, Tanya Tourangeau and Gloria Villebrun.

Poitras was surprised no one else decided to run for chief.

"I thought that there would be more than two candidates. I thought at least three," he said. "When that didn't happen, I felt relieved because it's a lot of stress to be working in a job and also trying to run a campaign, and try to find that middle ground so I wouldn't be accused of using my office to campaign."

The chief believes he has a broad base of support, both in Fort Smith and among band members living in other communities, because he keeps in touch with a lot of people through e-mail and Facebook.

"They're satisfied with the work I'm doing," he said. "They're not hearing about so many fights going on and things like that."

Poitras noted he believes in representing all members of the First Nation.

"It's public knowledge that there are many families in Fort Smith that don't talk to one another, and I talk to all of them regardless of who's around," he said. "I'm not representing one side or the other."

The returning chief also noted band members could see the results of actions by himself and council, such as the ongoing construction of a gas bar and the completion of four houses.

"People could see that I want to work. I don't want to be fighting," he said. "I don't want to waste my energy caught up in the politics of this nation. I want to expand and move ahead."

One of his goals in his new mandate is to start negotiations with the federal government on the programs and services section of the treaty land entitlement agreement.

"The part that's not done yet is the programs and services part, which could mean a sizeable amount of money for Salt River First Nation to keep on building houses and infrastructure," he said. "So that's going to be number one."

Poitras was first chosen chief in a Dec. 6, 2011, by-election to replace the resigned Frieda Martselos.

In the late 1980s, he served as a councillor and as sub-chief, and was band manager several years ago.

The 68-year-old is a retired community development worker, a career which included nine years managing the alcohol and drug program in Fort Smith and several years managing the culture program at Nats'ejee K'eh Treatment Centre on the Hay River Reserve.

Starting with this election, there will be a general election for Salt River First Nation held every two years in the last week of September, at which time the positions of chief and all councillors will be filled.

An advance poll will be held only in Fort Smith on Sept. 5. On election day, Sept. 24, there will be polling stations in Fort Smith and Edmonton. Ballots will also be mailed to all eligible voters living outside Fort Smith and Edmonton.

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