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DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION
The Fort Resolution Metis Council has a new president.

Kara King was elected to lead the organization at its annual general assembly on Dec. 29.

King said she has always been an observer of Metis politics and wants to be able to represent and work for her people.

One focus for her as leader will be on land, resources and governance negotiations between the Northwest Territory Metis Nation and the federal and territorial governments, which led to an agreement-in-principle (AiP) being approved late last year at the annual general assembly of the Metis Nation.

"We're hopefully going to sign an AiP this year and on top of that there are local things going on, like economic development," King said, adding work is also proceeding on governance

structure.

"So those are what I'm hoping to have accomplished this year and so is the board," she added.

The agreement-in-principle is still subject to internal reviews by Canada and the GNWT, and consultations with other aboriginal groups.

At the annual general assembly of the Fort Resolution Metis Council, Warren Delorme was elected vice-president and Tammy Hunter was chosen secretary-treasurer. The board of directors consists of Raymond King, Frank Fabien, Lisa Beaulieu and Lloyd Cardinal.

King won the presidency over two other candidates - Lloyd Cardinal and Arthur Beck.

She was officially elected to a two-year term, but will be serving for about 18 months until the next election.

"At our assembly, we passed a resolution to have our local assemblies in June," she explained. "So I'm actually only going to be there until not this June but the following June."

King previously served as president of the Fort Resolution Metis Council. That amounted to a year and a half

in 2007 and 2008.

Since then, she has worked towards a bachelor of arts degree with a major in native studies and a minor in political studies at the University of Alberta.

The 31-year-old still intends to finish her degree, possibly through online courses.

"I don't know where I am going to find the time now," she said, noting she has six more courses to complete to receive her degree.

In mid-2011, King became co-ordinator of the Metis Cultural Institute being established in Fort Resolution by the Northwest

Territory Metis Nation.

"When I got elected president, I stepped down from that job and Alina Lizotte has taken that position over," King noted.

The presidency of the Fort Resolution Metis Council is a full-time position.

"This is my job, whereas it was all volunteer the first time around I did it," King said.

She succeeds former local president Garry Bailey, whose term of office concluded. Bailey was elected president of the Northwest Territory Metis Nation in November.

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