INUVIK
Gwich'in beneficiaries will mark their ballots for a new president on Nov. 17.

Acting Gwich'in Tribal Council President Norman Snowshoe says he wants to serve out his full four-year term as vice-president. Although he will not run in the upcoming by-election, he says he will seriously consider running for the seat in 2016. - photo via Facebook

Past Gwich'in Tribal Council president Richard Nerysoo and past vice-president James A. Wilson have put their names into the ring leading up to the presidential by-election. The winner will serve as the council's president until the next general election in 2016.

Advanced polls will be held in each of the settlement area's four communities Nov. 5.

This will be a chance for elders to take advantage of mobile polls, as well as an opportunity to vote for those who will be out on the land or otherwise travelling on election day, said chief returning officer Mary Ann Ross.

Late last week, Ross and other council staff were busy printing out mail-in ballots for those who live outside the Gwich'in settlement area.

Those ballots will be distributed this week and are expected to be returned for counting on Nov. 18, she said.

Ross asked that all voters who live outside of the settlement area keep an eye out for their ballot and return it to be counted as soon as possible.

"We're hoping for a really good turnout," said Ross.

"We're working very hard to ensure that those people living outside of the (Gwich'in Settlement Area) get their ballots."

There are 2,664 people eligible to vote in the election, said Ross.

Of those, 1,213 live within Inuvik, Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic, while 1,451 live outside of the settlement area.

One name that will not appear on the ballot is Norman Snowshoe, who has served as acting president of the council since the sudden death of Robert Alexie Jr. on June 9.

"I've been elected as the vice-president and I want to finish off this term," Snowshoe told News/North.

"I thought it over quite a bit and I realized there is still a lot of work that I could do as vice-president and I have some projects that need to be completed.

"I decided early that it wouldn't be in the best interest of the Gwich'in if I ran and that someone else would have to take care of some of those programs if I was successful in my bid."

The projects Snowshoe would like to see through as vice-president include work on self-government and education.

"I want to make sure that work is completed," he said.

Nerysoo first served as president of the tribal council from 1996 to 2000, after a long career as a member of the legislative assembly. He returned to the position from 2008 to 2012, when he lost a re-election bid to Alexie.

Wilson served a one-year term as vice-president of the GTC in 1996. He has also served as senior administrative officer of Fort McPherson and managed local development corporations in Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Carmacks, Yukon, and elsewhere.

Neither candidate currently lives within the settlement area. Both currently call Whitehorse home.

Snowshoe does not see this as cause for concern.

"The election is open to all participants," he said.

While any Gwich'in beneficiary is welcome to run in an election, the winner must relocate to Inuvik, where the tribal council offices are located, said Ross.

The winning candidate will work alongside Snowshoe and the current board of directors until the next general election.

"We do have a very good board in existence right now," said Snowshoe. "We've been doing the job so far. Another person will be great.

"The work is being done and we'll continue the work that way."

Check out next week's edition of News/North for a look at the candidates' platforms.

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