DENINU KU’E/FORT RESOLUTION
Three men have put their names forward as candidates for chief of Deninu Ku’e First Nation.
Louis Balsillie: Seeking re-election after seven years as chief.
Patrick Simon: Feels he is ready to take on a leadership role.
Gorden Beaulieu: Room for improvement in DKFN operations. |
The three candidates are incumbent Louis Balsillie, Gordon Beaulieu and Patrick Simon.
The election is set for March 12, when four band councillors will also be elected.
Balsillie, 54, announced his decision to seek re-election on his Facebook page.
"I am excited to have the opportunity to once again try to make a positive and meaningful change for our community," he stated.
"For the last seven years that I have sat on this seat as chief, there have
been many positive changes within our First Nation, as well as the community as a whole."
Balsillie listed accomplishments under his leadership, such as the purchase of a convenience store and restaurant, a bed and breakfast and a cube van to bring groceries to the community.
In addition, he noted the First Nation created a core box manufacturing operation to supply mines, purchased sawmill equipment, built five cabins on Mission Island, signed a forestry management agreement, negotiated three impact benefit agreements with mining companies and more.
"I have worked very hard to maintain and expand our First Nation to its full potential," he said.
"I can’t emphasize enough my eagerness to continue with all this positive change that will benefit our First Nation and community."
Gordon Beaulieu said he was asked by a number of band members to run.
"A lot of people aren’t happy with the way things have been going," he said.
"They feel that because I have education, I guess, that I can do a lot of good. I do see a lot of room for improvement from the past regime, how they’ve been operating, and I’m sure that we could make some good things happen."
Beaulieu, who is in his mid-50s, has never before served on band council, but did serve on the Hamlet of Fort Resolution council.
Now semi-retired, he used to work as a renewable resources officer with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and prior to that was an economic development officer and a resource development officer with the GNWT. These days, he does a few odd jobs and occasionally works at the mines.
Patrick Simon has been involved in community affairs for many years, but never in a leadership role.
"Because I wanted to learn and gain experience to try to work with people so I would become better ... I was hoping to eventually become a leader."
Simon previously served on band council, and was sub-chief in the 1980s. Currently, he is deputy mayor with the Hamlet of Fort Resolution.
Until a couple of years ago, he worked as environment manager with Deninu Ku’e First Nation and is now working odd jobs.
"I’ve spent a lot of time protecting the actual physical environment of that land," he said.
"I have a good knowledge of that land and I want to continue to protect the land, as well as to ensure that people are very much aware that we have interests there and we deserve to be at the table."
Simon said he would move the band forward in a "respectful, dignified, open and honest" manner.
The 53-year-old added he strongly supports Treaty 8, aboriginal language, culture, community justice, healthy living and efforts to combat alcohol and drugs.
The new chief will be elected for four years.
The six candidates for the four open seats on council are incumbents Robert G. Sayine, Stanley Louine and Frank (Rocky) Lafferty, along with Carol Collins, Patrick Simon and Rachel Lafferty.
Electoral officer Ronald McKay noted there would normally be an election for three council seats, but a fourth seat became vacant when a councillor resigned.
Three of the top vote-getting candidates for council will be elected for four years, while the fourth-place finisher will serve two years.
McKay was generally pleased with the number of candidates.
"I was hoping for more, but I think it’s a fairly good turnout," he said.
McKay noted, while there is a requirement that candidates live in Fort Resolution for six months, there is no such requirement for voters.
Eligible voters include all band members 18 years of age and older, no matter where they reside.
However, McKay noted anyone wishing to cast a ballot will have to be in Fort Resolution on election day because there will be no proxy voting and no voting my mail.
The electoral officer said there are 688 eligible voters, estimating about 150 of them live in Fort Resolution.
The polling station will be set up at Deninu Ku’e First Nation council chambers from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 12.
There will also be an advanced poll March 9.
