SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN) members should know who the candidates are for chief of Dettah by early next week.

This is according to YKDFN Ndilo chief Ernest Betsina, who still has another two years left before his term expires.

Those running for the spot currently held by Chief Ed Sangris need to have their nominations filed by today, although names won't be made public until Monday, said Betsina.

"We have no idea (who is running), we're not going to find out until the closing date," he said Wednesday. "And we're probably not going to find out until Monday."

The band's returning officer Lynda Comerford said rumours are circulating about who is running, but wouldn't speculate on who they may be.

She said the First Nation has two chiefs - one in Dettah and one in Ndilo - and they're elected alternately.

"They all sit for four-year terms," she said. "This year is the Dettah election, and that's always combined with the councillors' election."

The councillors - five from Dettah and five from Ndilo - will be elected June 15, seventeen days after the chief has been chosen so that the losers in the Dettah chief election have a chance to run for council, said Comerford. "Unsuccessful candidates who may have run for chief may have an option to go run for councillor," she said.

Anyone registered as a YKDFN member can vote at one of three polling station - located in Dettah, Ndilo and Yellowknife - and those living further abroad vote by mail-in ballot.

"We do a mail-out of people whose addresses we know," she said. "I think there's 250 to 300 people we mail to."

An all-candidates forum for Dettah chief hopefuls is set for May 21, a forum for Ndlio councillor candidates will be held June 10, and the Dettah councillor candidates will square off on June 11.

Locations couldn't be confirmed by press time.

Comerford said election staff will have their hands full.

"It gets busy," she said.

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