by Jeff Colbourne
Northern News Services

NNSL (Dec 10/97) - Fred Sangris has been elected the new chief of Ndilo.

He captured a majority of the 230 votes cast in the Yellowknives Dene byelection on Monday.

In an ironic twist, however, Sangris spent election afternoon and the following morning out at Defeat Lake, 60 kilometres outside of town, trapping with friends since results first started coming in Monday afternoon.

"He doesn't even know he's won," said his wife, Mary Rose Sangris, yesterday. "He left yesterday around 2 p.m. and won't be back until tomorrow."

Sangris, 40, known for his involvement with a council committee on traditional knowledge and work with elders, replaces former chief Darrell Beaulieu who recently resigned.

Sangris has also worked for his community with the lands and environment program and treaty entitlement negotiations.

He was first elected to council in 1992 and served two terms as a First Nation councillor.

Sangris follows in the footsteps of his father, Maurice Sangris, who was a chief of Ndilo in the 1980s.

"I really, really supported him. Somehow I had a feeling he was going to win," said Mary Rose.

She said her husband received support from youth, some councillors and mostly elders.

"They were the ones that encouraged him and approached him to run."

Sangris beat out three other candidates vying for chief: Rick Edjericon, Peter Liske and Liza Pieper.