Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Jun 16/00) - Four candidates have emerged in a race for Liidlii Kue First Nations chief, which will be decided in Wednesday's band election.

Incumbent Rita Cli is vying for another three-year term as chief. Her challengers are Eric Menicoche, Donald Hardisty and Jonas Antoine.

As of Tuesday, nine people had allowed their names to stand for the eight LKFN council seats. Incumbents Ernest Cazon and Bert Tsesto were the only two members of the most recent council to run again. The other candidates are Gerald Antoine, Richard Hardisty, Ron Hardisty, Kevin Menicoche, Andy Norwegian, Keyna Norwegian and Hazel Isiah-Tanche. As of Tuesday at 4 p.m., each nominee had 24 hours to withdraw their name.

Candidate for chief, Jonas Antoine, said the next chief and council will have some very important decisions to make, particularly relating to oil and gas. And he contended that leaders have been talking about "the future" for the past 30 years.

"I believe that the future is now," he said. "I can see sustainable development. I can see the preservation of culture, and I can see some great economic development with Dene people at the head of it."

He added the Deh Cho Process is moving forward, and economic development can be undertaken simultaneously.

At the same time, Antoine, who has been a band councillor and, periodically, sub chief over the past 10 years, said the 1921 treaty with the federal government cannot be forgotten.

"If there's going to be any modern-day treaty at all, we can only come up with something better. That's the only kind of treaty I will support," he said.

Cli, who has been chief for the past three years, said she is seeking a second term at the urging of the elders.

"They want me to continue what we have started with the Deh Cho Process," she said. "Just about every day I've had one elder talk to me and say, 'We really hope you're going to run because we can trust you, you're honest'... I'm not in it for personal gain, I'm in it for the future of our kids."

Cli added that she's determined to see that the Deh Cho Process is adhered to and to see the First Nations gain control of the land and government.

"When I go to represent (band members) at meetings, I am there to attend meetings, not for social visiting," she said.

Donald Hardisty's motivation in challenging for the chief's position could be summed up in one word, "change."

"I think we need new blood in there," he said. "The ongoing land-claim process is too slow. It's been 27 years. I was on the Berger Inquiry, so I've got a bit of background in that."

Hardisty, who is admittedly a political rookie on the local scene, said the reality of oil and gas exploration in the region makes it essential to accelerate the negotiations process.

Menicoche said it's time for the First Nations to begin asserting their rights and form their own community government.

Menicoche said he has been a councillor and sub-chief with the band, in addition to working with other political organizations such as the Dene Nation over the past 20 years.