Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Jun 23/00) - Judy Kotchea is the Acho Dene Koe's new chief.

The first female chief of Fort Liard garnered 102 votes in Tuesday's election. Elizabeth Bertrand had 44 votes.

Former chief Harry Deneron did not run in the election.

The five elected councillors are Jim Duntra, Stanley Bertrand, Daniel Lomen, Kimberly Deneron and Steve Kotchea.

Of the 339 eligible voters, 146 turned out at the polls.

Kotchea said it's time to help community members get a better understanding of the oil and gas industry.

"We need to slow down and catch up with all the things that have happened here because we've been going in leaps and bounds," she said. "I think we'll continue to go forward, but just at a slower pace."

Having been sub-chief on the previous council and as vice-president of Beaver Enterprises, a band-owned service sector company, Kotchea said she is confident in her ability to deal with industry. She added that she's not going into this alone.

"I have the council there ... who will also be involved in making decisions," she said. "I know I'm not there by myself."

She hopes to meet with her council next week, she added.

Kotchea also said she intends to establish an office as chief in the Acho Dene Koe band office. As well, she plans to hold all band meetings there, not in people's homes as has been known to happen in the past.

"I would like the members to be able to go there (to the office) if they want information, and if I'm not in the community somebody will be there," she said.

As for the Deh Cho Process, the regional self-government initiative through the First Nations, Kotchea said Fort Liard is part of that process and she feels they should be supportive of it.

However, she said the Acho Dene Koe will likely continue to do some things on their own, such as resource development and looking after its boundary overlap issues with the Kaska and Fort Nelson First Nations.

Although she's the first female chief in the community's history, Kotchea said she doesn't see gender as being a focal point of politics.

"I think every politician is different," she said. "I had a voice on council the past few years and I was the only woman on that board. I don't think council took me any different as a politician."

Challenger Elizabeth Bertrand, who has been unsuccessful in past elections, had said prior to Tuesday's vote that she was not deterred by the prospect of another defeat. She said she felt it was important to continue advocating for a more accessible and accountable political body.