Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Kakisa (Aug 25/00) - Michael Nadli was returned as grand chief last Wednesday without a single ballot cast.

A surprise recommendation by Deh Cho elders to retain Nadli touched off a day-long debate at the Deh Cho Assembly last week in Kakisa.

The elders made their announcement as the assembly began Wednesday morning. The move caught leaders and delegates off guard as an election for grand chief was scheduled to take place.

Elders' spokesman Leo Norwegian said the elders feel Nadli is moving things in the right direction and has the qualities needed in a leader.

"He's got respect for everybody. He's friendly; he's not mean," Norwegian said. "He's not afraid to ask questions and we want to help him ... he's speaking very good Slavey and English."

Nadli, who had already announced his intention to seek another term, said he was honoured by the elders' decision. He agreed to carry on in his role after the delegates finally agreed to heed the elders' advice.

But the Deh Cho First Nations constitution and bylaws, which exist only in draft form, will not necessarily adopt the same method of selecting the grand chief in the future. After hours of debate, the delegates agreed to re-evaluate the election regulations for subsequent situations.

Everyone should vote

Liidlii Kue First Nation delegate Jonas Antoine suggested a compromise by amending the motion so that, in future, people can declare their candidacy; elders can review the candidates; and delegates can vote on the elders' selection.

Earlier in the afternoon, LKFN Chief Rita Cli had called for a caucus because some of her delegates were opposed to the elders' recommendation.

She argued that grand chief is a high-profile position and all First Nations' membership should have a say.

She added that in 1993, it was agreed that candidates for grand chief were to put their names forward, and the elders consented to an election concept at that time.

LKFN delegate Keyna Norwegian later said the elders should have consulted with the membership before making a recommendation.

"It's like they took our voting rights away. We came here to vote for our leader... We want our freedom to vote and our kids to be free to vote," Norwegian said. "It's like a mandate that was made without our consensus."

Ernest Cazon, also an LKFN delegate, said the opposite.

Cazon, who revealed he had planned to declare himself a candidate for grand chief, said he was prepared to follow the elders' advice.

Lloyd Chicot, chief of Kakisa's Ka'a'ge Tu First Nation, said there shouldn't be any reluctance to return the balance of power to the elders, where it lied traditionally.

"It seems that we have been doing these elections for the sake of DIAND for accountability, to hold up our end," he said. "It seems we're afraid to give power back to the elders ... to me it's rightfully their's."

Pat Martel, chief of the Hay River Reserve, reacted strongly to LKFN delegate Ethel Lamothe's suggestion that some elders and leaders are unworthy of representing the DCFN because of problems with alcohol.

Lamothe also said that elders were being used by the leadership.

"You want to be Dene people, you want to follow the elders ... have you forgot?" said Martel, who, at one point got out of his chair and raised his voice. "You can't treat them (the elders) as kids. You can't treat them like they don't know nothing."