Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (June 07/02) - Floyd Bertrand won a landslide victory in a band election held here Thursday.

Although he has no previous political experience, Bertrand said he had attended public meetings over the past year and he said he understands people want steady jobs and more communication from the band council.

With nearly 75 per cent of the popular vote, Floyd Bertrand, a new comer to politics, easily became the new chief of the Acho Dene Koe band in Fort Liard last Thursday. Former Chief Judy Kotchea, right, has no regrets. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo Results For chief = elected Floyd Bertrand -- 130 votes Judy Kotchea -- 21 Steve Kotchea -- 12 Irene McLeod -- 8 For council Stanley Bertrand -- 128 Julia Capot-Blanc -- 114 Joe Bertrand -- 111 Eva Hope -- 71 Joanne Deneron -- 68 Floyd Diamond'C -- 68 Jim Duntra -- 57 Peter Bertrand -- 45 Brian Hope -- 39 Raymond Kotchea -- 28 Darlene Diamond'C -- 10 Youth councillors Dion Bertrand -- 84 Francine Kotchea -- 80

"That's what the (band members) definitely wanted, a dramatic change from what's going on now," he said on Friday.

Yet Bertrand isn't planning to abandon all initiatives undertaken by former chief Judy Kotchea and her council. A separate land claim for Fort Liard is something that is of interest to the Acho Dene people, as is settling boundary disputes within B.C. and the Yukon, he said.

"Judy did a lot of good work... it was lots of time and money spent on things like that. You can't just discard it," he said. "I will still be looking towards the idea of land claims, but right now I don't want to say anything. We'll see where the governments are in terms of land claims with Acho Dene Koe First Nations."

He said he has kept himself informed on the Deh Cho Process and he plans to keep the lines of communication open with the Deh Cho First Nations as well.

A 30-year-old former forestry officer for RWED who was seconded by the band a year ago, Bertrand is promoting forestry projects and jobs to offset the seasonal employment offered by the oil and gas industry.

"I've seen a lot of the work come and go. Right now it's pretty quiet," he said. "A lot of locals want jobs."

The band recently purchased a saw mill through a contribution agreement with the government. There is an abundance of fallen timber along the roadside in Fort Liard that needs to be processed and a small-scale logging operation could also be undertaken, according to Bertrand. Workers would be needed to operate the mill, drive trucks and plant more trees, he added. He is also championing education, including upgrading for adults, so they can move into management positions with the band's economic development arm.

"One thing I'm going to stress to (the councillors) is that we're here to work as a team," Bertrand said. "We were elected to make things better for the people."

Former chief Judy Kotchea said she is satisfied with the work she and her council completed during their term.

"Where the job is concerned I don't have any regrets," she said. "I put my heart and soul into my work here."

Kotchea wouldn't rule out running for public office again. As for the present, she said she has circulated resumes in the community.