Jennifer McPhee
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 01/02) - Yellowknives Dene First Nation elected a new 10-member council Tuesday. Only incumbents Alfred Baillargeon and Jim Beaulieu were re-elected.

And the winners are... Ndilo: George Goulet (132 votes) Fred Sangris (123) Roy Erasmus Jr. (108) Cecilia Beaulieu (87) Cindy Allen (72) Dettah: Jonas Sangris (175) Edward Sangris (151) Mary Rose Sundberg (150) Alfred Baillargeon (141) Jim Beaulieu (105)

The new councillors are: Mary Rose Sundberg, Jonas Sangris, Edward Sangris, Cecilia Beaulieu, Cindy Allen, Roy Erasmus Jr., Fred Sangris and George Goulet.

"I'm honoured that I was selected by the community to be their councillor," said Roy Erasmus Jr.

"I look forward to the next three years, working hard for the people.

"I know it's going to be a lot of work, but that's why I got involved.

Erasmus said the biggest issue council faces in the immediate future is land claims and reconciling the boundary dispute with the Dogrib.

"And there are a lot of community issues that we need to deal with," he added.

George Goulet, a councillor in the early '90s, is back on council.

"I'm happy to be back and I look forward to working with the people of Ndilo, Dettah and greater Yellowknife area," said Goulet.

Goulet said councillors will work towards settling the land claim, among other issues.

Cecilia Beaulieu said that due to the high turnover, council will hold an orientation meeting in the near future.

"We're going to update everybody on where we're at and see where we're going to go from there."

Elections officer Sue Heron-Herbert said voter turnout was 50 per cent.

A swearing-in ceremony for councillors takes place today at noon in Ndilo.