Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 24/03) - Inuvik Band Chief James Firth has decided to wind down his career in politics.

Inuvik Band Chief James Firth announces he will not be seeking another term when elections are held in April. - Tara Kearsey/NNSL photo

The band held its monthly meeting Jan. 16 and scheduled an election for chief and council next April.

An election for all positions on the Nihtat Gwich'in Council will also be held at that time.

Firth, who has been chief for 13 years, said he will not be seeking re-election.

"I think I did my time and I think it's time for some young people to take over," he said.

He said he expects some current band councillors are interested in taking over.

"And we're the second biggest band now in the Inuvik area, and we have a lot of young people that also have been in the business for a long time and maybe want to take a run at this position," said Firth.

The band and Nihtat Gwich'in Council have scheduled their annual assembly for March 18.

The assembly was originally scheduled for last September, but was delayed because of confusion over proper elections procedures.

As a result, the Yellowknife-based legal firm Davis & Company was hired to conduct a legal review and revise the Designated Gwich'in Organization's constitutions and bylaws on elections. The changes will be reviewed and are expected to be approved by the membership at the assembly.