Yellowknife (Sep 05/03) - The winds of change are going to blow in Gwich'in politics, judging from candidates' speeches for the upcoming Gwich'in election.

Richard Nerysoo was the only candidate running for chief who came out to the candidates forum held at Ingamo Hall last Thursday. Ten candidates running for council also showed up. The Nihtat Gwich'in and Inuvik Native Band elections will be held Sept. 10. - Terry Halifax/NNSL photo

Elections for chief and council of the Inuvik Native Band and Nihtat Gwich'in will be held Sept. 10 and last Thursday night, an all-candidates forum was held at Ingamo Hall.

There was a crowd of about 30 people, but only one candidate for chief showed up, along with 10 candidates for council.

Richard Nerysoo, chairman of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, president of Trail Breaker Energy Services Inc. -- as well as being a former MLA, government leader and one-time president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council -- was the only candidate running for chief at the meeting. Nerysoo pledged an accountable, accessible government if he's elected.

"No one chief, no one council can decide the future of the people all by themselves," Nerysoo said.

Also running for chief in the election are: James Firth, Barry Greenland and Harry Carmichael.

Denise Moore-Kurszewski, a high school teacher, said she plans greater attention to education if she's elected to council.

"I see a lot of focus on oil and gas and that's important, but should not be our primary focus," Moore-Kurszewski said. Duane DeBastien said he decided to run because he wants to see better unity among Gwich'in people.

"We have to start working as a family," DeBastien said. "In the past there has been a lot of in-fighting."

Tom Wright said he sees a lot of people looking for "big money," with the impending pipeline, but he would like to see a broader focus for the band. He also wants control back in the hands of the beneficiaries

"Lately I've seen some things that are happening here, and I don't like it," Wright said.

"We have a claim that was signed 10 years ago and now we've given all our power to somebody else."

There are 11 candidates competing for eight seats on the Inuvik Native Band Council. They are: Herbert Blake Jr., Ruth Goose, Linda McLeod-Lennie, Elizabeth Hansen, Elsie Bodner, Debra English, Robert Charlie, Duane DeBastien, Greta Sittichinli, Albert Frost and Melba Mitchell.

There are 19 nominees running for eight seats for the Nihtat Gwich'in Council. They are: Harry Carmichael, Ruth Goose, Tom Wright, Melba Mitchell, Bernice Furlong, James McDonald, Denise Moore-Kurszewski, James Firth, Eliza Firth, Robert Charlie, Richard Nerysoo, Linda McLeod-Lennie, Robert Burke, Petra Firth, Debra English, Herbert Blake Jr., Greta Sittichinli, Duane DeBastien and Elizabeth Hansen.

There will be no proxy votes allowed in the election.