Yellowknife (Oct 06/03) - Some say they were surprised, others say they had some inkling, while at least one other says it was about time.

Premier Stephen Kakfwi announced last Wednesday that he was leaving territorial politics, leaving not only a question mark hoovering over the cabinet-to-come after the next election, but also in his home constituency, where he has served as Sahtu MLA for 16 years.

"I didn't even know it was an issue of him quitting," said Alvin Orlias on Thursday. The Colville Lake band councillor said he had no idea that Kakfwi was planning to step down.

"It's a real surprise."

Over in Kakfwi's home town of Fort Good Hope, Chief Ron Pierrot said he knew something was brewing when his office received an urgent phone call from the premier on Wednesday.

But when he called back, Kakfwi was already in the legislative assembly announcing his decision to step down.

"I wasn't surprised and I was surprised, let's put it that way," said Pierrot, speculating that Fort Good Hope will see a whole lot more of him once his term ends in December.

"My thought was that he probably wasn't going to run again because his mother (Georgina) is getting old. Home is always going to be home no matter where you go in this world as aboriginal people.

"We have ties to the land, and that's where Stephen was born -- out on the land."

Overall, Pierrot thinks Kakfwi has done a good job as premier but he wouldn't say whether he thought Kakfwi was an effective MLA for the Sahtu.

"I really don't want to answer that question at this time," he said.

Gaining a premier, losing an MLA

Rocky Norwegian, former president of the Tulita Land and Financial Corporation, said Kakfwi's last four years as premier, while successfully elevating the NWT's profile on the national and international stage, may have led to the erosion of his support in the Sahtu.

"I believe that we sort of lost our MLA when he became premier," he said.

"I think whenever an MLA becomes premier they should have something in place to take care of the constituents themselves."

Regardless, he was an effective leader, said Norwegian.

"He's done a good job as leader to voice his opinions nationally, and that's what we need," he said. When Kakfwi last ran in a territorial election in 1999, the final count was 466 for him and 301 for his only challenger, Winter Lennie -- not a close race but hardly a landslide either.

While stopping short on announcing his intention to run for the seat again, Lennie admitted that he finds the upcoming election scenario intriguing.

"I wasn't sure if I was going to run or not (before Kakfwi's announcement)," said Lennie. "I f I was going to run I was going to make a very serious effort."

He thinks Kakfwi's decision not to run again was the result of looking at both the support at home and in the legislative assembly, and seeing that he no longer had either.

"Stephen's not very well liked, and with the changes with the new people (MLAs) that are going to be in there, I don't think he would have the support," said Lennie.

Nonetheless, Norwegian believes that territorial politics haven't seen the last of Stephen Kakfwi.

"I don't believe Steve's just going to lay down. He still has his heart set on helping the communities where he grew up."