Yellowknife (May 16/05) - The four Dogrib communities are preparing for their first local elections after the passing of the Tlicho land claims and self government agreement.

"It's going to be all different this time," said a woman from Rae-Edzo who did not want to give her name.

"The same people, they've been running for years and years, and they keep winning," she said.

New nomination procedures have encouraged more people to run for office, she said.

Many people are concerned about a lack of public meetings and favouritism in band hiring procedures, she said.

Under the new agreement, elected officials will have more "clout," said John B. Zoe, Tlicho chief negotiator.

In the past, the Chief and band council were more like "lobbyists," Zoe said, with the final decision making power in the hands of the federal and territorial governments.

Now more decisions can be made "internally," Zoe said.

Electoral procedures have also changed, he said. Previously, a town meeting was held where the public could nominate individuals to run for office. An election would be held about a week later.

Community nomination meetings are still common, but under the new agreement a nominee is only required to fill out the appropriate paperwork. This makes it possible for people who cannot attend the meeting to run, said Zoe.

He also said people now have "at least five weeks" to decide who they will vote for after the nominations are in.

New realities

The new system makes it easier for people to run for office since they do not have to be scrutinized at a nomination meeting, said the lady from Rae.

"If a woman tried to run, the older people will come out and say a woman can't run for chief," she said.

Even with new procedures she said it is important for people to vote for whoever they think will do the best job and not for their friends or family, which has been a common pattern in past elections.

North Slave MLA Henry Zoe agrees there is more interest in these elections, which he says will be a "learning experience."

New councillors and chiefs will, "totally have to understand the whole constitution of the Dogrib Nation," the MLA said. This is necessary so they fully understand their responsibilities, he added. They must also become familiar with the priorities and concerns of their communities.

"I hope they're already looking into it," MLA Zoe said.

After the June 13 elections there will be a training period before the elected officials take office on August 4.