Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (July 22/05) - Floyd Bertrand isn't leaving office quietly.

He is appealing Harry Deneron's 54-vote victory in the Acho Dene Koe band election on July 14. Bertrand said he believes Deneron and a friend unfairly influenced people to vote for Deneron.

Deneron countered that this has become a "cat and mouse" game and "I'm not going to get into that."

"I didn't even campaign. I didn't even go to any house," an incredulous Deneron said in regard to Bertrand's accusation. "There's nothing (to it), I'm telling you."

Returning officer Rita Cazon said Bertrand, as of filing his grievance, had 10 days to make his case to an appeal board comprised of four community members and an elder.

In the meantime, Deneron said he's laying low.

"I don't know what they're looking for," he said. "Until those things surface I'm going to stay home, shut out from the office."

Unofficially elected to band council are Stanley Bertrand, Jim Duntra, Dolphus Codille, Dennis Nelson and Julie Capot-Blanc.

If and when he does become leader, Deneron said he wants to help Beaver Enterprises, a band-owned company, rise to prominence once again.

Although he has served simultaneously as chief and president of the Beaver Enterprises board in the past, Deneron wouldn't commit to taking on both positions again, but he did leave the door open.

"It doesn't matter how many hats you wear as long as you do the work well," he said. "And the evidence should be left behind."

He said the company's board must be comprised of capable and responsible individuals.

"We have to get good people who understand businesses," he said. "In the past we never had problems, not too much problems. We managed to do some good stuff and that's what they're living on now."

Deneron added that he remains supportive of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline.

The Dehcho First Nations should not attempt to hinder the project and harm the NWT's other regions like the Inuvialuit and Gwich'in, he contended.

"They have settled their differences with Ottawa and they're ready to move forward. Are we going to block our aboriginal friends from the North?" he asked. "I believe that everybody will come in favour of building a Mackenzie Valley pipeline."