Snowdrift (Mar 06/06) - A new election date has been set to choose a new chief and council for Lutsel K'e First Nation.

Voting day is March 16.

"The 16th was determined to be the definite date," says band manager Edmund Gus.

The band had hoped to have an election earlier, and had even targeted March 1. However, Gus said the vote was delayed for various reasons, including to allow elders to attend a conference and a funeral in other communities.

"Now, it's just a matter of seeing who's going to run," he adds.

The extra time will also allow the band to reach out to members living in other communities, he says.

Nominations are now being accepted and will close March 14. Prior to the election, an all-candidates forum will be held on March 15 at 7 p.m. at the Community Hall.

Following the vote, the new chief and council will be officially sworn into office at the Community Hall on March 17, followed by a feast.

The way was cleared for the new election in early February when a change was made to a controversial election code rule barring drinkers from running for chief.

Previously, the code required anyone running for chief to have abstained from alcohol for two years prior to being nominated. Now, the new chief must maintain sobriety while leading the officially dry community.

There has also been a period of political uncertainty in the community, after Archie Catholique was removed as chief early last year.

Catholique challenged his removal in court, but lost.

Over the last year, the band has had an acting chief.