Yellowknife (July 24/06) - Two chiefs will be elected at the Dene Nation's annual assembly July 29and the outcome of these votes could change the way Dene people in the territories are represented on the national stage.

Of three candidates vying for both the Grand Chief of the Dene Nation and Regional Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, two would like to see these offices combined.

"I'd like to unite the organizations into one again, to prevent duplication," said Richard Edjericon, a dual election candidate.

AFN regional chief incumbent Bill Erasmus takes a similar position, having once done both jobs prior to the 2000 Dene assembly in which Noeline Villebrun was elected Grand Chief. Speaking to Edjericon's commitment to avoid duplicity and combine operations, Erasmus wants a mandate from the membership first.

"If that's what people want, then I don't see it as a problem," said Erasmus, adding that if he wins both elections he would call a "special assembly" in the fall to explore the idea.

"The difficulty is it's two full-time jobs but it's possible (to bring the offices together) if leadership agrees."

However, the first step towards achieving this perhaps tenuous goal is winning both chief seats.

In the election for Dene Grand Chief, Erasmus and Edjericon face competition from former chiefs Archie Catholique, Floyd Bertrand and Julian Landry.

In the AFN contest, Edjericon and Erasmus face off against past Tetlit Gwich'in Council Chief James Ross and Catholique, the third man in contention for both spots.

When asked his thoughts on Edjericon's position, Catholique admitted both jobs "serve the same purpose" but wouldn't comment further until after the election.

Like all candidates in the AFN race, Catholique is promising better communication. As for Catholique's Dene Nation bid, he would work towards giving that body a clearer direction, something he feels has been lacking.

Down the Mackenzie Valley in Fort McPherson is Ross, the fourth candidate for the AFN job. Ross says he's thrown his hat in at the behest of "several chiefs."

Another veteran in aboriginal politics, Ross says he's got the experience through his past leadership of the Tetlit Gwich'in, a period of time that saw the Gwich'in Comprehensive Land Claim settled in 1992.

Employing what he calls "quiet campaigning", Ross is keeping things in perspective.

"You know, if I don't get elected, I'm enjoying life and have lots to do," he said.

While News/North was unable to get confirmation from Darlene Mandeville, the Dene Nation's election officer, it is likely that the vote for Dene Nation Grand Chief will occur first, "Since it's their assembly," said several pundits.

Voters will include the 29 chiefs and three delegates from their respective communities with additional delegates permitted based on a community's population.

Mandeville says there will be approximately 270 eligible voters.

Eligible voters for the election for AFN Regional Chief - which will have as seat at the AFN's executive committee in Ottawa - will include just the 29 chiefs.

The annual budget for the Dene Nation is approximately $1 million while the AFN regional office receives $300,000.

The assembly will be held on the Hay River reserve this year.