Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Friday, April 6, 2007

NAHANNI BUTTE - Eight months after being elected for his second term as chief in Nahanni Butte, Chief Eric Betsaka has called for an election.

Betsaka said he asked the band council in early March to call an election, for mostly personal reasons.

"I'm pretty exhausted," he said.

Being chief isn't an easy task in the smaller communities, said Betsaka. The band council understands the workload, he said.

As chief, Betsaka said he sits on a number of boards and committees. He's also president of the Tthenaago Development Corporation.

"It's a position that's spread too thin," he said.

A lot of new work and responsibilities have also been added as part of a new deal from the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, which gives more power to the community, he said. There's no end to the work except maybe at Christmas, said Betsaka.

Betsaka's first term as chief lasted two years. He was re-elected to his second term on Sept. 5, 2006. Betsaka had originally announced publicly that he wouldn't be seeking re-election because he had worn himself out. Phone calls from elders and community members who were concerned with a need for continuity in leadership convinced him to stay.

This time, Betsaka said that he's sure he won't be chief again, at least, not for a while.

"Personally I really enjoyed playing the position," he said.

Betsaka said the chief and council made lots of positive breakthroughs in a number of areas over the past two years.

One of the initiatives was to better utilize community resources. Band members were given training courses to help them become administrative staff.

"The intent was to have a strong team and eventually bump people up into managerial positions," he said.

Part of the credit for the community's success has to be given to government departments including Transportation and MACA for their help, the Dehcho First Nations' leadership for their support and community members for the patience and understanding, said Betsaka.

When he's no longer chief, Betsaka plans to return to his position with Parks Canada and work on his house in Fort Simpson.

The election for chief was originally scheduled for April 2. However, notice of the election wasn't posted on time and council will be asked to pick a new date.

Betsaka said he didn't know when the new date would be, but that it would be soon.