Jennifer Obleman
Northern News Services
Published Friday, August 10, 2007
YELLOWKNIFE - Ejected Yellowknives Dene First Nation councillor Barb Powless-Labelle will decide next week whether to run in the Aug. 27 election.
But ultimately, the decision may be out of her hands.
After she was ejected from council in November and had her membership revoked, former Yellowknives Dene councillor Barb Powless-Labelle launched a lawsuit against the band. She is hoping to settle out of court, and may run for council in the Aug. 27 election. -Jennifer Obleman/NNSL photo
Yellowknives Candidacy Rules:
To run for YKDFN councillor, a candidate must:
be a registered member of and local resident of YKDFN
be over 18 years old
not be a manager or executive of YKDFN or subsidiaries
not be incarcerated or convicted of an indictable offence or theft, fraud or embezzlement in the last five years
not be in debt to YKDFN or subsidiaries
take an unpaid leave of absence upon nomination if working for the band
undergo a criminal records check
supply a recent photo
To run for council again after being removed, a candidate's nomination must also be approved by a majority vote of the sitting council.
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According to the First Nation's election policy, a council member who has been removed from office can only be nominated for the same position if a majority of council approves.
"It's up to council," said returning officer Sue Heron-Herbert.
"I informed the chief there's a possibility (Powless-Labelle would run), that she called and said she would like to run. If I get nomination papers, they'll go to the election committee, then likely to council."
Powless-Labelle was ejected from council in November and had her membership revoked. She launched a lawsuit against the band, but she is hoping to settle out of court—and maybe regain a seat on council.
That's looking more likely after a new Dettah chief was elected Tuesday, said Powless-Labelle. The previous chief, Peter Liske, made it clear to her legal counsel he had no intention of settling the issue out of court.
"I'm very pleased with the outcome of the chief election. It's definitely looking more favourable for me," she said.
"I'm definitely very strongly leaning towards running now."
Powless-Labelle said she'll decide next Thursday. The nomination deadline is August 17. Five Dettah councillors and five Ndilo councillors will be elected to four-year terms.
"I've had a lot of people come and ask me to run. People want me back up there," said Powless-Labelle.
"I just don't know if I want to. The last year has been really trying."
Newly-elected Dettah Chief Edward Sangris said he will work to get her membership restored. If she isn't allowed to run in this election, she will have the opportunity to do so in the future, he added.
"We're going to try to get her reinstated," said Sangris.
"I've told her we will try to settle out of court."
Whether or not the band covers Powless-Labelle's legal costs will be a decision for the new council, Sangris said.
