Brodie Thomas
Northern News Services
Published Monday, June 16, 2008

INUVIK - Five of the six candidates running in the Gwich'in Tribal Council election gathered at Ingamo hall for the candidates' forum last Wednesday night.

Richard Nerysoo, presidential candidate, was noticeably absent. Moderator Denise Kurszewski said Nerysoo may have been campaigning in the communities.

Beneficiaries from Fort McPherson and Aklavik travelled to Inuvik to take part in the forum. Nearly 70 people turned out to hear the candidates speak.

The evening began with a Gwich'in prayer and also a moment of silence for victims of the residential school system.

The prime minister's apology was raised several times throughout the night. All of the candidates are former residential school students.

After the contenders outlined their platforms, audience members were invited to pose questions.

There were several questions regarding whether the current method is best for determining a president.

"The Gwich'in have inherited the white man's way of choosing a leader. It puts candidates against each other," said James Firth.

He said it seems as if there is bad blood for several years after every election. Firth asked if candidates would consider changing the process to reflect a more traditional way of choosing a leader. All the candidates defended the one person, one vote system and said that changing the process would mean altering the bylaws.

Vice presidential candidate Lawrence Norbert said altering the bylaws would undermine the current self-government negotiations. His opponent Mary Ann Ross agreed, saying there are other ways to incorporate traditional practices into the government without altering the bylaws.

Another audience member asked a question about having a runoff election between the two leaders for president in case nobody emerged with a clear 50 per cent plus one majority. The three presidential candidates all dismissed this possibility, stating the election process is already in place.

One topic raised several times was healing and social programs for the Gwich'in.

"A door has opened today for change to begin for the Gwich'in people. We heard you acknowledge that there are problems that hurt our community and that we need changes to delivery of those programs. How would you initiate those changes?" asked Elizabeth Kunnizzie.

Presidential candidate Norm Snowshoe said that programs delivered by outsiders do not seem to be working. He said the Gwich'in must first understand their own people and why some are acting in self-destructive ways in order to deliver solutions.

Charles Furlong, also running for president, after hearing the prime minister's apology said he would use the publicity as a springboard to confront the federal government and demand more action on delivering healing services.

Presidential opponent Robert Charlie said completing the self-government process would give the GTC jurisdiction over delivery of programs.