DENINU KU'E/FORT RESOLUTION - Louis Balsillie is back as leader of Fort Resolution's Deninu Ku'e First Nation (DKFN) but an appeal into his narrow victory may once again throw the first nation's leadership into question.

Balsillie was the elected by one vote in a field of four candidates during the Nov. 2 election for chief.

Balsillie garnered 67 votes compared to 66 for his nearest challenger, Therese Villeneuve.

Four new councillors - Dave Pierrot, Carol Collins, Patrick Simon and Greg Balsillie - were also chosen in the election. (Louis Balsillie also ran for council and was elected but will instead serve as chief.)

The chief and councillors were elected to four-year terms.

Chief Balsillie said he is not sure if the election will heal the divisions in the band.

"Right now, there are a lot of upset people in the community," he said. "I don't know if it's ever going to heal."

Testament to the fact is an appeal launched by Villeneuve late last week.

She said the appeal involves a number of points, including the fact her request for a recount was denied.

Villeneuve would offer no further details on the appeal.

Speaking before the appeal was submitted, Balsillie said ballots were counted several times on election night because the vote for chief was so close.

"It was a good election," he said.

Violet Beaulieu, the electoral officer, said ballots were counted four times on election night with agents for Balsillie and Villeneuve present.

"There were no objections then," she said. "Everyone was satisfied with the results. For that reason, we didn't do a recount."

Beaulieu added there is no provision in the DKFN election code for a recount.

She explained the appeal process involves her appointing an election appeal committee of three impartial and respected people who are not members of DKFN.

As of Saturday, she had found one person willing to serve on the committee.

Beaulieu said she received the appeal on Friday and, from that date, the committee has to meet within seven days.

The appellant and other interested parties can submit oral or written arguments.

Afterwards, the committee has two days to make its decision- which can range from taking no action to calling for a new election.

Balsillie said he hopes to co-operate with all members of the band and not fight.

Much of the dispute in the band centred on the fact Balsillie had been acting chief since 2007, when former chief Bill Norn was ousted by council.

Since then, some band members have been disgruntled over the fact there had not been an election for a new chief and other issues, such as alleged nepotism and incompetence.

However, Balsillie said the band's lawyer advised there should be no election for chief until Norn's wrongful dismissal lawsuit against the band has been concluded.

That case has not yet gone to court.

Prior to filing the appeal Villeneuve said, "Now the chief knows the people are watching and he doesn't have the full support of the community," she said.

Villeneuve added, there is still a lot of division and dissent in the band.

"I hope that will change, but I doubt it. It's the whole attitude of the leadership," she said, describing that attitude as arrogant and disrespectful.

Balsillie said the election for chief was close because some of Villeneuve's relatives came from Yellowknife and Fort Smith to cast votes, while he didn't call on family in Hay River for help.

"I was kicking myself," he said.

However, he said because of that he was elected by band members who actually live in Fort Resolution.

Balsillie said he will work on unifying band members.

The Nov. 2 election was held after the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) wrote the band to say that it had only two councillors and was unable to form a quorum.

"It is therefore necessary for an election to be held as soon as possible to fill, at a minimum, the councillor positions so that quorum can be attained and governance restored," stated the Oct. 23 letter from George Cleary, INAC's director of Indian and Inuit services for the NWT.

In his letter, Cleary also wrote Louis Balsillie's four-year term as a councillor ended on Sept. 12, meaning Balsillie was no longer acting chief.

Cleary's letter followed a council decision last month to postpone the Nov. 2 election.

An election was also previously set for Oct. 5, but was postponed when the electoral officer resigned.

Without an election, Cleary wrote that INAC would have to consider alternative governance measures, possibly a third-party manager.