LUTSEL K'E/SNOWDRIFT - Lutsel K'e has a new chief.

Antoine Michel was elected on April 21 to lead Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation (LKDFN).

Michel collected 82 votes, compared to 65 for incumbent chief Steven Nitah.

There were two other candidates for chief - J.C. Catholique earned 41 votes, while George Marlowe collected 20 votes.

This will be the second time Michel will serve as chief. He served in the position from 1991-1994.

"I know what the people want," he said, adding he has more than 30 years of involvement in band politics, including as a councillor and sub-chief.

The new chief said people know he can handle the tough side of politics.

"They know that I'm a good person and I play fair," he said.

Michel, 58, said he wants to change how things are run at the LKDFN.

For instance, he said that means more opportunity for youth.

Plus, he said he wants to concentrate on treaty land entitlement negotiations and hopefully finish it in two or three years. "We have to get that on the way."

Michel will not assume the position as chief until May 5, after an appeals period has expired.

"I think the election went very fairly," he said.

Nitah will serve as acting chief Until May 5 while new councillors elected in a separate election on April 22 will take their seats immediately.

Michel agrees with the stance recently expressed by Nitah that the Northwest Territory Metis Nation should not have a separate framework agreement with the federal government on the creation of a national park in the East Arm of Great Slave Lake.

"They don't have land rights," Michel said, although he said Metis do have hunting rights in the area.

"Lutsel K'e has ownership of the land," he said.

The new chief said, once LKDFN concludes its treaty land entitlement agreement, it will sit down and talk with the Metis.

"Let us do the work first," he said.

Nitah, who had been chief for two years, took the election loss in stride.

"I've been in politics a long time and nothing surprises me," he said.

However, Nitah said he was disappointed.

The outgoing chief said he had to make some tough choices during his time as leader.

"Nine times out of 10 you're upsetting more people than you're making happy," he said.

For example, he said administrative operation of LKDFN is very expensive and there were tough decisions made during his time as chief which affected programs and services.

The 43-year-old couldn't predict what the future may hold for him in politics.

The LKDFN's new council consists of James Marlowe (103 votes), Ron Desjarlais (94 votes), Gilbert Abel (78 votes), Ron Fatt (76 votes), and Emily Saunders and Terri Enzoe, both with 74 votes.

In all, there were 12 candidates for council.