SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Now that the membership of the Native Women's Association of the NWT has elected a new president, the association plans to move forward with its operations and keep the communities more involved, something board members said had degraded in the past.

Marilyn Napier is the new president for the NWT Native Women's Association, as of the March 7, 2011 AGM. - Samantha Stokell/NNSL photo

After months of discontent between board members and the executive, the membership of the association elected Marilyn Napier to the presidency at the March 7 annual general meeting (AGM). A byelection for the president's position was held after the association's membership supported a non-confidence motion against then-president Terry Villeneuve.

Napier, who served as president with the association from 1992 to 1997, was nominated at the AGM when she sought election to a vacant position on the board.

"From what I read in the paper, there appeared to be conflicts in the organization," Napier said. "There didn't seem to be any way forward so I ran for the South Slave position so I could help build the profile of the organization from there."

In November and December, regional directors of the board said the organization was dysfunctional and conflicts with Villeneuve kept them from properly serving their constituents.

Regional directors also cited a conflict of interest in the hiring of the president's daughter to work as the association's finance officer plus a lack of communication and meetings. Prior to the March 7 AGM, the board hadn't met since July.

Due to these circumstances, the board called for nominations and the public membership elected Napier.

"It's been an eye-opener of a situation," said Agnes Kuptana, regional director for the Beaufort Delta and a vocal dissident of the former president. "Marilyn will work clearly with the board. We have trust and faith in her. She will really support our regions and the women that we represent."

Since her election in March, Napier has had a busy month completing the year-end process for the fiscal year and planning new proposals for the next year. In an effort to improve communication, she held a teleconference with all board members and plans to have a three-day board meeting from April 15 to 17.

The board meeting will have one day of orientation for new board members elected at the AGM, a review of policies and procedures, bylaws, roles and responsibilities and mandate, and then a full day of a proper board meeting.

"We're rebuilding with communication and face-to-face meetings and reviewing policies so we know where we stand," Napier said. "We'll have better insight into what governance really means. The board is excited to move forward."

Napier will complete one year as president and then the board will hold another election next year for a three-year term. Once the technical details are out of the way, she will focus on getting more involved in communities, exploring different funding opportunities and developing more programs for education, the drop-in centre in Yellowknife and victim services.

The Native Women's Association of the NWT provides training and education programs for aboriginal women so they can function more effectively economically, socially, educationally, emotionally, culturally, and politically.

Villeneuve declined to comment.

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