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Gwich'in chiefs have their say
Three chiefs running for Inuvik Native BandSamantha Stokell Northern News Services Published Thursday, January 12, 2012
Only about 30 people attended the event, held on Sunday at Ingamo Hall. Although originally planned as an all-candidates forum, it turned into a mingling event as half the candidates did not attend. Inuvik Drum took the time to question each of the candidates running for chief of the Inuvik Native Band on the issue most important to them. Barb Crawford will focus on youth and elder programs; Barry Greenland is looking to increase communication; and incumbent Herbert Blake wants to establish a solid foundation for youth and finalize the implementation of the band's land claim. The chief candidates, in alphabetical order: Herbert Blake Blake said it is extremely important that the Inuvik Native Band and Gwich'in Tribal Council use all the resources available to move its agenda forward: to establish a sound institution through good governance. "Its not about us, it's about the future. What legacy will we leave for our young people who are coming behind us?" he asked. He said parliament is discussing issues that will really have an effect on how the Inuvik Native Band does business: namely the Elections Act which is before the senate and the Financial Transparency Act before parliament. "They want to know how we're conducting our business, how our financial matters are publicized. Before, we were able to keep these things closed within the ranks of our membership, now there's a push to create some accountability, responsibility and allow for transparency," he said. "There's going to be a huge amount of political development within our two organizations." This was Blake's first term as chief and he served on the council since 2003. Blake said it's the job of elected officials not only to do what's right, but to do what's necessary to promote and protect the interest of the Gwich'in people in the community. "There's no privileges with leadership. There's a huge amount of responsibility." Barb Crawford Barb Crawford would like to add more youth and elder programs because she thinks Inuvik could do a better job in both areas. "They're the foundation of our community," Crawford said. "Elders and youth, if they're all healthy then everyone benefits." She has a specific concern with youth and what they're doing between the hours after school and before 5 p.m. when parents finish work. Crawford would also like to see more programs on the land for youth, even if it's just an evening or weekend so they can learn survival skills. As for elders, she says they talk amongst themselves in all the communities in the Beaufort Delta. "They hear elders are going berry-picking in Fort McPherson and want to go too," Crawford said. She wants to become chief because she thinks it's time for change, as there's been a lot of the same councillors and leadership for a while. Barry Greenland The reason Barry Greenland is running, he says, is that the membership needs communication. He wants to speak on behalf of the services and programs being offered, as well as those not being offered. "Right now there are so many cutbacks with the GNWT and the feds in regards to health and education, programs and services to Canadian citizens are being held back," Greenland said. "The reason I chose health care is there are a number of issues we need to address. People get sick and then it's too late to do anything." Greenland's main area of concern in health care is medical travel. People over 18 but younger than an elder do not have a chaperone or travel partner when they leave town for treatments. "Even if they're terminally ill, they have to go alone," Greenland said. He would also like to increase representation on local boards to have better communication with other groups in the community, such as the Town of Inuvik and RCMP. "We should start working with the community and then the region and then territorially," Greenland said. If elected, he plans to start holding monthly meetings for the membership and to create a monthly newsletter. The election will be held on Jan. 24 for chief of the Inuvik Native Band and councillors for the Nihtat Gwich'in Council. Councillors for the Inuvik Native Band were all acclaimed. They are: Duane Debastien, Bernice Furlong, Richard Firth, Melba Mitchell, Richard Ross, Sallie Ross, Susan Ross and Amy Thompson. Candidates for the Nihtat Gwich'in Council director positions are Donald Andre, Herbert Blake, Jozef Carnogursky, Duane Debastien, Leonard Debastien, James B. Firth, Richard Firth, Bernice Furlong, Barry Greenland, Melba Mitchell, Richard Ross, Susan Ross and Amy Thompson. The Inuvik Native Band and Nihtat Gwich'in Council are two separate and distinct aboriginal governments, which have separate duties and responsibilities. The last election for both groups was in 2009.
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