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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Elections for the fourth Tlicho grand chief are fast approaching and an Aug. 8 nomination meeting resulted in three candidates for the four-year position.

There are no newcomers to Northern politics among candidates George Mackenzie, James Wah-Shee, and incumbent Edward Erasmus.

All three candidates have held elected positions in various levels of government in the NWT.


EDWARD ERASMUS

Incumbent Edward Erasmus was elected grand chief in the 2011 election and had served as chief of Behchoko in previous years.

The 2011 election, in which Edward Erasmus became grand chief, was held to find a replacement for grand chief Joe Rabesca, who had resigned from the position in October 2010.

Erasmus said his proudest accomplishment as grand chief has been finalizing the development of a Tlicho land-use plan in April.

"Hard work was done by our elders and the Tlicho people as a whole. So one of the things I'm proud of is that we maintained our unity as a government and that's what got us this far," he said.

If he is elected in the upcoming vote, Erasmus said a primary focus will be on strengthening relationships between the Tlicho Government and other governments active in the NWT, such as the GNWT, and developing an administration system to implement the land-use plan effectively.


George Mackenzie

George Mackenzie sums up his campaign platform in one word, "changes."

Whether it's how the Tlicho Government operates, how the Tlicho Investment Corporation is structured, or how the next generation of Tlicho youth are educated, the system needs a revamp, he said.

"Definitely people are not happy right now with the Tlicho Government as it is ... We are not working together right now, definitely not," said Mackenzie.

In terms of education, Mackenzie said he'd like to see more funds available for youth who want to upgrade their

education or pursue college or university studies.

Those who do have the skills and education needed for jobs in the community should be more employed than they are, he said, adding he is aware of concerns in the Tlicho communities that people are not chosen for their positions based on their qualifications.

"Well-educated people are not getting jobs. The same people are working there and controlling everything. That's one of the things people don't like."

Mackenzie was elected Tlicho grand chief in 2005 and his business experience includes time as president of the Tlicho Investment Corporation.


James Wah-Shee

The only candidate not to have been elected Tlicho grand chief in the past is James Wah-shee. Wah-shee's political experience includes time as an NWT MLA and a term as president of the Dene Nation.

Wah-Shee identified his primary goal, if elected, will be to get Tlicho citizens more involved in decision making than they are now.

"What has happened in terms of the implementation (of the Tlicho Agreement) since 2005 to 2013, that's been eight years, is a lot of strategic planing and implementation took place in the Tlicho government office ... without consultation with the Tlicho people in the open meeting," he said.

"We left out the people. The leaders, the administration, and staff and advisers went so far ahead of the people that the people were left behind."

Wha-Shee suggests a Tlicho gathering be held every four months, amounting to three meetings per year, so government can get "clear direction" from its citizens and be held accountable at four-month intervals for the work they are mandated to do.

Wah-Shee would also like to see more Tlicho professionals in management positions, in addition to better employment overall.

"We need to start hiring our own Tlicho university graduates," he said. "I would like to see them holding all top management (jobs) in departments of the Tlicho Government. We've been waiting for this to happen since 2005 and it hasn't.

"If you look at the number of Tlicho graduates from college or university in a variety of areas, not only business administration but environment, lawyers, (medical doctors, authors), there's a whole variety of Tlicho students who have completed their university and they want to work for the Tlicho people."

Advanced polls open Aug. 26 and election day is scheduled for Sept. 16. Additional voting options include a special mobile poll, voting in the office of the registrar, and mail-in ballots are available for students, elders, travellers, mine or camp workers, and people who are sick or physically disabled or incarcerated.

Who can Vote?

To be a voter a person must:

• Be a registered Tlicho citizen.
• Be 18 years old before election day.
• Have lived in a Tlicho community or on Tlicho land for at least two years immediately preceding the vote, except for absence due to medical, incarceration, education or similar reasons.

To be eligible for Grand Chief a person must:

• Be a Tlicho citizen.
• Be 25 years old before election day.
• Have lived in a Tlicho community or on Tlicho land for at least two years immediately preceding the vote, except for absence due to medical, incarceration, education or similar reasons.
• Not be a judge or justice of the peace.
• Not be a member of the Parliament of Canada or legislative assembly of the NWT.
• Not be an election officer for the election.
• Not be an auditor of the Tlicho Government.

Source: Tlicho Government

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